The new pricing structure in the Image Resource Facility (IRF) is the result of a cross departmental effort to ensure the university recovers income as well as costing services appropriately for researchers and funders; providing auditable appropriate charges for use of equipment and services.
Some funders pay overheads directly to the university and as such must not be charged again for use of or access to university supplied services. Additionally, there are funding categories that allow an institution to charge for different expenses incurred
As a result, we have 5 levels of pricing dependent on the source of funding provided.
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Funding source
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Example
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Charge
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Cost to funder/researcher at point of IRF use
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Full Economically Costed (FEC) grants
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UKRI, MRC, BBSRC
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Cannot charge for equipment use and services
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Zero. Funds provided via overhead payments to university
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Small charities/other funders
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British Heart Foundation
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Can charge for equipment use and services
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A portion of what it costs the university to provide
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Commercial grants
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Grants from pharmaceutical companies
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Can charge for equipment use and services
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A portion of what it costs the university to provide
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Internal recharges
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University sourced funding
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Can charge for equipment use and services
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A portion of what it costs the university to provide
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Commercial rates
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Access of facility by external parties
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Can charge for equipment use and services
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Benchmarked pricing – not less than what it cost the university to provide
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Facility costs
For funding applications please follow the process:
- Discuss any IRF resources required with the specialist technicians for Flow Cytometry, Light Microscopy, Sample preparation or the Head of Facility.
- Download the IRF costing spreadsheet (Excel) and complete the areas indicated for Principal Investigator.
- Return by email to irf@sgul.ac.uk. It will be checked and completed by IRF staff who will make the necessary checks with the Joint Research and Enterprise Funding (JRES) Team.
- The finalised spreadsheet will be returned to the applicant for use during the application process with the JRES.
For use of equipment and services
Costs for equipment and services is reviewed annually and will vary according to funder i.e. individuals using the same piece of equipment may have different pricing in place for its use.
The table below shows the range of costs we accommodate for the different funder categories and commercial (external) pricing, this will be updated annually.
St George’s, University of London staff and students with queries on specific costs for equipment and services should contact the IRF with the following information included:
- equipment or service required
- source of Funding
- sub-project code number.
Following required checks with the Joint Research and Enterprise Funding (JRES) Team, the user will be informed which stream of funding is appropriate and prices shared accordingly.
Staff and students can access the equipment and services in the IRF but must first register on the PPMS booking system. Please follow the guidance on Page 2 of this document (PDF).