OFFICE OF ANIMAL RESOURCES OPERATES AS A SERVICE CENTER:
The Office of Animal Resources (OAR) is a Tier I Specialized Service Facility defined by the University of Iowa Service Center Policy. OAR is almost entirely self-supporting, receiving approximately 3% subsidization. OAR’s revenue is generated by charging a daily per diem rate to Principal Investigators (PIs) for the care and housing of their research animals. The per diem rate varies by species and is calculated by taking into account the prior year’s expenditures i.e.; cage washing, feed, bedding, labor and miscellaneous supplies and the prior year’s revenue.
WHAT DO ANIMAL PER DIEMS PAY FOR?
- Bedding, food, cage washing, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), standard animal husbandry care (labor), Veterinary care (labor)
- Administrative staff and associated expenses
- University overhead
- Minor renovations and maintenance of existing animal facilities including repairs and upkeep
- Equipment depreciation, including the automated watering system
- The sentinel program, used to monitor rodent colony health
- Per Diem rates are based on the cost analysis and recovery procedures outlined in the NIH Policy
WHAT DO ANIMAL PER DIEMS NOT PAY FOR?
- The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Office has a separate budget to pay for their salary and general expenses
- Animal procurement is not marked up & this expense is not included in the Per Diem rate setting cost analysis
- New facilities; the new Central Vivarium, PBDB or BRSF are not being funded by the Per Diem rates
- Equipment; caging and surgery suite for the PBDB facility was purchased with a HRSA grant and does not require depreciation
- Building heat, lights & other utilities are paid by F&A funds and are not part of the Per Diem calculation
- Quarantine and testing of incoming animals from other researchers/institutions
- Non-standard Animal Husbandry care is charged directly at a calculated labor rate or per cost basis