Funding Rules (CPT)

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About this page

This Costing and Pricing Tool page displays read-only information about the funding rules that are used to calculate the cost and price of the project, based on the relevant primary AOU, Project Type and/or primary Fund Scheme (optionally, Organisation and/or Project Location).

Rules are set by your administrators. If changes are required, contact your Research Office.

If any changes have been made to funding rules applied to the project since the eForm application was first created, these can be shown and applied in this page. See: View and apply new rules

This page supports the Costing and Pricing Tool (CPT), which was implemented in version 7.7.0 in mid-2021. Research Costing and Pricing (ReCaP) is a separate tool.

Menu path: Access CPT via a toolbar button in a Project record or button/link in an RPR eForm application

 

Navigation panel

The panel on the left includes a list of the pages available. Page status indicators are used to inform you about the status of each CPT page.

The Totals section at the bottom of the panel displays an overview of the project totals (read only). See: Project Summary, Totals

 

Funding rules sections

The page is divided into four sections to display the rules applied to the project: Rule details, Costing Rules, Pricing Rules and Consumable and Capital Item Groups, as outlined in the tables below:

Rule details: Fields

This section displays at the top and is unlabelled. It shows the criteria used to apply funding rules.

Default Field Label

(in alphabetical order)

Description

Fund Scheme

Primary source of funding for the project

This is a factor in determining the funding rules that apply to the project, if relevant.

Project Location

(conditional)

Only displays if the CPT Configuration for Use Project Location for Indirect Cost Recovery? is Yes.

Location for the project, from  Laboratory (default) or Non-laboratory

The Indirect Cost Recovery Percentages section will show the applied rules based on the selected project location, as relevant.

Project Type

Research project type defined for the project

This is a factor in determining the funding rules that apply to the project, if relevant.

Org. Unit

Primary administrative organisational unit (AOU) of the project

This is a factor in determining the funding rules that apply to the project, if relevant.

Organisation

(conditional)

Only displays if the CPT Configuration for Fund Scheme Rules based on Funding Organisation? is Yes.

Only editable when a funder is selected in the Fund Scheme dropdown

External organisation for the fund scheme that the rule applies to, from a lookup of external organisations that exist in the system, if relevant.

 

Costing Rules: Fields

There are two possible layouts for this section based on the CPT Configuration setting for On-Cost Method: a) Employment Type or b) On-Cost Pattern.

a) On-Cost Method = Employment Type (default)

Default Field Label

(in alphabetical order, by sections)

Description

Institution On-cost Percentages

The fields display rules for on-cost recovery related to institution staff.

Casual Staff

Default percentage of salary to calculate the on-cost value for staff employed on a short-term or temporary basis (Employment Type in the Personnel record = Casual)

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Employed 12 Months or Less

Default percentage of salary to calculate the on-cost value for those employed for 12 months or less

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Employed More Than 12 Months

Default percentage of salary to calculate the on-cost value for those employed at the institution for more than12 months

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Other

 

Allow Salary Step Level?

Indicates whether users are allowed to select a salary step level to enable accurate costing calculation for the specified project type

If Yes, users can select a salary step level from a dropdown.

Step values in the dropdown will depend on the selected Employment Type and HEW.

Cost Multiplier Percentage

Percentage that will apply to the total cost to take into account the true cost of research

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Work Days per Calendar Year

Number of days per calendar year used in calculating the daily salary rate

The value is a number from 1 to 365 inclusive, with no decimal places.

Examples:

365 = counts all days in the year (does not account for leap years)

260 = only include work days and exclude Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays

Work Hours per Day

Number of work hours per day, used to calculate the consultancy daily rate for investigators

The value is a number from 0 to 24 inclusive, and can be up to two decimal places (for example, 6.25)

Step Progression for Existing Staff

These fields display salary step progression details used in calculations for staff that already exist in RME.

Step progression is where employees automatically move up a salary step level every year.

Applied On

When progression will begin to be applied based on set dates in the system

Apply to Salary Calculation?

Indicates if progression is to be considered for salary calculation of existing staff on the project

Month/Day

Month and day in the current year that progression will begin to be applied

Step Progression for New Staff

These fields display salary step progression details used in calculations for staff that do not exist in RME and are newly added to the project.  

Step progression is where employees automatically move up a salary step level every year.

Apply to Salary Calculation?

Indicates if progression is to be considered for salary calculation of new staff added to the project

Month/Day

Month and day in the current year that progression will begin to be applied

 

b) On-Cost Method = On-Cost Pattern

Default Field Label

(in alphabetical order, by sections)

Description

On-cost Percentages

On-cost patterns are displayed, including the code and description of each, and whether the pattern is current.

