12.3 Allowable Costs

Support may be requested for the acquisition, calibration, analysis, and publication of HST data, and related costs. Costs of the following types may be acceptable, if they conform to the General Grant Provisions:

• Salaries and wages.
• Costs for individuals providing research assistance, such as graduate students, post-doctoral research associates or science data aides.
• Fringe benefits.
• Publication costs.
• Travel.
• Computer services. Note that PIs of Large and Treasury Programs may be able to take advantage of the data processing infrastructures at STScI. This possibility would typically be explored during the budget submission process. See the HST Large Programs Web Page for a technical description of this opportunity.
• Permanent equipment.
• Materials and supplies.
• Indirect costs.
• Funds to support ground-based observations.

Some of these costs should not amount to more than a certain absolute amount, or percentage of the total budget (this is the case, e.g., for funds to support ground-based observations). Please refer to the General Grant Provisions for details.

For-profit organizations should note that profit is not an allowable cost.

Preparatory funding may be requested if necessary to prepare for the receipt of HST data. Proposers may request up to 25% of the funds for their programs to be awarded prior to the start of the Cycle 16 observing schedule. Preparatory funds are part of the overall funding allocated for the program, and are not additional funds. Note that all pre-award expenditures are incurred at the risk of the investigator, and that all funding is contingent upon the availability of funds from NASA at the time the award is made.