Federal Research Updates: Please see Federal Research Updates 2025 for the latest updates on executive orders and policies impacting federally funded research.
Guidelines and Tips
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. Be sure to contact your Sponsored Projects Administrator at this point to alert them to your plans to submit a proposal. Additionally, 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?
- 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 OVPR Information Specialist, notifying them of your interest to submit an application to that competition. The Vice President for Research will then oversee the selection and nomination process to determine which proposal will be submitted on behalf of GW.
- Does the scope of work for your project require you to issue a subaward?
- 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. For purposes of market research, GW policy requires that three or more quotations be secured for purchases $2,500 or greater or a sole/single source justification.
- Human or Animal Subjects: Are human subjects or animals involved?
- 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 Vice President for Research.
- Cost Sharing: Does the sponsor require any cost sharing of direct costs? Any commitment of University funds must be discussed and approved by your chair, dean, and/or the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of the Provost (see Cost Sharing).
- Preliminary Proposal: Is a preliminary proposal required? If so, discuss with your SPA.
- Conflict of Interest: Are there potential conflict of interest issues? If so, notify Office of the Vice President for Research at 202-994-6255.
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