BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Proposal: “Title”

PI: Principal Investigator’s name

[for NSF proposals] UL Lafayette uses the following definition for the purpose of calculating the NSF two-month limit on salary requested in the proposal budget for senior personnel. “Year” is defined as fiscal year, which is the consecutive 12-month period beginning July 1 and ending June 30.

A.	SALARIES

Senior Personnel: List each individual supported in the proposed budget by name & title. Provide the amount of effort (% effort or portion of year) to be expended by each person, the appointment length (i.e., 9 or 12 months), in addition to the portion of the project objectives that the individual will be responsible for. All effort for senior personnel must be based on current salaries.

PI: Dr. X (a 9-month academic year employee) will provide scientific direction and supervision for the project [including….]. # summer months are requested for each of the # project years. The monthly rate is calculated as 1/9th of the PI’s annual salary. A ___% increase is included in subsequent years.

Co-PI: Dr. Y (a 12-month calendar year employee) will be responsible for […]. ___ month or ___% effort is requested for project year 1; ___ months or ___% effort requested in each of project years # and #. A ___% increase is included in subsequent years.

Other Personnel:

Postdoctoral Researcher: A postdoctoral researcher is budgeted annually. ___ months are requested each project year. He/she will be responsible for […]. A ___% increase is included in subsequent years.

Graduate Research Assistants: One doctoral-level graduate research assistant is budgeted annually. He/she will be paid $2,000/month for 12 months and will be responsible for […].

One masters-level graduate research assistant is budgeted annually. He/she will be paid $1,150/month for 12 months and will be responsible for […].

Graduate Students: One graduate student is budgeted annually. This student will work ____ hours/week for ___ weeks at a rate of $____ per hour each year of the project. The student will be responsible for […].

Undergraduate Students: Two undergraduate students are budgeted annually. Each student will work ____ hours/week for ___ weeks at a rate of $____ per hour each year of the project. They will be responsible for […].

B.	FRINGE BENEFITS

For current and projected fringe rates see http://vpresearch.louisiana.edu/investigator-toolkit/rates-institutional-information#fringe.

Fringe benefits are calculated at a rate of ___% for all senior personnel, research associate, and post-doc. A 0.5% increase has been included in subsequent years. As per UL Lafayette policy, students do not generate fringe benefits.

C.	EQUIPMENT (Unit cost of $5,000 or greater & life expectancy of 1 year or longer)

List the item and the estimated unit cost for each item to be purchased. State why the equipment is needed (i.e. how it will help achieve the objectives of the project). Specify the basis for the cost estimates (i.e. Cost estimates are based on vendor quotes or catalog prices, or on past experience of purchases of similar or like items). Components for a piece of Fabricated Equipment (i.e. cumulative cost is $5,000 or greater, with a life expectancy of 1 year or longer) should be listed in the equipment line and annotated as fabricated equipment components.

Funds in the amount of $_____ are requested for equipment to support the project. A breakdown of costs are provided below:

Budget Year	Equipment	Cost per Unit	# Units	Total Cost

Equipment 1 will be used to….

Equipment 2 will be used to…

D.	TRAVEL

For federal applications, typically the estimated number of trips, purpose of trip, number of days per trip, destination, number of travelers, and estimated costs including lodging, per diem, and transportation are required to be detailed. Costs shall be separately listed for Domestic and Foreign travel. See latest State of Louisiana Travel Guide here https://www.doa.la.gov/doa/ost/, federal General Services Administration rates https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates, or Department of State https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp.

Domestic Travel: The PI, post-doc, and one graduate research assistant will attend the ___ Conference in project years # and # to present results. Meeting cities are not yet set. Costs related to the travel destination are based on federal General Services Administration (GSA) rates:

Airfare/Transportation: $____

Lodging: $____ × ___ nights = $____

Per Diem: $____ × ___ days = $____

Miscellaneous incidentals: $____

Registration: $____× ___ people = $____

Ground Transportation: $

Per year: $

Total Travel: $

International/Foreign Travel: The PI, post-doc, and one graduate research assistant will attend the ___ Conference in project years # and # to present results. Meeting cities are not yet set. Costs related to the travel destination are based on U.S. Department of State (DoS) rates:

Airfare/Transportation: $____

Lodging: $____ × ___ nights = $____

Per Diem: $____ × ___ days = $____

Miscellaneous incidentals: $____

Registration: $____× ___ people = $____

Ground Transportation: $

Per year: $

Total Travel: $

E.	PARTICIPANT SUPPORT COSTS

This category refers to the costs of stipends, tuition, transportation, per diem, and any other costs associated with participants or trainees participating in conferences, meetings, and other professional development activities. This cost category is unique in three ways: (a) facilities & administrative costs are not applied to this category; (b) these costs cannot be for employees of UL Lafayette; and (c) these costs cannot be used for other budget categories.

