Does any institution have in place a policy for deciding what percentage
of direct costs to use for indirect costs on funding that doesn't specify
what the particular agencies indirect cost rate is.
 For example, if a drug company was going to give 1 million
dollars in direct costs for basic research, how does your institution decide
what percent to use for indirect costs.  Would the rate vary depending on
how much money was being given?
 We are thinking of developing a "sliding
scale" for indirect costs. If a company was giving less than 1 million
dollars, we would take 30% for indirect costs. If the company was giving
more than 1 million, we would take 20% for IDC, etc.  The main idea would
be to reduce the IDC rate taken as the amount of DC increases.
 All responses and ideas would be appreciated.  I have looked at various
institutions' Policy Manuals and haven't been very successful in locating
this information.

Robin Forester
Research Grants Coordinator
Office of Research Administration
Beth Israel Hospital
330 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215