If I know exactly how much time our departments administrative assistant spent working on my project, why can I charge that portion of his/her salary to my federal grant?
In OMB Circular A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions, the federal government specifies certain costs that “normally” should be charged only as indirect costs. Administrative assistants fall under that category. To claim any of the specified charges as direct costs, you must justify within the project’s proposal why the costs are necessary, reasonable, and uniquely and solely attributable to the project. The potential sponsor will determine whether the expense may be allowed.
Related Questions
- If we know exactly how much time our department secretary spent working for Professor X on her project, why can we charge that portion of her salary to Professor Xs federal grant?
- If I know exactly how much time our departments administrative assistant spent working on my project, why can I charge that portion of his/her salary to my federal grant?
- May we chare project staff time spent on fundraising for the project administrative costs to excess non-federal funds?
