There are several online resources that will help you with proposal development. We have found a few to get you started.
Additional information can be found in the ORS Handbook.
There are several online sources to assist you in your search for an appropriate sponsor. Here are a few:
For additional listing of sources, please visit our Resources for Researchers page.
A complete listing of all forms used by office of Research Services is available on our Forms page. Each office has complied a shorten list of forms specifically used by that office. Direct links are below and listed by office name. Also, each research compliance committee has forms specifically related to its responsibility on its own page. Committee pages are also listed below.
Animal Care and Use: IACUC
Biosafety and Recombinant DNA: IBC
Human Subjects: IRB
Radiation or Radioisotope: RSC
Significant Financial Interest
Preparation of the budget is, for many researchers, the most
difficult section of the proposal. Granting agencies see hundreds
of proposals yearly and are proficient at comparing level
of funding requested to the research work proposed. Therefore,
it is important that the budget section of the proposal reflect,
as accurately as possible, the funding needed to carry out
the proposed research.
The BudgetBuilder is a tool created by ORS to assist in completing
a budget request, applying fringe benefit and facilities and
administrative cost rates, documenting subcontracts/subrecepient
agreements, consultants, matching funds, and cost-sharing.
Prepared to handle a simple survey to a complex five year
study, the BudgetBuilder takes care of the complicated calculations
involved in drafting any budget. ORS highly recommends that
Investigators use the BudgetBuilder for all proposals. The
latest version of the BudgetBuilder can be found here.
Below are the basic budget elements included in a budget and information regarding the principles used to calculate the various cost elements.
All applicants for external funding and all researchers with active externally funded projects must complete and submit a Significant Financial Interest Disclosure form annually and upon acquiring new significant financial interests. For additional information, the Policy and procedures are found in Section 16.11 of the UNT Policy Manual: http://www.unt.edu/policy/UNT_Policy/volume3/16.11.html
Cost sharing now has is own section on the Routing Form for documentation of any commitments required in a proposal. Please be sure to complete this section of the Routing Form if cost sharing is required. The ORS handbook gives an excellent definition of cost sharing.
Any research involving the use of human subjects is required to secure Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval prior to any contact with human subjects. While the typical connotation of human subject research suggests projects such as medical experiments, applications reviewed by the UNT IRB range from simple surveys to intense biofeedback research. It is recommended that Investigators review the guidelines, application, and training available from the IRB home page.
Projects involving the use of recombinant DNA molecules, human materials, or biohazardous reagents require prior approval by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). An IBC application for the registration of such projects should be completed, signed and sent to the Office of Research Services for forwarding to the IBC for review. These requirements apply to both funded and non-funded research. The guidelines and application are available from the IBC home page.
The University's policy on nepotism is found in Section 1.2.6 of the UNT Policy Manual at: http://www.unt.edu/planning/UNT_Policy/volume1/1_2_6.html
Researchers who are planning projects involving radiation/radioisotopes and/or lasers should contact the Office of Research Services (ORS). Required forms are now available on the Radiation Safety Committee website.
Any research involving the use of live vertebrate animals is required to secure Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval to beginning the project. It is recommended that Investigators review the guidelines and applications can be found on the IACUC page.
The applicant should contact the Office of Research Services well in advance of the proposal submission deadline.
Each UNT proposal submission is assigned to a specific Research Administrator (RA). PIs are encouraged to contact the Pre Award Services Manager early in the proposal preparation phase for assignment of an RA to their proposal.
All proposals must be accompanied by the Routing Form. This internal document serves five important purposes:
1. It summarizes the basic information in the proposal that
is required for submission, administration, and reporting
of the award.
2. It confirms that the applicant meets certain criteria as
a Principal Investigator.
3. It verifies that the Principal Investigator will take responsibility
for compliance with the award terms and conditions.
4. It certifies that the applicant's Chair and Dean support
the project.
5. It shows approval by the Vice President for Research
This form is available on the ORS Forms page.
Signatures
The applicant must sign as the PI and is responsible for obtaining
the signatures of the Co-PI(s), Chair and Dean on the Routing
Form. The PI must submit the proposal to the RA for final
approval prior to the submission deadline.
Most proposals require the signature of the applicant organization's Authorizing Organizational Representative (AOR). At UNT, this signature authority is held by Reata Busby, Associate Vice President for Research. Although the PI, Chair, and Dean are required to sign the UNT Routing Form, they do not hold signature authority as the AOR. After all proposal documents have been reviewed for completeness and accuracy, the Research Administrator will secure the AOR signature as required.
Some sponsors require certifications and representations that give assurance that the University is compliant with specific regulations. The applicant must provide this information in the format required by the sponsor.
Once the proposal has been reviewed and authorizing signatures secured, the PI is responsible for mailing (including appropriate number of copies) to the sponsor. When a proposal is being submitted in hard copy rather than electronically, and will be mailed, express mailed, or shipped with an overnight delivery service, the PI is encouraged to secure the routing number and evidence of pick-up and delivery.
I've heard my proposal will be funded. What does that mean?
Principal investigators are often notified by their program director, technical monitor, etc., that their proposal is to be awarded. At that point, it is assumed that an award is forthcoming, but the process of receiving the official award documents from the sponsor is quite involved.
Once the program officer recommends a proposal for award, it usually has to be approved by a division director. After which, it goes to procurement and finally it reaches the contracts or grants office. This process takes anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks or longer. Note: The award is not official until ORS receives an official award document from the sponsor's contracts office.
What is involved in accepting an award?
How does the award get set up?
What are my responsibilities?
What are the federal regulations?
What has to be negotiated?
How do I find out who is negotiating my award? (Future enhancement)
How to I find out the status of the negotiations? (Future enhancement )
Who can sign the award for the University?
My award has been accepted, now what?
How are accounts established?
How do I spend my money?
Who do I contact for post-award accounting assistance?
The Research Services staff have all been cross-trained in order to better assist Investigators with the execution of awards. Contact Post-Award Manager at Britt.krhovjak@unt.edu for any assistance.
How do I process the following actions?
Extensions
Budget changes
Supplemental funds requests
Change of principal investigator
I'm leaving. Can I take my grant with me?
Who do I contact if I need help and what can they help me with?
Although contacting any staff member of the four offices will get an Investigator on the right track, below is a list of the typical areas over which each office is responsible.
Office of Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer | Intramural Funding |
Office of Research Services | Sponsored Project |
Research Compliance | Research Compliance |
Office of Technology Transfer | Technology Transfer |