Attachment 7 PDS Budget Narrative Sample Template (1).xlsx

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English Language Teaching and Learning Program
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TASHKENT-PDS-FY26-003
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This is a budget narrative sample template for a federal grant proposal under the Department of State's English Language Teaching and Learning Program (CFDA 19.022). The template provides comprehensive guidance on budgeting and narrative justification across ten cost categories, with example entries demonstrating proper format and documentation. Personnel costs in the sample total $62,765 (covering a Program Director at 10% effort and a Project Coordinator at 100% effort), fringe benefits are calculated at applicable rates totaling $7,940, travel costs of $30,100 cover international airfare, lodging, meals, and local transportation for 20 participants attending a three-day leadership training in Amman, Jordan, contractual costs of $17,500 include consultant services and a sub-award to a Jordanian NGO, and supplies and other direct costs total $5,100. The template calculates total direct costs at $123,404.77 and applies a 13.75% negotiated indirect cost rate (NICRA) for total project costs of $140,372.93.

Applicants must complete the budget narrative in full, deleting all blue instructional text before submission and providing sufficient explanations rather than "N/A" responses. The template requires detailed justifications for each category explaining how requested funds support the proposal's purpose and goals, including role descriptions and qualifications for personnel, fringe benefit rate documentation, travel purpose and cost determination methods, equipment and supply justifications, and contractor statement of work details. All amounts must be entered into the corresponding lines of the SF-424a federal form (Section B), with indirect costs calculated on modified total direct costs using either an organization's NICRA or the 10% de minimis rate if no NICRA exists.

Budget Narrative

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Budget & Budget Narrative

Instructions: This Budget Narrative Sample Template should be filled out in its entirety. Any information that is included in blue text should be deleted prior to submitting this document as the "Budget Narrative" attachment. It is only included as guidance for sample text or suggested information. Costs listed in any category below should include an explanation of how the requested funds will be used to support the proposed project, whether it be federal or a non-federal/match cost. Please note that the response “Not Applicable,” or “N/A,” is generally not acceptable. Instead, a sufficient explanation should be provided in either the proposal narrative or within each field to explain why an item is not applicable.
Organization Name, Period of Performance
1. Personnel

(Description: An employee of the organization whose work is tied to the proposed project. Please indicate the full monthly or yearly salary, pro rate amount based on % of time to be devoted to the project, and your or another organization's input (if any).

PositionName of EmployeeAnnual Salary/ RateLevel of Effort (%)Amount requested
(Salary x LOE)Non-Federal Match or Cost ShareTotal cost
Ex: Program DirectorJohn Doe$164,89010.00%$16,489$ 16,489.00
Ex: Project CoordinatorTBD$46,276100.00%$46,276$ 46,276.00
1.a Personnel Sub-Total$ 62,765.00$ - 0$ 62,765.00
Narrative Justification Enter a description of the Personnel funds requested and how their use will support the purpose and goals of your proposal. Be sure to describe the role, responsibilities, and unique qualification of each position.

SF-424a Note: Enter the total cost of 1.a in Section B Column 1 line 6a of the form.

2. Fringe Benefits (Description: May include contributions for social security, employee insurance, pension plans, etc. Only those benefits not included in an organizations indirect cost rate agreement (i.e., NICRA) may be shown as direct costs)

Item DescriptionWageRateAmount requested
(Wage x Rate)Non-Federal Match or Cost ShareTotal cost
Ex: FICA$ 62,765.007.65%$4,802$4,802
Ex: Workers Compensation$ 62,765.002.50%$1,569$1,569
Ex: Health Benefits$ 62,765.002.50%$1,569$1,569
2.a Fringe Benefits Sub-Total$ 7,939.77$ - 0$7,940
Narrative Justification: Enter a description of the Fringe funds requested, how the rate was determined, and how their use will support the purpose and goals of this proposal.

SF-424a Note: Enter the total cost of 2.a in Section B Column 1 line 6b of the form.

3. Travel (Description: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel. Must follow U.S. Government regulations. The lowest available commercial fares for coach or equivalent accommodations must be used. Local travel policies prevail.)
Purpose of TravelItem DescriptionUnit of MeasureCost Per Unit/RateNumber of UnitsAmount requested (Federal share)
(Cost Per Unit x No. of Units)Non-Federal Match or Cost ShareTotal cost
Ex: Leadership TrainingAirfare--Origin: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen, and/or Oman; Destination: Amman, JordanRoundtrip Airfare$ 500.0020$10,000$ 10,000.00
Lodging in Amman for 20 participants for 3 days (U.S. Government allowable rate)day$ 183.0060$10,980$ 10,980.00
Meals and Incidentals for 20 participants for 3 days (M&IE--U.S. Government allowable rate))day$ 127.0060$7,620$ 7,620.00
Ex: Local TravelLocal travel in Amman, Jordan for 20 participants for 3 daysday$ 500.003$1,500$ 1,500.00
3.a Travel Sub-Total$ 30,100$ - 0$ 30,100.00
Narrative Justification:

Describe the Purpose of Travel and how costs were determined.

