Service Unit Match
The University of Miami Institute for Data Science and Computing (IDSC) is committed to providing exceptional Advanced Computing resources to meet the computational needs of the University’s research community. In Fiscal Year 2020, IDSC transitioned to a partial fee-for-service model with the expectation that services would then be offered at the full-service rate. We understood this model imposed added financial responsibility on investigators; and as such, IDSC established a Service Unit Match program designed to assist our heaviest users with funded research. Below is the criteria for eligibility, and how to submit a request.
Advanced Compute Processing
The approved FY2023 rate for advanced compute processing on UM supercomputing systems is $0.011 per service unit (SU). A service unit (SU) is equal to (a) 1 CPU hour or 2 GB memory/hour whichever is larger, calculated per job OR 9b) 0.5 GB scratch space, average calculated per month. Service Units (SU) are billed per CPU hour or memory per job PLUS scratch utilization per month. Users are reminded that data on these systems is not backed up, and they should promptly remove the data from scratch space to avoid incurring additional usage charges.
Criteria for Eligibility
This program is specifically designed to aid heavy users who have allocated greater than 275,000 SUs or $3,025.00 in their proposal budget. This budget line item is referenced below as the User Contribution. IDSC will match each user-contributed dollar as outlined in the table below. The IDSC SU Match is applied as the thresholds—defined below—are met.
| Tier | Description | User Contribution | IDSC SU Match |
| Tier 1 | Less than 275,000 SU | Less than $3,025.00 | 0 |
| Tier 2 | Greater than 275,001 SU | Above $3,025.01 | 4/5 of the Rate of Service |
Budgeting for Service Units
The IDSC Advanced Computing team can provide guidance to appropriately estimate resource utilization on outgoing proposals. For assistance, email hpc@ccs.miami.edu. We recommend using the following text as the budget justification for this line item on outgoing proposals:
The project will utilize the resources of the University of Miami Institute for Data Science and Computing. Requested in the budget are funds to cover the cost for using the advanced computing infrastructure, calculated using the University’s approved subsided rates.
Subsidy Application Process
To submit an application, users will complete a New Project Request form for each project they need considered. Applications are routed to the Allocations Committee and processed on a first-come, first-served basis. An award notice will be delivered via email summarizing the subsidy details.
Invoicing
A Workday Internal Service Delivery (ISD) document will be used to facilitate the transfer of funds. Users will receive a monthly statement summarizing usage for each project account. The first $3,025 will be due from the user. Tier 2 usage begins at 275,0001 SU, at which time monthly usage will be split, charging one fifth (1/5) utilization to the project account and the balance (4/5) to IDSC’s match program.
Please direct any inquiries to Evelyn Cruz, Director, Business Operations, at ecruz3@miami.edu. For additional information on IDSC services and resources, please visit idsc.miami.edu.
IDSC FY2023 UM Fee Schedule is available for download.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a separate subsidy program and process for users without grant funding. Please refer to (the Start Up Service Unit page) for details.