1. The ARRA: Funding Opportunities Prem S. Paul Vice Chancellor for Research & Economic Development March 12, 2009

2. The ARRA American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (aka stimulus legislation) –Signed into law Feb. 17, 2009 –Provides funding opportunities for research, research infrastructure (facilities and equipment) and education –Goal: jump-start economy and create and/or retain jobs –Opportunities vary by agency

3. Major Priorities of Obama Administration Jump-start the economy Create or retain jobs Research, including high-risk, high-payoff projects and support for early career researchers Health care reform Renewable energy Climate change Modernize nation’s infrastructure Expand educational opportunities

4. NIH Overall budget: $10.4B $8.2B for scientific research opportunities –$7.4B transferred to Institutes –$800M to Office of Director $1.3B for NCRR –$1B competitive awards for construction or renovation of research facilities –$300M for shared instrumentation $400M for Comparative Effectiveness Research

5. NIH $200M Challenge Grants ($1M, 2-year awards) Supplements to existing grants Equipment, core facilities and facilities grants (limited submissions) Additional competitions being planned now Funds obligated by Sept. 30, 2010

6. NSF Overall budget: $3B $2B for research and related activities $300M for Major Research Instrumentation $200M to modernize academic research facilities $400M to accelerate construction of major research facilities

7. NSF $100M for Education & Human Resources –$60M for Robert Noyce Scholarships –$25M for Math and Science Partnerships –$15M for Professional Science Masters Program

8. NSF Goal to increase funding success rate Will award multiyear grants (2 to 5 years) Early CAREER awards May fund meritorious previously reviewed or pending proposals

9. NIST Overall budget: $610M $360M for construction of research buildings –$180M competitive construction grant program for research science buildings $220M for scientific and technical research and services

10. Top DOE Priorities $5B for energy efficient homes, businesses $4.5B for green federal buildings $2.5B for renewable energy projects $4.5B for smart grid technology and transmission infrastructure $800M for next generation biofuels $3.4B for clean fossil energy technology

11. Top DOE Priorities $1.6B for science and basic research in energy technologies of the future $2B for battery research and advanced vehicle technologies $400M for Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) $6B for cleanup of nuclear energy

12. National Endowment for the Arts Overall budget: $50M Projects that focus on preservation of jobs in the arts 60% for competitively selected arts projects 40% to state agencies/regional organizations

13. USDA Overall budget: $28B $21B mandatory funds (nutrition assistance) $7B discretionary funds –$4.3B for rural grants and loans Important to link with communities –$340M for natural resources conservation –$176M for ARS buildings and facilities –Unspecified funds for broadband

14. NOAA Overall budget: $830M $230M for habitat restoration, navigation projects and other activities $170M for climate modeling activities, including supercomputing and research on climate change

15. Department of Education Overall budget: $98B Mostly to Pell Grants, other school aid –$12B for IDEA (states, schools, etc.) –$5B incentive grants distributed competitively to states that aggressively pursue higher standards, quality assessments, robust data systems and teacher quality initiatives –$5B for Early Childhood (Head Start, etc.) –$2B for other education investments (pay for performance, data systems, technology grants, work study)

16. USAID Overall budget: $38M Economic growth, agriculture and trade Global health Democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance Sub-Saharan Africa; Asia, Latin America and Caribbean; Europe and Eurasia

17. DOD Overall budget: $7.4B Mostly slated for DOD facilities operation and construction $300M to develop energy efficient technologies

18. What Should You Do? Check recovery.gov and research.unl.edu/stimulus regularly Write proposals – no chance of getting money otherwise! Collaborate with industry, community and/or school partners Follow proposal preparation advice Stay in close contact with OSP

19. NIH Challenge Grants Overview Minimum 200 awards –Two-year, $1M projects –$500,000 per year in total costs –April 27 deadline Unique format –Specific aims limited to one page –12 pages to identify challenge area and specific topic and to describe challenge, impact, approach, timeline, milestones

20.  Genomics  Health Disparities  IT for Processing Health Care Data  Bioethics  Biomarker Discovery and Validation  Regenerative Medicine  Smart Biomaterials – Theranostics  STEM Education  Comparative Effectiveness Research  Clinical Research  Enabling Technologies  Stem Cells  Enhancing Clinical Trials  Translational Science  Behavior, Behavioral Change and Prevention 15 “Challenge Areas”

21. Proposal Preparation Advice Understand ARRA and sponsor priorities –Job creation, economic contribution are essential –Check agency Web sites, award abstracts to gauge fit Contact a program officer –Current awards: explore ARRA supplement availability –Pending awards: discuss ARRA funding potential –Potential proposals: determine fit with ARRA priorities

22. Proposal Preparation Advice Follow sponsor guidelines –Read, reread request for proposals –Know sponsor’s overarching proposal preparation guidelines Watch the little things –Pay attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation –Have someone else review proposal before submission Plan to submit early –Murphy’s Law prevails –Grants.gov traffic will be heavy

23. ARRA Awards Oversight Awards will require increased oversight (grant-by-grant basis) –Accountability and transparency –Frequent reporting on metrics (quarterly) # of jobs created # of jobs retained Evaluation of project’s completion status Rate of spending is critical –Separate reporting to/for state

24. If You Receive an ARRA Award Be prepared to begin project very quickly –Update your Disclosure of Interest –Provide subaward contact information to OSP –Contact OSP if you are notified of a potential award IPAS can be initiated Stimulus subawards will receive priority processing

25. What Should You Do? Attend UNL Research Fair April 14-16 –Several speakers from multiple agencies, including talks on ARRA opportunities Contact the Office of Research with questions, ideas, information (UNLresearch@unl.edu)

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