(a) The aggregate value of the services is material;

(b) The services are supported by a significant amount of the indirect costs incurred by the organization;

(c) The direct cost activity is not pursued primarily for the benefit of the Federal Government.

(3) In those instances where there is no basis for determining the fair market value of the services rendered, the recipient and the cognizant agency shall negotiate an appropriate allocation of indirect cost to the services.

(4) Where donated services directly benefit a project supported by an award, the indirect costs allocated to the services will be considered as a part of the total costs of the project. Such indirect costs may be reimbursed under the award or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements.

(5) The value of the donated services may be used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements under conditions described in Attachment E, OMB Circular No. A-110. Where donated services are treated as indirect costs, indirect cost rates will separate the value of the donations so that reimbursement will not be made.

(6) Fair market value of donated services shall be computed as follows:

(a) Rates for volunteer services. Rates for volunteers shall be consistent with those regular rates paid for similar work in other activities of the organization. In cases where the kinds of skills involved are not found in the other activities of the organization, the rates used shall be consistent with those paid for similar work in the labor market in which the organization competes for such skills.

(b) Services donated by other organizations. When an employer donates the services of an employee, these services shall be valued at the employee's regular rate of pay (exclusive of fringe benefits and indirect costs) provided the services are in the same skill for which the employee is normally paid. If the services are not in the same skill for which the employee is normally paid, fair market value shall be computed in accordance with subparagraph (a) above.

b. Goods and space.

(1) Donated goods; i.e., expendable personal property/supplies, and donated use of space may be furnished to an organization. The value of the goods and space is not reimbursable either as a direct or indirect cost.

(2) The value of the donations may be used to meet cost sharing or matching share requirements under the conditions described in Attachment E, OMB Circular No. A-110. The value of the donations shall be determined in accordance with Attachment E. Where donations are treated as indirect costs, indirect cost rates will separate the

value of the donations so that reimbursement will not be made.

11. Employee morale, health, and welfare, costs and credits. The costs of house publications, health or first-aid clinics, and/or infirmaries, recreational activities, employees' counseling services, and other expenses incurred in accordance with the organization's established practice or custom for the improvement of working conditions, employeremployee relations, employee morale, and employee performance are allowable. Such costs will be equitably apportioned to all activities of the organization. Income generated from any of these activities will be credited to the cost thereof unless such income has been irrevocably set over to employee welfare organizations.

12. Entertainment costs. Costs of amusement, diversion, social activities, ceremonials, and costs relating thereto, such as meals, lodging, rentals, transportation, and gratuities are unallowable (but see paragraphs 11 and 25).

13. Equipment and other capital expenditures.

a. As used in this paragraph, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

(1) "Equipment" means an article of nonexpendable tangible personal property having a useful life of more than two years and an acquisition cost of $500 or more per unit. An organization may use its own definition provided that it at least includes all nonexpendable tangible personal property as defined herein.

(2) "Acquisition cost" means the net invoice unit price of an item of equipment, including the cost of any modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective intransit insurance, freight, and installation shall be included in or excluded from acquisition cost in accordance with the organization's regular written accounting practices.

(3) "Special purpose equipment" means equipment which is usable only for research, medical, scientific, or technical activities. Examples of special purpose equipment include microscopes, x-ray machines, surgical instruments, and spectrometers.

(4) "General purpose equipment" means equipment which is usable for other than research, medical, scientific, or technical activities, whether or not special modifications are needed to make them suitable for a particular purpose. Examples of general purpose equipment include office equipment and furnishings, air conditioning equipment, reproduction and printing equipment, motor vehicles, and automatic data processing equipment.

b. (1) Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment are unallowable as a

direct cost except with the prior approval of the awarding agency.

(2) Capital expenditures for special purpose equipment are allowable as direct costs provided that items with a unit cost of $1000 or more have the prior approval of the awarding agency.

c. Capital expenditures for land or buildings are unallowable as a direct cost except with the prior approval of the awarding agency.

d. Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life are unallowable as a direct cost except with the prior approval of the awarding agency.

e. Equipment and other capital expenditures are unallowable as indirect costs. However, see paragraph 9 for allowability of use allowances or depreciation on buildings, capital improvements, and equipment. Also, see paragraph 42 for allowability of rental costs for land, buildings, and equipment.

14. Fines and penalties. Cost of fines and penalties resulting from violations of, or failure of the organization to comply with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations are unallowable except when incurred as a result of compliance with specific provisions of an award or instructions in writing from the awarding agency.

15. Fringe benefits. See paragraph 6. f. 16. Idle facilities and idle capacity.

a. As used in this paragraph the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

(1) "Facilities" means land and buildings or any portion thereof, equipment individually or collectively, or any other tangible capital asset, wherever located, and whether owned or leased by the organization.

