Free — 20 seconds
What you want to buy or pay for, on what kind of award, and anything unusual about it.
Describe the cost and the award. In a few seconds you get allowable / unallowable / it-depends, the 2 CFR 200 citation, the conditions that change the answer, and the documentation to keep. No account. Nothing stored.
How it works
What, on which award, anything unusual. Nothing is stored.
Allowable, unallowable, or exactly what it depends on — from 2 CFR 200 Subpart E.
The justification memo with citations and the prior-approval paragraph — in the full version.
Why this exists
The answer is in 2 CFR 200 — spread across forty selected items and four general tests, filtered through agency policy and your own institution's rules. This gives the straight answer with the citation, and an honest 'it depends' when that's the true answer.
Plans
The free answer cites the rule. The full version writes the memo for the file. The office plan covers every admin in your unit.
The full analysis and a file-ready justification memo with citations and the prior-approval paragraph if needed.
For a department or sponsored-programs office: unlimited answers and memos for the whole team.
All prices in USD, handled by Stripe. The free answer never goes behind a paywall.
Common questions
No. PolicyPilot explains the federal cost principles in plain language with citations, but it can be wrong and it is not legal advice or an institutional determination. Institutional policy and the award's terms can be stricter and control, so your sponsored programs office has the final word.
The first look is free, no account needed, and nothing you enter is stored. If you want a written justification memo for a single cost it's $9, and there's a $99/month Office plan for ongoing use.
It applies the four general tests from 2 CFR 200.403 — reasonable, allocable, consistent, and documented — plus specific sections like 200.423 (alcohol), 200.438 (entertainment), or 200.453 (supplies) when they're on point. Sometimes the honest answer is 'it depends,' in which case it tells you the conditions that change the answer and to check with your office.
PolicyPilot is built on 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, the general federal cost principles, but agencies add their own layer — NIH's Grants Policy Statement and NSF's PAPPG both add agency-specific rules. Always confirm against your specific award's terms.
No — a cost that mainly benefits another project or shows up too late to benefit this award fails allocability under 200.405 even if that type of item is normally allowable. PolicyPilot won't help reframe or relabel a cost to dodge that; that's cost transfer / misallocation territory, and you should talk to your sponsored programs office.
No. PolicyPilot explica los principios federales de costos en lenguaje sencillo y con citas, pero puede equivocarse y no constituye asesoría legal ni una determinación institucional. La política de su institución y los términos del premio pueden ser más estrictos y prevalecen, así que su oficina de programas patrocinados tiene la última palabra.
La primera consulta es gratuita, no requiere cuenta, y nada de lo que usted escriba se almacena. Si desea un memorando de justificación por escrito para un costo específico, tiene un costo de $9, y existe un plan de oficina de $99 al mes para uso continuo.
Aplica las cuatro pruebas generales del 2 CFR 200.403 — razonable, asignable, consistente y documentado — además de secciones específicas como la 200.423 (bebidas alcohólicas), la 200.438 (entretenimiento) o la 200.453 (materiales y suministros) cuando correspondan. A veces la respuesta honesta es 'depende', y en ese caso le indica las condiciones que cambian la respuesta y le recomienda confirmar con su oficina.
PolicyPilot se basa en el 2 CFR Parte 200, Subparte E, los principios generales federales de costos, pero cada agencia añade su propia capa de reglas — tanto el NIH Grants Policy Statement como el NSF PAPPG agregan normas específicas de agencia. Confirme siempre con los términos particulares de su premio.
No — un costo que principalmente beneficia a otro proyecto, o que llega demasiado tarde para beneficiar este premio, no cumple con la asignabilidad bajo la sección 200.405, aun si ese tipo de costo normalmente sería permitido. PolicyPilot no le ayudará a reformular o reetiquetar un costo para evitar eso; eso corresponde al territorio de transferencia de costos o mala asignación, y debe hablar con su oficina de programas patrocinados.
Built by the same team, free to try.