Proposal Development and Submission

Proposal development and submission is the initial stage in the award lifecycle of research administration. It is important that the process is collaborative between principal investigators, the department/college and the Office of Sponsored Programs staff to ensure full institutional support. Each party has specific responsibilities. While the principal investigator is the initiator of all actions related to the sponsored project, sponsored program officers provide the official institutional signature by submitting the proposal.

Prior to undertaking any sponsored award, it is important that all principal investigators understand the administrative requirements of the award. Each announcement contains specific proposal requirements. When preparing the proposal, the budget should be derived directly from the project description. Refer to the institutional information page for general information, rates and codes required in the proposal. It is important to understand the characteristics of sponsors in general as well as specifics about the sponsor you are considering. Each sponsor is different, so it is best to check the sponsor’s website for solicitation guidelines and forms. Explore the topics below for details intended to guide the process from proposal development through submission.