Third-Party Cost Sharing

Definition: A third party (not MIT) contributes or donates cash or services (i.e., material/personnel/equipment) or other allowable items to the project.

Important! Because this is not an expenditure made by MIT, the DLCI should provide documentation from the third party—including the value of the donated materials and supplies—to the RAS to substantiate that the commitment has been fulfilled.

In general, values for the contribution of services and property are established in accordance with the OMB Uniform Guidance or A-21 Cost Principles for allowability and the terms of the federal award.

  • All documentation should include a brief statement describing the basis for determining the valuation of services, material, or equipment.
  • Third-party cost sharing on federal awards and grants must meet the Uniform Guidance or A-110  criteria that define allowable cost sharing expenditures.

Third-party cost sharing offered voluntarily in a proposal—as with all MIT-offered voluntary cost sharing—becomes a commitment under the terms of the award, and represents a binding obligation of the Institute.

Action Items for DLCs:

  • Annually provide copies of documentation of non-MIT-funded cost sharing to RAS and Sponsored Accounting
  • Maintain copies of non-MIT-funded cost sharing – in the event of an audit or questioned costs