Psychology 562 Advanced Human Factors 1 Week 2-2: Everything* you Need to Know about Writing Research Grants and Contracts, but Were Afraid to Ask *lecture

Psychology 562

Advanced Human Factors

1

Week 2-2: Everything* you Need to Know about Writing Research Grants and Contracts, but Were

Afraid to Ask

*lecture may fail to cover some things you need to know. This title does not indemnify the presenter

or the University of Idaho for any claims.

Psyc 562 – Advanced Human FactorsPsyc 562 – Advanced Human Factors

Why do I Need to Know how to Write Grants?

• There are many companies within HF that survive on grants and contracts.

• At some time in your career you will be asked to pursue 3rd party funding.

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Grants vs. Contracts

• It is common for people to speak of these as if they were the same thing.

• Both can finance research, but they are fundamentally different.

Grant Sponsor

Researcher Researcher

Contract Sponsor

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Contracts

• Represent a bi-directional exchange between a sponsor and a researcher.

• Can be provided by any individual or agency.

• Acquisition from the Fed often begins with a solicitation in the form of a BAA (Broad Agency Announcement) or listing in the CBD Commerce Business Daily.

4


Contracts (cont)

• Contracts often require highly structured relationships.

• Requirements of the contract are outlined in a Statement of Work (SOW).

• Unlike grants, the contract sponsor might be intimately involved in your research methods.

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Contract (cont)

• Before a contract award, the sponsor and researcher must agree to specific deliverables.

• Contract durations can vary. In behavioral science, contracts generally last 1 year. Five at the most.

• There are probably more agencies that will award contracts than grants.

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Grants

• A grant is likened to a parent who pays for a child’s education. • The outcome is not strictly defined.• There is no expectation that the money

will be returned.

• Unlike contracts, grants can be submitted without a solicitation, called unsolicited proposals.

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Grants (cont)

• Researcher can initiate contact with sponsor without a Request for Proposals (RFP)

• Grants, like contracts, can vary in length • Most funded basic research is done so

through grants

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Proposal Assignment

• To fulfill the writing assignment, you must:• Develop a research idea• Identify potential funding sources• Complete all aspects of the proposal and

application process

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Finding Support

• Some supporting agencies include: • NSF National Science Foundation• NIH National Institutes of Health• NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission• NASA National Aeronautic and Space

Admin.• ONR Office of Naval Research• DoD Department of Defense

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Sources (cont)

• NAWCTSD Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division.

• NIOSH National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health

• OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• AFOSR Air Force Office of Scientific Research

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Sources (cont)

• USAMRMC US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command

• ARI Army Research Institute• ARO Army Research Office• DoT Department of Transportation• FAA Federal Aviation Administration• NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration.

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Sources (cont)

• DOE Department of Energy• FDA Food and Drug Administration• CDC Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention.• Foundations• Private Endowments• Private Industry

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Types of Funds

• Sponsors will clearly state how funds can be used. There are funds specifically for:• Equipment• Research and development• Training systems development• Technology transfer• Multi-national research• Product development and marketing• etc.

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Proposal Basics

• The requirements of sponsors will vary. There are, however, commonalties among all funding sources.• Your idea as an activity

• Sponsors fund projects not ideas. Your idea must be formalized to a point that the sponsor can see a clear progression of thought and activities leading to your objective.

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Proposal Basics (cont)

• Concise background. • Never reinvent the wheel by failing to

review what has currently be accomplished.

• Statement of need or problem statement• What are the gaps in the knowledge?• Who will benefit from the added

knowledge?• What are the significant problems you will

address?

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• Goals and objectives• What do you hope to accomplish with the

funding?

• Methods• How will you achieve your objectives? • Methods must be detailed enough to allow

the sponsor to evaluate their appropriateness.

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• Budget• What will it cost? • How many people are needed?• How much time will it take?• What types of equipment are needed?

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• Forms and Directions• Obtain all required forms and follow

directions precisely!

• Deadlines and review cycles• When are they and how long do reviews

take?

• Previous funding awards• What have you accomplished in the past?

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• Human and animal subjects• Show that the use of subjects has been

reviewed by an IRB (CFR 45, 46).

• Key personnel biographical sketches• Who will be performing the work. Who is

the Principal Investigator (PI)?

• Facilities• Where will the work be performed? What

capabilities are located there?

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Budgets

• Budgets are divided into two categories: direct and indirect costs.

• Direct costs include:• salaries• fringe benefits• travel and conference fees• equipment and supplies• consultants

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SFY 08’ UI Fringe Benefit Rates

Source

Rate Salary 60% <$20,000 52% $20,000-25,000 47% $25,000-30,000 44% $30,000-35,000 41% $35,000-40,000 39% $40,000-45,000 37% $45,000-50,000 36% $50,000-55,000 35% $55,000-60,000 34% >$60,000 21.16% Faculty summer rate

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Budgets (cont)

• Indirect (aka Facility and Administrative)• clerical or secretarial assistance• office space• heat and lighting• administration costs• and expenses not directly attributable to

the performance of the work.

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Budgets (cont)

• Indirect rates are negotiated. For UI, the indirect rate varies by task. See URO home page.

• Never exceed the allowed budget and don’t under price research hoping to improve your chances.

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Facility and Administrative Rates

Federally-Negotiated Rates, Modified Total Direct Costs

Organized ResearchFY2008-2010

On Campus 43.4%

Off Campus 25.0%

Instruction

On Campus 55.7%

Off Campus 26.0%

Service

On Campus 30.1

Off Campus 21.0

Modified total direct cost, consisting of all salaries and wages, fringe benefits, materials, supplies, travel and subgrants and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subgrant or subcontract (regardless of the period covered by the subgrant or subcontract). Modified total directed cost shall exclude equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, tuition remission, rental costs of off-site facilities, scholarships, and fellowships as well as the portion of each subgrant and subcontract in excess of $25,000.

If two-thirds or more of a project is performed off-campus, the off-campus rate will apply to the entire project.

Equipment is defined as tangible nonexpendable personal property having a useful life or more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. See http://www.uro.uidaho.edu/documents/FY08%20F&A%20Rates%20-

%20DHHS.pdf&pid=101331&doc=1 25


Where to find funding...

• Internet tour• Community of Science braunc76,

rtbuimgde• Grants.gov• FedBizOpps

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Assignment

• Identify a RFP or funding opportunity within human factors.

• Obtain the requisite forms and documents needed to respond to the sponsor.

• Respond to the RFP or funding source with a complete proposal.

• Due date is listed on Blackboard

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Documents

Psychology 562 Advanced Human Factors 1 Week 2-2: Everything* you Need to Know about Writing Research Grants and Contracts, but Were Afraid to Ask *lecture