FSU Biology - Directories - Resource Guide

Grant Proposal Guide

Budget Development and Grants Accounting

Proposal Development

Budget Development and Grants Accounting
The department employs two grant specialists to assist Biology faculty with budget development, approval routing and proposal submissions, including NSF Fastlane submissions, in addition to providing accounting service for funded grants.

These employees are knowledgeable about (or know where to find information on) FSU requirements, including fringe benefits associated with salaries, agency regulations, tuition remission, direct costs, and indirect costs.
Biology Unit I: Linda Sims, 644-6588, sims@bio.fsu.edu
Conradi: Keli Hardee, 644-2742, hardee@bio.fsu.edu

The grant specialists also provide accounting and administrative support for funded grants within the department.

Editorial Services
At your request, the department's editor, Dr. Anne Thistle, will edit all, or part, of your proposal prior to submission to Sponsored Research.

Clerical Support
Clerical support is available to Biological Science faculty for typing, copying, and/or mailing final drafts.
Biology Unit I: Bobbie Weston, 644-1228, weston@bio.fsu.edu
Conradi: Keli Hardee, 644-3735, hardee@bio.fsu.edu

FSU's Office of Sponsored Research Staff Directory
Contact information for Sponsored Research staff, including accountants and grants administrators.

Sponsored Projects Manual (pdf document)
Sponsored Research Office guide to developing and submitting applications for sponsored research projects. (under construction)

Unallowable Costs
Specific categories of costs that cannot be charged, directly or indirectly, to federally sponsored projects as regulated by Section J of OMB Circular A-21 of the Federal rules and regulations.

Salaries and Fringe Benefits

Faculty Salaries
9-Month faculty (see also fringe benefit/insurance rates)
100% Academic Year Rate = Gross biweekly multiplied by 19.5 pay-periods. Fringe benefits and insurance costs must be included for Fall/Spring salaries.
100% Fall Rate = Gross biweekly multiplied by 9.7 pay-periods; add insurance and fringe benefits.
100% Spring Rate = Gross biweekly multiplied by 9.8 pay-periods; add insurance and fringe benefits.
100% Summer Rate = Gross biweekly multiplied by 6.5 pay-periods; add fringe benefits only.

Graduate Stipends
The minimum annual stipend (26.1 pay-periods) for graduate students in Biological Science is $16,000, effective August 8, 2002. Annual increases should be considered when calculating stipends, as these are usually mandatory based on legislative rulings.

Staff Salaries
Staff salaries should be calculated based on 26.1 pay-periods per year, and must include fringe benefits and insurance costs. The State University System has established pay scales based on the duties and responsibilities associated with various positions. (See also fringe benefit/insurance rates)

NOTE: Before you may hire a salaried employee, you must formally establish a position through the FSU Human Resources Office. This process is initiated at the department level. Please contact John W. Netter , netter@bio.fsu.edu or 644-4788, for assistance.

Fringe Benefits Rates
Fringe benefits may include retirement, social security, Medicare and worker's compensation/unemployment compensation, plus appropriate health of life insurance.

Faculty salaries are assessed the cost of health and life insurance during the regular academic year only. Faculty salaries should not include health or life insurance for the summer semester as this cost is pre-paid during the Spring Semester.

Staff salaries are assessed the cost of health and life insurance 24 pay-periods throughout the year.
Postdoctoral Associates are eligible for participation in insurance programs, at FSU premium rates, but are responsible for the full cost of that coverage

OPS salaries are assessed benefits based on their enrollment status.

The following rates should be used in calculating fringe benefits. The cost of health and/or life insurance should be added to the fringe benefit cost for salaried positions, if applicable.

Fringe Benefits and Insurance rates

Graduate Matriculation funds (Tuition Remission)

Effective May 8, 2002, all grants that include funding for graduate student stipends are required to pay the matriculation portion of the student's tuition. Arts & Sciences and Biological Science requires that each graduate student enroll for 9 hours during the Summer Semester.

If an agency disallows tuition, you must provide an alternative source of funding for the waiver.

Any commitment of university, college, or department funds must be approved in advance, in writing, by the appropriate reviewing authority (chairman and/or dean). Please initiate this approval process by contacting the department chairman first.

