From the Been There, Done That Department:  I think anyone who lets a PI/PD run
around loose without a detailed Budget justification is asking for a series of
headaches regarding budget amendements and disallowed costs.

Charlie Hathaway wrote:

> Jennifer-
>
> "...only in the rarest or most unusual circumstances will a budget actually
> be required by the institute prior to the award."
> Diana Jaeger, Acting Director
> Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
> NIH
>
> At 02:57 PM 9/15/98 -0400, you wrote:
> >Charlie-
> >The total cost cannot be calculated without some estimate of what will
> >be spent on various categories.  While I don't care if they send the
> >budgets over to me on NIH forms or a torn piece of brown paper bag, I
> >do want to see that they are not planning to charge indirects for
> >equipment or patient care costs, etc.
> >Also, my understanding is that the GMO does want a budget before the
> >final NGA is generated.  So it is going to have to be done anyway at
> >some point in time.  Has anyone else been under that impression?
> >-Jennifer
> >
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >Jennifer Morgan
> >Director of Sponsored Programs
> >Office of Grants & Contracts
> >Allegheny Campus
> >Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences
> >One Allegheny Center, Suite 880
> >Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  15212
> >412-359-1523 (voice)
> >412-359-1556 (fax)
> >xxxxxx@pgh.auhs.edu
> >
> >>>> Charlie Hathaway <xxxxxx@AECOM.YU.EDU> 09/15/98 02:33pm
> >>>>
> >Hi-
> >
> >>Since we still need to construct a budget to get to the >bottom line (the
> >only figure NIH wants) we require a >detailed budget as in the past.
> >
> >  Sorry to resurrect this discussion of a month past, but shouldn't all of
> >these "Just-in-Time" questions also be asked of the impending "Modular
> >Grants" system?  The difference is that NIH will NEVER (except in rare
> >circumstances) ask for the budget details...even when the grant is
> >awarded.
> >  I am a novice to fiscal management, but if NIH does not care about
> >details like the cost of a trip to a meeting, or the cost of supplies X and
> >Y, or whether subjects are paid $10 or $40, then does the institution
> >need
> >to know before the actual expenditure?
> >  Clearly, a detailed budget is useful in guessing whether grant funds are
> >being used appropriately.  But if the PI can come up with a bottom line
> >based on estimated modules which looks reasonable (to reviewers) in
> >relation to the science, and all personnel and indirect cost questions are
> >answered, then why do the absolute details ever need to be
> >PROPOSED?
> >Awarded funds are never spent exactly the way the budget reads.
> >Why not
> >let all of the details emerge as money is spent?
> >   A grant is not a contract.  How flexible can we be?
> >
> >Charlie Hathaway
> >Office of Grant Support
> >Albert Einstein College of Medicine
> >Bronx, NY
> >
> >