The Center furnishes extensive consulting and technical services for all users at standard recharge rates. Once a project has been mutually agreed upon by a client and SRC staff, free cost estimates will be provided to develop proposals for surveys, and some limited consultation may also be provided without charge as a professional courtesy. While the Center tries to be responsive to all who request its services, these efforts are not without costs.
Berkeley campus faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and staff may receive up to two hours of free consultation relating to the conduct of a survey research project. Areas of consideration may include survey and sample design, questionnaire development, measurement issues, and any other project related concern.
Clients may request preliminary estimates of the cost of services to be provided by SRC staff. Informal, verbal estimates (frequently requested in preliminary telephone contacts) are subject to revision when more information is known about the project. After the client provides a full specification of the tasks to be done, a formal, written estimate is prepared, stating the conditions and time schedule required to complete the work.
Charges are generally made on a cost-reimbursable basis, with personnel costs calculated from recharge rates which are revised as necessary to adjust for salary and benefit changes. All contracts and grants must carry overhead charges set by the University's Office of the President.
Projects whose funds are administered by the University are billed through interdepartmental charge forms. Other projects and individuals arrange for payment through purchase order, authorization to bill, or contract. Monthly billing statements include detailed accounting of specific services. Because of unavoidable lags in certain expenses (e.g., telephone charges, computer bills), billings usually run three to six weeks behind actual expenditures. More timely reports on current expenditures can be provided at cost.
Once there is mutual agreement on Center services to be performed, the client submits an Application for Use of Services form acknowledging primary responsibility for the project, specifying the extent of SRC participation in the work, and authorizing expenditures up to a certain amount. This form is then countersigned by the appropriate Center staff. Formal contracts with clients must be reviewed and approved by the Sponsored Projects Office and the University's legal counsel. The Center staff normally does not begin work on any project until an Application for Use of Services form or contract has been signed and approved.
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