SF-424a Note: Enter the total cost of 3.a in Section B Column 1 line 6c of the form.

4. Equipment (Description: Permanent equipment is defined as non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more.)
Item DescriptionCategoryUnit of MeasureCost Per Unit/RateNumber of UnitsAmount requested (Federal share)
(Cost Per Unit x No. of Units)Non-Federal Match or Cost ShareTotal cost
None
4.a Equipment Sub-Total$ - 0$ - 0$ - 0
Narrative Justification:

Enter a description of the Equipment and how its purchase will support the purpose and goals of this proposal.

SF-424a Note: Enter the total cost of 4.a in Section B Column 1 line 6d of the form.

5. Supplies (Description: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. Materials costing less than $5,000 per unit and often having one-time use.)
Item DescriptionUnit of MeasureCost Per UnitNumber of UnitsAmount requested (Federal share)
(Cost Per Unit x No. of Units)Non-Federal Match or Cost ShareTotal cost
Ex: General Office Suppliesmonth$ 50.0012$600$ 600
Ex: Laptop1$ 900.001$900$ 900
5.a Supplies Sub-Total$ 1,500$ 1,500
Narrative Justification: Enter a description of the Supplies match provided and how their purchase will support the purpose and goals of this proposal. Be sure to describe how your matching funds will help sustain and enhance your federal budget request.

SF-424a Note: Enter the total cost of 4.a in Section B Column 1 line 6d of the form.

6. Contractual (Description: The costs of project activities to be undertaken by a third-party contractor should be included in this category as a single line item charge. A complete itemization of the cost should be attached to the budget. If there is more than one contractor, each must be budgeted separately and must have an attached itemization.)
Item DescriptionUnit of MeasureCost Per UnitNumber of UnitsAmount requested (Federal share)
(Cost Per Unit x No. of Units)Non-Federal Match or Cost ShareTotal cost
Consultant - Ex: Jane Smith/Leadership Training Expertday$35012$4,200$ 4,200
Consultant - Ex: TBD/Monitoring and Evaluation Expertday$27512$3,300$ 3,300
Contract - Ex. Sub-Award to Jordanian NGO (budget and terms TBD)award agreement$10,0001$10,000$ 10,000
6.a Contractual Sub-Total$ 17,500$ 17,500
Narrative Justification: Explain the need for each agreement and how their use will support the purpose and goals of this proposal. For those contracts already arranged, please provide the proposed categorical budgets. For those subcontracts that have not been arranged, please provide the expected Statement of Work, Period of Performance and how the proposed costs were estimated and the type of contract (bid, sole source…etc).
7. Construction: Not Allowable
SF-424a Note: Leave this section blank in Section B Column 1 & 2 line 6g of the form

8. Other Direct Costs Describe other costs directly associated with the project, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Item DescriptionUnit of MeasureCost Per UnitNumber of UnitsAmount requested (Federal share)
(Cost Per Unit x No. of Units)Non-Federal Match or Cost ShareTotal cost
Ex: Office Telephonemonth$10012$1,200$ 1,200.00
Ex: Amman hotel conference room rental for trainingday$8003$2,400$ 2,400.00
8.a Other Direct Costs Sub-Total$ 3,600$ - 0$ 3,600.00
Narrative Justification:

Explain the need for each item and how their use will support the purpose and goals of this proposal. Be sure to break down costs into cost/unit and explain the use of each item requested.

SF-424a Note: Enter the total cost of 8.a in Section B Column 1 line 6h of the form.

Amount RequestedCost-ShareTotal Direct Costs
9. Total Direct Costs$ 123,404.77$ - 0$ 123,404.77

10. Indirect Costs Description: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the project activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.

TypeRate%Applicable ToTotal Indirect Costs (Federal Share of Total Direct Costs x indirect cost rate)
Ex. Predetermined, fixed, or provisional (NICRA)13.75%All Programs$ 16,968.16
Ex. 10% de minimis rate10%Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC)

11. Total Costs (Sum of the Total Direct and Indirect Costs) $ 140,372.93 $ - 0 $ 140,372.93

BUDGET SUMMARY

Budget CategoriesFederal Request (Cost)Official Cost Share OnlyTotal
1. Personnel$ 62,765.00$ - 0$ 62,765.00
2. Fringe Benefits$ 7,939.77$ - 0$ 7,939.77
3. Travel$ 30,100.00$ - 0$ 30,100.00
4. Equipment$ - 0$ - 0$ - 0
5. Supplies$ 1,500.00$ - 0$ 1,500.00
6. Contractual$ 17,500.00$ - 0$ 17,500.00
7. Constructionnot allowednot allowednot allowed
8. Other Direct Costs$ 3,600.00$ - 0$ 3,600.00
9. Total Direct Costs (lines 1-8)$ 123,404.77$ - 0$ 123,404.77
10. Indirect Costs (reflect provisional, pre-determined rate and allocation base)$ 16,968.16$16,968.16
11. Total Costs (lines 9-10)$ 140,372.93$ - 0$ 140,372.93

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