Service center rates


A service center is an organizational unit that provides goods or services to users within the University of Kansas academic and administrative community. A service center is an ongoing activity — not a one-time occurrence. The service center's price is determined on a rate basis. These rates recover the costs of salaries, benefits, supplies, equipment and more. 

In accordance with Uniform Guidance (eCFR §200.468), service center rates must be established to ensure costs break even or recover no more than the total cost of the goods or services. A service center cannot make a profit. 

Use the tabs below to learn whether your unit's activities should use a sponsored project, or if you need to establish a fee-for-service rate. Get started establishing a service center rate following the instructions below. 

 

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Sponsored research

For a sponsored project, a third party pays the university to perform research. The following characteristics define sponsored research:

 

  • What is the scope of work? Research is a systematic study directed toward fuller knowledge or understanding of a subject. This work is self-designed and originates from the investigator. The result is adding to or revolutionizing the body of knowledge in a field (or the creation of new fields of study, disciplines, and theories).

     
  • Who primarily benefits? Mutual exchange between a sponsor and university that supports and advances the university’s mission and provides a benefit to sponsor.

     
  • Are programmatic decisions anticipated? Programmatic decision-making impact that could result in change in approach or outcome, including development of new or modifications to existing theories, methods or materials.

     
  • Is interpretation of resulting data anticipated? Research involves performance of significant interpretive analysis of data that results in the ability to provide conclusions to improve sponsor methods, processes, and/or products.

     
  • Is knowledge dissemination or publication anticipated? Research results in generalized knowledge intended to be shared broadly with the scientific community, including publication and presentations. Publication is expected, as well as the ability to use the results in teaching and research, and to perform additional research at KU.

     
  • How is intellectual property (IP) treated? Research may result in patentable and/or copyright innovation. KU intends to retain ownership and control of the IP for future academic or research purposes. KU’s pre-existing IP (background IP) may be offered for licensing to the sponsor.

Fee for service

Fee for service refers to a transaction where a center or laboratory is paid for services they routinely perform. The Office of Research develops a standard rate for its services and provides the services to a variety of customers with minimal customization. This work requires a contract. If a rate has already been established, use the fee for service agreement request form to apply for a fee for service contract. 

The following characteristics define fee for service work:

 

  • What is the scope of work? Work requires particular expertise, equipment, instrumentation, and technical context, but does not require the creation of a theory. The prime objective of fee for service work is a technical or immediately usable deliverable in a form that is ready to be applied and used for industrial applications.

     
  • Who primarily benefits? Primary benefit is to the client.

     
  • Are programmatic decisions anticipated? Services are provided according to an approved, standard protocol that covers a class of services that may be offered as a fee for service.

     
  • Is interpretation of resulting data anticipated? Little or no interpretation of resulting data from work performed using existing methods or processes and technical context.

     
  • Is knowledge dissemination or publication anticipated? Fee for service work involves routine analysis, evaluation, classification, or interpretation of client’s data, samples, mechanisms, procedures, or products. KU will do no basic or applied research. No intent to further disseminate knowledge, including via publication.

     
  • How is intellectual property (IP) treated? No intellectual property development (foreground IP) is expected. No KU pre-existing/background IP offered.

Sponsored research vs. fee for service characteristics

 

Sponsored research vs. fee for service characteristics
Characteristics questionsResearchFee for service
What is the scope of work?Research is a systematic study directed toward fuller knowledge or understanding of a subject. This work is self-designed and originates from the investigator. The result is adding to or revolutionizing the body of knowledge in a field (or the creation of new fields of study, disciplines, and theories).Work requires particular expertise, equipment, instrumentation, and technical context, but does not require the creation of a theory. The prime objective of fee for service work is a technical or immediately usable deliverable in a form that is ready to be applied and used for industrial applications.
Who primarily benefits?Mutual exchange between a sponsor and university that supports and advances the university’s mission and provides a benefit to sponsor.Primary benefit is to the client.
Are programmatic decisions anticipated?Programmatic decision-making impact that could result in change in approach or outcome, including development of new or modifications to existing theories, methods, or materials.Services are provided according to an approved, standard protocol that covers a class of services that may be offered as a fee for service.
Is interpretation of resulting data anticipated?Research involves performance of significant interpretive analysis of data that results in the ability to provide conclusions to improve sponsor methods, processes, and/or products.Little or no interpretation of resulting data from work performed using existing methods or processes and technical context.
Is knowledge dissemination or publication anticipated?Research results in generalized knowledge intended to be shared broadly with the scientific community, including publication and presentations. Publication is expected, as well as the ability to use the results in teaching and research, and to perform additional research at KU.Fee for service work involves routine analysis, evaluation, classification, or interpretation of client’s data, samples, mechanisms, procedures, or products. KU will do no basic or applied research. No intent to further disseminate knowledge, including via publication.
How is intellectual property (IP) treated?Research may result in patentable and/or copyright innovation. KU intends to retain ownership and control of the IP for future academic or research purposes. KU’s pre-existing IP (background IP) may be offered for licensing to the sponsor.No intellectual property development (foreground IP) is expected. No KU pre-existing/background IP offered.

