Quick Note:
October 17, 2007: One-page PDF supplement
In this ARP competition for the first time, each PI has an opportunity to upload one additional illustrative PDF page to his/her pre-proposal. If you notice a pre-proposal that you previously submitted to the Coordinating Board (status = “Received”) is suddenly back in your hands with a status of “Returned to OSP,” it is because the uploaded PDF page does not meet program guidelines. Please send the pre-proposal back to the PI for revision. The automated e-mail system will notify the investigator that the pre-proposal has been returned to him/her, but will not note a reason. You will need to contact the investigator to explain why.

The purpose of the PDF page is to allow the investigator to present a visual illustration of the concept described in the Project Summary. The PDF page may not be used to add information that should be included in the Project Summary. We ask that your office review the uploaded PDF pages to verify that they meet program guidelines before submitting pre-proposals to us.

ARP guidelines state that the additional PDF page “may be used for a diagram, formula, graph, picture, chart, etc., to illustrate the concept presented in the pre-proposal” and may include a “brief caption (maximum of 30 words).” The intent is to limit each submission to one figure with one caption of 30 words or less. A viewer should be able to grasp the whole page within 15 seconds.

You can imagine that PDF pages of every conceivable configuration have been submitted. In an effort to keep the playing field level for all submitting investigators, we are reviewing each PDF file individually to verify that it meets program guidelines.

See Special Intructions for more information

Sponsor:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Program Name:
Advanced Research Program
ARP Solicitation

Internal Deadline: 10/16/07 5:00 pm CST

THECB Deadline for Pre-Proposals: 10/23/07 5:00 pm CST

LIMITATIONS

Both of the following conditions must be met or proposal(s) will be returned without review:

1. An investigator may be named on a maximum of one pre-proposal. Each appearance of an investigator’s name counts toward the maximum whether the person is listed as the PI, Co-I or collaborating investigator.
   Exception: An investigator’s name may appear on one additional bonus pre-proposal if UTA collaborates with an institution with less than $33 million in research expenditures (list of eligible institutions available on page 13 of the solicitation).
2. Pre-proposals that include investigators with delinquent reports for previous or current ARP/ATP/TDT grants will not be reviewed.

Cost Sharing Requirements:

Individuals of faculty level may not be paid from ARP grant funds.

Special Instructions:

1. All Investigators must log in and update their contact information between the dates of 7/19/07 and 10/23/07. All investigators who do not already have an account must establish and ARPATP account.
2. Project Summary has a 4,000 character maximum. One additional PDF page (diagram, formula, graph, picture, chart, etc.) may be uploaded in to the pre-proposal.
3. No indirect costs or fringe benefits (for public institutions) may be charged to grant funds.
4. Pre-proposals may be submitted for up to $150,000 for the two-year project.
5. Each PI has an opportunity to upload one additional illustrative PDF page to his/her pre-proposal. There are several different ways that the additional PDF page may be used (in addition to the ideal of one chart/formula and one caption) and still fall within the intent. View three acceptable variations

Three Acceptable Variations - one page PDF supplement

1. A series of two, three, or four frames of similar figures/photos/graphs with one less-than-30-word caption on the page. For example, a series of four photos showing a seed as it grows into a plant with several leaves.
2. A flowchart (may contain graphics) that describes one process.
3. A page with one figure/photo/graph and slightly more than 30 words (32, 33) in cases where the caption is truly a caption and not used to provide additional information that should have been included in the Project Summary.

The OSP folks reviewing pre-proposal submissions have developed a good sense of the PDF pages that are acceptable and those that are not, and we are relying on that expertise. However, many of the pages are not easy to judge. Several clues:

1. Check to see how many captions appear on the page. If there is more than one caption, chances are there is more than one figure. Send it back to the PI for revision.
2. Determine if the page would appear as one illustration in a magazine or journal article. If your initial reaction is “this is more than one thing,” send it back to the PI.
3. If the caption exceeds 30 words, send it back.

Pre-proposals that do not meet program guidelines will not be reviewed.

Results:

Pre-proposals will be ranked either “Continue” or “Do Not Continue” on December 11, 2007. Invitations to submit full proposals will be posted on-line on that date.

Begin a pre-proposal

Consult your Grant & Contract Specialist if you have any questions or concerns