Budget Justification

The Budget Justification is used to "justify" your expenses.

Make sure to justify all of the expenses listed on your budget, beginning with personnel

Personnel

Principal Investigator

Why should you serve as the P.I.? Why are you vital to the work of the grant and particularly suited to the project? What are your credentials, qualifications, and experiences that relate to the project you will undertake?

Other Key Personnel
How and why are the other grant personnel important? Be sure to note specific qualifications and experiences. If you have not yet identified an individual to fill a particular position, indicate that the individual is To Be Determined (T.B.D.) and outline the role and responsibilities of this position.

There are four essential questions to address when justifying personnel:

1. Who is the individual? (credentials, qualifications and role at SCU)
2. Why is the individual vital to the work of the grant? What experience/background does he/she bring to the project?
3. What are his/her specific roles/responsibilities on the project? What will he/she be doing?
4. How much time and effort will he/she be devoting to this project?

Benefits
The University charges a benefit rate of 27.2% on all salaries and wages.

Non-Personnel

Student Research Assistants/Employees
What role will student research assistants or student employees play?

Outside Consultant
What role will an outside consultant play? Why is an outside consultant necessary?

Equipment (any single item $5000 or more)
Why is this equipment needed for the successful completion of the project? Note that major equipment purchases will often require a written quote and it is important to negotiate with the vendor a purchase deadline that allows time for the grant review process.

Supplies
What supplies are needed and why are these supplies (whether office supplies, research supplies, supplies for orchestrating a conference or event, etc.) necessary for the successful completion of the project?

Travel
Why are travel funds vital to the work of the grant? Whenever possible, be specific regarding travel plans and associated costs.

Printing/Copying (includes convenience copiers as well as marketing brochures etc)
Be as specific as possible about your anticipated printing/copying expenses. Pricing is available from Document Services.

Mailing
Be as specific as possible. Pricing is available at the Post Office window.

Hospitality
Why is hospitality needed? For example, is hospitality necessary for focus groups? meetings?
Be sure to verify that hospitality is an allowable expense!

Your budget justification should be concise. Yet it should also provide specific, detailed information regarding the qualifications, roles and responsibilities of the personnel and the necessity of each budget request.

Sample Budget Justification

Principle Investigator: Alan "Grant", PhD Dr. Grant is a paleontologist with ten years of field work experience as well as frequent contact with dinosaurs at Jurassic Park. He is certified by Dinos R’Us as a T-Rex Specialist. Dr. Grant has conducted two studies to evaluate the effectiveness of educational intervention for travelers who encounter dinosaurs in the wilderness. These studies were done in collaboration with state public safety departments and the DNR. Dr. Grant will oversee the entire project, supervise the study coordinator and graduate research assistant/data technician. He will review the original research, create original interventions as well as assessment for participants. He will attend focus groups and take notes, read and analyze focus group tapes, develop an intervention plan and develop training materials. Dr. Grant will perform risk assessment, develop recruitment materials, assist with the training of trainers and supervise the implementation of the intervention plan. He will write papers, present data at conferences and write the final report. Dr. Grant will devote 50% of his time to these endeavors for all three years.

Co-Principle Investigator: Hugh-bert "Grant " Mr. Grant is an actor who has won critical claim for a number of lead performances. Mr. Grant will assist the intervention team in developing realistic simulations of dinosaur attacks for training purposes. These simulations will be modified as the dinosaurs find new tactics for harassing travelers. Mr. Grant will devote 25% of his time to these endeavors for all three years.

Tactical Specialist: Ulysses "Grant" Mr. Grant is a military general with experience in field tactics and strategy. For the past six years he has engaged in strategic missions within Jurassic Park to contain the dinosaurs and protect them from travelers. Mr. Grant will review the original research, assist in the creation of educational interventions for travelers who encounter dinosaurs, compile notes, review transcripts and assess the efficacy of intervention plans when put into actual practice in Jurassic Park. Mr. Grant will devote 25% of his time to these endeavors for all three years.

Study Coordinator: TBD The Study Coordinator will coordinate all meetings of the primary investigator team and the all project related activities. This will include, but is not limited to, the setup of focus groups and simulations, the recruitment of trainers, communications via telephone interviews on a weekly basis with participants, compilation of all tracking logs, and data entry. This is full time 100% position for all three years of the grant.

Graduate Research Assistant/Data Technician: TBD A graduate research assistant will be hired to transcribe focus group tapes and enter data from tracking logs, telephone interviews, and record additional baseline data. This position will assist with telephone interviews when necessary and will provide basic data support to the investigator team. This is part-time, 50% position for all three years of the grant.

Sketch Artist: "Grant" Woode Mr. Woode is a talented Midwest artist. Mr. Woode will be commissioned to draw realistic sketches of dinosaurs for training materials. This position is vital to the successful completion of the curriculum and Mr. Woode will revise sketches as needed over all three years of the grant. This position will devote 10% time and effort to this project.

Supplies: This project will require the use of 2 desktop computers, 1 laser printer, 1 scanner, 1 portable data projector and a laptop for the study coordinator, graduate research assistant/data technician and principle investigator team, respectively. Ten steel cages will be needed to contain the dinosaurs involved in the study as well as steel ropes and harnesses. Dinosaur food will be purchased from a local vendor. Participant and trainer incentives are also requested, as well as additional miscellaneous items, such as paper, toner, envelopes, tape recorders for focus groups, long distance access and postage.

Travel: The first two focus groups will take place in year one of the project in Jurassic park. Jurassic Park is 1000 miles from St. Paul/Minneapolis (2000 miles roundtrip). Using .485 cents/mile rate, approximately 19 trips will be taken in year one. Year two will also entail approximately 13 trips to Jurassic Park. Year three focus groups will take place in and around the twin cities metropolitan area. Year three will also require conference travel for the PI and additional team members.

Hospitality: Hospitality is requested for focus group meetings