Cost Allowability 101

May 31, 2012 Webinar - Listen On-Demand or Get a CD!

The On-Demand recording will be available immediately upon purchase* as a link within a PDF file of the accompanying written materials. CDs and printed materials are shipped via USPS.

Get help understanding the basics of the cost principles governing federal grants.

The rules for determining what costs can be charged to the government, which ones cannot be charged and how the costs are to be documented for federal grants and contracts are neither crystal clear nor a short enjoyable read. Just the fact that there are five different sets of “cost principles” that apply to different types of award performers causes enough confusion.

Regardless of the density and diversity of the policies, staff members of the organizations that receive and administer those federal awards have to be familiar with the principles to help avoid costly disallowances and other adverse consequences. And that’s not just the people who work in the finance department. Program staff members, research investigators, support personnel and internal auditors all need a sufficient awareness of the specific cost principles that apply to their type of organization and the ability to find defensible answers to cost allowability questions.

That’s where this webinar can help — by providing an overview of the key policies that cut across all of the federal cost principles and those that are different for each type of performer. Participants will learn about:

• the universe of federal cost principles
• applicability to federal awards and subawards
• the concept of total recovery under an award
• the distinction between direct and indirect (or facility and administrative) costs
• how applicable credits work
• the general tests of allowability that apply to every charge to a federal award
• the “selected” items of cost and why they were selected
• guidance on interpretation of allowability for individual items of cost
• the allowability of common “big ticket” items

This highly acclaimed program, which Bob Lloyd first presented in November 2011, is an excellent opportunity to provide those who are not, and don’t have to be, experts on the subject with a clear understanding about how these key federal policies work and to provide those with experience in federal fund management with a solid refresher.

Level: Introductory/Basic
Prerequisites: Some knowledge of federal grant management and audit requirements is helpful but not necessary
Advanced preparation: None

Here’s what participants said about Cost Allowability 101 in November:

• “All the information was very helpful and an excellent resource reminder for experienced staff.”
  — Judy Gwinn, Walla Walla Public Schools, Walla Walla, WA

• “I thought it was very informative - I don't feel it could have been more helpful than it was.”
  — Michael Ford, Hampshire College, Amherst MA

Hand-out Materials

Attendees will receive presentation slides as well as primary source reference documents.

Course Instructor

BOB LLOYD is a respected authority on policies and practices affecting the award, administration and oversight of federal grants, contracts and subawards. Mr. Lloyd has nearly 40 years of experience in federal award implementation. Prior to starting his management consulting practice in Washington, D.C., in 1982, he served as the executive director of the Grants Management Advisory Service and held staff positions in two large federally funded organizations. Since then, he has been a consultant, trainer or advisor to award and audit units in sixteen federal award-making departments and agencies, and to recipient and subrecipient organizations and their professional advisors located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, several U.S territories and 18 foreign countries. He is the principal author of several reference works on federal grants management and audits, and currently serves as contributing editor to Federal Grants News and Federal Auditing News, published jointly by Atlantic Information Services, NACUBO and NCURA. He also is a Charter Life Member of the National Grants Management Association and served on its Board of Directors for five years.

Who Should Attend?

• Grant and Contract Administrators
• Sponsored Program Administrators
• Federal Program Managers
• Program managers
• Subaward administrators
• Internal Auditors
• External Auditors

Allowable Charges

The costs of webinars sponsored by Federal Fund Management Advisor are allowable charges to your federal grants and subgrants. Each of the sets of federal cost principles issued by OMB for federal awards administered by state, local, and tribal governments, colleges and universities, and nonprofit organizations explicitly states that the costs of training for employee development and vocational effectiveness are allowable. For your records, the specific citations are:

• OMB Circular A-21 (2 CFR 220), Appendix A, Paragraph J.51—Colleges and Universities
• OMB Circular A-87 (2 CFR 225), Appendix B, Paragraph 42—State, Local and Tribal Governments
• OMB Circular A-122 (2 CFR 230), Appendix C, Paragraph 49(a)—Nonprofit Organizations

Shipping Information

CDs (and accompanying written materials) are shipped via UPS. Please give us your street address when you order (UPS does not deliver to PO boxes). You should receive your order within two weeks.* Shipping and handling cost is $12.

The On-Demand Recording will be delivered as a link within a PDF file of the accompanying written materials. Shipping will NOT be charged for this item.

• If you order the On-Demand Recording before the conference date (by itself or in combination with the live Webinar), you will be sent an e-mail with the PDF file attached once the recording is available.*
• After the On-Demand Recording is available*, if you order on this website through our secure shopping cart, you will receive an e-mail, immediately after submitting your order, with a link directing you to download the PDF file. If you order through our customer service department (by phone, mail, fax or e-mail), you will be sent an e-mail with the PDF file attached.

Rush Orders: Please call us at 800-521-4323 to place a rush order.* We will overnight your order for an additional charge of $30, or you can give us your FedEx or UPS account number and we will charge the shipping to your account. Rush orders placed after 3:00pm EST will not be shipped out until the next business day.

*On-Demand recordings will be available within a week of the conference and CDs will be available within two weeks.

For more information regarding refunds, complaints, and/or program cancellations, please contact AIS’s Customer Service team.