(2) "Idle facilities" means completely unused facilities that are excess to the organization's current needs.

(3) "Idle capacity" means the unused capacity of partially used facilities. It is the difference between that which a facility could achieve under 100 per cent operating time on a one-shift basis less operating interruptions resulting from time lost for repairs, setups, unsatisfactory materials, and other normal delays, and the extent to which the facility was actually used to meet demands during the accounting period. A multishift basis may be used if it can be shown that this amount of usage could normally be expected for the type of facility involved.

(4) "Costs of idle facilities or idle capacity" means costs such as maintenance, repair, housing, rent, and other related costs; e.g., property taxes, insurance, and depreciation or use allowances.

b. The costs of idle facilities are unallowable except to the extent that:

(1) They are unnecessary to meet fluctuations in workload; or

(2) Although not necessary to meet fluctuations in workload, they were necessary when acquired and are now idle because of changes in program requirements, efforts to achieve more economical operations, reorganization, termination, or other causes which could not have been reasonably foreseen. Under the exception stated in this subparagraph, costs of idle facilities are allowable for a reasonable period of time, ordinarily not to exceed one year, depending upon the initiative taken to use, lease, or dispose of such facilities (but see paragraphs 47.b. and d.).

c. The costs of idle capacity are normal costs of doing business and are a factor in the normal fluctuations of usage or indirect cost rates from period to period. Such costs are allowable, provided the capacity is reasonably anticipated to be necessary or was originally reasonable and is subject to reduction or elimination by subletting, renting, or sale, in accordance with sound business, economics, or security practices. Widespread idle capacity throughout an entire facility or among a group of assets having substantially the same function may be idle facilities.

17. Independent research and development [Reserved].

18. Insurance and indemnification.

a. Insurance includes insurance which the organization is required to carry, or which is approved, under the terms of the award and any other insurance which the organization maintains in connection with the general conduct of its operations. This paragraph does not apply to insurance which represents fringe benefits for employees (see paragraph 6.f. and 6.g.(2)).

(1) Costs of insurance required or approved, and maintained, pursuant to the award are allowable.

(2) Costs of other insurance maintained by the organization in connection with the general conduct of its operations are allowable subject to the following limitations.

(a) Types and extent of coverage shall be in accordance with sound business practice and the rates and premiums shall be reasonable under the circumstances.

(b) Costs allowed for business interruption or other similar insurance shall be limited to exclude coverage of management fees.

(c) Costs of insurance or of any provisions for a reserve covering the risk of loss or damage to Government property are allowable only to the extent that the organization is liable for such loss or damage.

(d) Provisions for a reserve under a self-insurance program are allowable to the extent that types of coverage, extent of coverage, rates, and premiums would have been allowed had insurance been purchased to cover the risks. However, provision for known or reasonably estimated self-insured

liabilities, which do not become payable for more than one year after the provision is made shall not exceed the present value of the liability.

(e) Costs of Insurance on the lives of trustees, officers, or other employees holding positions of similars responsibilities are allowable only to the extent that the insurance represents additional compensation (see paragraph 6). The cost of such insurance when the organization is identified as the beneficiary is unallowable.

(3) Actual losses which could have been covered by permissible insurance (through the purchase of insurance or a self-insurance program) are unallowable unless expressly provided for in the award, except:

(a) Costs incurred because of losses not covered under nominal deductible insurance coverage provided in keeping with sound business practice are allowable.

(b) Minor losses not covered by insurance, such as spoilage, breakage, and disappearance of supplies, which occur in the ordinary course of operations, are allowable.

b. Indemnification includes securing the organization against liabilities to third persons and any other loss or damage, not compensated by insurance or otherwise. The Government is obligated to indemnify the organization only to the extent expressly provided in the award.

19. Interest, fund raising, and investment management costs.

a. Costs incurred for interest on borrowed capital or temporary use of endowment funds, however represented, are unallowable.

b. Costs of organized fund raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions are unallowable.

c. Costs of investment counsel and staff and similar expenses incurred solely to enhance income from investments are allowable.

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d. Fund raising and investment activities shall be allocated an appropriate share of indirect costs under the conditions described in paragraph B of Attachment A.

20. Labor relations costs. Costs incurred in maintaining satisfactory relations between the organization and its employees, including costs of labor management committees, employee publications, and other related activities are allowable.

21. Losses on other awards. Any excess of costs over income on any award is unallowable as a cost of any other award. This includes, but is not limited to, the organization's contributed portion by reason of cost sharing agreements or any underrecoveries through negotiation of lump sums for, or ceilings on, indirect costs.

