Preparing a proposal is a multi-step process that involves people working in various offices and departments on campus. The most basic rule to keep in mind is to contact OSP as early in the process as possible, and as often as necessary during the various stages of preparation and review. Doing so accomplishes several things:
The following table shows the minimum amount of time needed for adequate proposal preparation and review for each stage of the process. Please bear in mind that these are minimum deadlines: more time is almost always better.
| Request/Action | Due Prior to Sponsor Deadline |
|---|---|
| Notify RDS of a pending proposal submission | at least 3 weeks (15 business days) |
| RDS submits Proposal and STEP form for institutional review | at least 1 week (5 business days) |
| Institutional review complete | 1-2 days prior to the sponsor deadline (this ensures adequate time to coordinate mailings, electronic submissions, trips to the post office, etc). |
| Tuition Waiver Requests* | 2-3 weeks (10-15 business days) |
| Cost Sharing Requests* | 2-3 weeks (10-15 business days) |
| Course Buy-Outs* | 2-3 weeks (10-15 business days) |
| *Please note: These requests should be discussed and approved well before the institutional review process begins as they impact the proposal budgeting process. | |
For further information regarding the proposal submission process, see the OSP policy Submitting Proposals for Extramural Funding.