Sponsored research

For a sponsored project, a third party pays the university to perform research. The following characteristics define sponsored research:

 

  • What is the scope of work? Research is a systematic study directed toward fuller knowledge or understanding of a subject. This work is self-designed and originates from the investigator. The result is adding to or revolutionizing the body of knowledge in a field (or the creation of new fields of study, disciplines, and theories).

     
  • Who primarily benefits? Mutual exchange between a sponsor and university that supports and advances the university’s mission and provides a benefit to sponsor.

     
  • Are programmatic decisions anticipated? Programmatic decision-making impact that could result in change in approach or outcome, including development of new or modifications to existing theories, methods or materials.

     
  • Is interpretation of resulting data anticipated? Research involves performance of significant interpretive analysis of data that results in the ability to provide conclusions to improve sponsor methods, processes, and/or products.

     
  • Is knowledge dissemination or publication anticipated? Research results in generalized knowledge intended to be shared broadly with the scientific community, including publication and presentations. Publication is expected, as well as the ability to use the results in teaching and research, and to perform additional research at KU.

     
  • How is intellectual property (IP) treated? Research may result in patentable and/or copyright innovation. KU intends to retain ownership and control of the IP for future academic or research purposes. KU’s pre-existing IP (background IP) may be offered for licensing to the sponsor.

Fee for service

Fee for service refers to a transaction where a center or laboratory is paid for services they routinely perform. The Office of Research develops a standard rate for its services and provides the services to a variety of customers with minimal customization. This work requires a contract. If a rate has already been established, use the fee for service agreement request form to apply for a fee for service contract. 

The following characteristics define fee for service work:

 

  • What is the scope of work? Work requires particular expertise, equipment, instrumentation, and technical context, but does not require the creation of a theory. The prime objective of fee for service work is a technical or immediately usable deliverable in a form that is ready to be applied and used for industrial applications.

     
  • Who primarily benefits? Primary benefit is to the client.

     
  • Are programmatic decisions anticipated? Services are provided according to an approved, standard protocol that covers a class of services that may be offered as a fee for service.

     
  • Is interpretation of resulting data anticipated? Little or no interpretation of resulting data from work performed using existing methods or processes and technical context.

     
  • Is knowledge dissemination or publication anticipated? Fee for service work involves routine analysis, evaluation, classification, or interpretation of client’s data, samples, mechanisms, procedures, or products. KU will do no basic or applied research. No intent to further disseminate knowledge, including via publication.

     
  • How is intellectual property (IP) treated? No intellectual property development (foreground IP) is expected. No KU pre-existing/background IP offered.

Sponsored research vs. fee for service characteristics

 

Sponsored research vs. fee for service characteristics
Characteristics questionsResearchFee for service
What is the scope of work?Research is a systematic study directed toward fuller knowledge or understanding of a subject. This work is self-designed and originates from the investigator. The result is adding to or revolutionizing the body of knowledge in a field (or the creation of new fields of study, disciplines, and theories).Work requires particular expertise, equipment, instrumentation, and technical context, but does not require the creation of a theory. The prime objective of fee for service work is a technical or immediately usable deliverable in a form that is ready to be applied and used for industrial applications.
Who primarily benefits?Mutual exchange between a sponsor and university that supports and advances the university’s mission and provides a benefit to sponsor.Primary benefit is to the client.
Are programmatic decisions anticipated?Programmatic decision-making impact that could result in change in approach or outcome, including development of new or modifications to existing theories, methods, or materials.Services are provided according to an approved, standard protocol that covers a class of services that may be offered as a fee for service.
Is interpretation of resulting data anticipated?Research involves performance of significant interpretive analysis of data that results in the ability to provide conclusions to improve sponsor methods, processes, and/or products.Little or no interpretation of resulting data from work performed using existing methods or processes and technical context.
Is knowledge dissemination or publication anticipated?Research results in generalized knowledge intended to be shared broadly with the scientific community, including publication and presentations. Publication is expected, as well as the ability to use the results in teaching and research, and to perform additional research at KU.Fee for service work involves routine analysis, evaluation, classification, or interpretation of client’s data, samples, mechanisms, procedures, or products. KU will do no basic or applied research. No intent to further disseminate knowledge, including via publication.
How is intellectual property (IP) treated?Research may result in patentable and/or copyright innovation. KU intends to retain ownership and control of the IP for future academic or research purposes. KU’s pre-existing IP (background IP) may be offered for licensing to the sponsor.No intellectual property development (foreground IP) is expected. No KU pre-existing/background IP offered.

Establish a service rate

Send us a brief explanation of what services you plan to provide. We will promptly schedule a meeting to discuss the process.