Announcements can be called Funding Opportunity Announcements, Broad Agency Announcements, Request for Applications, or something else. We also hear them referred to as Solicitations, or Calls, as in Call for Proposals. There are no hard and fast rules here, and for practical purposes what they’re called does not matter.

When you look at an Announcement, the due date draws attention right away. Eligibility criteria should, too. You need to make sure you and your institution meet those.

After that, you probably want to dive into the technical content, which may be in a section called Topics, Program Description, or something similar. This is the fun part. Importantly, if the Announcement appears to be a technical match for your research, it’s easy to get carried away and neglect to make a thorough pass through the remainder of the document.

In the next three weeks, I will break down what you need to consider around three important components of the Announcement: (1) its Dates, (2) Points of Contact, and (3) Evaluation Criteria. Not only are these important, but they tend not to get the attention needed from PIs at the outset — in other words, before you start to write. For that reason, what may seem at first like small details can become the source of problems later in the proposal process.

This week, we’ll consider the Announcement holistically. Here’s what you should be looking for on your first pass through the document:

• What can you do, or are you required to do, in advance of submission? How can you get feedback on your idea before drafting a full proposal? A preproposal-type submission may be required or recommended and can be labelled in many different ways -- white paper, concept paper, or letter of intent. Dates play a role here in terms of when a preproposal or similar document is due and/or if there is a specified timeframe for asking questions. If there is no formal process, that doesn’t mean you can’t get feedback. I’ll discuss this in two weeks in relation to Points of Contact.

• Is it a limited submission? That is, is there a limit on the number of applications that can be submitted from your institution? If so, contact your Research Office right away and let them know you are considering submission. Ask what instructions or guidance they might have for you.

• Are there any ‘extra’ proposal sections or documents required beyond what you already expect? Mentoring and Data Management Plans are standard at some organizations, but don’t make assumptions. What’s usual for you depends on your discipline and other factors, and you want to make sure there will be no surprises when you approach the deadline.

• What does it say about collaborations? Are there any types that are encouraged or prohibited? Must collaborators be funded and, if so, at what level? From there, think about what collaboration may mean in terms of gathering Letters of Support or Collaboration. If you need or want letters, the time to collect them must be built into your overall timeline, since these letters often require a lot of emailing back and forth to get just right.

The most important advice is to read Announcements regularly. Just like anything else you become accustomed to, you will start to make sense of their format, and you’ll begin to make your way through them more quickly. You’ll remember to refer back to them frequently and you will become skilled in efficiently searching for important information. Lastly, make sure that you’ve read the entire document all the way through before you start writing. Collectively, these steps will help a lot.

Afraid of ‘bothering’ program officers?

Workshop for New Faculty & Researchers

For the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) PI Intensive for New Faculty and Researchers: Building the Tools for Your Career in Research

This day-and-a-half workshop will take place in Chicago on October 24-25th .

We will dive into topics such as

✔️ Understanding the responsibilities of a principal investigator

✔️ Developing competitive grant applications

✔️ Negotiating effectively with your institution

✔️ Employing project management approaches in research

I am co-leading this event. Please see this page for more information and to register. Note that this is an SRAI (not a Wise Investigator) event.

It would be wonderful to meet some newsletter subscribers in person in Chicago. Please send me an email ([email protected]) if you have any questions. 👋 

When you are ready, here’s how we can help

Need to get your research funded, this year? Check out our 10-week program to get you there.

Ready to book a call to discuss our program or to have Dr. Barzyk provide training at your institution? Let’s chat!