Activities performed to discover technological information, and technical and non-routine activities concerned with translating technological information into new or improved products, processes, techniques, formulas, inventions, or software.  The term includes exploration of new use for an existing drug, device, or biological product if the new use requires separate licensing by the federal food and drug administration under chapter 21, C.F.R., as amended.  The term does not include adaptation or duplication of existing products where the products are not substantially improved b

Equipment purchased for certain University research and development activities may qualify for a sales tax exemption allowed under RCW 82.08.05656, known as the Machinery and Equipment Tax Exemption or "M&E Exemption."  The exemption may be applied towards purchases of fixtures, equipment, and support facilities that are an integral and necessary part of pilot scale manufacturing or used directly in University manufacturing or research and development activities as defined in 

An estimate of the total time that an asset is usable and in service.

Unit cost is the purchase price or fair market value of one piece of equipment and can include ancillary costs such as calibration, installation, freight, trade-in, and sales and excise tax.

An indication as to who is responsible for possible claims against the asset by outside parties (e.g., federal government, state, agency).  Ownership tells who has the legal or rightful title to the property.

Tangible property other than land, buildings, improvements other than buildings, or infrastructure with a unit cost (including ancillary costs) of less than $5,000 which is used in operations and with a useful life of more than one year.  Non-inventorial equipment is not capitalized. For more information on tagging and tracking non-inventorial equipment, please go here.

The amount that could reasonably be expected to be received for an investment in a current sale between a willing buyer and a willing seller.

Tangible property other than land, buildings, improvements other than buildings, or infrastructure with a unit cost (including ancillary costs) of $5,000 or more which is used in operations and with a useful life of more than one year.  Equipment may be attached to a structure for purposes of securing the item, but unless it is permanently attached to, or an integral part of, the building or structure, it is to be classified as equipment and not buildings.  

Assets acquired by gift, donation, or payment of a nominal sum, which is not reflective of the assets' true market value.

The custodian/user is the name of the person currently using the asset. The custodian is not the person that has the ultimate responsibility for all department assets (chair or administrator) or the person responsible for inventorying the assets. One exception is computer labs, where the custodian may be the name of the lab manager. The custodian must be a person not a job title or location.