|
 |
Proposal
Preparation and Development
NSF Information
Contact Person:
Charlene Kimball
(207) 581-1478
The proposal is often the
first point of contact between a researcher and a sponsor. It is
very important to make a good impression by constructing a proposal that
is well written and conveys to the sponsor the merits, benefits, and
educational importance of the proposed activity. While sponsors'
individual requirements differ, there are several steps that must be
completed in order to submit a proposal from the University of Maine:
-
Consult with the chair of your
department and dean of your college about the research or other activity
that you are considering. Find out what information they will need
from you in order to sign the required approvals. If there is a
cost-sharing or
start-up funds (pdf) component, fill out and submit the required paperwork
(cost-sharing component can be found on the
PARS form)
-
Contact
ORSP to notify us of
your intent to submit a proposal, and the submission deadline.
This allows us to plan time to work with you as the proposal takes shape.
If you are applying in response to a Request for Proposals, please provide
us with a copy or let us know where we can obtain one.
-
Prepare a
budget. ORSP has developed a
Project Budget
Spreadsheet (Excel) to assist with this task.
NOTE for Internet Explorer Users:
Please right click on the budget spreadsheet link, choose "Save Target
As", and save the spreadsheet to your computer. Data entered into
the spreadsheet directly from the link will NOT be saved!
-
Submit the
PARS Form and a copy of
the proposal, application form, and any other required documents to ORSP
for review.
-
Make any modifications required as a result
of the review. Once you have reached agreement with ORSP that the
proposal is ready to submit, ORSP will submit the proposal on behalf of
the University.
For more detailed instructions and
resources for preparing proposals, consult the links below:
|
Forms |
|
Project Budget
Spreadsheet (Excel) - Created by ORSP for developing proposal
budgets. Features include automatic calculation of fringe benefits
and indirect costs (including subcontract IDC calculations over multiple
budget years). |
|
Research Startup Request Form (PDF)
|
|
TEES Texas
Engineering Experiment Station - useful tools, forms, and links for
proposal preparers. |
|
Instructions and
Information |
| Lifecycle of a
Sponsored Project - a step by step overview of the stages of a project
from application to completion, with helpful links to resources. |
|
Grant Writing Guide - in depth grant writing tutorial by Dr. David
Stanley, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. |
|
How to
Prepare a Budget - instructions for creating a proposal budget that
meets the University's requirements. |
|
Pre-Award Hiring Process - Key points and general information
about including labor in a Grant Proposal |
|
Research Assistantship
Information - Information regarding stipends and related RA
costs. |
| Useful Application
Information - rates, Institutional ID numbers and other information
commonly asked for on application and reporting forms. |
|
Mileage Reimbursement Rates - see the mileage reimbursement
rates for 2007-2009 |
|
NSF
(return to top) |
NSF has released a new
Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide
effective June 1, 2007. Under the new guidelines, “General-purpose
equipment, such as a personal computer and office furnishings, are
NOT eligible for support unless primarily or exclusively used in the
actual conduct of scientific research”. There have also been
changes in acceptable fonts for grant submissions. PIs submitting
proposals may use an Arial, Helvetica, Palatino (Mac users),
Palatino Linotype (Windows users), Computer Modern (TeX only), or
Georgia typeface. Please use the link above to download the new
guidelines and review them carefully.
|
|
Instructions for submitting a Fastlane proposal form the University of
Maine - Explanation of the local requirements and resources available
for preparing and submitting a proposal to NSF. |
|
Request a Fastlane Password - Fastlane registration requests for
users or Principal Investigators are processed through ORSP.
Contact
Robin Crocker 1-1471 for urgent requests, or fill out a
Fastlane Registration Request Form online.
Requests are normally processed within 1 to 2 business days of receipt. |
|
NSF Grant Proposal Guide
- complete instructions for preparing a submission to the National Science
Foundation. Includes page limits, syntax, and structures for the
various elements of the proposal. A must for NSF grant writers. |
| NSF Instructions for
Preparing and Submitting a Fastlane Proposal - Includes formatting
conditions and other requirements for electronically submitting a
proposal, as well as "how to" information about electronic submission to
NSF. Electronic proposal submission is the only way NSF will accept
a request for funding. |
|
NSF
Indirect Cost Policy (PDF) - Official document containing NSF's new
policies on Indirect Cost charges to research grants. |
|
