EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Equipment: Any article of non expendable, tangible personal property having useful life more than a year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the institution for financial statement purposes, or $500. Equipment can only be considered direct costs if proper approval is received by awarding agency.

Identify each item of equipment separately, with a unit cost of $1000 or more ($500 for IT).  Specify the name, model, etc. of the equipment that is being purchased and why it is necessary for the project. Be certain your price estimates are accurate and include such costs as shipping and installation and be sure to obtain quotes from vendors. 

Consider ways of obtaining equipment other than purchasing it such as sharing or leasing it with a colleague.  Sponsors are usually not willing to pay for general-purpose equipment, such as desks and filing cabinets.  Requests for personal computer equipment should be justified carefully.  For more detail, please click on the Purchasing Department link:  http://www.bridgew.edu/Purchasing/.

Supplies: These are consumable items such as office supplies, copy supplies, glassware, and chemicals. Virtually every project requires some expenditure on supplies. For large amounts of money, or for large portions of the total budget, the request for supplies should be explained. A brief list of the types of supplies needed is useful for your own planning, even if the sponsor does not require it.                                                                                                                                             

Last Modified: October 17, 2011