Clarification regarding POSSE and "hackfest" cancellation

[Fernando Pereira <pereira_(_at_)_cis_(_dot_)_upenn_(_dot_)_edu>]

According to the applicable cooperative agreement, work must be stopped 
if the contracting agency so requests. The Air Force Research 
Laboratory, which is the contracting agency for POSSE, requested that 
work on the "security-fest" parts of the contract be suspended pending 
a review of the project. The hotel costs for the planned conference 
were to be billed to the University of Pennsylvania as prime 
contractor, and would then submitted to the contracting agency for 
payment. When the contracting agency requested that work be stopped on 
the security fests component of POSSE, the only expenses that they 
would still allow are documented losses to the conference hotel due to 
cancellation. Any other use of funds, including use of the cancellation 
costs in partial support of conference accommodation, would not be an 
allowable contract expense. Contrary to a widespread misconception, the 
University of Pennsylvania could not have "allowed" that use of US 
Government funds. The funds belong to the US Government, not to the 
University.

Please do not respond to this message, as I am not able to handle 
individual questions or comments.

Fernando Pereira
Andrew and Debra Rachleff Professor
Chair, Dept. of Computer and Information Science
University of Pennsylvania