DUE DATES:
Pre-Proposal: Noon, Thursday, August 31, 2006
Final Proposal: Noon, Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Printable Version
DATE: August 15, 2006
TO: Faculty in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
FROM: David R. Givers, Interim Co-Project Director, ND EPSCoR, NDSU Office
Dr. Gary E. Johnson, Co-Project Director, ND EPSCoR, UND Office
Interested tenure, tenure-track faculty and research faculty are invited to submit a pre-proposal in response to the DoD DEPSCoR FY07 call for proposals. DoD requires that each state submit its proposal through the state EPSCoR office.
Each state is limited to no more than five (5) separate fundable (PI) sections. PI awards are expected to be three-year, non-renewable grants for no less than a $350,000 request from DoD. The DEPSCoR RFP or Basic Agency Agreement (BAA) is posted at
http://www.arl.army.mil/main/main/default.cfm?Action=6&Page=8
Pre-proposals may be for single investigator or multi-investigator projects that have a single, clear thematic focus. Research areas are open to all technical topics listed in the sponsors’ research announcements, from the following agencies: the U. S. Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The most common reason for the DoD to reject a proposal is failure to match the mission of the particular agency to which it was submitted. PIs must list the appropriate Agency Division/Directorate and the Technical Area /Program Officer on the cover sheet. This is a critical factor in ensuring that the proposal is reviewed by the appropriate DoD sponsor. PIs should consult the agency sponsors’ web pages and their university research office to identify a Technical Point of Contact.
A PI can submit only one pre-proposal and be a Co-PI on only one additional pre-proposal.
Anticipated Timelines:
Pre-proposal due Noon, August 31, 2006, in one of the ND EPSCoR offices. Following an external peer review process, no more than five (5) proposals will be chosen and reviews returned to the PIs, on or near September 20, 2006, for a final update of the full proposal. Final versions of the selected full proposals (original + 8 copies and PDF version) due to one of the ND EPSCoR offices by Noon, October 18, 2006. ND EPSCoR coordinates the state’s submission to DEPSCoR.
Some key points from the previous DoD announcement:
“DoD may select or reject an entire state proposal package or fund only sections of a state proposal.”
“Multiple institution or multiple investigator research projects that are not fully integrated to address one focused issue are not normally funded and are discouraged.”
“Given the intent of the DEPSCoR program to build infrastructure, DEPSCoR can provide more funding for critical research infrastructure elements than traditional, single investigator awards...”
Primary evaluation criteria (of equal importance):Scientific and technical merits of the proposed research.
1.
The potential contributions of the proposed research to the defense missions of the participating agencies.
2.The likelihood of the proposed effort to advance the research infrastructure of the university or state by developing new or enhancing existing research capabilities and to broaden the university research base in support of national defense.
3.
The potential to contribute to the education of future scientists and engineers in disciplines critical to the DoD mission.
Other evaluation criteria include (of lesser importance, but equal to each other):
1.
The qualifications, capabilities, experience, and past research accomplishments of the proposed PI, team leader, or key personnel who are critical to achieving the proposal objectives.
2.The proposed involvement and interaction with DoD or other federal laboratories, industry, or other existing research centers of excellence.
3.
Reasonableness of costs, cost sharing, and availability of funds.
4.Other factors being equal between applicants, priority will be given to new DEPSCoR investigators; however, applications from experienced DEPSCoR investigators that develop new defense-related infrastructure also are encouraged.
ND EPSCoR Pre-Proposal Checklist: ND EPSCoR may refuse to review any pre-proposals that do not comply with this checklist.
1.
One copy of the signed institutional proposal transmittal form affixed to the original.
2. Original + 8 copies (staple all copies) – 25-page limit assembled in the following order:
a)Top Sheet – DoD cover sheet (www.ndepscor.nodak.edu/rfps) with Technical Point of Contact listed.
b)Copy of letter of support from appropriate DoD program manager.
c)Abstract – No more than one page and counted in the 25-page limit.
d)Text – 1-inch margins on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper, and with a font size no smaller than 10-point.
e)
Curriculum Vitae – A brief vitae for key personnel critical to the research, including senior investigators. Provide short biographical sketches and list relevant publications. Counted in the 25-page limit.
f)
Budget – Not counted in the 25 page limit (NSF style) and budget justification.
3. An electronic copy, by attachment, of the pre-proposal (items 2a-f above) to your campus co-project director, david.givers@ndsu.edu. or GaryEJohnson@mail.und.nodak.edu
Pre-Proposal Budget Preparation Instructions
The pre-proposal budget must address the DEPSCoR RFP guidelines for each budget category by year, include a three-year summary budget, and include details of required institutional match. For this pre-proposal only, use the NSF Style budget sheet available at www.ndepscor.nodak.edu/rfps/index.htm
Institutions must provide a 50% match. A typical award would consist of $350K from the DoD and $175K from institutional sources. This match may be comprised of (1) cash or new equipment; (2) faculty time during academic year; (3) graduate student tuition waiver; and (4) waiver of indirect costs. Details of match must be approved by the respective campus research office, and the pre-proposal must be approved by the appropriate campus research office(s) prior to submission to the ND EPSCoR office.