___ participants will […]. A cost breakdown is provided below.

Stipends: $_____ is requested for # participants at a rate of $___ per person per [week/month] for # [weeks/months]. This stipend supports participation in [activity/training] outlined in the project narrative.

Travel: $____ is requested for participant travel. Travel funds will support # participants for # trips. Travel costs cover [categories]. Costs are based on GSA rates.

Subsistence: $_____ is requested to cover subsistence costs for # participants. Costs for subsistence are calculated at $__ per person per day for # days.

Other: $____ is requested to cover [fees/training materials/supplies] for # participants. The costs are necessary for their active involvement in the project. Costs are calculated at $__ per person.

F.	SUBAWARDS/SUBCONTRACTS

Provide a brief justification for the subcontractor(s). Attach a budget and budget explanation prepared by the subcontractor.

___ University will […]. $____ is requested to support their role in the project. A separate budget and budget justification are included.

G.	OTHER DIRECT COSTS

1.	Materials and Supplies

Itemize materials and supplies estimates by nature of expense; and specify the basis for the cost estimates (i.e. Cost estimates are based on vendor quotes or catalog prices; past experience of purchases of similar or like items; etc.)

The budget includes $___ in year # for the purchase of [supplies]. These supplies will be used for […]. [Detail costs for each year].

2. Publication Costs/Documentation/Dissemination

Explain the nature of the proposed cost; and specify the basis for the cost estimates.

Funds in the amount of $____ are requested in project years # and # for page charges to disseminate results. These costs are estimated based on previous experience of the PI.

3.	Consultants or Contracted Services

Provide the name, compensation rate, and number of hours or days of service required. Consultant documentation should include a signed letter from the consultant confirming his/her agreement to perform the labor proposed in the budget, at the compensation rate listed, and a basis for the rate of compensation. Note that if consultant travel is budgeted, it is required that State rates be used. Attach a consultant letter outlining the budget information to the internal routing package.

Mr. B. of Business Company will consult with project personnel throughout the project period. In each year of the project, he will travel to the university ___ times per year to […]. Travel costs include $___ for lodging, per diem, and airfare. Mr. B’s compensation rate is $___/day for a total of ___ days per year.

4.	Graduate Assistant Tuition

Estimates for Tuition and Fees are based upon the rates published here http://vpresearch.louisiana.edu/investigator-toolkit/rates-institutional-information#tuition. An inflation factor of 5% should be used for future years of tuition.

[for fall start and spring continuation] Tuition is requested for two semesters for the graduate research assistants each project year. In year 1, tuition is budgeted at $____ per semester. A 5% increase is included in subsequent years.

[for spring start and fall continuation] Tuition is requested for two semesters for the graduate research assistants each project year. In year 1, spring semester tuition is budgeted at $____ and fall semester tuition is budgeted at $____ per semester. A 5% increase is included in subsequent years.

5. Other

Describe miscellaneous charges needed in order to complete the objectives of the project. This may include vendors, services, or rentals needed for the project.

H.	FACILITIES & Administrative COSTS

For current facilities & administrative costs rates see:

http://vpresearch.louisiana.edu/investigator-toolkit/rates-institutional-information#indirect

Facilities and administrative costs are calculated at the University’s federally negotiated rate of ___% modified total direct costs (MTDC). In this proposal, MTDC includes all direct costs except equipment, participant support costs, any portion of a subaward over the first $25,000, and tuition.

[IF F&A disallowed] Facilities and administrative costs are disallowed for this program and have not been included in the budget.

[IF F&A limited] Facilities and administrative costs for this program are limited to ___% [MTDC, TDC, or SWF]. In this proposal, [MTDC, TDC, or SWF] include all direct costs except equipment, participant support costs, any portion of a subaward over the first $25,000, and tuition.

[F&A Reduction—form required and approval needed] Facilities and administrative costs for this proposal have been calculated using a reduced rate of ___% modified total direct costs (MTDC). In this proposal, MTDC includes all direct costs except equipment, participant support costs, any portion of a subaward over the first $25,000, and tuition.