Hello everyone

Here at The University of Western Australia I have been intrigued by the
various references to indirect cost recovery over the past couple of
months. The most recent concerned state agency practices of paying indirect
costs. While some costs will be unique to the USA, the principles should be
the same worldwide. Here at UWA, the indirect cost rate is based on
academic staff salaries (ie, in a high-cost department it is 154% of the
notional net cost of academic staff time on a project). I have noted that
in the USA, state agencies generally pay somewhere between 0-25%. I assume
that the rate is being applied against a different base, which would
account for the wide variation. I do not know what is the full rate in the
USA.

It would be very helpful if anyone would be able to give me details, or to
tell me how to access details, of how indirect cost rates are determined in
the USA, the full rate(s), and the base upon which the rate is applied.

With best wishes,

Peter Johnson
Assistant Registrar ( Research Administration )
The University of Western Australia

Telephone: (09) 380-2452
Fax:          (09) 380-1075