Office of Research Administration

This policy identifies unallowable costs in accordance with federal regulations.

This policy applies to all accounts, including federally sponsored agreements, subawards under federally sponsored agreements with other organizations, and departmental accounts.

This policy is effective on July 1, 1999. The policy applies to all costs incurred (or sponsored agreement budget periods beginning) on or after that date.

Federal regulations (OMB Circular A-21) prohibit certain types of costs to be charged to federally sponsored agreements. Specific unallowable costs are listed in the attached exhibit.

These costs and directly associated costs cannot be:

• Charged as a direct cost to federally sponsored projects or used to meet a cost sharing requirement.
• Included in departmental recharge or service center rates.
• Included in the development of the facilities and administration rate (formerly known as indirect costs).

Some types of costs are considered facilities and administration costs, per OMB Circular A-21. Guidelines on whether a cost should be direct or indirect are contained in the university's direct and indirect costs of federal grants and contract policy.

OMB Circular A-21 requires segregation of unallowable costs. The university has established object codes to charge categories of costs which are unallowable. Costs charged directly or used to meet cost-sharing requirements on federally sponsored agreements may not include unallowable charges. Facilities and administration costs must be given special attention because Ledger 2 and 3 accounts effect the facilities and administration cost rate. It is important that the correct object code be used for all unallowable costs to insure they are segregated and removed from the facilities and administration cost calculation.

All charges, including unallowable costs, must meet applicable regulations, university policies and procedures, and be reasonable to be reimbursed.

• Allocable Costs: A cost is allocable to a particular cost objective if the cost benefits that objective. Per OMB Circular A-21, C.4.a, a cost is allocable to a sponsored agreement if it is incurred solely to advance the work under the sponsored agreement; benefits both the sponsored agreement and other work of the institution, in proportions that can be approximated through use of reasonable methods; or is necessary to the overall operation of the institution and, in light of the principles provided in OMB Circular A-21, is deemed to be assignable in part to sponsored projects
• Allowable Costs: Costs that the federal government allows as direct or indirect charges to federal funds. Per OMB Circular A-21, C.2, the costs must be reasonable; be allocable to sponsored agreements under the principles and methods provided herein; be given consistent treatment through application of those generally accepted accounting principles appropriate to the circumstances; and conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the sponsored agreement as to types or amounts of cost items.
• Directly Associated Costs: Any cost that is generated solely as a result of the incurrence of another cost, and which would not have been incurred had the other cost not been incurred (Cost Accounting Standard,505).
• Reasonable Costs: A cost may be considered reasonable if it is consistent with market conditions and the expenditure reflects what a prudent person would have done considering the circumstances surrounding the transaction at that time. Per OMB Circular A-21, C.3, major considerations involved in the determination of the reasonableness of a cost are: whether or not the cost is of a type generally recognized as necessary for the operation of the institution or for the performance of the sponsored agreement; the restraints or requirements imposed by such factors as arm's-length bargaining, federal and state laws and regulations, and sponsored agreement terms and conditions; whether or not the individuals concerned acted with due prudence in the circumstances, considering their responsibilities to the institution, its employees, its students, the Federal Government, and the public at large; and the extent to which the actions taken with respect to the incurrence of the cost are consistent with established institutional policies and practices applicable to the work of the institution generally, including sponsored agreements.

If you have any questions about this policy, how to treat a specific cost or need more information, please contact the associate controller for sponsored programs at 781-736-4423; the assistant controller of cost and tax reporting at 781-736-4535; or the internal auditor at 781-736-4516.

Specific Allowable and Unallowable Costs

The following is a list of unallowable costs, summarized as a quick reference guide from OMB Circular A-21, Section J. Subcodes for the type of cost are listed. All unallowable costs should be charged to the correct subcode so that we may segregate them for accounting purposes. OMB Circular A-21 should be consulted for more detailed information.

