allowable costs

https://getgovernmentcontracthub.almoheet-travel.com/why-government-contract-compliance-matters-for-your-bottom-line

Allowable costs are the expenses that can be included in a project budget under specific rules, like grants or contracts. For instance, if you're managing a federally funded research project, only costs directly tied to the work, such as lab supplies or participant travel, might be allowable. Things like personal entertainment or unrelated overhead usually aren't. It's about justifying every dollar to ensure funding is spent responsibly.