It is the policy of the Office of Cost Analysis (OCA) to ensure that the University is in compliance with the cost principles and accounting standards set forth by the U.S. government.

The OCA is charged with reviewing the rates charged by Service Centers and ensuring that rates are consistent with good business practice, and comply with all applicable regulatory and legal requirements, including those outlined in OMB Circular A-21 and the Government Cost Accounting Standards.

The OCA will ensure that the establishment of University Service Centers is approved by the Service Center and Cost Recovery Committee (SCCRC). All Service Center rates are approved biennially by the SCCRC in accordance with OMB Circular 21.

The OCA calculates the Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate charged to federal research grants in accordance with OMB Circular 21 and the Government Cost Accounting Standards.

It is the policy of the OCA to ensure that Federal grants and contracts are not charged a higher rate for the goods and/or services that any other internal or external customer may be charged.

The OCA calculates personal services fringe rates that are charged to research grants. The rates are calculated based on current information and then adjusted annually in the future rates, based on actual costs.

OCA was established in 1998. This area provides a wide range of services and oversight to many individual departments as well as the University in whole. OCA is responsible for ensuring that federal requirements are known and followed. This process necessitates the annual review of the service centers to confirm that UCONN is in compliance with the cost principles and accounting standards set forth by the U.S. government. This review includes any cost adjustments made outside of the normal purchasing or payroll process.Additionally, OCA reviews the rates charged by the Centers to their customers. All allowable costs associated with a Center’s tasks will be considered during rate development. Sale of goods or services by a service center must be consistent with good business practice and must comply with all applicable regulatory and legal requirements, including those outlined in OMB Circular A-21 and the Government Cost Accounting Standards. Federal grants and contracts may not be charged a higher rate for the goods and/or services that any other internal or external customer may be charged. A Service Center is defined as a unit which charges a rate to recover the full allowable cost of goods or services provided. An area which charges another area for the cost of the goods or services only, without consideration of other recoverable costs is deemed a recharge center.