The general cost definition page is used to select all of the cost types (or budget items) that will be used on your budget.

Click the Add button to add a general cost.

1. General Cost Type: Select from the drop-down.

2. Cost: Enter the budgeted amount for the selected item for the first budget period

3. Description: Enter a brief description of the cost being requested

4. Inflation: Select ‘Yes’ if you want this cost escalated in future budget periods. If Inflation is set to Yes, the value will inflate every period, but you cannot update the values in the out years. If you set inflation to No, the value will not inflate in every period, but you can manually update the values in the out years on the General Costs screen. If you want to budget varying amounts for each period, select No so that you can edit the amounts on the General Costs page.

5. Include in Indirects: Leave this as the default. This field may not appear based on the F&A Base selected. This selection should default to the appropriate select based on the General Cost Type selected. However, this may need to be adjusted when selecting the ‘Other’ General Cost Type and including an item that should be excluded from the Indirect calculation

Enter the information for each cost type. Click OK and Add Another to stay in this screen and add additional costs. Click OK to return to the General Cost Definition page, when all items have been added.

Confirm that all cost types are added. Next, you will budget each of these types per period on the General Costs

SmartForm page and review the summary.

Click Continue on the bottom of the SmartForm page to advance. You may also Exit or Save the page if you wish to return later.