1. Advertising and Public Relations — Allowable Exceptions for Nonsponsored Agreements: personnel recruitment, procurement of goods and services, disposal of scrap or surplus material, communicating with the public and press about activities or accomplishments resulting from sponsored agreements and specifically allowed by sponsored agreement. Any advertising or public relations activities that are specifically required by a sponsored agreement. Most allowable advertising and public relations costs are treated as F.A. costs.
2. Alcoholic Beverages (Unallowable Subcode #4990).
3. Alumni and Development Activities (charged to specific chargelines).
4. Bad Debts (Unallowable Subcode #3990).
5. Commencement and Convocation (Unallowable Subcode #3840) — All costs of commencement including convocations held by individual schools and colleges and receptions held in conjunction with these events.
6. Communication Costs (see direct and indirect costs of sponsored agreement policy).
7. Compensation for Personal Services — That portion of salaries exceeding annual salary rates of $125,000 are unallowable as direct costs on NIH awards.
8. Institution-Furnished Automobiles (Unallowable Subcode TBD).
9. Contingency Reserves (general accounting only) — Contributions to a reserve, or similar provision made for future events.
10. Defense and Prosecution of Certain Criminal and Civil Proceedings, Claims, Appeals and Patent Infringement — Circular A-21 outlines complex rules for these types of costs. Please consult with the general counsel's offices and the offices noted below when costs of this nature are incurred.
11. Charitable Contributions by Institution (Unallowable Subcode #6511).
12. Entertainment (Unallowable Subcode #6511) — Cost of entertainment, amusement, diversion and social activities, including tickets to shows or sports events, meals, lodging, parties, receptions, rentals, transportation and gratuities. Examples: football, basketball, theater and concerts; tickets for advisory councils, boards and other guests.
13. Fines and Penalties (Unallowable Subcode #6511).
14. Goods or Services for Personal Use (Unallowable Subcode #6511).
15. Housing and Personal Living Expense of University Officers (Unallowable Subcodes #3560, #3570) — Cost of housing (depreciation, maintenance, utilities, furnishings, rent, etc.); housing allowances and personal living expenses of the institution's officers.
16. Interest, Fundraising and Investment Management Costs (treasury and general accounting costs) — Allowable
: Costs related to physical custody and control of money and securities; cost of interest on assets used in support of sponsored agreements (interest associated with the acquisition of equipment costing $10,000 or more and certain other assets is allowable). Unallowable: Costs of interest on borrowed capital or temporary use of endowment funds, costs of organized fundraising campaigns; costs of investment counsel and staff used solely to enhance income.
17. Lobbying.
18. Losses on Sponsored Agreements (overruns) (Unallowable Subcode #6511) — Allowable: Technical and factual presentation on topics directly related to a grant or contract that are in response to a documented government request; costs to give invited testimony at a congressional hearing. Unallowable: Costs for actions influencing the outcome of a federal, state or local election, referendum or initiative; costs to establish, administer or contribute to a political party, campaign or political action committee whose purpose is to influence the outcome of elections; costs to influence the (a) introduction of federal or state legislation, (b) the enactment of modification of any pending federal or state legislation through communication with any member or employee of the Congress or state legislature or (c) any government official or employee in connection with a decision to sign or veto enrolled legislation; costs for attempts to influence introduction, enactment or modification of federal or state legislation by lobbying the general public; legislative liaison activities that engage in or result in the support of unallowable lobbying; costs to improperly influence an employee or officer of the executive branch of the federal government concerning sponsored agreements or regulatory matters.
    
    See cost-sharing policy.
19. Memberships, Subscriptions and Professional Activity Costs (Unallowable Subcode #6511) — Membership in any civic, community organization, country club, social or dining clubs (i.e., chamber of commerce, women's network).
20. Pre-Agreement Costs — Costs incurred prior to the effective date of the sponsored agreement, unless approved by the sponsoring agency. (Unless restricted by the sponsoring agency, pre-agreement costs up to 90 days are permitted for research grants and cooperative agreements.)
21. Recruiting (Unallowable Subcode #6511) — Candidate spouse expenses, group meals, receptions, etc. for recruiting purposes; advertising that includes color or material for other than recruitment purposes, fringe benefits and salary allowances that do not meet the test of reasonableness or do not conform to the established practices of the institution; relocation costs incurred as either a direct or F & A costs, where the employee resigns within 12 months of hire, must be refunded to the federal government.
22. Scholarships and Student Aid — Allowable Exceptions: Scholarships and student aid is allowable on training grants to selected participants if the charge is approved by the sponsoring agency; tuition remission paid as, or in lieu of, wage to students performing necessary work and other forms of compensation to students provided: (a) there is a bona fide employer-employee relationship between the student and the institution for the work performed, (b) the tuition or other payments are reasonable compensation for work performed and are conditioned explicitly upon the performance of necessary work and (c) it is the institution's practice to similarly compensate students in non-sponsored as well as sponsored activities.
23. Student Activities (charged to specific chargelines) — Intramurals; student publications; and clubs, unless specifically provided for in the sponsored agreement.
24. Travel (Unallowable Subcode #6511) — Costs of travel via institution-owned, leased or chartered aircraft in excess of the cost of allowable commercial air travel; first class or noncoach air travel; and lodging and subsidence costs in excess of our normal policy.