OSP Monthly: Did you know…?

Budget Templates:

Thinking of preparing or revising your budget and budget justification documents for your grant proposal or award? Below is a list of helpful links to the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at UMBC Budget Templates and Resources, which may be used for proposals and for post-award modifications:

a)     Budget Justification/Narrative (Sample):  https://umbc.box.com/s/b3iuquzr8g98ju6mq6c1eqcxg242h2d5

b)     Fellowship Budget Justification Template: https://umbc.app.box.com/embed/s/lv7a4rafzm8k1wcb970kl0y378hr6npd?sortColumn=date&view=list%22%20width=%22500%22%20height=%22400%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%20webkitallowfullscreen%20msallowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E

c)     Revised Budget Template: https://umbc.app.box.com/embed/s/w0u5figiq08gkrl27svtjis6sr0yofei?sortColumn=date&view=list%22%20width=%22500%22%20height=%22400%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%20webkitallowfullscreen%20msallowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E

Additional proposal forms, other forms & templates, Subrecipient Forms and Closeout Forms can be found on the Division of Research & Creative Achievement - ORCA Forms Page at https://research.umbc.edu/forms-for-grants-contracts/.

Other Resources:

These resources will provide up-to-date budget information including UMBC’s Indirect Costs (F&A) Rate, Fringe Rates, Leave Payout Rate, Tuition Rates and OSP Guidance on Costs for Data Storage and Access.

a)     UMBC’s F&A Rate Agreement: https://umbc.app.box.com/embed/s/hluuuv4m61hhr592a0unaij4h9dahzq6?sortColumn=date&view=list%22%20width=%22500%22%20height=%22400%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%20webkitallowfullscreen%20msallowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E

b)     Guidelines for Fringe & Inflation Rates: https://umbc.app.box.com/embed/s/nkyfmatzsxa3983dauq6b4070u5uvu07?sortColumn=date&view=list%22%20width=%22500%22%20height=%22400%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%20webkitallowfullscreen%20msallowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E

c)     Leave Payout Rate Guidance: https://financialservices.umbc.edu/cost-accounting-analysis/leave-payout-rate-guidance/

d)     Tuition Rates: https://sbs.umbc.edu/tuition-info/

e)     OSP Guidance: Costs for Data Storage and Access: https://umbc.app.box.com/file/2025072714669?s=fqgbdztk1167efc87tvaigg4kamhyuvt

Additional Information can be also found on our Proposal Information Page at https://research.umbc.edu/proposal-information/.

What are Allowable Costs?

The Office of Contract & Grant Accounting (OCGA) at UMBC provides helpful information regarding allowable costs. Detailed information about these costs can be found at the OCGA Allowable Cost webpage at: https://cga.umbc.edu/allowable-costs/. Here is a quick summary of this page:

Allowable costs are costs that are permitted under the terms and conditions of a sponsored agreement. The Uniform Guidance (UG) - 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles lists the following four general Tests for Allowability:

1.      Costs must be reasonable.

2.      Costs must be allocable.

3.      Costs must be given consistent treatment, and

4.      Costs must conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in the UG or in the sponsored agreement.

Per Uniform Guidance, examples of normally allowable costs related to a project include:

·       Salaries of technical staff

·       Laboratory supplies

·       Long-distance telephone charges

·       Printing and duplicating reports for the project

·       Animal and animal care costs

·       Travel in support of the project, and

·       Research equipment repair and maintenance costs.

If you have any questions, please also feel free to reach out to our OSP team at ospa@umbc.edu.