Hi-

I have just finished the first of 2 modular workshops for our faculty and
have presented inter alia the info in the list below (which incidentally I
ran by the NIH modular people).

For a grant with the same number of modules requested each year, there is a
limited number of total direct costs for all years. I.e. such that when
divided by the number of years, a multiple of $25,000 results.

See my list below.

For example, if a total itemized budget has $700,000 in direct costs for a
5 year grant (note that 700,000 does not appear in list below for 5 year
grants), AND there is no justification for varying the number of modules in
any year, then one must request an amount from NIH that is either $50,000
more than is actually needed or $75,000 less than is actually needed.
[Obviously the former will be the choice.  In other examples it may be a
more difficult decision.]

I have suggested that in cases where the difference is so great that the
actual itemized budget be altered somewhat to come closer to the amount
requested OR that it be altered so that a variation in modules CAN be
justified. Of course, it may then be necessary to have the research plan
reflect the change (as this is the primary part of the application that the
reviewers are supposed to use in assessing the reasonableness of the
modular request).

All this seems eerily obvious but no one has talked about it.

It also may not be a problem depending on how you are advising researchers
to create a modular budget.

I am suggesting that people take each yearly total direct cost and round to
the nearest $25,000.  They then look for reasons to add or subtract modules
in any year. [If there are any reasons, then you juggle and return to this
algorithm for the other years].

If there are no reasons for modular variation, one sums the rounded yearly
totals and looks at the list (below) to see if you are close to one of the
numbers.  Ideally, you will be just under one of those numbers...which will
then be the request for the total project.  This request, when divided by
the number of years, will be the yearly request.

I would appreciate hearing of any holes in this method.

Thanks.

Charlie Hathaway

LIST:

The possible total project costs for a modular budget with the same number
of modules requested per year:

3 year grant
75000
150000
225000
300000
375000
450000
525000
600000
675000
750000

4 year grant
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000

5 year grant
125000
250000
375000
500000
625000
750000
875000
1000000
1125000
1250000

**************************************
Charles B. Hathaway, Ph.D., Director
Office of Grant Support
908A Belfer
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
1300 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461
Phone: 718 430-3642     Fax: 718 430-8822
email: xxxxxx@aecom.yu.edu
http://www.aecom.yu.edu/ogs

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================