Thanks to everyone who sent me information concerning indirect rates and US
Forest Service research agreements.  As Terry May indicated there are
numerous mechanisms available for use by the field offices -- each with its
own parameters regarding indirect costs, cost sharing, etc.  I found a
website for Forest Service Research
(http://www.fs.fed.us/res/about/coop.html) with information sheets for each
mechanism, listing the parameters, and for each parameter, comparing
mechanisms.  VERY HELPFUL.  Indirect costs at the negotiated rate seem to
be an allowable expense in most cases (except for "state cooperators") BUT
need to be part of the negotiated funding agreement (and the reality is
that available funding will probably limit IDC collection in most cases).
Terry indicated to me in an earlier message that a reasonable expectation
might be 15-20% of TDC in those cases where there was a willingness (and
allowability) to include any IDC at all.

Thanks again for all the helpful comments!

Franci Farnsworth

Frances Vinal Farnsworth
Coordinator of Sponsored Research
Grants Office - Forest Hall
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT  05753

Tel:  802-443-5889
Fax:  802-443-2083
email:  xxxxxx@mail.middlebury.edu