22. Maintenance and repair costs. Costs incurred for necessary maintenance, repair,

or upkeep of buildings and equipment (including Government property unless otherwise provided for) which neither add to the permanent value of the property nor appreciably prolong its intended life, but keep it in an efficient operating condition, are allowable. Costs incurred for improvements which add to the permanent value of the buildings and equipment or appreciably prolong their intended life shall be treated as capital expenditures (see paragraph 13).

23. Materials and supplies. The costs of materials and supplies necessary to carry out an award are allowable. Such costs should be charged at their actual prices after deducting all cash discounts, trade discounts, rebates, and allowances received by the organization. Withdrawals from general stores or stockrooms should be charged at cost under any recognized method of pricing consistently applied. Incoming transportation charges may be a proper part of material cost. Materials and supplies charged as a direct cost should include only the materials and supplies actually used for the performance of the contract or grant, and due credit should be given for any excess materials or supplies retained, or returned to vendors.

24. Meetings, conferences.

a. Costs associated with the conduct of meetings, and conferences, and include the cost of renting facilities, meals, speakers' fees, and the like. But see paragraph 12, Entertainment costs, and paragraph 29, Participant support costs.

b. To the extent that these costs are identifiable with a particular cost objective, they should be charged to that objective. (See paragraph B. of Attachment A.) These costs are allowable provided that they meet the general tests of allowable, shown in Attachment A to this Circular.

c. Costs of meetings and conferences held to conduct the general administration of the organization are allowable.

25. Memberships, subscriptions, and professional activity costs.

a. Costs of the organization's membership in civic, business, technical and professional organizations are allowable.

b. Costs of the organization's subscriptions to civic, business, professional, and technical periodicals are allowable.

c. Costs of attendance at meetings and conferences, sponsored by others when the primary purpose is the dissemination of technical information, are allowable. This includes costs of meals, transportation, and other items incidental to such attendance.

26. Organization costs. Expenditures, such as incorporation fees, brokers' fees, fees to promoters, organizers or management consultants, attorneys, accountants, or investment counselors, whether or not employees of the organization, in connection with establishment or reorganization of an

organization, are unallowable except with prior approval of the awarding agency.

27. Overtime, extra-pay shift, and multishift premiums. Premiums for overtime, extra-pay shifts, and multishift work are allowable only with the prior approval of the awarding agency except:

a. When necessary to cope with emergencies, such as those resulting from accidents, natural disasters, breakdowns of equipment, or occasional operational bottlenecks of a sporadic nature.

b. When employees are performing indirect functions such as administration, maintenance, or accounting.

c. In the performance of tests, laboratory procedures, or other similar operations which are continuous in nature and cannot reasonably be interrupted or otherwise completed.

d. When lower overall cost to the Government will result.

28. Page charges in professional journals. Page charges for professional journal publications are allowable as a necessary part of research costs, where:

a. The research papers report work supported by the Government; and

b. The charges are levied impartially on all research papers published by the journal, whether or not by Government-sponsored authors.

29. Participant support costs. Participant support costs are direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with meetings, conferences, symposia, or training projects. These costs are allowable with the prior approval of the awarding agency.

30. Patent costs.

a. Costs of (i) preparing disclosures, reports, and other documents required by the award and of searching the art to the extent necessary to make such disclosures, (ii) preparing documents and any other patent costs in connection with the filing and prosecution of a United States patent application where title or royalty-free license is required by the Government to be conveyed to the Government, and (iii) general counseling services relating to patent and copyright matters, such as advice on patent and copyright laws, regulations, clauses, and employee agreements are allowable (but see paragraph 34).

b. Cost of preparing disclosures, reports, and other documents and of searching the art to the extent necessary to make disclosures, if not required by the award, are unallowable. Costs in connection with (i) filing and prosecuting any foreign patent application, or (ii) any United States patent application, where the award does not require conveying title or a royalty-free license to

the Government, are unallowable (also see paragraph 43).

31. Pension plans. See paragraph 6. g.

32. Plant security costs. Necessary expenses incurred to comply with Government security requirements or for facilities protection, including wages, uniforms, and equipment of personnel are allowable.

33. Preaward costs. Preaward costs are those incurred prior to the effective date of the award directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the award where such costs is necessary to comply with the proposed delivery schedule or period of performance. Such costs are allowable only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the award and only with the written approval of the awarding agency.

34. Professional service costs.

a. Costs of professional and consultant services rendered by persons who are members of a particular profession or possess a special skill, and who are not officers or employees of the organization, are allowable, subject to b, c, and d, of this paragraph when reasonable in relation to the services rendered and when not contingent upon recovery of the costs from the Government.

b. In determining the allowability of costs in a particular case, no single factor or any special combination of factors is necessarily determinative. However, the following factors are relevant:

(1) The nature and scope of the service rendered in relation to the service required. (2) The necessity of contracting for the service, considering the organization's capability in the particular area.

