OSP is happy to announce the new F&A Cost Waiver Request DocuSign form! You may find this form on the OSP website under the Forms Page. Per UMBC policy IV-2.00.01, UMBC requires the application of its full and applicable federally negotiated F&A cost rate on ALL Sponsored Project proposals and awards.

UMBC may allow for the application of a rate lower than its full and applicable federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) rates under the following two (2) limited and special conditions:

1. Limit Imposed by Sponsoring Agency Policy. Some federal, state, and private sponsors impose an F&A cost rate that is below the federally negotiated rate. Similarly, many private foundations limit or exclude F&A as a matter of policy. In effect, they are requiring the recipient institution to agree to share in the cost of performing the proposed work, even though this is not stated formally as “cost UMBC Policy # UMBC IV-2.00.01 Page 2 of 4 sharing”. In all such cases, the decision to proceed with a proposal will depend on the non-monetary value of the Sponsored Project to the institution, traded off against the under-recovery of F&A costs that are incurred.

2. Sponsored Project proposals that are intended to get a new investigator started in a research area or help an established investigator begin working in a new field may call for a reduction or elimination of the F&A portion of the proposed cost. It may be in the institution’s best interests in these cases to preserve the direct cost expenditures and reduce the recovery of indirect costs. It is expected that such proposals will be limited in duration and scope and will promote future funding that will recover full F&A costs.

**Please note if the sponsor has a published written policy, an F&A cost waiver is not required, simply upload the policy to Kuali**

All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please ensure adequate documentation is provided to justify the request for a waiver. The waiver can be initiated by a PI’s business administrator or Shared Service Center (SSC). It is recommended that the Kuali proposal be started but not routed fully for signatures until after the F&A waiver has been reviewed and either approved or denied by OSP and ORCA. Please ensure the finalized waiver is than attached to the Kuali proposal for routing.

The current F&A Cost Waiver Request form that is required for manual routing for signatures will be active until August 1^st 2025. During this time OSP and ORCA will accept either the new DocuSign or the old form;  however, ONLY the DocuSign will be accepted after August 1^st.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at ospa@umbc.edu. 

Thank you,

OSP