Georgia Tech provides three distinct types of financial support for sponsored projects: cost share, institutional support, and waiving of F&A (Facilities and Administrative) cost reimbursement. Our ability to provide this support is dependent on multiple factors including:

  • Sponsor requirements
  • Availability of funds
  • Consistency with internal policies and procedures
  • Potential for precedence-setting decisions
  • Individual project details

As a public institution we are required to be vigilant stewards of state funds. Because any support we provide to a sponsored project is a subsidy of the sponsor’s work using state funds, we must vet requests thoroughly and retain detailed documentation of our processes around each decision.

Two types of support; cost share and institutional support, are detailed below. The third, waiving of F&A costs (often referred to as overhead or indirect costs) is detailed here.

Review Georgia Tech's policy on cost sharing.

Definitions

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Cost Share

The contribution of institutional funds or resources toward a sponsored project, as outlined in a proposal and reported to the sponsor throughout the life of the project.

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Institutional Support

The contribution of institutional funds or resources toward a sponsored project and/or toward initiatives led by a PI. Institutional support is used towards sponsored research activities; however, it is not documented in the proposed budget and is not reported to the sponsor.

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New Investigator Support

One type of institutional support, provided to junior faculty who receive one or more federal new investigator awards such as NSF CAREER, ONR Young Investigator Award, or DARPA YFA.

 

Criteria For Cost Share Or Institutional Support Approvals

Cost Share: 2 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 200, often referred to as the Uniform Requirements, dictates that unless cost share is mandatory, it may not be used as criteria by a federal agency for proposal review. In an effort to provide fair and equitable support to all units, the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research will therefore typically provide cost share only:

  • When it is mandated by the sponsor as a required element of a proposal and
  • When the initiative is a demonstrated priority of the schools and colleges

In some instances, federal agencies publish requests for proposals that do not require cost sharing but allow it voluntarily. When voluntary cost share is listed as a component of the sponsor’s review criteria, colleges and schools may choose to commit their funds to cost share, if the terms are compliant with the Uniform Requirements and approved by OSP.

External Cost Share Defined

Institutional Support: In an effort to provide fair and equitable support to all units, the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research will typically provide institutional support only:

  • When the initiative is a demonstrated priority of the schools and colleges or
  • When a PI qualifies for New Investigator Support.

Reporting Cost Share and Institutional Support Expenditures

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Who Should a PI Approach About Cost Share?
How Does a PI Request Institutional Support?

  • For PIs who are brand new to cost share discussions, we recommend a general conversation with your college’s Associate Dean for Research (ADR) early in the proposal process.
  • For PIs who are leading large, collaborative proposals, please refer to Institutional Support Guidance for PIs Leading Major Center Efforts.
  • For specific projects, the PI initiates the request in conversation with the unit chair or the chair’s delegate.
  • If multiple units are involved, the PI and co-PIs engage all relevant chairs.
  • The chair brings the request to the dean or the dean’s delegate (often the ADR).
  • If multiple colleges are involved, the chairs engage all relevant deans.
  • The dean brings the request to the EVPR’s office, if appropriate.

How is the cost share request documented and formally submitted?

What documentation is required for an institutional support request?

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New Investigator Support

Junior faculty who receive a federal new investigator award such as NSF CAREER, ONR Young Investigator Award, or DARPA YFA may request up to $20,000 from Georgia Tech in support of their research. This support falls into the category of an Institutional Commitment, is not for the specific benefit of the award funded project(s) and is therefore not documented for the sponsor as cost share. As required, or otherwise appropriate, it should be documented as other support or resources, but should not be quantified in the proposal.

The funds must be spent within two years of the award’s start date. $20,000 is the maximum for an individual investigator; Georgia Tech provides this support only once, regardless of the number of such awards received. You may request these funds when submitting your federal new investigator award proposal, and it will be approved pending receipt of the new investigator award.

How does a PI request new investigator support?

What documentation is required for a new investigator support request?