If you have a design, communications, or creative project that needs to be completed before the end of Fiscal Year 2026 (September 30, 2026), now is the time to connect with the Creative Services Office (CSO).
As the fiscal year draws to a close, demand for design and creative services increases significantly across Berkeley Lab. Because the CSO team has limited capacity, only a finite number of projects can be accommodated before year-end. The earlier you reach out, the better positioned we are to help ensure your project is completed on schedule.
All project requests are reviewed individually to determine whether they can be completed before the fiscal year ends. Availability becomes increasingly limited during August and September, and by early September the CSO schedule is typically fully committed. At that point, it becomes difficult to take on new work requiring completion in FY26.
To help us plan resources effectively, please submit your project requests as early as possible. No new projects requiring completion in FY26 will be accepted after the CSO books close in early September.
Understanding Prebilling for FY26 Projects
For projects that must be completed by September 30 because funding will not carry forward into the next fiscal year, CSO offers a prebilling option.
Prebilling allows the estimated labor hours for a project to be charged to your Project ID (PID) before the work is completed. CSO then tracks actual labor hours against the estimate throughout the project.
A few important things to keep in mind:
- If actual labor hours match the prebilled estimate: no further action is required.
- If actual labor hours exceed the estimate: any additional hours will be billed separately. CSO will notify you in advance if a project is trending beyond the original estimate.
- If actual labor hours are lower than the estimate: any remaining prepaid funds cannot be returned to the funding source, nor can unused hours be carried forward into FY27.
While CSO works hard to provide accurate estimates, project requirements can sometimes change. If prepaid hours remain and CSO has available capacity, it may be possible to apply those hours to another FY26 project before the fiscal year closes.
Plan Ahead for the Best Results
The key to a successful year-end project is early communication. Whether you’re planning a report, publication, website update, video, infographic, presentation, or other creative initiative, reaching out early gives the CSO team the best opportunity to support your goals before the fiscal year ends.
To discuss a project, request guidance, or begin the intake process, please contact the Creative Services Office at creative@lbl.gov.
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