Proposal routing and review

All sponsored project proposals and/or applications must be reviewed by Sponsored Projects prior to submission to the sponsor.

• The Sponsored Projects pre-award team assists the principal investigator (PI) by reviewing the proposal for compliance with sponsor guidelines and University requirements.
• Sponsored Projects has the legal and fiduciary responsibility to ensure compliance with all University, sponsor, state and federal regulations, laws, and policies.

A proposal, complete with all necessary materials, must arrive at Sponsored Projects a minimum of five (5) full business days prior to the submission deadline. This lead time allows the Sponsored Projects pre-award team to fully review the sponsor’s requirements and the proposal. Further, any revisions to a previously submitted proposal must also be reviewed by Sponsored Projects prior to submission to the sponsor.

Proposal entry and routing process

The University utilizes electronic software system, InfoEd, as a repository for sponsored project proposals. All proposals must be entered into InfoEd and routed for internal approvals through InfoEd. One must first attend InfoEd training in order to become an InfoEd user.

Please inform your assigned Sponsored Projects pre-award research administrator of your intention to submit a proposal to an external sponsor as soon as possible. Pre-Award research administrators are available to answer your questions regarding proposal requirements, budget preparation, University forms, and InfoEd. Sponsored Projects will officially approve proposals only after the internal routing process is completed in InfoEd. Proposals can be submitted to the sponsor only after Sponsored Projects has received the proposal.

Pre-submission proposal review activities performed by the Sponsored Projects pre-award team

The pre-award team’s proposal review activities require five full business days to perform and includes the following.

1. Review for submission issues
2. Review budget
3. Review budget justification
4. Review cost share calculations
5. Review cost share forms and letters
6. Review for UNR/NSHE policy compliance
7. Assist with submission portal
8. Review for RFP compliance
9. Review InfoEd proposal record
10. Review all required forms
11. Review for regulatory compliance
12. Subaward – check for forms

All reviews are based upon a proposal that is complete and ready to submit to the sponsor.

Proposals arriving late to Sponsored Projects

If a proposal arrives to Sponsored Projects on the submission deadline day, pre-award will not perform the full proposal review activities listed above. Rather, the focus will solely be on submitting the proposal in time to meet the sponsor deadline.

It should be noted that submission of a proposal often implies agreement to the sponsor's award terms and conditions. During the pre-award review, unfavorable award terms and conditions are proactively addressed. However, when a proposal is submitted without ample time for pre-award review, there is not only the potential for an incomplete or inaccurate submission but also the risk of unfavorable award terms and conditions. If Sponsored Projects is unable to negotiate the unfavorable award terms and conditions, the University reserves the right to decline the award.

Proposals arriving less than five business days in advance of the submission deadline will receive partial pre-award proposal review activity as indicated below.

Proposals arriving two to four business days in advance of the submission deadline:

1. Review for submission issues
2. Review budget
3. Review budget justification
4. Review cost share calculations
5. Review cost share forms and letters
6. Review for UNR/NSHE policy compliance

Proposals arriving 1 business day in advance of the submission deadline:

1. Review for submission issues
2. Review budget
3. Review budget justification
4. Review cost share calculations

Proposals arriving on the day of the submission deadline:

1. Review for submission issues