Georgia Tech applies the Other Sponsored Activities (OSA) F&A rate to projects that benefit the public through activities other than research, development, or instruction. Other Sponsored Activities make available to the public various resources and special capabilities that exist within the institution. OMB Circular A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions, describes Other Sponsored Activities to include ". . . . programs and projects financed by Federal and non-Federal agencies and organizations which involve the performance of work other than instruction and organized research. Examples of such programs and projects are health service projects, and community service programs…." These activities are intended to be available to, and to benefit, "individuals and groups," the "public" and "various sectors of the community." As a result, the application of the OSA Facilities & Administrative rate hinges upon a determination of who will benefit from the activities associated with a particular project, regardless of the source of funding for that project.

In addition to those activities that qualify for the OSA rate based on the above guidelines, the following specific activities will be allowed to use the OSA rate (by direction of Georgia Tech's administration):

• Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) - (ATDC company’s campus service accounts only)
• Georgia Internships for Teachers (GIFT) Program regardless of funding source
• K-12 Education Community

For activities meeting the above criteria and for the specific activities noted, Contracting Officers in the Office of Sponsored Programs are authorized to approve use of the OSA rate. Otherwise, use of the rate requires approval by the Vice President for Research.

Georgia Tech uses the Other Sponsored Programs rate that is negotiated with the Office of Naval Research as its "Georgia State and Local Government" rate regardless of the nature of the activity. It will automatically change for future periods to remain equal to the prevailing OSA Facilities & Administrative rate. This rate is also applicable to Georgia's county and city agencies, and to all Georgia colleges and universities when using their own funds.

Georgia Tech's policy is to recover F&A on sponsored projects. As a General Exception, Georgia Tech will accept a limitation on F&A recovery in the following situations:

1. When a statutory limitation is imposed by the U.S. Congress for certain U.S. Government-funded programs, or
2. When a regulatory restriction is imposed by a U.S. Government agency and is published in the solicitation for proposals, program guidelines, or RFP, or
3. A U.S. domestic, non-profit (501.c.3) charitable organization imposes a limit that is published in its program solicitation and uniformly applied to all grantees.

Note that the industrial rate generally applies to projects funded by foreign governments, foreign governmental entities, and industry.

In agreeing to a reduced F&A rate, Georgia Institute of Technology is agreeing to cost share real costs associated with sponsored activities

An F&A waiver must be obtained from the Executive Vice President of Research prior to proposal submission if less than the full applicable F&A rate is to be used in a proposal submitted to a sponsor or obtained prior to acceptance of an award if the awarded rate is less than the full applicable rate. General exceptions to the policy can be found at 2.3.6.3

Cost share request forms can be found at OSP Forms Library