Cost Reimbursable and Fixed Price

Cost Reimbursable Awards - The sponsor is invoiced based on actual costs expended by the University at the time of invoicing. However, the costs cannot exceed the award amount. Any excess of spending over the award amount will be the responsibility of the college/unit. The frequency of invoicing is based on the terms of the award (e.g., monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, or other specified times). A template for Industry-sponsored Cost Reimbursable Agreements can be found here. 

Fixed Price Awards - The sponsor will pay the University an agreed amount for a deliverable(s), irrespective of the costs incurred by the researcher. If the costs incurred are more than the award amount, the cost overrun will have to be borne by the researcher’s college/unit. Actual project costs will not be reported to the sponsor. The sponsor is invoiced based on a pre-determined schedule, which is usually included with the award document. The payment schedule can be based on specific dates or milestones/deliverables. In the case of specific dates, Research Accounting will proceed to invoice based on the dates. However, the college/unit needs to advise Research Accounting when the invoice is triggered by milestones/deliverables. If there is a residual balance (income exceeds expenditures), the department may be eligible to retain these funds, per Finalization and Closure (RA90).  The indirect portion must be transferred to the central indirect cost income account using the overhead rate on the award. An FAQ for Fixed-Price Agreements - Residual Balance is here.

Fixed Price agreements are generally avoided on projects over $100,000, because of the risks identified above. If you would like to use a Fixed Price Agreement for a project greater than $100,000, please contact OSP first. Please do NOT provide the sponsor with a detailed budget when utilizing a Fixed Price Agreement as there is no obligation to provide financial reports or any other budget detail in support of such agreements.