I would like to submit more than one project in my SCG application. Do I need to submit a separate budget for each project?
Yes, for each project submitted, a budget must be provided. Each project’s budget should consist of budget line items you complete by clicking on the “Build Project Budget” link on the “Request Details” screen for each specific project.
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If I have an expense that is a flat fee, how do I enter the unit of measure for that budget line item?
You would select “Unknown” from the drop-down menu in Question #4 of the “Add Fire Station Construction Budget Item” screen. For Question #5, you would enter a “1” as the unit quantity, and for Question #6, enter the unit cost as the total for the budget item, e.g. the budget item’s flat fee.
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What information should I provide in the text box for Question #7 for the budget item narrative?
For each type of budget item, you need to provide specific information. The detail that needs to be included for each type of budget item is listed below:

• Personnel: List each position by title and name of employee, if available. Show the annual salary rate and the percentage of time that will be devoted to the project. Compensation paid for employees engaged in grant activities must be consistent with that paid for similar work within the applicant organization.
• Fringe Benefits: Fringe benefits should be based on actual known costs or an established formula. Fringe benefits are for personnel, which needs to have its own separate budget item, and should only be for the percentage of time devoted to the project.
• Travel: Itemize travel expenses of project personnel by purpose (e.g., staff to training, field interviews, advisory group meeting, etc.). Show the basis of computation (e.g., six people to 3-day training at $X airfare, $X lodging, $X subsistence). Identify the location of travel, if known. Indicate source of Travel Policies applied: Applicant or Federal Travel Regulations.
• Equipment: List non-expendable items to be purchased. Non-expendable equipment is tangible property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000.00 or more per unit. (Note: Organization’s own capitalization policy and threshold amount for classification of equipment may be used). Expendable items should be included in the “Supplies” category.
• Supplies: List items by type (office supplies, postage, training materials, copying paper, and other expendable items such as books, hand held tape recorders) and show the basis for computation. (Note: Organization’s own capitalization policy and threshold amount for classification of supplies may be used). Generally, supplies include any materials that are expendable or consumed during the course of the project.
• Contractual: Provide a description of the product or services to be procured by contract and an estimate of the cost. Contractual costs should be for all non-construction related contracts supporting the project. Applicants are encouraged to promote free and open competition in awarding contracts.
• Construction: All construction costs should be entered separately using the drop-down menus. To avoid overlap between construction costs and contractual costs, construction costs should be for all costs and contracts directly related to construction. Applicants are encouraged to promote free and open competition in awarding contracts.
• Other Costs: List items (e.g., rent, reproduction, telephone, janitorial or security services) by major type and the basis of the computation. For example, provide the square footage and the cost per square foot for rent and provide a monthly rental cost and how many months of rent.
• Indirect Costs: Indirect costs are allowed only if the applicant has a federally approved indirect cost rate. A copy of the rate approval, (a fully executed, negotiated agreement), is required. If the applicant does not have an approved rate, one can be requested by contacting the applicant’s cognizant Federal agency, which will review all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant organization.
  

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