The following list is for general purposes only. All costs applied to sponsored research accounts should pass the test of being reasonable, allowable, allocable, and consistently treated.
Further guidance is found in 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Alcoholic Beverages | Unallowable as an entertainment expense. |
| Administrative and Clerical Salaries | Previously unallowable under OMB A-21 but under Uniform Administrative Cost Principles, allowable with the satisfactory explanation the costs are integral to the project. |
| Advertising | Allowable for recruitment of staff trainees, or research subjects, procurement of goods and services and other expenses when necessary to meet grant requirements. |
| Animals | Allowable for acquisition, care and use of experimental animals, contingent up compliance with applicable principles of PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. |
| Audit Costs | Allowable when audit’s scope is limited to a single NIH grant-supported project otherwise should be treated as indirect cost. |
| Bad Debts | Unallowable |
| Books and Periodicals | Allowable as a direct costs when required for the conduct of the project but where an institution has a library such costs are normally treated as indirect costs. |
| Compensation of students |
|
| Consultancy | Unallowable by UT faculty unless across department lines or at a distant and remote location. allowable when the person is retained to provide professional services for a fee but not an employee. |
| Entertainment Costs | Unallowable. This includes the cost of amusements, social activities, and related incidental costs. |
| Fundraising | Unallowable |
| Honoraria | Unallowable when the primary intent is to confer distinction on, or to symbolize respect, esteem, or admiration for, the recipient of the honorarium. A payment for services rendered, such as a speaker’s fee under a conference grant, is allowable. |
| Invention, Patent, or Licensing Costs | Unallowable as a direct cost unless specifically authorized in the Notice of Award. May be allowable as indirect costs provided they are authorized under applicable cost principles and are included in the negotiation of indirect cost rates. Such costs include licensing or option fees, attorney’s fees for preparing or submitting patent applications, and fees paid to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for patent application, patent maintenance, or recordation of patent-related information. |
| Lobbying | Generally unallowable, including costs of lobbying activities to influence the introduction, enactment, or modification of legislation by the U.S. Congress or a State legislature. Under certain circumstances, as provided in the applicable cost principles, costs associated with activities that might otherwise be considered “lobbying” that are directly related to the performance of a grant may be allowable. The recipient should obtain an advance understanding with the GMS if it intends to engage in these activities. |
| Losses | Unallowable to cover an over-expenditure on one grant by using funds from another. |
| Meals | Generally unallowable except for the following:
Guest meals are not allowable. (See “Consumer/Provider Board Participation” in the HHS GPS regarding the allowability of the cost of meals for consumer and provider board participants in grant-supported activities.) |
| Office Supplies | Unallowable: Normally a part of indirect costs. |
| Pre-award costs | Costs incurred prior to the effective date of the sponsored agreement, whether or not they would have been allowable thereunder if incurred after such date, are unallowable unless approved by the sponsoring agency or authorized under expanded authority. Where authorized by the sponsoring agency as an expanded authority, a recipient may, at its own risk and without sponsoring agency prior approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to (and including) 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or competing continuation award if such costs are necessary to conduct the project or program, and would be allowable under the grant, if awarded.
However, even if authorized as an expanded authority, if a specific expenditure would otherwise require prior approval, the cost or activity must meet the same tests of allowability as if incurred after award. If not authorized as part of expanded authorities, the applicant/recipient must seek sponsoring agency prior approval before incurring pre-award costs. Sponsoring agency prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or competing continuation award. |
| Proposal Costs | Unallowable including payroll for personnel working on a proposal. |
| Promotional Items (SWAG) | Promotional items and memorabilia (SWAG e.g., pencils, cups, t-shirts, cookbooks, bags, etc.), gifts, and souvenirs designed to promote the recipient’s organization are unallowable as advertising/public relations costs. |
| Trainee Costs | Allowable under training grants if permitted by authorizing statute or governing programmatic regulations. Institutions may re-budget funds into or within trainee cost categories (stipends, tuition and fees including medical insurance) but may not re-budget funds awarded for trainee costs into another budget category without prior sponsor approval. |
| Travel | Allowable as a direct cost when the travel benefits the project and follow institutional policy. When travelling by air, economy class should be used. Foreign travel must be specifically authorized by the awarding agency and must comply with Fly America Act. |
