Contractors often provide estimates based on milestones e.g., data migration. Is it okay to provide that, rather than the hourly rate that the budget narrative requests that we use?

Our standard format for how contractual costs can be captured is hourly rate times the number of hours. If you are able to do so, please just work this table backwards to fit our standard rate. So, if the total amount is $30,000, you could put in an estimated [standard] contractor rate ($150 per hour) and estimate 200 hours (as 150 x 200 = 30000). Please note that for individual consultants, there is an annual wage cap, set by the Office of Personnel Management, that must be adhered to. See the annual SN for the current individual consultant cap.