Billing
Rates
For more information about industrial rates, view our Industrial Users webpage and register to work with CharFac.
CharFac Internal (UMN) Rate Changes; 3-year history
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July 1, 2022
Equipment
Hourly: Increased by 10%, both base rates and discounted rates for long sessions (when applicable).*
Per run (e.g., coaters): Increased by 10%.
No increase in per session surcharge.
*Additional increase in the base rate for the Ganesha SAXSLAB to $17. New long session discount ($8.50) rate invoked after six hours
Staff Time
Increased by 5% to $96/hour for assistance and for common analytical work.
Increased to $150/hour for advanced analytical work.
Narrative/Justification
Hourly rates had been static for 3 years. Defray uptick in inflation, especially staffing and maintenance contracts. One year left in ISO compliance office’s allowance of special rates to replenish losses accrued during COVID closure (and slow recovery of activity); but only ~1/4 has been replenished to date. Additional SAXS increase based on usage and cost numbers.
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March 1, 2022
Training Fees
Newly calculated based on individual staff salaries instead of a single common staff-time rate.
Narrative/Justification
Better recoup staff-time costs in training, especially for the more veteran staff members (with higher salaries). Keep other rates fixed while monitoring revenue accrued by per session surcharges. Staff salaries increase by only 1.5% for FY22 (U wide).
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September 1, 2020
Equipment
Per session surcharge: Newly invoked to recover COVID-related losses, over three years, set per instrument statistics to increase total session revenue for each instrument by 15%.
Narrative/Justification
Keep other rates fixed while monitoring revenue accrued by per-session surcharges. Staff salaries cut for FY21 (U wide).
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July 1, 2019
Equipment
Hourly: Increased by 3%, both base rates and discounted rates for long sessions (when applicable)
Per run (e.g., coaters): Increased by 3%
Staff Time
Increased by 3% for assistance and for common analytical work
Narrative/Justification
Routine inflationary rate increases, mostly to cover staff raises and increases in maintenance contracts.
Billing Forms
For any billing questions, please contact Characterization Facility Administration (cfacadmin@umn.edu).
Tax Forms
- UMN signed W-9 Tax Form for your institutions accounting department
- UMN partially completed MN ST3 Form which provides some sales tax exemption for qualified users (your accounting department must have declared this status to the government).
Analytical services are not subject to sales tax; however, unless the ST3 form is provided there is sales tax for self, hands-on instrument usage (hourly charges). With the ST3, exemption is provided to academics, some government agencies, and companies that provide payments directly to the Minnesota Department of Revenue via the pay forward method.