(3) The past pattern of such costs, particularly in the years prior to Government awards.

(4) The impact of Government awards on the organization's business (i.e., what new problems have arisen).

(5) Whether the proportion of Government work to the organization's total business is such as to influence the organization in favor of incurring the cost, particularly where the services rendered are not of a continuing nature and have little relationship to work under Government grants and contracts.

(6) Whether the service can be performed more economically by direct employment rather than contracting.

(7) The qualifications of the individual or concern rendering the service and the customary fees charged, especially on non-Government awards.

(8) Adequacy of the contractual agreement for the service (e.g., description of the service, estimate of time required, rate of compensation, and termination provisions).

c. In addition to the factors in paragraph b above, retainer fees to the allowable must

be supported by evidence of bona fide services available or rendered.

d. Cost of legal, accounting, and consulting services, and related costs incurred in connection with defense of antitrust suits, and the prosecution of claims against the Government, are unallowable. Costs of legal, accounting and consulting services, and related costs, incurred in connection with patent infringement litigation, organization and reorganization, are unallowable unless otherwise provided for in the award (but see paragraph 47e).

35. Profits and losses on disposition of depreciable property or other capital assets.

a. (1) Gains and losses on sale, retirement, or other disposition of depreciable property shall be included in the year in which they Occur as credits or charges to cost grouping(s) in which the depreciation applicable to such property was included. The amount of the gain or loss to be included as a credit or charge to the appropriate cost grouping(s) shall be the difference between the amount realized on the property and the undepreciated basis of the property.

(2) Gains and losses on the disposition of depreciable property shall not be recognized as a separate credit or charge under the following conditions.

(a) The gain or loss is processed through a depreciation reserve account and is reflected in the depreciation allowable under paragraph 9.

(b) The property is given in exchange as part of the purchase price of a similar item and the gain or loss is taken into account in determining the depreciation cost basis of the new item.

(c) A loss results from the failure to maintain permissible insurance, except as otherwise provided in paragraph 18.a.(3).

(d) Compensation for the use of the property was provided through use allowances in lieu of depreciation in accordance with paragraph 9.

(e) Gains and losses arising from mass or extraordinary sales, retirements, or other dispositions shall be considered on a caseby-case basis.

b. Gains or losses of any nature arising from the sale or exchange of property other than the property covered in paragraph a. above shall be excluded in computing award costs.

36. Public information service costs.

a. Public information service costs include the cost associated with pamphlets, news releases, and other forms of information services. Such costs are normally incurred to:

(1) Inform or instruct individuals, groups, or the general public.

(2) Interest individuals or groups in participating in a service program of the organization.

(3) Disseminate the results of sponsored and nonsponsored activities.

b. Public information service costs are allowable as direct costs with the prior approval of the awarding agency. Such costs are unallowable as indirect costs.

37. Publication and printing costs.

a. Publication costs include the costs of printing (including the processes of composition, plate-making, press work, binding, and the end products produced by such processes), distribution, promotion, mailing, and general handling.

b. If these costs are not identifiable with a particular cost objective, they should be allocated as indirect costs to all benefiting activities of the organization.

c. Publication and printing costs are unallowable as direct costs except with the prior approval of the awarding agency.

d. The cost of page charges in journals is addressed paragraph 28.

38. Rearrangement and alteration costs. Costs incurred for ordinary or normal rearrangement and alteration of facilities are allowable. Special arrangement and alteration costs incurred specifically for the project are allowable with the prior approval of the awarding agency.

39. Reconversion costs. Costs incurred in the restoration or rehabilitation of the organization's facilities to approximately the same condition existing immediately prior to commencement of Government awards, fair wear and tear excepted, are allowable.

40. Recruiting costs. The following recruiting costs are allowable: cost of "help wanted" advertising, operating costs of an employment office, costs of operating an educational testing program, travel expenses including food and lodging of employees while engaged in recruiting personnel, travel costs of applicants for interviews for prospective employment, and relocation costs incurred incident to recruitment of new employees (see paragraph 41c). Where the organization uses employment agencies, costs not in excess of standard commercial rates for such services are allowable.

41. Relocation costs.

a. Relocation costs are costs incident to the permanent change of duty assignment (for an indefinite period or for a stated period of not less than 12 months) of an existing employee or upon recruitment of a new employee. Relocation costs are allowable, subject to the limitation described in paragraphs b, c, and d, below, provided that: (1) The move is for the benefit of the employer.

(2) Reimbursement to the employee is in accordance with an established written policy consistently followed by the employ

er.

(3) The reimbursement does not exceed the employee's actual (or reasonably estimate) expenses.