Fringe benefits are allocated to projects at a pooled rate and include such items as group health insurance, group life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan premiums, FICA taxes, and T-Flex. The fringe benefit rate should be applied to all full-time employee salaries and wages to estimate the amount to be budgeted. The pooled fringe benefits should not be budgeted for part-time and student employees. The definition of equipment varies among sponsors. Accessories, attachments, and shipping should be included in the cost estimate.
Many sponsors require prior approval before equipment can be purchased.
An effectively written proposal and budget will satisfy the sponsor s prior approval requirement. Sponsors may specify bid requirements for equipment purchases. When bids are required, they must be documented. However, this definition may vary among sponsors. When not a part of the original budget, foreign travel requires the prior approval of the University and, in some cases, the sponsor.