Proposals will not be accepted by FSU's Sponsored Research Office until all issues surrounding graduate matriculation are resolved.

Policy on the payment of Graduate Matriculation by Sponsored Projects

Rates

Tuition Remission (Matriculation Fee only; calculated with a 10% estimated annual increase.) (Base rate verified by Office of Graduate Studies on 3/25/02)
Semester Hrs	2001-2002	2002-2003	2003-2004	2004-2005	2005-2006	2006-2007
Per hour cost	$133.95	$147.35	$162.08	$178.29	$196.12	$215.73
9 hrs. in-state	$1,206.00	$1,326.11	$1,458.72	$1,604.59	$1,765.05	$1,941.55
18 hrs. in-state	$2,411.00	$2,652.11	$2,917.43	$3,209.17	$3,530.09	$3,883.10
27 hrs. in-state	$3,617.00	$3,978.32	$4,376.15	$4,813.76	$5,295.14	$5,824.65

Indirect Costs

FSU requires the inclusion of funds for indirect costs unless otherwise negotiated with, or disallowed by, the funding agency. If an agency does not allow indirect costs, you may be required to provide documentation from the granting agency stating this policy prior to release of the proposal by FSU's Sponsored Research Office.

FSU Indirect Cost Agreement
Most recent rate agreement between FSU and the Federal Government

Indirect Cost Rates

RATE/BASE*	PERIOD	LOCATION	ACTIVITY
46.0% MTDC	7/1/00-6/30/04	On-Campus Non-NHMFL	Research, Instruction, and Other Sponsored Activities
52.0% MTDC	7/1/01-6/30/02	On-Campus NHMFL	Research, Instruction, and Other Sponsored Activities
51.0% MTDC	7/1/02-6/30/04	On-Campus NHMFL	Research, Instruction, and Other Sponsored Activities
26.0% MTDC	7/1/00-6/30/04	Off-Campus	Research, Instruction, and Other Sponsored Activities
NHMFL rates apply only to grants administered by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
*BASE: The base is modified total direct costs (MTDC). MTDC is defined as total direct costs excluding equipment ($1,000 or more), capital expenditures, charges for patient care and tuition remission, rental costs of off-site facilities, scholarships, and fellowships as well as the portion of each subgrant and subcontract in excess of $25,000.

For contracts with State of Florida agencies (not including other SUS Universities), use 5% TDC. In this case, TDC equals total direct costs less tuition.

The off-campus rate will apply where more than 50% of the project as a whole will be conducted in facilities not owned by FSU.

Approval Requirements

Cost-Sharing Commitments

The appropriate reviewing authorities must approve proposals that require a commitment of university, college, or departmental resources.

The department chair, or his/her authorized designee, must approve any cost-sharing commitment before proposals can be submitted to any other office. If you are not certain about this approval routing, please ask your grant specialist, or the department's administrative coordinator, John W.Netter, netter@bio.fsu.edu.

Transmittal form
In addition to forms required by each agency, FSU requires that each proposal is accompanied by an FSU Transmittal form.

Sponsored Research will not release proposals, including NSF Fastlane submissions, or accept contracts with any funding agency until this form is completed.

Approval Routing for Biological Science Faculty
All proposals and/or correspondence to agencies that result in new funding, additional funding, or no-cost extensions, must be routed properly. FSU will not accept agency resources until endorsed by the appropriate university officers. In order for the department to provide efficient accounting support, please route all such correspondence through your grant specialist.
Approval Routing:
Department Chair (214 or 212 Conradi)
College of Arts & Sciences (110 Longmire)
Research Committee(s) (required for certain research projects, depending on location and/or subjects used, see Compliance section)
Sponsored Research

Compliance Approvals for Research
Your proposal, depending on the type of research and subjects involved, may be subject to review by various committees/offices to ensure compliance with federal, state, or university regulations.
These approvals include (links to forms and information):

Human Subjects
Any institution which receives federal funding must adhere to the OHRP http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov (Formerly OPRR) regulations for use of human subjects in research. (45 CFR Rule 46). All students, faculty or employees who conduct research involving human subjects, when such data will be available for generalized knowledge (i.e., published), must have the approval of the human subjects committee. Applications must be submitted prior to collecting data. Failure to gain committee approval prior to collecting data can result in a forfeiture of data or other penalties.

