Participant Support Costs
Definition
Participant Support Costs, as defined in 2 CFR §200.456, are direct costs for items such as stipends, subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences or training projects.
Who is a Participant?
A participant is the recipient, not the provider, of a service or training opportunity that is part of a workshop, conference, seminar, symposium, or other short-term instructional or information-sharing activity funded by a sponsored award.
Participants may include, but are not limited to:
- Students
- Scholars
- Scientists from other institutions
- Teachers
Participant Support funding is intended to help defray the costs incurred by participants or trainees (but not employees) to attend and engage in a sponsored training or conference activity.
What Costs Are Not Considered Participant Support Costs?
The following costs do not qualify as Participant Support Costs:
- Honoraria for guest speakers
- Expenses for the Principle Investigator, project staff, or collaborators to attend project meetings, conferences, or seminars
- Payments to Graduate Research Assistants
- Incentive payments to research subjects participating in a research study
ISU employees are not considered participants; therefore, any costs incurred for ISU employees do not qualify as Participant Support Costs. A few exceptions may apply for student workers—please consult your Grant Accountant for guidance.
Rebudgeting Participant Support Costs
Rebudgeting funds from non-participant categories into Participant Support categories may or may not require sponsor approval, depending on the terms and conditions of the award.
However, funds provided for Participant Support Costs cannot be rebudgeted for other purposes (i.e., non-participant expenses) without prior written approval from the sponsor.
If a project has unused or unexpected Participant Support funds that the Principal Investigators or department wishes to repurpose, the Principal Investigators/department must work with their Grant and Contracts Accountant to submit a prior approval request to the sponsor. Rebudgeting requests should be initiated as early as possible during the life of the award.
Questions?
For additional information or guidance, please contact your Grant and Contracts Accountant.