Recharge Centers

A Recharge Service Facility (“Recharge Center”) is a self-supporting operating unit within the University that:

  • Exists principally to provide research related goods or services to University faculty, staff, or students at no more than the cost of providing the goods or services, i.e. break-even;
  • Bills sponsored programs for such goods or services at no more than the cost of providing the goods or services, i.e. break-even;
  • Has operating costs that are funded by charges to the customers receiving the goods or services.

If a Recharge Center has revenues above $1 million annually, then the facility is known as a Specialized Recharge Service Facility. A Specialized Recharge Service Facility provides highly complex or specialized services that include, but are not limited to, telecommunications facilities, super computers, animal care facilities (vivariums), wind tunnels, and reactors. Typically, these facilities are very large with over $1 million in revenue. The costs of these services should be charged directly to the users through a billing rate mechanism. Billing rates should include both direct and an allocable portion of F&A cost.

A third type of service facility is known as a “Core Recharge Service Facility,” which is a facility that supports the teaching mission of the University, is open to and used by multiple users across University units, has research productivity and has essential, unusual and unique capabilities. Core facilities may receive funding support from the University.

Recharge Centers are categorized depending on the type of services they provide and their size.

All Recharge Centers and Specialized Recharge Service Facilities fall within the purview of the Office of Research and Economic Development (“ORED”). Core Recharge Service Facilities fall within the purview of ORED when the facility seeks to charge a fee to a sponsored program (project) for its goods or services. For more information, please email recharge@fiu.edu or you can view the ORED Recharge Center Operating Procedures here.

Please note, the Office of Auxiliary and Enterprise Development provides oversight of auxiliary operations, which are defined as entities that exist to furnish goods or services primarily to benefit University students, faculty and staff and charge a fee that is related to, but not necessarily equal to, the cost of the goods or services. The operating guidelines for auxiliaries are available through the Auxiliary and Enterprise Development website at https://aed.fiu.edu/.


Need Assistance?

If you should have any questions regarding recharge centers in general, establishing a rate and setting up a recharge center, or existing recharge centers, please e-mail recharge.centers@fiu.edu at the Office of Budget & Cost Analysis in the Office of Research and Economic Development.