Frequently Asked Questions
What is the relationship between the host institution, FPAN, and a Regional Center?
In particular, how much programming of such centers is planned as centrally-directed from the headquarters in West Florida? What is the relationship between the director of a regional center and the director at West Florida? How does the host institution fit into this equation?
The Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) is a program of the University of West Florida advised by a Board of Directors. In addition to operating the Coordinating Center and a Regional Center for Northwest Florida, this program funds Regional Centers throughout Florida that are hosted by other institutions. Host institutions have a contract with the University of West Florida to operate a Regional Center based on direction provided in the FPAN MOA, and amendments, and based on an accepted annual work plan and budget. The Director of the Florida Public Archaeology Network oversees the administration of the program and provides state-wide leadership for the Network.
Programming at Regional Centers must respond to the goals of the FPAN as outlined in the MOA and may also be required to respond to region-specific or state-wide needs as identified by the Network Director. Such needs will be identified when the annual work plan for the following year is requested. Staff and advisors of each Regional Center are expected to propose programming that will address the FPAN goals and other specified needs while taking into consideration the particular setting and issues characteristic of the Region being served.
The contract for operating a Regional Center is between the University of West Florida (FPAN) and the host institution. Center staff will be employees of the host institution, and the director will be supervised by an employee of the host institution. The host may partner with other institutions; for example, the West Central Region in Tampa is hosted by the University of South Florida, but partners with the Museum of Science and Industry which provides office and programming space for the Regional Center.
Although the Regional Director is supervised within the structure of their host institution, the relationship between this Regional Director and the Network Director is expected to reflect the cooperative nature of this state-wide program. Although a great amount of individuality is expected at each Regional Center, the Network Director and Regional Directors must work closely to ensure the cohesive, public-friendly operation of this state-wide initiative.
Can equipment and furniture request be part of the start up budget?
Yes, you can request equipment and furniture as part of the start up budget. It has been anticipated that the first year funding will not be used to the full amount required for salaries and operations due to a shorter time frame and that the difference can be used for special start up requirements. Please use the proposal budget narrative to detail the type of furniture requested, purpose, etc. The only condition is that since the grants are anticipated to be start up in order to sustain a center through a long-term period, should for any reason an earlier termination (at your request or at ours) be executed, the property would be expected to be returned to UWF for reassignment to a new host for the center in your region.
F & A Rate
Because these funds are fixed in nature and there is no provision in the state budget line item to increase funds from one year to the next and the funds were originally requested from the Legislature when the rate was at 5%, the rate of 5% is still applicable. Since the budget allocation for the FPAN centers was already in place prior to the change in Florida Statutes, there are no funds available to approve a higher F&A rate. These funds are a state appropriation and many agencies do not allow any F&A to be charged against state funds but only to federal or private flow through. The FPAN board initially considered excluding the possibility of F&A on these funds at all but were prevailed upon to acknowledge that some F&A was appropriate for the host institutions. Several of the proposals for the centers have elected to waive this altogather and to consider it part of their insititional cost share in order to host a center. Although matching is not required and it is expected that the 5% F&A will be allowed when requested, some hosts have volunteered this support.
We look at the FPAN network as an opportunity to build a system of archaeology centers through out the state that would allow for future federal or private applications for funding as a consortium as well as providing the host institutions a unit within their own organization which is in a unique position to seek external funding for specific projects from federal, state and private sources. Therefore, the basic support is to be a starting point for other projects or programs that may bring additional revenue to the insitution through opportunities which might not otherwise exist.
But the real bottom line is that the funding allocation is fixed and the objectives of the FPAN provide for inclusion of a certain number of regional centers. Any modification of the F&A rate would result in either a lower direct cost base to the regional center which would impact its ability to provide the level of service expected or a reduction in the number of centers which can be supported. There will be a more formal position on this issue in the upcoming weeks but at this time we are staying with the original budgeted allocation to allow the 5%.