Travel and Equipment

RESEARCH TRAVEL
Travel for a sponsored program must meet both the travel policies of the University and the sponsor as well as any conditions specified by the sponsor(s) in the award documents or regulations.
     - Allowable travel costs include transportation, lodging,
       subsistence (meals), and related items incurred by
       employees who are travelling in direct support of
       sponsored research.
     - All expenses must be reasonable, allowable and
       directly allocable to the research effort.

Review before any travelling: Notre Dame travel policy and the travel section in the Faculty Handbook.

Grant and contract policy regarding travel can vary greatly among sponsors. Two areas to be especially alert to, however, are:

- PRIOR APPROVAL: Sponsors often require prior approval - especially of foreign travel or if the travel is not in the original budget. This approval often requires that the request be submitted to the sponsor at least 60 days prior to the travel date.

- U.S. FLAG CARRIERS: The International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act of 1974 requires that any air transportation to, from, between, or within a country other than the United States where the expenses will be charged to government funds must be provided by a U.S. Flag Carrier if such service is available. It is considered "available" even if a foreign carrier is less expensive or more convenient. There are conditions under which a foreign carrier can be used but you must review the sponosr's policy manual carefully before committing funds.

Auto Mileage Rate              US Per Diem Rates       
Foreign Per Diem               Currency Converter

EQUIPMENT
Equipment is an article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. (Effective October 2007)

If the “equipment” is valued at less than $5,000 it is considered "supplies" in the budget.