News

Indirect Costs

National Science Foundation (NSF) On June 20, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, in No. 1:25-cv-11231-IT, vacated NSF's 15% Indirect Cost Rate policy (NSF 25-034). In compliance with the court's decision, NSF will not implement the policy at this time. New NSF awards issued will not implement NSF 25-034, but will include a term applying NSF 25-034 for the entirety of the award if a subsequent court decision permits application of the policy. 

Alternative Model:

The Joint Assoc. Group (JAG) has developed two models for the research community to review and give feedback before they choose one to present to the Federal government for funding indirect costs on federal grants.

1. FAIR Model #1 is based on % of total research costs. It combines principal investigator managed costs (direct costs) with essential research support costs which are based on the type of research.
2. FAIR Model #2 is based on actual resources utilized. It combines project costs managed by the principal investigator (direct costs) with costs managed by the institution (Safety, security, & regulatory compliance and General Research Operations). There would be a short form for small institutions to calculate these costs.

Recorded webinar (June 12) is available.

• COGR’s F&A Cost Reimbursement Materials Resource Page

Events

• Council on Student Research and Creative Activity (COSRACA) meetings (first THUR of OCT, NOV, FEB, MAR, APR)

Skill Development

The following workshops are available to faculty and staff.

• CETL, Overview and FPDC Pre-proposal workshop, October 2025 (date and location to be determined)