Re: Response on Air Force James C. Garcia 10 Jun 1997 06:20 EST
Carol, I probably can't help with your E-mail problem; however, I can try to help with your questions about the "Air Force needing universities to bill faster" (sorry I didn't step up earlier but I didn't see your earlier request). I'm the Director, Policy and Integration at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and one of the primary standard carriers regarding getting our message out to the university community regarding expeditious billing. I'll be glad to talk with you personally or with all the list server subscribers via these E-mails. My phone number is 202-767-5015. In addition to encouraging the university community to bill promptly, we are also strongly encouraging institutions to investigate and take advantage of "advance billing." Below is the text of a 3 June 1997 memo our director sent to the "dean of research" of each of the universities at which we sponsor research. MEMORANDUM FOR ALL AFOSR RESEARCH RECIPIENTS 3 June 1997 "In my 27 February 1997 memo to your institution, I explained that AFOSR was updating our grant award language to permit advance billings for periods up to 90 days. Since then we have included such language in all new grants and grant modifications. We have also authorized the Office of Naval Research (ONR), whose regional offices administer almost all of our grants, to accept 90-day advance billings against all of our grants for which they receive invoices. Until all awards are amended we recommend that advances be requested on all grants. When required by OMB Circular A 110, advances shall be maintained in interest bearing accounts. "Current and future research funding is under extreme pressure and must continuously be justified. Air Force headquarters and the Office of the Secretary of Defense closely monitor our expenditure rates which appear in Department of Defense accounting systems. Slow rates are interpreted as an indication that funds are not needed and can be used elsewhere. We have already lost ten percent of our Fiscal Year 1997 research funding due to this reason. "A large part of the problem is that DoD accounting systems are predisposed to indicate slow rates due to delays inherent in the billing and payment process. There can easily be a three-month or longer delay between research being performed and its up-to-date monetary value being captured by the accounting systems. This delay can be ameliorated somewhat by continuously having a 90-day advance. "I very strongly encourage you to immediately investigate and take advantage of the advance billing option. Advance billing can play a major role in mitigating accounting system delays and their effects. Without your help, we will not be able to solve our expenditure rate problems and we will suffer additional fiscal consequences. "Please contact the ONR regional office with whom you work if you have any questions. If you don't know whom to contact, call Mr. Ed Hawkins, AFOSR Director of Contracting, at (202) 767-4945. He can provide a point of contact if needed. Thank you." Sincerely /signed/ JOSEPH F. JANNI Director We've also placed a copy of this memo on our homepage at http://web.fie.com/htdoc/fed/afr/afo/any/menu/any/af2index.htm Please contact me if I can be of any help, or call Mr. Hawkins (identified in memo above). Lt Col James C. Garcia Director, Policy and Integration AFOSR/PI 110 Duncan Avenue, Room B115 Bolling AFB DC 20332-8050 202-767-5015 ------------- Original Text From: xxxxxx@Lehigh.EDU, on 6/9/97 12:52 PM: I still seem to be having a problem using the network. I get an error message telling me it cannot direct my e-mail. I use Netscape to send messages, can anyone tell me what the problem is? Also, I only received one response on my problem with Air Force needing universities to bill faster. If anyone else has any comments, I would really be interested. Carol Sottosanti\ xxxxxx@Lehigh.edu Lehigh University phone 610 758-3863