Laboratory Directed Research & Development
FAQ
Answers:
1. What can be charged to an LDRD account?
Labor, materials, services and equipment in support of a research project which has the following characteristics:
- Advanced study of hypotheses, concepts, or innovative approaches to scientific or technical problems;
- Experiments and analyses directed towards "proof of principle" or early determination of the utility of new scientific ideas, technical concepts, or devices; and
- Conception and preliminary technical analyses of experimental facilities or devices.
2. How long can a proposal be funded?
- Proposals are funded each fiscal year. Funds must be spent within the fiscal year and do not roll over to the next fiscal year;
- Proposals must compete each successive year for continuation;
- Normally LDRD projects will be limited to a maximum period of performance of 36 months, from start to finish without regard to fiscal year boundaries. Exceptions may be granted by the DOE SC headquarters.
3. What are allowable costs for LDRD?
- Costs may be accumulated for technical or administrative support of project meeting 1a above.
- LDRD expenditures are considered an allowable cost in accordance with the terms and conditions of the laboratory operating contract and must be identified in the lab accounting system.
- Examples:
- Paying a JLab employee through the JLab payroll;
- Purchasing materials and services through JLab procurement systems;
- Paying a contractor/consultant following procurement procedures;
- Paying for travel to JLab of a user from another institution when their expertise adds value to the project;
- Paying for an administrator partially or fully.
4. What are the restrictions on LDRD funds?
- To substitute for or increase funding for any tasks that are otherwise already funded by DOE in the laboratory;
- To fund JLab users for research;
- To fund projects that will require the addition of non-LDRD funds to accomplish the technical goals of the LDRD project;
- To fund construction design beyond the preliminary phase (e.g., conceptual design, Title I design work, or any similar or more advanced design effort) or fund line-item construction projects, in whole or in part;
- To fund general purpose capital expenditures with the exception of acquisition of general purpose equipment that is clearly required for the project and is not otherwise readily available from laboratory inventory.
5. What reports are required of the lead scientist?
- One page mid-year update aimed at the JLab Leadership Council;
- An annual one-page report aimed at technically knowledgeable administrator containing:
- A brief description of the project and what it accomplished during the year
- A list of publications and conference reports
- Metrics:
- Number of scientific and technical research staff hired at least partially funded by LDRD
- Number of postdoctoral researchers supported by LDRD
- Number of grad students supported by LDRD
- Number of LDRD-derived refereed publications
- Number of LDRD-derived patents issued/granted
- Number of LDRD-derived invention disclosures submitted
- Number of LDRD-derived copyrights issued/granted
- Information on any national awards or other recognition received from this LDRD work
- Identify follow-on funding resulting from this LDRD project.
6. How do I publish papers/conference presentations funded by LDRD?
Follow standard JLab publication procedures for your division. When entering the paper into the JLab publication system (at https://misportal.jlab.org/ul/publications/submit/ ) you should check the box identifying the paper as LDRD funded, and select your project ID from the pull down box adjacent to the checkbox.
7. How are JLab and non-JLab costs charged to LDRD?
- Your division Budget Analyst arranges to set up a project code for that year.
- Non JLab incurred charges (such as collaborator travel and purchased items or effort) are handled through purchase requisitions and travel requisitions as is done for standard accounts.
8. Who can apply for LDRD funding?
- The LDRD proposal process is open to all Lab programmatic, scientific, engineering and technical staff.
- All principal investigators MUST have a JLab affiliation.
9. How should I deal with intellectual property issues associated with my LDRD project?
- A summary of the recently revised patent law outlining aspects that are relevant for your consideration during the course of planning, executing, and presenting your LDRD project are outlined in the document "Summary of America Invents Act (AIA)"
- If you have further questions on these issues, please contact Rhonda Scales, the lab's legal counsel (x 7384, or scales@jlab.org)
All principal investigators MUST have a JLab affiliation.