I would be interested in knowing more about the details of "The Phoenix
Plan" as well.    After `reading the Nature 5/4/95 article, I think this
approach sounds like an attempt in the right direction.     Since the name
<Indirect Costs> has been so poorly misunderstood, any attempt to use either
a different name <Administration and Facility Costs>  or the use of
nationally recognized indices might help improve the credibility/acceptance
issues for the future.

The current Senate Proposal for a flat rate would not only be devastating to
private institutions, but also largely reflects the misunderstanding and
distrust that have developed toward the federal stewardship of sponsored
research.

Gary P. Naegel
Administrator, Pharmacology
Yale School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT  06520-8066
(203) 785-4373
xxxxxx@yale.edu
 ----------
From: RESADM-L
To: Multiple recipients of list RESADM-L
Subject: The Phoenix Plan
Date: Tuesday, May 16, 1995 11:29AM

I have just read an article published in the May 4, 1995 issue of Nature
entitled "US Universities Propose Long-term Solution to Dispute on
Overheads."   The article refers to a proposal called "the Phoenix Plan"
that
was formulated by finance VPs from six universities.  According to the
article, the plan proposes a national formula to determine overhead rates
for
each institution on the basis of federally compiled indices of local wage
and
construction costs.

I am interested in hearing if others have heard of this plan and their
reaction to it.  Does anyone know how I could get more information on the
plan or a copy of the proposal?

Jill Mortali
Office of Sponsored Programs
University of Massachusetts Medical Center