CMS-07-021/023 - Los Angeles County Department of Children and ...

other activity. The bases must be established in accordance with reasonable
criteria, and be supported by current data. This method is compatible with the
Standards of Accounting and Financial Reporting for Voluntary Health and Welfare
Organizations issued jointly by the National Health Council, Inc., the National
Assembly of Voluntary Health and Social Welfare Organizations, and the United
Way of America.
c. Under this method, indirect costs consist exclusively of general
administration and general expenses. In all other respects, the organization's
indirect cost rates shall be computed in the same manner as that described in
subparagraph 2.
5. Special indirect cost rates. In some instances, a single indirect
cost rate for all activities of an organization or for each major function of
the organization may not be appropriate, since it would not take into account
those different factors which may substantially affect the indirect costs
applicable to a particular segment of work. For this purpose, a particular
segment of work may be that performed under a single award or it may consist of
work under a group of awards performed in a common environment. These factors
may include the physical location of the work, the level of administrative
support required, the nature of the facilities or other resources employed, the
scientific disciplines or technical skills involved, the organizational
arrangements used, or any combination thereof. When a particular segment of
work is performed in an environment which appears to generate a significantly
different level of indirect costs, provisions should be made for a separate
indirect cost pool applicable to such work. The separate indirect cost pool
should be developed during the course of the regular allocation process, and the
separate indirect cost rate resulting therefrom should be used, provided it is
determined that (i) the rate differs significantly from that which would have
been obtained under subparagraphs 2, 3, and 4, and (ii) the volume of work to
which the rate would apply is material.
E. Negotiation and Approval of Indirect Cost Rates
1. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the
meanings set
forth below:
a. Cognizant agency means the Federal agency responsible for
negotiating and approving indirect cost rates for a non-profit organization on
behalf of all Federal agencies.
b. Predetermined rate means an indirect cost rate, applicable to a
specified current or future period, usually the organization's fiscal year. The
rate is based on an estimate of the costs to be incurred during the period. A
predetermined rate is not subject to adjustment.
c. Fixed rate means an indirect cost rate which has the same
characteristics as a predetermined rate, except that the difference between the
estimated costs and the actual costs of the period covered by the rate is
carried forward as an adjustment to the rate computation of a subsequent period.
d. Final rate means an indirect cost rate applicable to a specified
past period which is based on the actual costs of the period. A final rate is
not subject to adjustment.
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