Animal Welfare
Federal regulations under the Animal Welfare Act mandate registration with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection service, Regulatory Enforcement and Animal Care, Animal Care Division. Under the requirements of the Health Research Extension Act of 1985, Florida State University as a recipient of Public Health Service funding is registered with the Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Protection from Research Risks, National Institutes of Health and is subject to its rules and regulations. To learn more about the FSU Laboratory Animal Research office, go to their website located at http://www.fsu.edu/~FSULAR/home1.htm

Radioactive/Hazardous Materials
Research that involves the use of hazardous chemicals, etiologic agents, human blood or other human materials, class III or IV lasers, or radioactive materials require the approval of the FSU Office of Environmental Health and Safety to ensure compliance with state and federal law prior to submission of the proposal.

Marine Lab Facilities
All proposals submitted to Contracts and Grants that involve use of FSUML facilities require the signature of the Marine Lab Director on the FSU Transmittal Form #MP2482.

Scuba Diving
Research that involves scuba diving requires approval from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

Recombinant DNA
Research that involves recombinant DNA techniques requires approval from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.
Committee chair, Robert H. Reeves reeves@bio.fsu.edu

Workshops/Conferences
Restrictions are in place that regulate use of workshop/conference services; for information and to ensure proposals are in compliance with University regulations, please contact srudasill@cpd.fsu.edu

Faculty Overload/Dual Compensation
Proposals that include instructional overload or dual compensation for faculty may require approval by the Center for Professional development; to ensure compliance with University regulations, please contact srudasill@cpd.fsu.edu

Required FSU Forms

FSU Transmittal
See also Approval Requirements, compliance approvals for research

External Funding Agencies

National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
Department of Energy
US Department of Agriculture
Environmental Protection Agency
Links to several other funding agencies

Agency Forms

National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation Fastlane
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
TRAM
TRAM is a public service website that provides links to electronic forms for a wide variety of funding agencies.

Internal Funding Sources

Funding opportunities for FSU faculty to enhance teaching and research.
Click on the links to access applications and information.

Faculty Travel Grants
Each year, the Provost makes available funds to help offset the cost of professional travel for tenured and tenure-earning faculty. These funds are intended to enhance professional development through the presentation of research at national or international meetings.

The Cornerstone Program
The Florida State University Research Foundation (FSURF) Cornerstone Programs were created to aid faculty in research. There are three award programs: The Centers of Excellence Award, and the Program Enhancement Grants, and the Arts & Humanities Program Enhancement Grants. Please click on the links above to learn more about these programs.

Participation is open to all Florida State University faculty in tenure-earning positions who are eligible to apply for external support. Individuals desiring exceptions to the eligibility policy should submit a written request to the Vice President for Research with supporting rationale from the appropriate Department Chair, Dean, or equivalent official.

FSU Council on Research and Creativity Programs
The FSU Council on Research and Creativity (CRC) is a standing committee comprised of faculty from a variety of academic disciplines. The CRC administers several programs of small grants intended to support the development of research programs, as well as recognize the creative endeavors of FSU faculty. Funding is derived from overhead monies generated by FSU sponsored research activities.
CRC Funding Programs include:

First Year Assistant Professor Awards (FYAP)
The FYAP program provides partial salary for assistant professors during their first summer of employment. Application for these funds is a requirement of the College of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Biological Science.

Committee on Faculty Research Support (COFRS)
The COFRS program provides research resources for full-time tenured, or tenure-earning, faculty of all ranks. These funds may be utilized to cover faculty salary and fringe benefits, student assistant stipends and fringe benefits, travel, or supplies. Equipment purchases are not allowed from these funds.

Planning Grants (PG)
PG is a competitive program intended to stimulate and promote a stronger environment for research and scholarship among faculty in all disciplines. The level of financial support provided differs for each program.

Distance and Distributed Learning (ODDL) Summer Workshop
ODDL provides partial summer salary to faculty participating in workshops designed to train first-time users to develop, deliver, and manage a Blackboard (Bb) website to enhance on-campus courses. These funds are available also to faculty who have already completed a Bb Summer Workshop (summer terms 2000 or 2001) and are currently offering a course supported in Bb.