It is important to have a policy at your institution about waving F&A. Attached is an article published in the AASCU Newsletter in 2007 supporting NOT waiving the F&A. Your institution needs the indirect cost to support its infrastructure, and waiving it may create the situation that it cannot effectively support the discretionary projects. You need a very clear policy about specific conditions that must exist in order to consider waiving the F&A, such as the situation described by Sarah: a small nonintrusive grant that would not otherwise be given.

Linda Mason, Ed.D.
Coordinator for Grant Writing and External Funding
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405-225-9486
xxxxxx@osrhe.edu
IP: 164.58.250.178
-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Sarah Dumais
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 9:25 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Voluntary waiver of F&A ?

I had an instance when an NIH program officer requested that F&A be waived
on a supplement to support a grad student in completing her last semester
of work.  Although she is being paid as a grad student employee, our
university approved the waiver on the grounds that the support could
technically be considered training.  The PI also had to obtain written
approval from the VPR and the school's dean; they agreed.  Obviously, the
total dollar amount is relatively low -- grad student support and a small
amount for supplies.

Our policy discourages voluntary waivers of F&A.  Only well justified
requests  under unusual circumstances are considered.  In this case, the
amount of funding available was limited, and the agency would only fund
support if F&A were waived.

Sarah B. Dumais
Research Grant & Contract Specialist
Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Rutgers, The State University
3 Rutgers Plaza, ASB III
New Brunswick, NJ  08901
732.932.0150 x2107
848.218.1834 (mobile)
732.932.0162 fax
xxxxxx@grants.rutgers.edu
www.orsp.rutgers.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf
Of Hicks, Tammy
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 10:04 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Voluntary waiver of F&A ?

Thanks, will do.

Tammy Hicks
Director of Accounting
University of Richmond
(804) 289-8752 phone
(804) 287-6080 fax

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf
Of Cappellucci, James E.
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 9:57 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Voluntary waiver of F&A ?

Some program officers are not the best advisers when it comes to
administration.
Talk to the grant specialist. You should get the F&A.

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf
Of
Hicks, Tammy
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 9:47 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: [RESADM-L] Voluntary waiver of F&A ?

Hi All

Has anyone ever voluntarily waived F&A on a federal grant? If so, can you
tell
me under what conditions this was done.

We have a PI stating that a program officer advised her not to request F&A
on a
supplement to her federal grant. Has anyone else been advised to not
request F&A
on a supplement?

Thanks
Tammy

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 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
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 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
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