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  1. Research Offices
  2. Research Development
  3. Proposal Resources and Services
  4. Proposal Services
  5. Large-scale, Complex Grant Proposals

Development Support for Large-Scale, Complex Proposals

Large Team

Research Development offers strategic support for highly competitive, large-scale grants that involve collaboration across disciplines and/or institutions

There is a growing trend among funding agencies to support larger, more complex, and often multi-disciplinary and/or multi-institutional projects. These large proposal efforts require significant planning, project management, and administrative oversight. To address this, Research Development offers structured support for highly competitive, large-scale proposal efforts in areas critical to the University. Our staff will:

  • Create and maintain an online collaboration space using Microsoft Teams.
  • Create a timeline, working backward from the sponsor due date, that includes all proposal tasks, and coordinate one-on-one with team members throughout the development process to determine whether deadlines are being met.
  • Break down the funding solicitation (e.g., FOA, RFP, BAA) and the sponsor guidelines into individual requirements, and analyze each section to determine which components must be addressed in the proposal narrative, budget, and supporting documentation.
  • Create a proposal outline that includes all required headings and sections, along with a recommended narrative outline that ensures compliance, addresses evaluation criteria, and maximizes efficiency.
  • Manage the collection of information and supporting proposal documents from team members (including those outside FSU) and revise them in accordance with solicitation and funding agency guidelines.
  • Provide support for graphics and illustrations. We also help with proposals requiring multimedia components, such as web pages and video pitches, by referring to relevant FSU resources.
  • In certain circumstances, provide proposal budget and budget justification development services. This service is available only to researchers in departments that do not have in-house budget or grants compliance staff, and it is negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Which proposals will be eligible for RD's large-scale proposal development services?

Complex proposals are defined by attributes, including but not limited to those that:

  • Require long-term, large-scale projects with ~$10M+ dollar budgets. Planning proposals leading to these projects may also be considered for support.
  • Involve the establishment of a prestigious program or a Center in a signature area for FSU, as defined by university-wide initiatives and strategic priorities
  • Involve a large number of collaborating investigators or external partners at various institutions
  • Involve complex relationships with partner entities, such as multiple sub-awards, contracts, lease or purchase agreements, procurements, or other financially complicated arrangements
  • Require strong evidence of institutional support (e.g., space, staffing, equipment, or faculty hires) at the proposal stage or are associated with a large amount of cost-share

Principal investigators should reach out to Beth Hodges, Director - Research Development, for a consultation during which we will consider the grant size and complexity, alignment of the proposed topic and/or sponsor to the University's strategic goals, the need for central coordination, the support already available in your college or department, and capacity. 

For proposals that do not meet the $10M threshold, services are still available. Please reach out to your appropriate Research Development Coordinator to discuss your effort.