Facilities and Administrative (Indirect Cost) and Fringe Benefits Rates

Presents an explanation of Stanford University's Facilities & Administrative (Indirect Cost) and Fringe Benefits Rates, including definitions of "on-campus" and "off-campus" rates, and Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC). Current rates are maintained by the Cost & Management Analysis Office.

1. Introduction

Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Rates (also known as indirect cost rates) and fringe benefits rates are established in accordance with the federal government's Office of Management and Budget. These rates are negotiated between Stanford and the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the cognizant federal agency overseeing the administration of sponsored agreements at Stanford.

All proposals to sponsors must include budget requests for F&A costs and fringe benefits, using the rates negotiated by Stanford and provided by Cost and Management Analysis (CMA), unless a reduced rate is approved by the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (or for the Medical School, by the Dean of the School of Medicine or designee) on a case-by-case basis. The Office of the Dean of Research maintains a separate list of entities whose published policies specify rates lower than Stanford's, where the lower rate has been approved by the University.

Proposals to these sponsors may be submitted to the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) using the rates indicated on that list without prior approval by the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (or Dean of the School of Medicine). See RPH: Indirect Cost Waivers.

2. Application of On- and Off-Campus Facilities & Administrative Rates

F&A (indirect cost) and fringe benefit rates are applicable to all externally-sponsored projects (grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, subgrants, and subcontracts) funded by federal, state or private sponsors. The application of these rates allows Stanford University to recover certain costs (e.g. facilities, utilities, libraries, administration, student services, etc.) associated with externally-funded training and research activity.

A. Definition of "Off Campus"

A project, or part of a project, is considered to be performed off-campus if the activity is conducted at a location other than Stanford University's academic lands and the majority of F&A (indirect costs), e.g., operation and maintenance, depreciation or lease of buildings, equipment and improvements, associated with the University's facilities, both owned and leased, is not applicable. If a project is located in leased space and the lease is a direct charge to the project, then the project is considered off-campus; if the project is not charged directly for the lease cost and the lease is a part of the University's F&A (indirect cost) rate, then the project is considered on-campus. In other words, the classification of on- or off-campus is solely for the purpose of applying the correct F&A (indirect cost) rate.

The off-campus F&A rate will not be applied when members of a research group conduct research via telework from a residence because Stanford’s research operating costs continue to incur and apply when project personnel work from their home. Remote working is a privilege that does not change how the university applies the indirect cost rate.

B. Projects Conducted Partially Off-Campus

The on- or off-campus determination shall be based on the Stanford portion of project costs and not include costs of a collaborating entity. "Project" refers to the grant or contract award to Stanford University, not including collaborating entities.

Grant or Contract Award Under $100,000 in Modified Total Direct Costs

Projects of this size which are partially performed off-campus are not apportioned between their on-campus and off-campus components for F&A rate purposes. If 50% or more of the project's MTDCs is to be expended on campus, the entire project is charged the on-campus F&A rate. If more than 50% of the MTDC is determined to be off campus, the entire project is charged the off-campus F&A rate.

Grant or Contract Award of $100,000 or More in Modified Total Direct Costs

MTDC for projects of this size which are partially performed off-campus is apportioned between on-campus and off-campus components for F&A rate application purposes in instances where the lesser component is 20% or more of the MTDC of the project. If the lesser component is under 20%, the entire project is charged the F&A rate of the larger component, i.e. if the on-campus MTDC component is larger, the entire project is charged the on-campus F&A rate.

3. Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC)

MTDC is the base to which F&A (indirect cost) rates are applied.  OMB’s Uniform Guidance defines this base for sponsored projects awarded on or after December 26, 2014 as follows:

MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

Use expenditure type 52436 for participant support costs for all federally sponsored projects awarded on or after December 26, 2014.

The expenditure type for Participant Support Costs must not be used on non-federally sponsored projects unless required by the sponsor. Categorize such costs using the expenditure types for travel, stipend, etc.

Prior to December 26, 2014 the OMB Circular A-21 definition of MTDC did not exclude participant support costs. NSF was the only agency that excluded participant support costs from MTDC.

Use expenditure type 54235 for participant costs for NSF sponsored projects awarded prior to December 26, 2014.

See additional expenditure types for interdepartmental charging of participant support costs.

As specified in this definition, some costs are excluded from Total Direct Costs (TDC) to arrive at the MTDC base to which F&A (indirect cost) rates are applied. OMB’s Uniform Guidance and A-21 also provides for exclusions of other items of cost where necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of costs. Any questions about the MTDC base should be directed to the Cost and Management Analysis Office (CMA).  Specific application of F&A to individual expenditure types should be directed to the Research Administration Policy & Compliance Office (RAPC).

A. Application of Facilities & Administrative Rates Using Modified Total Direct Costs or Total Direct Costs

For Federally-sponsored Projects

The MTDC base shall be used when a Federal sponsor's published F&A rate is less than the current full ONR-negotiated rate, but does not specify a base. The TDC base shall be used when a Federal sponsor prescribes use of the TDC base.

For Non-Federally-sponsored Projects

The TDC base shall be used when a non-Federal sponsor's published F&A rate is less than the current full ONR-negotiated rate.

F&A waiver requirements are contained in RPH 15.2: Facility and Administrative (Indirect Cost) Waivers apply in all cases. Refer to the waiver list maintained by the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research.

4. Fringe Benefit Rates

The fringe benefits rates are applied to the appropriate "salary and wage bases." As defined in Stanford's Negotiation Agreement, this base includes direct salaries and wages being charged to the project, including vacation, holidays, and sick leave. Salaries for graduate students with assistantship appointments are charged a Graduate Assistantship Rate which provides a health insurance subsidy. Salaries for temporary employees and those working less than half-time are charged the Contingent (casual/temporary) Employee Benefits Rate. Postdoctoral Scholars are charged the Postdoctoral Scholars Rate. All other employees are charged the Regular Employee Benefits Rate.