Proposal Development Part I of II CALS Research Division Julene Gaspard Meredith Luschen Becky Bound September 16, 2008 Website:

Overview – Proposal Development  Finding funding opportunities  Putting together the proposal  Routing and submission of the proposal WISconsin Proposal Electronic Routing

Funding Opportunities – Some Resources  eCALS newsletter  CALS Research Division: Funding Opportunities link on left-hand side  Grants.gov  Sponsor websites

Read the RFP – What to look for:  Deadline? Postmark or received by?  Eligibility?  Funding Limits?  Expected project length?  Method of Submission? Required forms/format? Electronic: Cayuse, Grants.gov, Fastlane, ProposalCentral, Hard copy – Signatures required?

Read the RFP: What else to look for  Indirect costs: What is the sponsor’s policy? Must be written and applied consistently  Cost share: Is there a matching requirement?  Other funding policies and restrictions Equipment, Tuition remission

Some Agency Specifics: NSF  Submission is via Fastlane (for now)  Broader Impacts and Intellectual Merit  What are participant support costs?

Some Agency Specifics: NIH  Submission is via Cayuse  Budget format – Modular or Not  Specific announcement overrides general form instructions

Some Agency Specifics: USDA  NRI is becoming AFRI – Agriculture and Food Research Initiative  Indirect costs: % Total Direct Costs (TDC) 22% Total Federal Funds, in most cases  Submission is via Cayuse

Federal Agencies - USDA  Cooperative Agreements Indirect costs and Tuition remission not allowed Applicant must contribute 20% of the total project budget

Non-federal Agencies  Commodity groups  For profit companies  Foundations  Non-profit organizations  If you remember nothing else: Every agency is different – carefully review guidelines, procedures, terms/conditions We must have the agency’s indirect cost policy in writing

Ready to Start Writing? Do this First:  WISPER record – create it and sign it.  Contact the Research Division. Let them know: Opportunity, Agency, and Deadline If there are matching requirements If the proposal involves personnel from other depts or colleges If the proposal includes other institutions

Considerations: Subcontract vs Fee for Service  Subcontract Performance measured against whether the objectives of the federal program are met Has responsibility for programmatic decision making Has responsibility for adherence to applicable federal program compliance requirements Would publish with the PI

Considerations: Subcontract vs Fee for Service  Fee-for-service Provides the goods and services within normal business operations Provides similar goods or services to many different purchasers Operates in a competitive environment Provides goods or services that are ancillary to the project

Subcontract vs Fee for Service: Examples  You are proposing to research the cultural influence of the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin. A colleague who is a faculty member at UW-Green Bay is a recognized expert in this area and agrees to lend his expertise to your project. He will essentially carry out a project in Green Bay in parallel to your work in Madison. The two of you will consult with each other regularly to evaluate your findings and determine the next course of action. Subcontract or Fee for Service? Same project. It happens that UWGB also has a unit within their Psychology department that is highly effective in survey conducting and analysis. Your proposed research includes surveys and you plan to utilize the expertise and services of this unit at UWGB. Subcontract or Fee for Service?

When we have a subcontract  Must have signed paperwork from the institution/organization we are subcontracting to Budget Budget narrative Letter of intent to commit Signature of Institutional Official (not just the other PI)

Considerations: Commitments  Any effort included anywhere in a proposal is a commitment that must be tracked and certified.  If there is no matching requirement, avoid the words Leveraging, Cost Share, or Match. And NEVER use these words in connection with funding from a Federal Agency

Routing and Submission  ROUTE your WISPER record to CALS – Anytime – The sooner, the better Add a deadline. If it isn’t an absolute deadline, let CALS know. Use the Comments tab and the General tab to include clear instructions and any critical information.

WISPER Crash Course  Routing vs Approvals  Access to and ownership of records  What WISPER is, what it isn’t WISPER IS a system to route and manage proposal submissions electronically WISPER is NOT a system from which to create or submit proposals

Submissions: Cayuse  Work in Cayuse in parallel to WISPER  Proposal will be institutionally approved via WISPER  Proposal review and submission will happen via Cayuse

Submission: Fastlane  Work in Fastlane in parallel to WISPER  Proposal will be institutionally approved via WISPER  Proposal review and submission will happen via Fastlane

Submission: Grants.gov  Work far in advance  Upload completed PureEdge (.xfd) file to the WISPER record.  Upload all Word documents to the WISPER record.  WISPER helps to manage and facilitate the review process.  Application file is submitted via the Grants.gov portal.

Submission: NASA NSPIRES  Work in NSPIRES in parallel to WISPER  Proposal will be institutionally approved via WISPER  Proposal review and submission will happen via NSPIRES

Submission: Paper  Upload to WISPER record for review: Forms that include institutional information or commitments or require signature Budget and Budget Narrative Project summary  If signature is required, Check “Paper copy to UW SPO” on the General tab. Drop off originals at the CALS Research Division  Review and institutional approval happens in WISPER Coordinate pickup of original paperwork and proposal submission with CALS

Submission: or Other Online System  Upload to WISPER record for review: Forms that include institutional information or commitments or require signature Budget and Budget Narrative Project summary  If signature is required, note on the General tab and upload form(s) or drop off at CALS. Coordinate with CALS to retrieve signed paperwork  Review and institutional approval happens in WISPER  Coordinate submission with CALS

RSP  Institutional approval for all proposals  Must have: WISPER record signed by PI and Division All required signatures but theirs Final version of all documents routed Signed documentation for all subcontracts and cost share commitments

Questions?? CALS Research Division Contacts Becky Bound Meredith Luschen Julene Gaspard