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Preliminary Considerations in
Proposal Development

Planning Ahead
Once you have identified a potential sponsor(s), obtain and review guidelines and all other materials pertinent to preparing a proposal for the particular sponsor. Before you launch into the proposal development process, consider the following questions:

  • Sponsor's Deadline: Given the sponsor's deadline, do you have sufficient time to prepare a high-quality proposal? (See Schedule for Proposal Development).
  • Limit on Number of Proposals: Occasionally, proposal guidelines state that there is a limit to the number of proposals an institution can submit. If you note such a limitation for a competition you are interested in, please send an e-mail to the OCRO Information Specialist, notifying them of your interest to submit an application to that competition. The Chief Research Officer will then oversee the selection and nomination process to determine which proposal will be submitted on behalf of GW.
  • Subaward Description: Check new subcontract procedures for the proposal process.
  • Equipment Purchases on Sponsored Projects: Securing quotations for equipment purchases at the proposal stage or providing your explanation in the proposal budget justification if sole or single source will save time in the end should your proposal get funded. GW policy requires that three or more quotations be secured for purchases $2,500 or greater or a sole/single source justification. See training tip on Procuring Equipment on Sponsored Projects for additional information.
  • Human or Animal Subjects: Are human subjects or animals involved? (See Office of Health Research, Compliance and Technology Transfer).
  • Facilities and Space: Are the facilities and space available to you appropriate and sufficient to for the project? If not, discuss your needs with your department chair and/or dean early in the process. It may be possible to include a request for funds to provide the necessary facilities or space in the proposal.
  • Facilities and Administrative Costs: Does the sponsor allow full recovery of facilities and administrative (indirect costs)? If not, what allowance is made for these costs? NOTE: Any difference between the University's full rate and the rate allowed by the sponsor requires a commitment from the University and must be discussed with your chair, dean, and/or the Office of the Chief Research Officer (University side) or the AVPHRCTT (Medical side) well in advance of submitting the proposal. (See: Cost sharing)
  • Cost Sharing: Does the sponsor require any cost sharing of direct costs? Any commitment of University funds must be discussed with your chair, dean, and/or the Office of the Chief Research Officer (University side) or the AVPHRCTT (Medical side) well in advance of submitting the proposal. (See: Cost sharing)
  • Preliminary Proposal: Is a preliminary proposal required? If so, discuss with your RSC.
  • Conflict of Interest: Are there potential conflict of interest issues? If so, notify Office of the Chief Research Officer at 202-994-7315.
   Page Updated: September 05, 2007







Click Proposal Development for more details on the Proposal Process.

For more information on applying for a grant or contract, visit the University's policies website for the GW policy on Grant and Contract Applications.

Preliminary Considerations Checklist

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