44 
least once a year to review the activities, status, and accomplishments of the 
center. It would then make its report to the principal investigator'^ . As 
the recommendations of the board are not binding, there is some question as 
to how effective and helpful to the centers the boards will be. 
Each center is to provide space, facilities, and animals to visiting scientists 
on a selected basis, so that they may carry on discrete studies for a limited 
timei^' . The base-operating grant of the center can provide the salary and 
traveling expenses of a visiting scientist. Other costs are generally not 
allowablellj/ . Other research expenses may come from other sources, such as 
individual research grants. 
The centers were not established to provide facilities and animals to resear- 
chers merely on demand. Each center must make a decision according to certain 
criteria, to accept or reject a request. The responsibility for the decision 
rests with the center director, whether he makes the decision alone or with 
advice from others. The most appropriate criteria for arriving at the best 
decisions have yet to be fully determined. 
Budget negotiations between the ARB staff and each center director and staff 
are carried on annually at an appropriate date prior to a forthcoming grant 
period. The negotiations are to determine the amounts to be included in the 
application for continued support. The amounts determined take into consider- 
ation other sources of support, such as other grants, contracts, or fees for 
services to outside investigators. The total budget may include, as direct 
costs, complete support of (a) the core research program, (b) Maintenance, 
(c) administrative activities carried on at the center, (d) a fixed cost fee 
to the grantee institution for payroll, purchasing, library^ and other appro- 
priate services-ii . Each center was designed for a scientific program not 
to exceed $2 million when fully operational; this may not be exceeded without 
PHS approval, or without convincing evidence that adequate facilities are 
available. Outside funding is limited to about 25 percent of the total oper- 
ating budget; the centers advise the PHS when the support from other sources 
exceeds this limit. This percentage may not be exceeded without PHS approval. 
The host institution is a university which has accepted responsibility for 
providing an academic environment of high quality for the center's director 
and staff. In accordance with NIH policy, the host institution also provides 
8^/ An official of the host institution. 
9/ Not to exceed two years without PHS approval (policy limitation). 
10 / PHS approval required for other costs. 
11 / A proposed policy was not implemented. The grantee institutions have been 
reimbursed for indirect costs not to exceed actual indirect costs. 
