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Budgets

Karlen Haury (978-6846 or e-mail) can assist you in preparing your budgets and in budget negotiations (should a sponsor offer a different amount than originally proposed). He also reviews all budgets before submission by WSU.  Carole Robarchek (978-6806 or e-mail) will assist you with entering budgets into NSF FastLane.

Make sure that the budget:

• is not more than the sponsor is prepared to pay.  Estimate how much the average project is likely to receive from the information supplied in the request for proposal or in the sponsor's web pages.
• matches the scope of work detailed in the project description.
• is reasonable (neither too much nor too little to adequately perform the project).

Most Federal agencies provide forms.  If an agency does not provide a form, the following categories are the usual components of a proposal.  Read the guidelines carefully for allowable costs.

Budget Justification:  the figures are usually accompanied by a written description which justifies and explains the costs.

Salaries

Co-PIs and Senior Personnel are usually named and listed separately; pay is based upon WSU salaries.

A 4% increase in salaries is assumed for subsequent years.

Post Doctorate Associates, Other Professionals (Technicians, Programmers, etc.) Graduate students, undergraduate students, secretarial and clerical help are not usually named, but may be included in the budget if permitted by the sponsoring agency.

Fringe Benefits

Equipment

As allowed and necessary to the project.  Equipment grants often require written quotes from vendors.  

Travel

Travel arrangements must be made through the WSU travel office, Short's Travel (978-3470).  Some sponsors require travel for special meetings; most research projects are expected to result in papers delivered before peers in one's profession.  The Kansas State rules for reimbursable expenses are available here:  http://da.state.ks.us/ar/employee/travel/

Participant Costs

These are costs such as transportation, per diem, stipends and other related costs for participants or trainees in project sponsored conferences, meetings, symposia, training activities and workshops.

Materials and Supplies

This category pays for scientific materials and supplies necessary to the project.  If costs are high, the items should be detailed in the proposal and in the budget justification.

Publication Costs

Papers are expected as part of the dissemination of the results of the research and some journals have required fees for publication.

Consultants

Sometimes the services or expertise of one or more consultants is necessary for the success of the project.  Consultants are paid fees, not salaries.

Subcontracts

Sometimes the expenses of collaborators at other institutions are paid through a subcontract.  Consult with Karlen Haury at 978-6846 or e-mail.

Computer Services

Computer (and other) services are sometimes a separate item in the budget.

Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administrative Costs or Overhead)

Please see the WSU rate page for our current indirect cost rates.  Wichita State University's  federal indirect cost rate is a negotiated rate and applies to all federal contracts.  Call Karlen Haury at 978-68461 or e-mail for more information.

Cost Sharing

Some sponsors and some particular proposals  require  that WSU bear a share of the cost of the project.  Consult with Karlen Haury at 978-6846 or e-mail for assistance.

Budget Justification

The budget justification is a detailed explanation of the expenses listed in the budget request form.  This is where the details of travel expenses, materials and supplies, etc., are set forth clearly.  Explanations should include the necessary detail for reviewers to understand the budget figures.