The On-cost Percentage column displays the percentage used in salary calculations.

The Percentage Excl. Annual Leave column displays the on-cost percentage to use if the Exclude Annual Leave from On-cost flag is set to Yes for the Fund Scheme Level on-cost variation.

Other

 

Allow Salary Step Level?

Indicates whether users are allowed to select a salary step level to enable accurate costing calculation for the specified project type

If Yes, users can select a salary step level from a dropdown.

Step values in the dropdown will depend on the selected Employment Type and HEW.

Cost Multiplier Percentage

Percentage that will apply to the total cost to take into account the true cost of research

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Work Hours per Day

Number of work hours per day, used to calculate the consultancy daily rate for investigators

The value is a number from 0 to 24 inclusive, and can be up to two decimal places (for example, 6.25)

Step Progression for Existing Staff

These fields display salary step progression details used in calculations for staff that already exist in RME.

Step progression is where employees automatically move up a salary step level every year.

Applied On

When progression will begin to be applied based on set dates in the system

Apply to Salary Calculation?

Indicates if progression is to be considered for salary calculation of existing staff on the project

Month/Day

Month and day in the current year that progression will begin to be applied

Step Progression for New Staff

These fields display salary step progression details used in calculations for staff that do not exist in RME and are newly added to the project.  

Step progression is where employees automatically move up a salary step level every year.

Apply to Salary Calculation?

Indicates if progression is to be considered for salary calculation of new staff added to the project

Month/Day

Month and day in the current year that progression will begin to be applied

 

 

Pricing Rules: Fields

There are two possible layouts for this section based on the CPT Configuration setting for On-Cost Method: a) Employment Type or b) On-Cost Pattern.

a) On-Cost Method = Employment Type (default)

Default Field Label

(in alphabetical order, by sections)

Description

Consultancy Project Pricing

Fields in this section are enabled if Use Pricing for Consultancy Projects?  is Yes

Apply Consulting Rates?

Indicates whether price is calculated based on consulting rates  

        If Yes, price is calculated based on consulting rates for the specified project type

        If No, the Use Price Adjustment? field is used.

Use Price Adjustment?

Indicates if prices can be adjusted in CPT

        If Yes, price adjustment options are displayed in the Project Price page in CPT. Users with page access can adjust the automatically-calculated prices

        If No, automatically-calculated prices cannot be adjusted in the project price page in CPT.

Use Quotation Builder?

Indicates if users can create quotations in the Quotation Builder page in CPT

        If Yes, the Quotation Builder page will be available to the users with page access. 

        If No, the Quotation Builder page will not be displayed.

Indirect Cost Recovery Percentages

These fields display rules for indirect cost recovery (ICR).

Institution Direct Salary Cost

Percentage for cost recovery based on the total salary cost for the project

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Method *

Indicates which option is used to apply indirect cost recovery for the institution:

        Mixed (default): Select this to apply indirect cost recovery on both total direct cost and total salary cost

        Total Direct Cost (default): Select this to apply indirect cost recovery on the total direct cost

        Institution Direct Salary Cost: Select this to apply indirect cost recovery on the total salary cost

Depending on the selected option, corresponding field/s in this section will be populated.

Other Direct Cost

Percentage applied to non-salary costs of the project to calculate the ICR amount

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Total Direct Cost

Percentage for cost recovery based on the total direct cost of the project

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Margin and GST

These fields display rules applied to pricing.

Include GST?

Indicates whether to include additional totals with GST calculated in the price

The GST percentage value is set in System Preferences in RME.

Margin Percentage

Percentage applied to calculate the margin amount on the project

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

User Can Markup or Discount?

Indicates if users can enter an amount to increase the price (markup) or decrease it (discount)

User Can Override Margin Percentage?

Indicates if users can enter a different margin percentage

Other

 

Allow Indirect Cost Recovery Waiver?

Indicates whether users are allowed to enter an ICR waiver value on the pricing page in CPT, as either a percentage or an amount,  to reduce the ICR from the project price

Contingency Percentage

Percentage applied to account for the potential risk that the project may not be undertaken as planned

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

External Salary Package

Salary packaged via an external provider, which may include other forms of remuneration other than cash salary, such as car lease, equipment, travel benefits and so on

If defined, this is used instead of the employment fields for HEW type salary levels.

Include Competitive Neutrality Charge?

