Frequently Asked Questions

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Stipends

"Stipend" is a troubling term, as different entities and individuals use it in different contexts. For most federal sponsors, a stipend represents a fixed amount provided to someone in a training program to offset their living expenses. It is not remuneration or compensation provided for work performed; therefore, the payment does not represent FTE or effort. Some non-federal sponsors will use the term synonymously with compensation for work performed.

So, in this case, a stipend would not be allowable, but salary or wages (compensation) would be allowable.

T32 Training Grants

No. Per the NIH Grants Policy Statement, trainees are not employees and can only receive stipends and health insurance. Per UW policy, pre-doctoral trainees must be paid under object code 01-90 or 08-02. Please see PAFC’s additional guidance on T32 Training Grants for more information.

No. While transferring excessive stipends or fringe benefits to a department budget will result in charging NIH the appropriate amount of costs, the trainee is still receiving additional stipends and fringe benefits. Additional benefits paid to a trainee may indicate an employer-employee relationship, which is not allowed under NIH policy. Also, trainees must be treated consistently across the University, regardless of the financial condition of the department. Please see PAFC’s additional guidance on T32 Training Grants for more information.

No. Per NIH and UW policy, trainees must be paid the correct stipend amount and the stipend must be paid from the correct object code. Object code 01-20 is reserved for Auxiliary Teaching Staff Salaries only; payment under this object code indicates an employer-employee relationship, which is not allowable on T32 awards. If a trainee is not paid under the correct object code (01-50 for post-docs; 01-90 for pre-docs), the trainee will receive fringe benefits that are unallowable under NIH policy. Please see PAFC’s additional guidance on T32 Training Grants for more information.

No. NRSA Trainees or Fellows are not employees and as such receive a stipend and not compensation. This payment is considered to be compensation (charged to Object Code 01-80) and Trainees/Fellows cannot receive compensation. If this cost has been allocated to a NRSA Trainee or Fellowship Award, it must be removed from this Award and allocated to another department budget.

Travel

Institutional policy does allow the cost of passports, and federal regulations allow us to follow our own travel policy, so it would appear that this cost would be allowable if it is necessary for a particular award. If it is applicable to multiple awards and/or non-sponsored award activity, the cost should be allocated to each benefiting award/activity on some reasonable basis (e.g., the individual's FTE allocation).

It is recommended that written sponsor approval be obtained for Travel. Travel expenses are allowed provided that:

  • There is documentation describing how the travel benefited the Award, if the specific travel was not included in the Award budget.

  • The length of the trip coincides with the travel objectives.

  • The trip takes place during the Award period.

  • Per diem amounts are within limits; follow UW guidelines for any excess amounts.

  • Lump sum amounts (lodging, meals, conferences) are broken out and documented to be within the per diem limitation.

Yes, provided that prior sponsor approval has been obtained in writing.

If the traveler was a presenter, ideally a copy of the agenda that lists the traveler and the name of their presentation would be provided. This can be obtained from the traveler, a conference website, or other source. Alternative documentation would be a copy of the presentation (or at least the cover sheet, if the presentation is long) that includes the presentation title and the name of the presenter.

If no formal presentation was made, or the traveler was only attending the conference/workshop, written documentation should include the business purpose of the travel, which includes the benefit to the Award, and a copy of the agenda or schedule as available.

Federally-contracted reduced fares and room rates are negotiated with the airlines and hotels by the federal government for use by federal employees on federal travel. Federal employees pay for travel using a federally issued credit card so vendors can be assured that travel is being paid for by the federal government. State employees, however, may be traveling on any number of funding sources. It is up to each individual hotel or airline to decide if they will extend the federally-contracted reduced rate to state employees.

For lodging, UW employees can explain to the hotel that the UW complies with the federal per diem guidelines and request that the hotel accept the reduced rate. It is at the hotel’s discretion whether or not to extend the reduced rate to the UW employee.

The conference registration fee is allowable only if the reason for the cancellation meets the criteria for “reasonable” as part of the four cost principles. Criteria to use for “reasonable” would include that the PI could not travel due to circumstances beyond their control (e.g., sudden illness, death of a family member) and that every attempt was made to obtain a full or partial refund from the conference organizers. The department also needs to ensure that such refunds and expenses are treated consistently on sponsored awards as well as non-sponsored funding sources.

For airfare, if the sponsored award was not a federal award, then the same reasonable principles listed above would apply.

If it was a federal award, federal regulations require that the airfare ticket purchased be refundable and thus, the ticket can be refunded in the event of a cancellation. If there is an associated refund or cancellation fee, that amount would be allowable. If a non-refundable ticket was purchased, then the cost of the ticket would not be an allowable expense, as federal regulations require that only refundable tickets be purchased. Visit the PAFC travel web page for more information on airfare purchases on federal awards.

No, the PI cannot be reimbursed for an expense that was not actually incurred. As the PI did not purchase the ticket, they cannot be reimbursed for the cost. This is a UW policy and more information can be found on the UW Travel website.

No, the conference registration fee is unallowable on the Award that ends October 2016. The conference occurs after the end date of the Award and would not directly benefit the Award. If the continuation Award allows for pre-Award expenditures, the fee could be paid in October and charged to the continuation Award. In the absence of a continuation Award, the department may request an No-Cost Extension.

Tuition

If the individual has a qualified UW Graduate Student Appointment, and the program is related to the activities on the Federal award, then the fees may be charged to a sponsored award.

Visa Fees

Visa costs are allowable and should be allocated to the Award(s) on which the individual will be allocating their time. Visa costs cannot be covered based on budgetary convenience.

First, check the Award and sponsor regulations to ensure the expense is allowable. 

If the expense is allowable, it can be allocated across more than one Award as long as the allocation is in proportion to the benefit provided to each Award. The allocation of the visa cost should match the effort that the person will be expending on each Award. For example, if the person’s effort is allocated 80/20 between two Awards, then the H-1B visa cost should also be allocated on a similar 80/20 split. 

No, this is not an allowable cost unless there is specific written sponsor approval for this cost. 


Post Award Fiscal Compliance email: gcafco@uw.edu

For questions and issues relating to Effort Reporting, email: effortreporting@uw.edu

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