Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

Fringe Benefit Rates
The fringe benefits rate for administration and staff (full-time and part-time) and faculty (full-time) is 36.38 percent for FY21. Payroll tax for FY21 is 1.94 percent. 

Indirect Cost Rate
The institutional rate is 10 percent on total direct cost typically, or on Total Modified Direct Costs, as dictated by the funding entity.

Additional Data
DUNS Number: 948845193
IRS Employer Identification Number/TIN: 04-3154529
Central Contractor Registration: Approved 

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions during the grant application process. If you have any questions that are not answered below, please contact the OGSP.

What resources are available to me?  

• The Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs homepage serves as a good starting point for prospective grant applicants. It includes links to other sections of the Web site that help with the grant writing process. We ask that anyone considering grant funding for their project contact the OGSP for additional guidance.

Do I need to check with anyone before submitting my application at the Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs? 

• Yes. Your department chair, director, or administrative supervisor must be aware of your plans to pursue external funding and must sign the Grant/Sponsored Program Contract Approval Form prior to grant submittal.

What is research?  

• Research is defined by the Grants.gov portal as, "A systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the subject studied." The term also includes, "Activities involving the training of individuals in research techniques where such activities utilize the same facilities as other research and development activities and where such activities are not included in the instruction function."

What is a grant?

• Grants are defined by Grants.gov as, "One of many different forms of Federal financial assistance," that "funds your ideas and projects to provide public services and stimulate the economy."

What is a sponsored program?  

• A sponsored program is an activity or project that is externally supported and that requires expenditure of funds. The funding agency should receive a written report about the allocated funds. Otherwise, FSU is obligated to return any financial support if the project objectives are not fulfilled. These research and grant-related contracts (e.g. for academic research) go through the OGSP, as opposed to vendor contracts which go through the Business Office.  

What should I do if I've prepared my program or project for external support?  

• Once your program or project is ready for support, contact the OGSP and we can search for potential grant funders. If you have some grant funders in mind, we can help you to reach out to them and to begin drafting the grant application.