Outline of User Charge System
As you may know from the announcement as of July 27, 2005, the SPring-8 policy on public use has been revised, and a user charge system was established accordingly and will be introduced from 2006B research term. The outline of the user charge system is as follows. More information will be posted as soon as it is available.
1. Types of User Fees
User fees are composed of a fixed fee charged for wear and tear on the facility and a variable fee charged for coolants; gases; and stock room reagents, parts and stationeries.
Variable Fee: Assessed based on the amount actually used
2. User Process Flow Diagram - from Proposal Application to User Fee Payment -
3. How to Calculate User Fees
User Fees will be calculated as follows. Please note that this is subject to change since the system is still under development. In case of any changes, an announcement will be posted immediately.
3.1 Fixed Fee
3.1.1 After the experiment is completed, users are required to report to JASRI the number of beamtime shifts actually used by submitting the web-based "Beamtime Report." Then JASRI will check and determine the number of shifts actually used.
3.1.2 In the event of reduced beamtime due to downtime, the reduction will be reflected by JASRI in determining the number of shifts actually used.
3.1.3 In case of reduced beamtime due to reasons other than downtime and attributable to the facility, JASRI will examine the individual case after receiving a report from each user to determine the number of shifts actually used.
3.1.4 The beamtime loss due to reasons attributable to the user cannot be considered for the reduction in determining the number of shifts actually used.
3.2 Variable Fee
3.2.1 From 2006B, a bar-code system will be used in the stock room to manage and record all stock room supply transactions and calculate the fees. To take out supplies from the stock room, users need to have their bar-code card issued for each experiment upon arrival at the Users Office. After the experiment is completed, JASRI will confirm and determine the stock room supplies consumed by users. The price list of stock room supplies will be posted on this website at a later date.
3.2.2 For the time being, users are required to pay for helium gas and liquid helium, which are most commonly consumed by users. The unit prices will be posted at a later date. After the experiment is completed, JASRI will determine the amount of helium gas/liquid helium actually used based on the report submitted by users.
4. Billing and Payment
4.1 Billing
After the experiment is completed, JASRI will determine the number of shifts and amount of consumable supplies actually spent to prepare an invoice. The invoice will be sent to the payer designated by the project leader.
4.2 Payment
The payment must be made to the designated bank account within 60 days of the invoice date. Please note that the payer is responsible for any bank charges incurred in transferring the fees; that the invoice number must be included in the payment information; and that the bank transfer receipt should be kept as proof of payment since JASRI does not issue a receipt of payment as a general rule.
5. Exemption from Payment of User Fees
There are cases where users are exempted from paying the user fees. For details, please see the calls for 2006B proposals posted on this website.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact:
Tohru MATOBA
Director of User Administration Division/SPring-8 Users Office
Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)
Phone: +81-(0)791-58-0961
Fax: +81-(0)791-58-0965
e-mail: sp8jasri@spring8.or.jp