Proposal Development

Overview

ORSP assists University faculty and staff interested in pursuing external funding for research and training projects in the proposal development process by:

• Obtaining funding agency applications and guidelines.
• Reviewing proposals for adherence to University and agency guidelines and clarifying proposal requirements.
• Assisting in the preparation of proposals to include reviewing proposals for consistency with the funding announcement as well as providing feedback on proposal language, providing standard wording regarding the University and its policies and procedures, and assisting with standard application forms.
• Developing proposal budgets in accordance with University and agency policies by providing data regarding salaries, fringe benefits, facilities and administrative costs, etc.
• Initiating the internal approval process by preparing the internal approval forms.
• Preparing the proposal package for submission to the funding agency in compliance with the agency's requirements, making copies, and forwarding to the funding agency.

Proposal Process

1) Contact Research Development

Contact your Research Development representative as soon as you have interest in applying for a funding opportunity, even if you are not certain that you will submit a proposal.

2) Read the Solicitation

Read the solicitation carefully to make sure you are responding appropriately to the sponsor's guidelines.

3) Plan the Project

• Identify your project team
• Develop a budget and budget justification with your Research Development representative. Consider the following when developing budgets:
  • Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Exemption
  • Cost-share
  • Financial Conflict of Interest
  • Hiring Students
  • Reassignments-Buyouts
  • Subrecipient
  • Summer Compensation
  • Supplemental Compensation
   

4) Prepare the Proposal Documents

• The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for preparing all scientific aspects of the proposal. The Research Development representative, in collaboration with the Principal Investigator, is responsible for preparing all administrative elements of the proposal. These include:
  • Budget and budget justification
  • Biographical sketches
  • Current and pending documents
  • Facilities, equipment and other resources
  • Subrecipient forms
   

Research Development Deadlines

It is important to start early to allow for a thorough review of your proposal by the Research Development team. Below is an outline of services that will be provided by the Research Development staff based upon when the completed proposal is submitted to ORSP:

3 or Less Business Days Prior to Deadline

• Process proposal submission without the guarantee that the submitted package meets sponsor or UNF guidelines Note: The proposal package may be withdrawn if the submission does not receive internal UNF approvals.

5 Business Days Prior to Deadline

• Review budget for accuracy
• Provide the institutional endorsement letter or required certifications
• Process proposal submission with limited guarantee that the submitted package meets sponsor guidelines

10 Business Days Prior to Deadline

• Assist with budget preparation
• Assist with sponsor's forms
• Provide institutional endorsement letter
• Prepare required certifications, assurances, and representations
• Process documentation from external partners
• Review completed proposal for conformance with sponsor requirements
• Process proposal submission, as required to meet sponsor guidelines
• Process UNF internal approval form

2 or More Months Prior to Deadline

• RFP analysis to determine required proposal components
• Provide sponsor-specific templates or boilerplates, if available
• Effort coordination with external partners
• Assist with budget preparation
• Assist with sponsor's forms
• Provide institutional endorsement letter
• Prepare required certifications, assurances, and representations
• Process documentation from external partners
• Review completed proposal for compliance with sponsor requirements
• Process proposal submission, as required to meet sponsor guidelines
• Process UNF internal approval form