Only if you have a "hot-looking" government auditor you want to have hanging around for a long time.

Seriously, what is the research purpose being advanced by serving pizza to your staff?  NONE.
Does your institution buy everyone lunch every day?  If no, then NO.  Not a consistent and reasonable cost (see: A-21.C.3 and C.4).

To even attempt to justify a "pizza party" or lunch, you would have to demonstrate that the meeting purpose: 1.) advances certain specific aims of the research, 2.) cannot be reasonably accomplished during regular business hours, and 3.) is consistent with institutional policies, procedures and practices (institution only has meeting during the lunch hour or after regular business hours).  Bringing in a guest lecturer or expert, again requires lots of justification for advancing the research and must be in compliance with your institution's policies and procedures.

My advice - If PI wants a pizza party/lunch, fund it with non-government funds. (PI discretionary account?, PI's own pocket?)

Larry Koepfle

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org] On Behalf Of Lawrence Waxler
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 10:53 AM
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Pizza Party Expense Charged To NIH Award

How about as a going away party for the PI that approved it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larry Waxler, Director
Office of Sponsored Programs
University of Southern Maine
15 Baxter Boulevard
P.O. Box 9300
Portland, ME  04104-9300
Telephone: 207-780-4413
Telefax: 207-780-4927

>>> "Russo, Gisele" <xxxxxx@UCONN.EDU> 11/3/2011 10:50 AM >>>
Work meeting?

Gisele Russo
Grants & Contracts Specialist
University of Connecticut
Department of Psychology
406 Babbidge Road, U-1020
Storrs, CT 06269-1020
(860) 486-6705
FAX (860) 486-2760
e-mail: xxxxxx@uconn.edu<mailto:xxxxxx@uconn.edu>

From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org] On Behalf Of Morris, Christopher W.,J.D.
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 10:46 AM
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Subject: [RESADM-L] Pizza Party Expense Charged To NIH Award

Good Morning All,

Can anyone think of a scenario where a pizza party can be charged to an NIH award?

Thank you for your help with this.

Sincerely,

Chris

Christopher W. Morris, J.D.
Research Finance Specialist II
Research Finance
Partners Research Management
Partners HealthCare System, Inc.
101 Huntington Ave.
3rd Floor, 305.26
Boston, MA 02199
E-mail: xxxxxx@Partners.org
Tel:  617-954-9572
Fax: 617-954-9850

The information in this e-mail is intended only for the person to whom it is
addressed. If you believe this e-mail was sent to you in error and the e-mail
contains patient information, please contact the Partners Compliance HelpLine at
http://www.partners.org/complianceline . If the e-mail was sent to you in error
but does not contain patient information, please contact the sender and properly
dispose of the e-mail.

====================================================================== 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.healthresearch.org (click on the "LISTSERV" link in the upper right corner)

A link directly to helpful tips: http://tinyurl.com/resadm-l-help ======================================================================

======================================================================
 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.healthresearch.org (click on the
 "LISTSERV" link in the upper right corner)

 A link directly to helpful tips:  http://tinyurl.com/resadm-l-help
======================================================================

======================================================================
 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.healthresearch.org (click on the
 "LISTSERV" link in the upper right corner)

 A link directly to helpful tips:  http://tinyurl.com/resadm-l-help
======================================================================

======================================================================
 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.healthresearch.org (click on the
 "LISTSERV" link in the upper right corner)

 A link directly to helpful tips:  http://tinyurl.com/resadm-l-help
======================================================================