University of Waterloo FAQs

Please refer to the CRCEF Stage 3 eligibility criteria when reviewing these FAQs

1. What are the eligible expenses criteria for Stage 3? Eligible expenses in Stage 3 are:

• unanticipated additional costs that would not have been incurred in the absence of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot be funded by existing sources of funds;
• for direct costs associated with maintenance and ramp-up of research activities; and
• costs borne by research projects;

2. Are salary costs eligible for CRCEF Stage 3 funding? The salaries of research personnel would be eligible provided that the activities the employee/student is conducting are directly related to the maintenance and ramp-up of research activities. The cost can be reimbursable up to 75% for the period of Aug 30, 2020 to November 15, 2020.
3. Do GRS payments to students qualify as an eligible salary cost? It is expected that the activities the employee/student is conducting are directly related to the maintenance and ramp-up of research activities. Typically, such activities would result in wages/salaries being paid to the employee/student and not in the form of a GRS which is a stipend to support graduate students to undertake their research.  
4. Is computer equipment, including laptops and printers an eligible expense? These costs would be eligible if they are incremental and essential to the research activities and if they are not included in the original research project budget.
5. If a researcher has a service maintenance contract for equipment that they were not able to use for a period of time due to the COVID-19 shutdown, is a portion of the service contract an eligible expense? Yes, a prorated cost for the time the equipment was not used would be eligible.
6. Is the cost of communication software that was needed to conduct research meetings such as Zoom Professional Subscription eligible? Provided that this software is required to maintain or ramp-up research activities it would be an eligible expense. 
7. Are internet connection, land line and cell phone expenses eligible? Only the incremental cost would be eligible provided that the costs meet the stage 3 eligibility criteria. 
8. Are cancellation fees and nonrefundable travel fees eligible? No, these would be considered ramping-down expenses and are not eligible.
9. If a researcher had to purchase specialized equipment to enable field work to continue during the pandemic would this cost be eligible? Yes, this cost would be eligible if it was incremental and essential to the research activities.
10. Would the cost of renting extra vehicles to facilitate social distancing when going into the field be eligible? Yes, this cost would be eligible provided it was incremental and essential to the research.
11. Are lab supplies, reagents, chemical eligible costs? If they have been lost due to the pandemic the cost of replacing these supplies would be eligible. The lost cost is not eligible, only the replacement cost.  
12. If a researcher bought home office equipment such as furniture, are these expenses eligible? No, office furniture, including any ergonomic equipment is not an eligible expense.