Only displayed if Include Competitive Neutrality Charge? = YES for the applied rule

Indicates if a Competitive Neutrality Charge can be entered by an RME administrator or office staff  in an eForm

This is a charge to bring research project costs up to the full cost that would be incurred without the benefits of public ownership, in order to complete fairly in the market, especially against private sector organisations.

Use Pricing for Consultancy Projects?

Indicates if the consultancy project fields are used in the Consulting Project Pricing section below it (above)

Staff On-cost Percentages

This section displays if Fund Scheme Level rules are applicable to the project and different staff on-cost percentages are defined at that level.

It displays rules used in calculations for on-cost recovery related to institution staff.

 "On-cost" represents employment costs that are difficult to define in simple monetary terms, such as long service leave, workers’ compensation insurance and so on.

Casual Staff

Default percentage of salary to calculate the on-cost value for staff employed on a short-term or temporary basis, with irregular or flexible hours and no guarantee of ongoing employment (Employment Type in the Personnel record = Casual)

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Employed 12 Months or Less

Default percentage of salary to calculate the on-cost value for those employed for 12 months or less

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Employed More Than 12 Months

Default percentage of salary to calculate the on-cost value for those employed at the institution for more than12 months

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

 

b) On-Cost Method = On-Cost Pattern

Default Field Label

(in alphabetical order, by sections)

Description

Consultancy Project Pricing

Fields in this section are enabled if Use Pricing for Consultancy Projects?  is Yes

Apply Consulting Rates?

Indicates whether price is calculated based on consulting rates  

        If Yes, price is calculated based on consulting rates for the specified project type

        If No, the Use Price Adjustment? field is used.

Use Price Adjustment?

Indicates if prices can be adjusted in CPT

        If Yes, price adjustment options are displayed in the Project Price page in CPT. Users with page access can adjust the automatically-calculated prices

        If No, automatically-calculated prices cannot be adjusted in the project price page in CPT.

Use Quotation Builder?

Indicates if users can create quotations in the Quotation Builder page in CPT

        If Yes, the Quotation Builder page will be available to the users with page access. 

        If No, the Quotation Builder page will not be displayed.

Indirect Cost Recovery Percentages

These fields display rules for indirect cost recovery (ICR).

Institution Direct Salary Cost

Percentage for cost recovery based on the total salary cost for the project

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Method *

Indicates which option is used to apply indirect cost recovery for the institution:

        Mixed (default): Select this to apply indirect cost recovery on both total direct cost and total salary cost

        Total Direct Cost (default): Select this to apply indirect cost recovery on the total direct cost

        Institution Direct Salary Cost: Select this to apply indirect cost recovery on the total salary cost

Depending on the selected option, corresponding field/s in this section will be populated.

Other Direct Cost

Percentage applied to non-salary costs of the project to calculate the ICR amount

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Total Direct Cost

Percentage for cost recovery based on the total direct cost of the project

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

Margin and GST

These fields display rules applied to pricing.

Include GST?

Indicates whether to include additional totals with GST calculated in the price

The GST percentage value is set in System Preferences in RME.

Margin Percentage

Percentage applied to calculate the margin amount on the project

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

User Can Markup or Discount?

Indicates if users can enter an amount to increase the price (markup) or decrease it (discount)

User Can Override Margin Percentage?

Indicates if users can enter a different margin percentage

On-cost Percentages

On-cost patterns are displayed, including the code and description of each, and whether the pattern is current.

The On-cost Percentage column displays the percentage used in salary calculations.

The Percentage Excl. Annual Leave column displays the on-cost percentage to use if the Exclude Annual Leave from On-cost flag is set to Yes for the Fund Scheme Level on-cost variation.

On-Cost Percentage Variations

 

Exclude Annual Leave from On-cost

Default: No

Indicates if on-cost for the selected fund scheme is based on Percentage Excl. Annual Leave values set in the Institution Level rules

On-cost Percentage

Only editable if Override Defaults? is Yes; default: 0

On-cost percentage to use Salary Price calculations for projects with the selected fund scheme

Cannot be blank. Must be greater than 0 and less than or equal to 100, with up to 2 decimal places.

Override Defaults?

Default: No

Indicates whether to override the On-cost Percentages set in the Institution Level rules for Salary Price calculations for projects with the selected fund scheme

If changed to Yes, enter the on-cost percentage value for the fund scheme in the On-cost Percentage field (above).

Other

 

Allow Indirect Cost Recovery Waiver?

