Cost Sharing

The University limits cost sharing to only that required by the funding agency as published in the RFP, program announcement, or agency guidelines. Voluntary committed cost sharing is cost sharing that is not required by the sponsor, but is explicitly pledged and included in the proposal. Under the Uniform Guidance, funding agencies are prohibited from considering voluntary committed cost sharing in the merit review process. University policy strongly discourages including voluntary committed cost sharing in proposal budgets, except where required by a funding agency. Voluntary committed cost sharing has an adverse effect on the University’s recovery of Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs. In addition, once voluntary committed cost sharing is included in a proposal, if awarded, it must be tracked and is auditable. Since the federal agencies cannot consider voluntary committed cost sharing in assessing a proposal’s merit, inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing will not increase the likelihood of an award.

In all cases, whether the cost share commitments are mandated by the funding agency or are volunteered by the institution, the University has the obligation to monitor and account for all of its cost share commitments as described in the text of a proposal or included in the project budget. All cost share requests will be reviewed and approved as part of the internal proposal review process before the University will agree to commit funds or other resources as cost sharing.

All cost share requests must comply with the University’s Policy and Procedures on University Cost Sharing (Matching) on Externally Sponsored Projects, with funding agency requirements, and with applicable state and federal regulations.