Look at the precise definition of on- or off- campus in your rate
agreement.  At VCU we would consider the situation as on campus, because
paying rent as a direct cost is part of our "off campus" definitions.  On a
more fundamental basis, I point out that fieldwork is NOT a basis for "off
campus" (unless you rent the fieldwork location).  I also wonder why the
P.I. is doing all the work at home rather than in the office the college
supplies; have you considered what liabilities that may cause for the college?

I frequently see similar justifications for reduced/waived F&A costs.  I
politely tell them that it is on-campus work.  They hate me, but we are
here to serve the institution as well as the individual faculty members, so
being the SOB is part of the job!

Good Luck!!

Chuck

At 11:22 AM 11/11/97 -0500, you wrote:
>I am interested in the policies of other institutions regarding the use of
>their off-campus indirect (F&A) cost  rate.  My particular interest is in
>how one determines what is off-campus and what is on-campus.
>
>I have an investigator who is trying to claim that her research  project is
>off-campus and should be allowed to use the off-campus rate because 1) all
>of her fieldwork is being collected off-campus; 2)her hired transcriber
>works out of his home, so all transcription will be done off-campus; 3) all
>copies of interviews from the fieldwork will be kept in a locked cabinet at
>the PI's home; and  4) all appointments will be set up using her phone at
>home, and 5) any copying needed will be done at a copy service, like Kinko's
>and not at the institution.
>
>Our indirect cost negotiation indicates that the off-campus rate is to be
>used when the research is being done at a location sufficiently distant from
>campus as to preclude use of the on-campus rate -- and I don't think home
>falls into that category.
>
>Would appreciate any information/guidance from the list.
>
>My thanks in advance.
>
>Gretchen
>Gretchen Kemp Eckert
>Associate Controller for Sponsored Research/Wellesley College
>106 Central Street, GRH 139   Wellesley, MA  02181-8201
>Phone:  781/283-2250    FAX:  781/283-3663              E-mail:
xxxxxx@wellesl
>ey.edu
>
Herbert B. Chermside, CRA
Director, Office of Sponsored Programs
Virginia Commonwealth University
PO BOX 980568
Richmond, VA  23298-0568
Express Delivery:
  Sanger Hall, Rm. 1-073
  11th & Marshall Sts.
  Richmond, VA  23219
Phone:    804-828-6772
Fax       804-828-2521
OFFICE e-mail      xxxxxx@vcu.edu
PERSONAL e-mail   xxxxxx@vcu.edu