Office of Sponsored Programs
Limited Proposal Submissions
Many funding agencies limit the number of proposals an institution can submit to specific funding programs. Programs that have limited proposal submissions expect institutions to screen proposals to determine which ones will be submitted for competition, based on the criteria established by the funding agency.
Funding Opportunities
- NSF MRI: NSF MRI proposals are due to Research & Economic Development by noon, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. See link for more information.
- Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program: The Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences. The award is based on accomplishment in scholarly research with undergraduates, as well as a compelling commitment to teaching, and provides an unrestricted research grant of $75,000. Please click here for information about this year's funding opportunity.
- NSF has published a website (http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_sro.jsp) that contains a list of programs that limit the number of proposals that a single institution can submit. The site includes a short summary and a link to the solicitation.
- TBR Student Engagement, Retention and Success (SERS) Initiative: SERS grant funds are designed to support new or existing campus services or programs that serve underrepresented or other targeted student populations, including, but not limited to, underrepresented minorities, economically disadvantaged students, adults, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
Guidelines
When there is sufficient notice of a limited submission, information will be provided to faculty regarding the internal process that will take place to select the proposals that will be submitted. Generally, a preliminary proposal will be required to be turned in approximately four to six weeks prior to the agency due date. An internal committee will review all pre-proposals submitted by the internal deadline and select which ones will be submitted by Tennessee Tech based on the criteria outlined in the solicitation. Feedback will be provided to assist selected PIs in submitting the strongest proposal possible. If there is insufficient time for an internal competition to take place, proposals will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis with the receipt of the internal Intent to Submit form.
Procedures for Limited Proposal Submissions
- Funding opportunity announcement will be emailed to chairs and deans and posted on Research & Economic Development website.
- Research & Economic Development will maintain a web page posting of internal submission procedures and deadlines, with links to other university postings of limited submission opportunities.
- If individual faculty or staff become aware of limited submission opportunities not posted through the above sources, they must immediately notify Research & Economic Development with information to post on the Research website. Send information via email to research@tntech.edu.
- If there is enough time, at least six (6) weeks prior to the agency's deadline, an announcement will be sent to the deans, directors, and chairs; normal limited submission program instructions will apply.
- If it is less than six (6) weeks prior to the deadline, proposals will be selected on a first come, first served basis on when the Intent to Submit forms are received in Research & Economic Development. Any Intent to Submit received after Research & Economic Development has received the maximum number of submissions will be returned to the Principal Investigator and not submitted to the agency.
2. Pre-proposal guidelines provided by Research & Economic Development must be followed.
3. Selection of pre-proposals to be submitted
If by the internal deadline date: (1) there are fewer internal pre-proposals than
the number of proposals permitted, all internal pre-proposals will automatically be
selected. After the deadline, additional pre-proposals can be accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis through application to Research & Economic Development until the
number of proposals permitted is reached.
(2) the number of internal pre-proposals equals the number of proposals permitted,
all will automatically be selected for submission, and additional pre-proposals will
not be considered. (3) there are more internal pre-proposals than the number of proposals
permitted, Research & Economic Development will convene an internal committee to select
the Tennessee Tech proposals to be submitted.
4. Notification and Selection:
- Research & Economic Development will notify the selected Tennessee Tech applicant(s) and request confirmation that they will submit proposals to the program in question. The selected Tennessee Tech applicant(s) must adhere to the Tennessee Tech submission policy, which specifies that all proposals must be submitted to Research & Economic Development five working days prior to the agency deadline.
- If a proposal is selected for submission, the PI is responsible for obtaining all cost-share commitments, if applicable.
- After receiving confirmation from the selected applicants, Research & Economic Development will notify the other applicants of the decision. If a selected applicant fails to confirm his or her intent to submit a proposal in a timely manner, Research & Economic Development, in consultation with the deans, will identify another applicant from those not initially selected.
- Research & Economic Development will notify the deans and relevant chair(s) if a selected applicant fails to submit a proposal to the program in question.
