CCM and the Vice President for Research have issued a new animal care rate schedule effective September 1, 2007. Effective immediately, these rates should be used in proposal budgets. The rates will also apply to all animal care expenditures incurred on or after 9/1/07. See guidance for details.

Background

The Feinberg School of Medicine and the Office of the Vice President for Research are providing a subsidy (ca. $400,000) in FY 03 as an investment in the research enterprise. This subsidy brings the per diem rate for mice closer to the mean reported in a recent Pricewaterhouse study of peer institutions' animal care costs. To ensure competitive rates in the future, Northwestern will continue to track rates at peer institutions. Per diems for all species as well as other charges will be determined on an annual basis and announced in July or August. In no case will rates in any given year increase by more than 10%.

Guidelines for use

Proposal Budget Preparation (excluding NIH modular proposals)

For new or renewal sponsored project proposals that have a projected start date in FY2008 (9/07 - 8/08), calculate the animal per diems at the newly published rates, and calculate out-years using regular cost-of-living or out-year incremental projections thereafter.

Budget Example for Anticipated Project Period 7/1/07 - 6/30/08

7/1/07 - 6/30/08
Budget animals at 2 mos. FY 2007 final rates and 10 mos. FY 2008 incrementally-increased rates.

7/1/08 - 6/30/09
Budget animals at 2 mos. FY 2008 incrementally-increased rates and 10 mos. FY 2009 incrementally-increased rates.

7/1/09 - 6/30/10
Budget animal at 2 mos. FY 2009 incrementally-increased rates and 10 mos. FY 2010 incrementally-increased rates.

NIH Modular Grant Proposal Budget Preparation

Northwestern's NIH modular tabulator contains a budget line in category A (exempt from F&A costs) for animal costs. The newest version of the tabulator, dated 2/22/02, must be used to prepare modular budgets. For new or renewal sponsored project proposals that have a projected start date in FY2008 (9/07 - 8/08), calculate the animal per diems at the newly published rates, and out-years using regular cost-of-living or out-year incremental projections thereafter. The tabulator will automatically add direct costs for all years, divide by the number of years proposed and round to the nearest module, thus normalizing the annual increases across all years.

Budget Example for Anticipated Project Period 7/1/07 - 6/30/08

7/1/07 - 6/30/08
Budget animals at 2 mos. FY 2007 final rates and 10 mos. FY 2008 incrementally-increased rates.

7/1/08 - 6/30/09
Budget animals at 2 mos. FY 2008 incrementally-increased rates and 10 mos. FY 2009 incrementally-increased rates.

7/1/09 - 6/30/10
Budget animal at 2 mos. FY 2009 incrementally-increased rates and 10 mos. FY 2010 incrementally-increased rates.

Modular grant guidelines permit budget justifications for only limited categories of costs (personnel, subcontracts, extra modules in a given year). Therefore, any reference to animal rate increases should be incorporated only into the body of the proposal. Your modular proposal may be considered non-compliant and returned if this information is included in the budget justification.

Non-competing and Existing Grants

All sponsored projects will be subject to the new rates for animal costs incurred 9/07 and thereafter. Budgets may be adjusted to accommodate for excess or inadequate funds awarded for animal care in accordance with sponsor guidelines. For Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) awards, the principal investigator may make the necessary budget adjustments without agency approval. For other types of awards, please review the award terms and conditions to determine whether agency approval is needed for this rebudgeting action. If you are uncertain, please contact the OSR Research Administrator serving your department for guidance. Although formal re-allocation of funds from one direct cost object in CUFS to another is not required, if a principal investigator or department wishes to make a budgetary adjustment to facilitate their expense monitoring, a completed OSR-2 form may be submitted to OSR. Please allow at least 5 business days for action on this request.

Helpful Web Addresses

CCM Rate Schedule, FAQ, and Issuance Letter: http://www.ccm.northwestern.edu
NIH Modulator Tabulator - on campus: http://www.northwestern.edu/orsp/docs/modtabon.xls
NIH Modulator Tabulator - off campus: http://www.northwestern.edu/orsp/docs/modtabof.xls