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Guidelines for the Preparation
of Full Proposals for Submission
to N.H. Sea Grant

Guidelines for Full Proposals

I. Basis for Proposal Evaluation

II. Proposal Format

III. Submission to N.H. Sea Grant

Proposals must be submitted electronically and they must be received by 4:30 p.m. on June 1, 2009. Late proposals will not be accepted.

Note: We encourage PIs to suggest the names of up to five peer reviewers for their proposal and to submit those names by May 15. Please send the name, title and position, mail and e-mail addresses, and telephone and fax numbers for each suggested reviewer to Linda Wade. Please note that reviewers within the state of New Hampshire cannot be used.

Note: These guidelines are intended to answer most of your questions regarding preparation of a full proposal for submission to N.H. Sea Grant. Additional guidance can be obtained by talking with New Hampshire marine researchers currently funded by N.H. Sea Grant and by talking with N.H. Sea Grant staff. If you have questions that are not answered by these guidelines and/or if we can assist you in any way, please contact us.

General Assistance:

Steve Jones, Assistant Director for Research - 603.862.5124
Jonathan Pennock, Director - 603.862.7007

Budget Information:

Lisa Scigliano, Fiscal Administrator - 603.862.0529

Publications and Information Coordination:

Steve Adams, Communications Coordinator - 603.749.1565

Office contact:

Linda Wade, Program Support Assistant - 603.862.7007

Basis for Proposal Evaluation

NH Sea Grant conducts a comprehensive review process that seeks to:

• Ensure a process that is open to all New Hampshire marine researchers from any discipline,
• Provide objective expert reviews of all proposal ideas from any topic area, and
• Provide decisions and useful feedback to researchers.

The development and review of Sea Grant project proposals is a three-step process:

1. Short preliminary project proposals are to be submitted by March 2, 2009.

2. For the most promising preliminary proposals, the principal investigator(s) will be encouraged to submit full project proposals by June 1.

3. After a comprehensive merit review by mail and a technical advisory panel, the most promising proposals will be submitted to the National Sea Grant Office with a recommendation for funding.

Several criteria will be considered in the review of full proposals:

1. The scientific/professional quality and likelihood for competent performance of the proposed project. This will involve assessment of the PI's knowledge of the technical context for the work, its intrinsic technical merit, the clarity of stated objectives (preferably in the form of a hypothesis to be tested), the adequacy of the approach/methodology to be used in attaining these objectives, and the level of the PI's qualifications and institutional capabilities pertinent to conducting the research.

2. The demonstrated rationale for the proposed project in terms of the needs of New Hampshire and northern New England. These needs are generally described in the N.H. Sea Grant Strategic Plan (available from the N.H. Sea Grant office). Although investigators are encouraged to propose projects that support the program priorities, proposals for projects outside the general scope of the plan may be submitted.

3. The manner in which the proposed project affects the overall program balance.

4. The clarity with which the proposed project identifies a user group that will benefit from the results of the effort. Representatives of user groups should be explicitly included in the project proposal.

5. The potential economic impacts of the project. These may be demonstrated by projections of income derived, savings realized, new markets, new technologies or appropriate economic indicators.

6. The applicability of the proposed effort to regional and/or national needs and issues. Other factors being equal, projects having national implications would have a competitive edge over those with only local impact.

7. The proposed project's compatibility and integration with N.H. Sea Grant extension activities.

8. A budget consistent with the needs of the project.

9. Results of prior Sea Grant support.

Proposal Format

Proposals must conform to the length and format described here. There is a length limit of 15 single-spaced pages. This page limit includes sections d through l discussed below. Proposals must be formatted using one-inch margins and Times Roman or Times New Roman 12 point font.

Each proposal must contain the following elements submitted in four separate files:

FILE 1

a. Project Summary Form (90-2): This form is available on the NH Sea Grant web site and from the NH Sea Grant Management Office (see below for contact information).

FILE 2

b. Budget Form (90-4): This form is available on the NH Sea Grant web site and from the NH Sea Grant Management Office (see below for contact information).

