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Best Practices in Proposal Preparation: Start with a Good Idea!

Learn essential tips and guidelines for preparing a successful grant proposal. This article covers topics such as identifying program opportunities, following the grant proposal guide, examining previous awards, and creating a compelling project summary and description. It also provides advice on supporting documents, budget justification, and supplementary materials. Don't miss out on these best practices to maximize your chances of success!

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Best Practices in Proposal Preparation: Start with a Good Idea!

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  1. Submitting a Proposal: Best Practices By: Anu Singh Science Assistant asingh@nsf.gov 703-292-7141

  2. Best Practices in Proposal Preparation Start with a Good Idea! The best proposals have a high“WOW”factor or have a“HIGH IMPACT”in the field. • Talk to a Program Director • PD’s can assist in program identification

  3. Best Practices in Proposal Preparation • Follow the Rules! • Grant Proposal Guide – GPG • http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg • Allow Plenty of Time • Examine previous awards in your area. “Awards” Hyperlink from NSF homepage

  4. Typical Components of an NSF Proposal • Cover Sheet • Table of Contents • Project Summary • Project Description • References Cited

  5. Proposal Supporting Documents • Biographical Sketches • Proposal Budget • Budget Justification • Current and Pending Support • Facilities, Equipment & Other Resources • Supplementary Documentation

  6. Best Practices: Cover Sheet • Cover Sheet • NSF Unit Organization • PI and Co-PI’s Information • Table of Contents – Done Automatically

  7. Best Practices: Project Summary • Introduction/Overview • Intellectual Merit • Broader Impact

  8. Best Practices Project Description: • Appearance Matters • Must address: • Results from prior NSF funding (Required) • Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact • Brief response to reviewer comments (recommended)

  9. Best Practices Project Description: • Results from prior NSF funding • Basic findings, training, outcomes, publications • Organization • Clearly apparent Aims/Goals/Hypotheses • Separate sections for both Merit Criteria • Integration • Intellectual Merit • Broader Impacts

  10. Best Practices: Project Description - Intellectual Merit • Aims/Goals/Hypothesis • New insights • Rationale • Inter-relationships between aims • Timeline

  11. Best Practices: Project Description - Intellectual Merit What if it doesn’t work? • Anticipate criticisms • Provide backup plans • Include alternative hypotheses.

  12. Best Practices: Project Description - Intellectual Merit • Methodology • Competence • Collaborations • Experimental System

  13. Best Practices: Project Description – Broader Impacts • Don’t Forget Broader Impacts! • High impact • Education/Outreach are important • Your record • Your plan • Your budget http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf

  14. Best Practices: References • Provide current background information • Cite literature accurately

  15. Best Practices: Biographical Sketches: • Maximum length: 2 pages • Maximum publications: 10 • Synergistic activities • Mentors and Mentees • Collaborators and Other Affiliations

  16. Best Practices: Proposal Budget • Amounts • Reasonable for work – Realistic • In-line with program guidelines • Eligible costs • Personnel (PI, Co-PIs, Senior Personnel, Techs, Post-docs, Graduate and Undergraduate students) • Equipment • Travel – Consider student support • Participant Support • Supplies – Varies depending upon discipline • Other Direct Costs (including sub awards, consultant services, computer services, publication costs)

  17. Best Practices: Budget Justification • Well justified - Needs established • Done line by line basis

  18. Best Practices: List of Suggested Reviewers • Well qualified reviewers • Program Director discretion • Potentially disqualifying conflicts include: • Organization with which reviewer has/seeks business relationship • Institution at which reviewer is enrolled or serves as visiting scientist

  19. Best Practices: Supplementary Documents • Letters of support or collaboration • RUI Impact Statement (certification) • Limit these to minimum necessary. • Avoid introducing addition informational content (Not allowed)

  20. Best Practices: General Notes • Font size must satisfy all GPG requirements. • Follow page limit. • Fill out all forms honestly and accurately. • Spell check and grammar check. • Double check AFTER FastLane upload. Poorly Written or Organized Proposals DO NOT Review Well Even with Excellent Science!

  21. Submitting the Proposal: • The Sponsored Research Office (SRO) or equivalent submits the proposal to NSF electronically. • The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) is required to electronically sign the proposal.

  22. Questions or Concerns?? • NSF website:http://www.nsf.gov/funding/preparing • GPG hyperlink: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg • Contact the Program Director • Procedure questions: Contact the Fastlane Help Desk by sending an e-mail to fastlane@nsf.gov or call 1-800-673-6188.

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