10.5 - Cost Sharing and Matching Policy

Any shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, can be accepted as part of the University’s cost sharing, or matching when such contributions meet all of the following criteria:

1. They are verifiable from the records of the University.
2. They are not included as contributions for any other Federal award.
3. They are necessary and reasonable for accomplishment of project or program objectives.
4. They are allowable under 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles.
5. They are not paid by the Federal government under another Federal award, except where authorized by Federal statute to be used for cost sharing or matching.
6. They are provided for in the approved budget when required by the Federal awarding agency.
7. They conform to all other provisions 2 CFR Part 200.

It is the policy of the University to value contributed services and property that are to be used to meet a cost sharing or matching requirement at their fair market values at the time of contribution unless award documents or Federal agency regulations identify specific values to be used.

If a Federal awarding agency authorizes the University to donate buildings or land for construction or facilities acquisition projects or long-term use, the value of the donated property for cost sharing or matching must be the lesser of:

1. The value of the remaining life of the property recorded in The University’s accounting records at the time of donation.
2. The current fair market value. However, when there is sufficient justification, the Federal awarding agency may approve the use of the current fair market value of the donated property, even if it exceeds the value described above at the time of donation.

Contributed volunteer services furnished by third-party professional and technical personnel, consultants, and other skilled and unskilled labor used for cost sharing or matching purposes shall be valued at rates consistent with those rates paid for similar work in the organization, including an estimate of reasonable fringe benefits. In cases in which the required skills are not found in the organization, rates used shall be consistent with those paid for similar work in the labor market. It is the policy of the University to require volunteers to document and account for their contributed time.

When a third-party organization furnishes the services of an employee, the University will value these services at the employee's regular rate of pay that is reasonable, necessary, allocable, and otherwise allowable, provided these services employ the same skill(s) for which the employee is normally paid.

Unrecovered indirect costs, including indirect costs on cost sharing or matching may be included as part of cost sharing or matching only if prior approval of the Federal awarding agency is obtained.