Prepare Proposal Components

Internal Approval

Before submitting to a funding agency (i.e., sponsor) all proposals for extramural funding must be submitted through the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) for review and submission. The Sponsored Programs Office requires an internal processing form and a minimum of five business days to review proposal elements before submitting to the sponsor.

The only exception to Sponsored Programs review are pre-proposals that do not require an institutional signature or submission by an institutional official, and Limited Submissions pre-proposals that are reviewed internally. Once a limited submissions application is nominated for submission to the sponsor, it will need SPO review.

Elements of a Proposal: Templates and Samples

The Proposal Development Services team has developed guides and resources for completing many common proposal elements for several sponsors.

Visit our Research Development Toolbox (CAS login required) to access Templates and Samples of common proposal sections including:

• Project Description/Research Strategy/Project Narrative
• Project Summary/Abstract
• Biographical documents (biosketch, current and pending support, etc.)
• Facilities and Resources
  • UCD Research Core Directory
• Data Management Plan
• Human Subjects section writing guides
  • Additional information on policies surrounding Human Subjects research
• Vertebrate Animals section writing guides
  • Additional information on policies surrounding Vertebrate Animals research
• Mentoring plan for postdocs or graduate students
• Plans for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (e.g., DOE PIER Plan, NSF Broader Impacts, NIH PEDP)
• Technology to Market or Intellectual Property Plan
• Evaluation Plan

The Research Development Toolbox also includes guides and suggestions for improving your grant writing, information on specific sponsor priorities and funding areas, and best practices for securing extramural funding.

If you don’t see something you need, contact the Proposal Development Services Team (formerly known as Interdisciplinary Research Support!

Incorporating Partnerships, Subawards, and Consultants in your proposal

Researchers at UC Davis often find that their research and other projects can be enhanced by partnering with other individuals or institutions. The Office of Research can help you find, develop, and formalize such partnerships.

• Resources for finding collaborators and building partnerships
• Resources for including a subaward or consultant in your proposal

Proposal Requirements: Additional Resources

Below you will find information and resources at UC Davis for some common proposal requirements

Cover Page/Face Page and Table of Contents

Many sponsors require a cover page with the signature (either ink or electronic) of an authorized institutional representative, such as an analyst in the Sponsored Programs Office. For most sponsors, the cover page is incorporated into their electronic Research Administration (eRA) submission portal.

If the sponsor does not provide a cover page form, use this template

Data Management and Sharing Plans

UC Davis has several resources for developing a Data Management and Sharing Plan:

• DMP Tool (3^rd party site)
• UC Davis Library Research Data Management Guide
• UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) Data Management information

Compliance Documents

Depending on the specific project and sponsor, the researcher may also need to complete a variety of compliance documents.

• The Proposal Compliance Items page provides a list of compliance items the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) will look for when a proposal is submitted.
• Research Ethics and Compliance Office (RECO) can help you determine whether you need to submit a Financial Conflict of Interest form prior to proposal submission.