Budget Rule Engine — Grant Budget Preparation Rules Engine
A specialized skill that enhances the budget preparation capabilities of the budget-designer agent.
Target Agent
- budget-designer — Per-category budget calculation, compliance, settlement guide
Government R&D Standard Budget Category System
Direct Costs
| Category |
Sub-Items |
Ceiling Ratio |
Calculation Basis |
| Labor |
Internal labor, External labor |
Within 60% of total (typical) |
Labor rate table x Participation rate x Duration |
| Equipment & Materials |
Equipment purchase, Reagents/materials, Software |
Within 40% of total |
Quotation-based |
| Research Activity |
Domestic/international travel, Meetings, Supplies |
Within 20% of labor |
Per-item calculation |
| Research Allowance |
PI and researcher allowances |
Within 20% of direct costs |
Headcount x Unit rate |
| Subcontracting |
External institution subcontracting |
Within 30% of total |
Subcontract agreement (draft) |
Indirect Costs
| Category |
Calculation |
Ceiling |
| Indirect Costs |
(Direct costs - Subcontracting) x Indirect rate |
Per-institution indirect rate (Universities 33%, Companies 17%, etc.) |
Labor Cost Calculation Standards
Internal Labor Calculation
Monthly Labor Cost = Annual Salary / 12 (or labor rate table unit price)
Project Labor Cost = Monthly Cost x Participation Rate (%) x Duration (months)
| Grade |
Government Project Standard Rate (Monthly, Reference) |
Participation Rate Range |
| Principal Investigator |
$4,000-6,500 |
10-30% |
| Senior Researcher |
$3,200-4,800 |
20-50% |
| Researcher |
$2,400-3,600 |
30-100% |
| Research Assistant |
$1,600-2,400 |
50-100% |
External Labor (Student Researchers, etc.)
| Category |
Rate |
Notes |
| PhD Candidate |
$1,600-2,000/month |
Full-time basis |
| MS Candidate |
$1,200-1,450/month |
Full-time basis |
| Undergraduate Researcher |
$650-950/month |
Part-time |
Equipment & Materials Calculation Principles
Equipment Purchase
- Justify necessity: Reason existing equipment is insufficient
- Price basis: 2+ quotations (for items over $8,000)
- Depreciation: Compare purchase vs. lease (lease-first principle)
- Shared use: Specify shared usage plan for purchased equipment
Materials
Material Cost = Unit Price x Quantity x Usage Frequency
Calculation Basis Example:
- Reagent A: @$40 x 10 units x 3 experiments = $1,200
- Consumable B: @$2.40 x 100 units x 12 months = $2,880
Budget Preparation Checklist
Compliance Verification
- Per-category ceiling ratios met
- Labor rates within standard ranges
- Matching fund (institutional contribution) ratio satisfied
- Indirect cost rate within institutional agreement rate
- Subcontracting within ceiling
- Quotation basis attached for equipment purchases
Settlement Preparation
- Clear calculation basis for all categories?
- Budget transfer restrictions between categories verified?
- Carryover eligibility confirmed?
- Card usage mandatory items confirmed?
- Supporting document list pre-organized?
Matching Fund (Institutional Contribution) Guide
| Program Type |
Government Funding Ratio |
Institutional Share |
Cash/In-kind Ratio |
| SME R&D |
75% |
25% |
Cash 10%+ |
| Mid-size R&D |
50-65% |
35-50% |
Cash 20%+ |
| Large Enterprise R&D |
33-50% |
50-67% |
Cash 30%+ |
| Small Business Support |
80-100% |
0-20% |
Flexible |
| Startup Support |
70-100% |
0-30% |
Flexible |
Budget Calculation Basis Writing Template
### Category: [Category Name]
### Sub-Item: [Sub-Item Name]
| Item | Calculation Details | Amount |
|------|--------------------|----|
| [Item 1] | [Unit Price] x [Quantity] x [Duration/Frequency] | [Amount] |
| [Item 2] | [Detailed calculation basis] | [Amount] |
| **Subtotal** | | **[Total]** |
**Calculation Basis:**
- [Why this item is needed]
- [Basis for quantity/frequency]
- [Basis for unit price (market rate, quotation, standard rate table)]