Match Requirements: Sea Grant is a matching funds program, which requires that at least 50% of the aggregate federal dollars received be matched by state or private funds. N.H. Sea Grant recognizes that all PIs may not be able to provide a 50% match ($1 of match for every $2 of requested federal Sea Grant funds) in their proposals. However, we ask that you provide as much as possible from non-federal sources. In-kind matching from university or other sources is often acceptable. Possible sources of matching funds include faculty/staff salaries, departmental or college student stipends, benefits, donated lab or ship time, indirect costs, and real or in-kind contributions from non-federal partners. Additional information regarding match/cost sharing may be provided by the Office of Sponsored Research (Lisa Scigliano, 862-0529) or from the Sea Grant Office (862-7007). Matching funds are scrutinized very closely for legitimacy by both the University of New Hampshire and the federal government.

FILE 3

c. Schedule and Budget Projection Form (90-6): This form is available on the N.H. Sea Grant web site and from the NH Sea Grant Management Office (see below for contact information).

FILE 4 (Template for proper order of elements below is available here.)

d. Abstract: One or two paragraphs summarizing the proposal and its intent.

e. Rationale: A vital section that should thoroughly develop the justification/need and expected benefits of the project. Discussion of relevant coastal issues or events having a bearing on your project are appropriate here (i.e., oil spills, fisheries management, shoreline erosion, marine products, etc.). This section should present a convincing argument why it is important to carry out the project. End users of the project's results should be clearly identified here and where appropriate (see section i).

f. Review of Previous Work: A description both of the previous work done in the area of the project you are proposing and a review of your experience working in this area. Discussion of how your project relates to other Sea Grant projects (either previous, ongoing or proposed) is also appropriate here.

g. Project Objectives and Scientific Hypothesis: A clear statement of the project objectives and goals. It is important to clearly construct and state a defensible scientific hypothesis.

h. Project Plan/Methodology: Carefully explain the conceptual and methodological approaches using language and terminology appropriate to your discipline. The project plan should be consistent with the highest standards of the discipline involved.

i. Educational Impact: Briefly describe the extent of involvement in the proposed work by graduate/undergraduate students and/or by undergraduate or high school faculty. Also note any other potential impacts of the research on education in the marine studies area.

j. Extension of Research Results: Specifically identify the end users of the research results and explain the nature of the benefits and impacts they will receive. The role of the end users in the project should be described in detail. N.H. Sea Grant encourages the inclusion of end users as project participants. Discuss briefly extension activities necessary to transfer the research results to the end users.

k. Available Resources: Briefly describe personnel qualifications or special resources, equipment or facilities that demonstrate your ability or a special opportunity to successfully pursue the project.

l. Budget Justification: Provide brief explanations of each major budgetary item for the proposed work.

m. Literature Cited: Complete bibliographic citations, including titles of all papers, books and reports to which reference is made.

n. Resumes of Principal Investigator(s) and Key Associate Investigator(s): two-page maximum for each PI. Include resumes on all those individuals who will play a major role in the project. As a part of your resume please include your complete address and current telephone number.

o. Other Support: For all PIs, list on a separate page all pending, current and recent (three years) outside support. Include project title; the amount, source and period of funding; and the extent of PI involvement in each project.

p. Results of Prior Sea Grant Support: All principal investigators who have received Sea Grant support are required to provide a summary (maximum two pages) for each project funded in the past five years. The summary should contain the following elements: project title; principal investigator(s); period and amount of award; summary or abstract (250-word limit); publications resulting from the grant (list peer-reviewed publications separately); educational impacts and professional development (students, post-docs and other professionals); outreach to stakeholder groups; and commercial, societal or other impacts and deliverables.

Submission to N.H. Sea Grant

Proposals must be submitted electronically and they must be received by 4:30 p.m. on June 1, 2009. Late proposals will not be accepted. To submit a proposal, go to the NHSG electronic proposal submittal portal.

Contact:

Steve Jones
Assistant Director for Research
Jackson Estuarine Lab/UNH
Durham, NH 03824

Tel. 603.862.5124

For questions about proposal submission, please call Linda Wade at 603.862.7007.