[labnetwork] Providing User Lab Supplies and Storage Space

[Bill Flounders]

All,
1. We provide the usual stuff (tweezers, notebooks, wafers etc)
and a lot more (chip carriers, wafer dippers etc etc.)
Our stock room provides over 150 items at fully loaded cost
(shipping and receiving plus state and local tax) plus 5%.
Our annual inventory valuation is approx $140,000.
This does not include stock chemicals used at wet benches
and resists and developers whose cost is built into equipment
charge rates.

2. We provide one drawer or 'cubby' per researcher (~1.5' x 1.5' x1.5' cube)
We track who is in each space, purge regularly (Operation Clean Sweep)
and suspend if any hazardous chemicals found in storage. No storage fees.
Modest rental fee for storage is creative and a good incentive.

3. The University of California pays all local (1.25%) and state (8%) 
taxes (9.25% total)
on all purchases including capital equipment. I have never understood
why the state taxes its state universities. State support to the
University of CA is less than 15% of operations. I question if the 
University now
generates more ue tax to the State of CA than it receives in state support.

Bill Flounders
Berkeley NanoLab


Michael Khbeis wrote:
> Jacob,
>
> We too sell units at cost plus 20% to cover the use tax (9.5%) and university purchasing overhead.  That prompts another question, we are not getting ANY support from our state, but they are charging us use taxes on every purchase (regardless of origin), so we pay "sales" tax on things ordered on-line or from overseas.  The only tax exemption is capital equipment, so I effectively pay the state/city 9.5% of my materials and supplies budgets.  I do not wish to hijack this thread, but I am curious if other sites, especially public institutions, are also paying their local and state governments to operate vs. receiving subsidies.
>
> Regarding storage, we provide user groups a 2' W x 1.5' D x 1' H (3 cu ft) desiccator cabinet slot. Users within the group share a cabinet with additional cabinets for rent (to cover N2 purge costs) if needed.
>
> Rick @ Draper, check your users' desks for the missing tweezers/pens/scribes.  I know I would hoard uncontaminated/undamaged ones when working in a lab where everything was free. When there is no cost associated, people don't take care of the resources.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Dr. Michael Khbeis
> Acting Director, Washington Nanofabrication Facility (WNF) (formerly MFF)
> National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN)
> University of Washington
> Fluke Hall, Box 352143
> (O) 206.543.5101
> (F) 206.221.1681
> (C) 443.254.5192
> khbeis at uw.edu
> www.wnf.washington.edu/
>
>
>
> On Jan 23, 2014, at 7:47 AM, Jacob Trevino wrote:
>
>> Happy New Year everyone.
>>   
>> I was curious to hear your opinions on supplying cleanroom users materials, such as tweezers, containers, glassware, timers, notebooks, etc., verses having them provide these items themselves.  I have seen several variations on this in my travels.  I am curious what you might implement at your own facility.
>>   
>> Additionally and related, what kind of storage do you provide your users (boxes, racks, containers)? I know this is can become a logistical issue quickly as users store and forget items over time, leading to the consumption of valuable cleanroom space. What kind of restrictions do you place on storage? As always, thank you for any insight you might be able to provide.
>>   
>> Best regards,
>>   
>> Jacob
>>   
>>   
>> ---------------------------
>> Jacob Trevino, PhD
>> Scientific Cleanroom Director
>> The City University of New York (CUNY)
>> Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC)
>> Tel.  (646) 664-8914
>> Fax. (646) 664-2965
>> Email: Jacob.Trevino at asrc.cuny.edu
>> Web: http://asrc.cuny.edu/
>>   
>>   
>>   
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