Hi there.  As part of our indirect cost negotiations, our federally
negotiated fringe benefit rate has increased, retroactive to 4/94 (our
IDC was unchanged).  My questions are as so:

1) Is there a federally mandated fact-of-the-matter as to when you must
begin charging the new rate?  Does it matter whether the current rate is
higher or lower than the new rate?

2)  How do you handle these changes at your institution?  Do you apply them
a) retroactively
b) to new awards, even if they were applied (& budgeted) for before the
new rate; or
c) just to new applications.

Does it depend on whether the funding agency will change their award?
Do you automatically go to the agency to find out?

As usual, your reply is much appreciated....

Tony Silbert
Grant & Contract Officer
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center