Indicates whether users are allowed to enter an ICR waiver value on the pricing page in CPT, as either a percentage or an amount,  to reduce the ICR from the project price

Contingency Percentage

Percentage applied to account for the potential risk that the project may not be undertaken as planned

Must be a number between 0 to 100 inclusive, with up to two decimal places.

External Salary Package

Salary packaged via an external provider, which may include other forms of remuneration other than cash salary, such as car lease, equipment, travel benefits and so on

If defined, this is used instead of the employment fields for HEW type salary levels.

Include Competitive Neutrality Charge?

Only displayed if Include Competitive Neutrality Charge? = Yes for the applied rule

Indicates if a Competitive Neutrality Charge can be entered by an RME administrator or office staff  in an eForm

This is a charge to bring research project costs up to the full cost that would be incurred without the benefits of public ownership, in order to complete fairly in the market, especially against private sector organisations.

Include Indexation for Salary Price Calculation?

Not applicable if an External Salary Package is selected

Whether indexation is included (Yes) or excluded (No) from salary price calculations for the funder when indexation percentages are defined in the system in the Indexation Percentages page

Manual Entry of Base Salary for Internals?

Indicates if the salary amount for internal team members can be manually entered

For details, see: Fund Scheme Level - Option: Manual base salary entry for externals

Use Pricing for Consultancy Projects?

Indicates if the consultancy project fields are used in the Consulting Project Pricing section below it (above)

 

Consumable and Capital Items: Fields

Default Field Label

(in alphabetical order)

Description

Consumable and Capital Item Groups

A grid listing the consumable and capital item groups and items available for the applicable rule/s

Excluded Consumable and Capital Items

Only for Fund Scheme rules

Items that the fund scheme has specified that they will not cover

In CPT, if these items were selected in an RPR eForm, costs will be allocated to the institution by default, rather than the primary fund scheme.

Each cost can be re-allocated to any other fund scheme, if there are any, except the primary.

 

Toolbar options

Options

Description

Outputs

Costing and pricing outputs available for the project and your role

Outputs with CPT data are created and managed by your RME administrators or office staff. They can be provided for different purposes, funders or stakeholders.

For output filter configuration, see: Output Configuration

Close

Returns you to the eForm costing and pricing summary page that has the button/link to open the tool

 

View and apply new rules

If any changes have been made to funding rules applied to the project since the eForm application was first created, these can be shown and applied in this page. Depending on the page actions assigned, you can view and apply new rules. This does not apply when the eForm application is in an end state of the workflow.

View rule changes

Prerequisite: Page View CPT013, View Rule Changes page action assigned  in an applicable role or a User record

When funding rules that are applicable to a project are changed, a text indicator “New Rules” displays in red next to the Funding Rules page name in the navigation panel, provided the eForm application is not in an end state of the workflow. This is a prompt for you to go to the page to view impacted fields.

In the page, the new rule value for each impacted field is displayed in red text underneath it. For example, if Work Hours per Day has been changed from 7 to 8, the field displays the text “New Value: 8” under it. The previous value remains in the field.

To apply new rules, see Apply rule changes below.

Apply rule changes

Prerequisite:  Page View CPT013, Apply New Rules page action assigned  in an applicable role or a User record

The Apply New Rules button displays on the toolbar when funding rules have changed. New rule values are displayed under impacted fields.

You can either:

        Ignore the changes and keep the current rule settings to continue using the previously-defined rules for the project. The New Rule indicator, New Value text and the Apply Rule Rules button remain visible.

OR

        Apply all the new rules by selecting the Apply New Rules button.  A confirmation message will display. If you select OK, previous funding rule values will be replaced with new values. This applies all rule changes; individual rule changes cannot be selected.

Project cost and price is recalculated based on the new rules. In some cases, a message may alert users that the eForm application may need review and new inputs. The New Rule indicator, New Value text and the Apply Rule Rules button will no longer be visible. They will only re-display if funding rules that apply to the project are next changed.

 

Related topics

Costing and Pricing Tool pages:

        Changes to costing details

        Consumable and Capital Items

        Facility Usage

        ICR Item Override

        Institution Cash and In-kind Contribution

        Project Cost

        Project Price

        Project Price (adjustments)

        Project Summary

        Project Team

        Quotation Builder

 

Costing and Pricing Tool configuration:

        Funding Rules configuration

 

Reference:

        CPT page status indicators

        CPT terminology

 

Costing and Pricing Tool configuration:

        Funding Rules configuration

        Salary and Indexation configuration

 

Product key: Costing and Pricing Tool

Page ID: CPT013.htm