Calculation of F&A Rate
The process of calculating the F&A Rate is to sum these indirect costs and divide by the base. The base is defined as the major functions of an educational institution. Uniform Guidance Appendix III to 2 CFR Part §200 identifies those functions as:
- Instruction and Departmental Research
- Organized Research
- Other Sponsored Activity
- Other Institutional Activity
So, simply put, the F&A is calculated as follows:
Indirect Costs Allocable to Organized Research ÷ Direct Costs in Organized Research Base = F&A Rate
The indirect costs include administrative costs and facilities costs.
The Administrative portion covers costs for offices such as:
- Human Resources
- Accounts Payable
- General Counsel
- Purchasing
- Systems Support (part of Drexel IT)
- Risk Management
- Departmental Administration
- Budget
- Comptroller
- Treasurer
- Research
- IRB
- President
- Bursar
The Facilities portion covers costs such as:
- Building Depreciation
- Equipment Depreciation
- Non-Capitalized
- Public Safety
- Library
- Hardware Support (part of Drexel IT)
- Radiation Safety
- Interest
- Property Insurance
- Utilities
- Safety and Health
- Facilities Department
Major Functions of an Educational Institution
The major functions of an educational institution is identified as Instruction and Departmental Research, Organized Research, Other Sponsored Activity, and Other Institutional Activity. The definitions of each function is from Uniform Guidance Appendix III to 2 CFR Part §200, and examples are provided of the F&A rate applicable.
Instruction and Departmental Research
Sponsored instruction means specific instructional or training activity established by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement from Federal or non-Federal sponsors. Sponsored instruction includes agreements which support curriculum development as well as teaching/training activities (other than research training) whether offered for credit toward a degree or certificate, on a non-credit basis, or through regular academic departments or by separate divisions, summer school, or external division.
| Examples | Instruction | Organized Research |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development Projects at any level, including those which include evaluation of curriculum or teaching methods | X | |
| Curriculum Development Projects when the primary objective of the activity is data collection evaluation and reporting | X | |
| Projects involving Drexel students in community service activities for which the students are receiving academic credit | X | |
| General support for the writing of textbooks or reference books, video, or software to be used as instructional materials | X |
Departmental research means research, development and scholarly activities that are not organized research and, consequently, are not separately budgeted and accounted for. It is not considered as a major function, but as a part of the instruction function of the institution. There is no F&A charged to departmental research expenditures.
| Examples | Departmental Research |
|---|---|
| Faculty Start-up Funds provided on a non-competitive basis | X |
| University support of faculty salaries for non-sponsored research | X |
| Funds from a faculty member's designated gift account expended for research that are not used to cover costs incurred on behalf of externally or University sponsored research | X |
Organized Research
Organized research means all research and development activities of an institution that are separately budgeted and accounted for. Sponsored research means all research and development activities that are sponsored by Federal and non-Federal agencies and organizations, and utilizes full on-or off-campus indirect cost rates unless agreement stipulates otherwise. University research means all research and development activities that are separately budgeted and accounted for by the institution under an internal application of institutional funds. It does not utilize indirect cost rates. Note that externally-funded research training grants are categorized as Sponsored Research (rather than Sponsored Instruction) where the primary activities of the trainees will be research.
| Examples | Sponsored Research | University Research |
|---|---|---|
| External funding to Support Faculty Research | X | |
| Internal Research Competitions (i.e. Coulter, IBC, Provost) | X | |
| Equipment or facilities grant to support research | X | |
| Support for writing of books when writing is to publish research results | X | |
| External awards to support research of students | X |
Other Sponsored Activities
Other sponsored activities means programs and projects financed by Federal and non-Federal agencies and organizations which involve the performance of work other than instruction and organized research.
| Examples | Other Sponsored Activities |
|---|---|
| Health Service Projects | X |
| Community Service Programs | X |
| Travel Grants | X |
| Support for University Public Events (referred to as the "lively arts") | X |
| Support for students, staff, or teachers in elementary or secondary schools, or the general public, through outreach-related activities | X |
| Support for projects pertaining to library collections, acquisitions, bibliographies, or cataloging | X |
On-Campus versus Off-Campus Rates
The following are examples of when on-campus rates and off-campus rates would be applicable. Note that a project will be apportioned between its on- and off-campus components when it can be demonstrated that at least 25% of the total direct costs of the project relate to activity that will occur in space that meets the off-campus criteria.
| Examples | On-Campus | Off-Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Projects conducted in buildings owned by Drexel University or its subsidiaries | X | |
| Projects conducted in buildings leased by Drexel University but rent is not being charged directly to the project | X | |
| Projects conducted in buildings leased by Drexel University but rent is being charged directly to the project | X | |
| Less than 50% of the work is being performed at non-Drexel owned or leased locations where rent is not being charged to the project (i.e. remote locations) | X | |
| More than 50% of the work on the project is performed at a Drexel owned site | X |
If, after consulting the materials provided on this webpage, you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact ras@drexel.edu.