Updated September 30, 2025

Rationale for the Policy

FHL has long charged a rental fee for use of lab spaces by non-UW researchers. The fee, together with Indirect Cost Funds (IDC) generated by grants, helps cover the expenses of research support infrastructure. In 2020, as revenues from rental fees and IDC became increasingly insufficient to cover costs, FHL established a small Facility Fee to be charged broadly to all users.

Fees and Purpose

FACILITY FEE

Daily rate of $7.50 per person (plus UW overhead and sales tax if not paid on a UW budget), with discounted rates for weekly and monthly periods. This fee is charged to all individuals using FHL facilities other than Whiteley Center (see below for exceptions). The Facility fee covers the use of supplies and equipment available in the stockroom; common equipment and spaces throughout campus including sea tables, scanners, genomics lab, RO/MilliQ water, stationary microscopes (electron, SEM, confocal, and others), dock facilities, and rowboats; meeting rooms and their A/V systems; campus grounds and overall facilities; and services such as caretaker assistance and mail and package processing.

LAB RENTAL FEE

Daily rate of $35 per lab space (plus UW overhead and sales tax if not paid on a UW budget), with discounted rates for weekly and monthly periods. This fee covers rental of defined research spaces including cold rooms and assigned outdoor areas such as the tank farm. This fee will be charged to anyone assigned a physical research space with the exception of current UW students and scientists.
Below are details on how Facility and Lab Rental fees are charged to UW vs. Non-UW researchers.

Fees Charged for Non-UW researchers

  • Independent, non-UW researchers will be charged a Facility Fee and, if assigned a research space, a Lab Rental Fee. Fees may be reduced for postdocs or early-career researchers if they have no funds available for this purpose.
  • Non-UW researchers collaborating with a resident scientist and using only that scientist’s assigned space will be charged only a Facility Fee. If they require a separate research space, they will also be charged a Lab Rental Fee.

Fees Charged for UW researchers

FACILITY FEE

University of Washington researchers and students who use FHL facilities are expected to help support FHL infrastructure by a) paying Facility Fees, b) bringing IDC from grants through FHL, AND/OR c) contributing substantially to scholarly life at FHL.

IDC rates allowed by sponsor agencies vary enormously, from 0% (many non-profits and some state funding sources) to the UW’s current federally approved IDC rate of 55.5%. While 0%-IDC grants are important in funding research efforts and contributing to scholarly activity at FHL, they do not support FHL budgets or infrastructure through the return of IDC to FHL.

Facility Fee Waivers for UW researchers

Facility Fees will be waived for UW faculty, staff and students if they are either supported by grants run through FHL that generate indirect costs, or are pursuing research and service activities that directly support FHL graduate students, administrative costs, or other FHL priorities, as follows. Waivers are applied if at least one of the following conditions is met:

  •  The grant has the full, UW-negotiated indirect cost rates applicable for on- or off-campus research, as defined by the UW.
  • The grant is formally tied to existing UW programs with alternative indirect cost rates, and their associated educational, research or outreach missions, such as the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) or Washington State Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (WACFWRU)
  • The grant provides at least 30% of its total direct project costs in support of students (any registered graduate or undergraduate) at FHL (salary, benefits, stipends, and/or tuition)
  • The grant includes at least 10% of total direct costs in the form of appropriate and permissible charges for FHL administrative or institutional support.
  • If a researcher who normally runs grants through FHL is without active grant funding, they will not be charged Facility Fees for a grace period of 12 months on the condition that they apply for external grants within this grace period.
  • The UW faculty/researcher has no grants but makes substantial contributions to scholarly life at FHL. Relevant contributing activities include: a. mentoring students, including REU students; b. using time and funds from other sources to help maintain common-use facilities such as the Genomics Lab, Imaging Lab, or Flumes; c. representing FHL on university committees; d. participating extensively in FHL outreach activities. Such waivers require negotiation with the FHL Director.

LAB RENTAL FEE

Lab Rental Fees — for the use of space in UW buildings — will not be charged to any UW researcher, including graduate students, faculty, research scientists, and other titles with formal UW affiliation. 

Fees Charged for Student researchers (graduate, undergraduate, or in between)

  • Student researchers are charged as noted above for UW and non-UW researchers. 
  • UW student researchers (matriculated graduate students or undergraduates) will not be charged a Lab Rental Fee, but will be charged a Facility Fee. If possible, the advisors of these students should cover the Facility Fee; when this is not feasible, UW students will be given priority for FHL research fellowships to entirely cover these costs as well as defraying the costs of room and board at FHL. 
  • Non-UW student researchers will be charged a Facility Fee, and a Lab Rental Fee if they are assigned an independent lab space. Faculty advisors are expected to cover these fees for their students whenever possible. Students who do not have other sources of funds are encouraged to apply for an FHL student research fellowship (supported by donor funds) to help offset both these fees as well as defraying the costs of room and board at FHL.

 

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