Sponsored Programs

Approved FY22 Fringe Benefit Rates (from SPS)

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Hello Everyone,

We received the approved Fringe Benefit Rate Agreement for FY22 from DHHS.  To help to mitigate the effect of our fringe benefit costs on research projects, the OVPR and administration has again provided funding to ensure the rates charged to research projects are substantially less than the full rates.  The FY22 rates are very close to what was projected last year.

The rates for FY22 and for proposal budgeting on the Office of the Vice President for Research Sponsored Program Services (SPS) website have been updated in accordance with this announcement.  The Pre-Award Team will accept the old fringe rates on budgets that have already been submitted to SPS, and for those where the budgets have been prepared and redoing them may jeopardize the timely proposal preparation and submission.  Budgets should be submitted to SPS using these rates no later Monday,  June 21.  If you would like to update a budget for a proposal that has already been submitted to Pre-Award but not yet submitted to the sponsor, please contact your Grant and Contract Specialist.

Additionally, please note that the required budget justification language regarding fringe benefits has been updated to the following:

“The fringe benefit rates used in the proposal budget are based on the rates approved by the Department of Health and Human Services.  An estimated cost escalation has been included in the out years per University budgeting guidance.”

FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26
Faculty 45.5% 47.8% 48.5% 49.5% 50.5%
Professional/Classified 48.5% 50.6% 51.5% 52.5% 53.5%
Special Payroll 22% 22% 22.5% 23% 23.5%
Post Docs 15.7% 16% 16.5% 17% 17.5%
Graduate Assistant, Academic Yr 15.7% 16% 16.5% 17% 17.5%
Student Labor 3.8% 3% 3.4% 3.4% 3.4%

 

FY23 – FY26 rates shown are projected estimates for budgeting purposes only.

FY26 rates should remain flat for FY26 and later for budgeting purposes only.

 

Jennifer Przybyszewski, MBA
Associate Director for Award Management and Accounting

Office of the Vice President for Research
University of Connecticut
Sponsored Program Services
438 Whitney Road Ext. Unit 1133
Storrs, CT 06269-1133
Phone: 860-486-4293
ovpr.uconn.edu

 

Concur Expenditure Type – Publishing Fees (From SPS)

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Hello All!

At the last SPA meeting (4/21/21) we discussed Publication and Printing Costs.  At the time I had advised that for out of pocket reimbursements that the “Printing and Binding” expense type should be used as “Publication Fees” was not available.  I am writing to inform you that the  “Publication Fees” expense type is now available on both company billed statements and for out of pocket reimbursements.  Please do select this expense type for publication costs for documenting, preparing, publishing, disseminating, page and reprint charges.

Please let me know if you have any questions,

Thanks,
Jen

 

Jennifer Przybyszewski, MBA
Associate Director for Award Management and Accounting

Office of the Vice President for Research
University of Connecticut
Sponsored Program Services
438 Whitney Road Ext. Unit 1133
Storrs, CT 06269-1133
Phone: 860-486-4293
ovpr.uconn.edu

F&A Rate Process Change (From University Research Administrators Forum)

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Please see the announcement below that was distributed to Faculty.  This topic will be discussed at the SPA meeting on January 15th.

From: UConn – Office of the Vice President for Research <ovpr@uconn.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2020 9:47 AM
Subject: F&A Rate Process Change

Dear Principal Investigator and Grants Administrator,

UConn must change its practice of grandfathering the F&A rate originally proposed to applying the F&A rate in effect at time of award (in some cases the effective rate will have increased due to a delay in the award start date).  Even when this practice results in less F&A being charged to the grant, there have been repeated NSF audits requiring institutions to charge the negotiated rate in effect at the time the transaction posts. The same is true for UConn in the current NSF audit.

To meet this requirement, this year all sponsored projects are being transitioned so that expenditures that post to a sponsored project on July 1 or thereafter are charged in accordance with the current F&A rate agreement and not in accordance with the proposal budget:

  • This applies to all projects that had a proposed F&A rate of 59.5%
  • This does not apply to projects that have a mandatory F&A cap or a set or reduced F&A rate (such as training grants, many foundation sponsors, etc.)
  • New awards will be set up at the F&A rate that is in effect when the notice of award is received. (In cases where the rate varies from what was submitted in the proposal, SPS will contact PIs and request that they submit a revised budget as a part of the award setup process.)
  • SPS will contact you when a rebudget is needed; however, you may also submit a rebudget in advance of SPS contacting you

If you have an award that is ending this year, SPS will take the necessary steps as part of the close out of your award. You do not need to do anything.

During the transition period, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) will calculate the amount of additional F&A that will be charged to the award as compared to the proposal (awarded) budget and will credit this amount to the PI’s F&A account to support the impacted project.  This transaction will be separate from the annual F&A distribution to faculty, departments, and Schools/Colleges, which will continue in accordance with the 10/10/10 distribution model. Please allow some time as SPS reviews and calculates each project account during this process.  Accounts that have already been adjusted to 61% will be prioritized and the return will be completed by April 30, 2020. The return for the remainder of the projects will be completed by the end of the fiscal year. Should you have a unique circumstance, please don’t hesitate to contact Laura Kozma or Jen Johnson.

Laura Kozma                                                                                                                                      Jen Johnson
Executive Director, Sponsored Programs Services                                                              Associate Director, Awards Management & Accounting
laura.kozma@uconn.edu                                                                                                             jennifer.johnson@uconn.edu
860.486.3798                                                                                                                                      860.486.4293

From: University Research Administrators Forum <UCRESADM-L@LISTSERV.UCONN.EDU> On Behalf Of Johnson, Jennifer M
Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2020 11:29 AM
To: UCRESADM-L@LISTSERV.UCONN.EDU
Subject: [UCRESADM-L] F&A Rate Process Change