Before You Start
Proposal Format
Required Sections
Sponsor Links

Before You Start

Important Reminders

Grants.gov proposals must be submitted ONE WEEK prior to the agency's posted deadline. This advance submission will allow time to correct any errors that may be detected by the agency.

NRI Requires Electronic Submission

In Fiscal Year 2007, the NRI will only accept electronic application submissions through Grants.gov. Application must be submitted by Close of Business, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 p.m. Central Time), on the program deadline.

Eleven NRI programs require a Letter of Intent prior to submission of a full application. Those programs are marked on the list of deadline dates. Invitations to submit a full application will be issued by the National Program Leader only after review of the Letters of Intent.

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Proposal Format

PDF Files

All files are uploaded as attachments and must be submitted in the portable document format (PDF). The PI should prepare text attachments using MS Word and then convert those files to PDF before sending to the Research Foundation Proposal Administrator (PA). If you cannot convert the files your PA will do it for you.

Format Specification for All Files

• Type Size & Spacing
  
• Type must be no smaller than 12 point.
  
• Single or double spaced.

  Page Margins

Documents must have 1" margins.

Headers & Footers

Page number each page of each attachment sequentially.

Page Limits

Please note any page limitations indicated for each type of proposal

Research Career Enhancement Awards, Equipment Grants, and Seed Grants, the Project Narrative may not exceed a total of 7 single- or double-Spaced pages, including figures and tables.

For Standard Research Grants and all other types of applications, the Project Narrative section may not exceed a total of 18 single- or double-spaced pages including figures and tables.

Note: Title each attachment in the document header and save each file with name listed below for each attachment.

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Required Sections

Components of a CSREES Application

1. R&R SF424 Cover Sheet

a. Completed by PA
b. Will need title from PI
c. Title limited to 140-character maximum including spaces

2. R&R Other Project Information Form

QUESTIONS

a. Human subjects?
b. Vertebrate animals?
c. Proprietary/privileged information?
d. Actual or potential impact on the environment? If yes, explain. If yes, exemption authorized? Explain.
e. Involve activities outside U.S. or partnership with international collaborators? Countries?

SECTIONS TO UPLOAD

a. Project Summary/Abstract

• Summary should be approximately 250 words and suitable for public dissemination.
  
• Should list names and affiliated organizations of all Project Directors at top of page in addition to title.
  
• Should focus on overall project goal(s) and supporting objectives; plans to accomplish project goal(s); and relevance of the project to the goals of the program.
  
• Should indicate which of the five CSREES goals the proposed project addresses

b. Project Narrative

• Page limits apply for RCE, Equipment, and Seed Grants, limit is 7 pages.
  
• For all other types, limit is 18 pages.

Narrative must include:

• Introduction
  
• Progress Report (renewals)
  
• Rationale and Significance
  
• Approach

c. Bibliography & References Cited

no page limit

d. Facilities & Other Resources

no page limit

e. Equipment

no page limit

f. Other attachments

• Response to previous review - 1 page limit
  
• Key personnel & Management Plan - 5 page limit

  Management Plan for integrated projects only

• Collaborative arrangements - no page limit
  
• Results from prior NRI support - 1 page/award
  
• Any appendices - maximum of 2 - reprints or preprints

3. R&R Senior/Key Person Profile

• General contact information will be completed by PA for PD and each Senior/Key person.
  
• Biosketches and Current & Pending lists to be attached here.
  
• Biosketch limited to 2 pages excluding publication list.

4. R&R Personal Data

• PA will complete for PD. Form requests name, DOB, SSN, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Disability Status, Citizenship
  
• Please provide this information to your PA.

5. R&R Budget

• Budget will be completed with assistance from PA who will also complete the forms.
  
• Please be aware: individual programs generally have strict funding limits.
  
• If subawards are involved, a separate budget section must be completed by that institution.
  
• Budget justification is required.

6. Supplemental Information Form

• Conflict of Interest List attached here.
  
• Keywords needed. (Please provide to PA)

7. NRI Proposal Type Form

To be completed by PA. Please inform PA of proposal type.

Submission Process

• Once all sections are completed and uploaded by PA, the proposal will be checked and submitted to Grants.gov.
  
• Proposals must be submitted by the Research Foundation.
  
• Deadline for submission of proposals is 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the noted deadline day. Research Foundation deadline is one week prior to USDA's deadline.
  
• Applications will be reviewed by USDA first for administrative compliance. If the proposal passes that review, it will be scheduled to be technically evaluated.

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Sponsor Links

Research Foundation Proposal Administrators
http://rf-web.tamu.edu/preaward/proposaladm.html

Research Foundation Contact for USDA Questions
Sue Hibbs: shibbs@rf-mail.tamu.edu

CSREES website for Funding Information
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/fy07changes.html

Please review our website for information on submitting RF proposals through Grants.gov

1. http://rf-web.tamu.edu
2. Click on Items of Interest - "How to submit Grants.gov proposals through the Texas A&M Research Foundation"