Track 1: Innovation Platforms for the Future

Detailed Proposal Instructions

In general, be succinct and explicit. Proposals that are not complete or have not followed the provided instructions will not be reviewed.

Format and Preparation

12-point font size and 1” margins only. Use plain language understandable to someone outside of your field.

Proposal Elements

Follow the links below to jump to the instructions for that element.

1. Non-Technical Abstract
2. Proposal Narrative (no more than five single-spaced pages)
   • Background
   • Objectives and Significance
   • Methodology and Assessment
   • Facilities and resources
   • Timeline
   • Future Funding Strategy
3. References Cited (two pages max)
4. Current, Pending, and Past Support (two pages max)
5. CV or Biographical Sketch (two pages max)
6. Letters of Support or Collaboration
7. Budget and Justification

Non-Technical Abstract

Maximum length: 250 words

Using plain language understandable to someone outside of your field, summarize the proposed project describing project goals, significance, and how you will achieve your objectives and expected impacts of the research.

The abstract will be submitted in a document along with your Proposal Narrative and References Cited.

Proposal Narrative

Maximum length: 5 single-spaced pages, inclusive of tables, charts, and other graphics

Title and prepare each section as follows:

1. Background: Explain the problem or project to be pursued and the expected outcome/s and impacts. What special capabilities, training, or ability do the PI and collaborators bring to the execution of the proposed project? Discuss current programs relevant to the proposal topic at WSU and the limitations that make the proposed project necessary.
2. Objectives and Significance: This section should be an explicit statement of the objectives to be achieved and the significance of the proposed project within the contexts of the research enterprise of WSU and the state of Washington. Cite and evaluate related work where appropriate.
3. Design and Assessment: Discuss how your design and procedures are appropriate and adequate to make significant progress toward attaining objectives. Explain your assessment plan to determine if your objectives have been met.
4. Facilities and Resources: Specify the facilities to be used. List existing major equipment that will be used, noting each location and pertinent capabilities. Provide any information describing other resources available for the project including available support services and any key personnel.
5. Timeline and Milestones: Identify the “schedule of events” for the project and specify the amount of time that the PI and others will spend on each task. Establish milestones for your project; goals against which project progress can be measured. In addition to discrete goals, describe appropriate metrics for assessing the project progress (e.g., proposals submitted, partnerships formed) and growth of the Innovation Platform (e.g, new collaborators, seed funding leveraged).
6. Future Funding Strategy: Describe the strategy you will use to solicit future external funding (federal and/or non-federal) for this project or related projects. Indicate what sources of funding you will seek, and in what areas. Explain how your proposed activities will serve to create the foundations for a research platform largely sustained by external funding over the long term.
7. Project Team: Projects funded under this program must include participation from at least two colleges or campuses. Describe the team for the proposed project, the roles of the members and how they will collaborate, and how the proposed project makes effective use of capabilities and resources that exist in different colleges or campuses.

References Cited

Maximum length: 2 single-spaced pages

Your References Cited section will be submitted in a PDF document that also includes your Abstract and Proposal Narrative.

Current, Pending, and Past Support

Maximum length: 2 single-spaced pages

For the project PI and co-investigators list current, pending, and past support relevant to the proposed project.

• Include WSU internal funding received in the last five fiscal years (FY22 – FY25) other than start-up funds, i.e., include seed grants and other internal grant programs and core funds for relevant labs, centers, or institutes.
• Include extramural funding received in the last five years (FY21 – FY25).
• List extramural proposals pending (date submitted, agency, title, amount, and time period).

CVs or Biographical Sketches

Maximum length: 2 single-spaced pages each

Include a CV or biographical sketch for the PI and each co-investigator. The CVs/biographical sketches should focus on experience and qualifications relevant to successful completion of the proposed project.

Letter(s) of Support or Collaboration

Include signed letters of collaboration from confirmed non-WSU collaborators. You may also include up to two letters of support for the proposed project from relevant entities.

Budget and Budget Justification

Contact your unit’s financial/budget manager to facilitate budget preparation. Use the standard FY25 Budget Workbook. The budget workbook must be approved by the certified grant budget administrator in your area/unit. A full list of grant administrators is available on MyResearch, click on department contacts. There is no F&A required for this competition.

This program will support expenditures that directly contribute to the successful completion of this phase of proposed project. All budget items must be reasonable, allowable, and necessary for project completion.

Budget Categories

• Salaries: Faculty buyout with approved release time, partial graduate student support and postdoctoral appointments are allowable. Clearly state all base salaries, time committed to the project and amount of salary applied to the project.
  
  Up to two months of summer salary for the project PI are allowable with a strong justification. Additionally, a strong justification will be required for any graduate assistantship that will be fully supported by this funding. Such fully funded assistantships must be integral to the project’s success and must work only on this project while being paid from these funds.
• Wages: Wages are permitted. Clearly state wages broken down by positions, include hourly payment rate.
• Goods and Services: Include all supplies and services required to complete the project, itemize by major items. Contact the responsible personnel for cost estimates of services, if included. Avoid requests for funding non-specified, “miscellaneous” goods and services.
• Travel: All travel requests should have a clear and relevant justification for the success of the project. Follow WSU travel policies when calculating travel costs. Check with a university approved travel agent or website for the most cost-effective travel to the destination.
• Equipment: Major equipment items ($5,000 or more) are allowed with a strong justification and certification from the associate dean or deans for research (or equivalent) of participating colleges that the equipment would not be duplicative of existing equipment.
• Benefits. Work with your financial/budget manager to account for benefits in your proposed budget.
• Other: Provide a detailed description of other budget categories that will be requested.

This program does not support the following:

• Civil service staff salaries
• Journal subscriptions
• Supplemental awards to existing projects
• Student led projects or senior thesis projects
• Commercial licenses
• Membership dues
• Facility renovations
• Purchase of vehicles or other modes of transportation 

Budget Justification

Maximum length: 2 single-spaced pages

The appropriateness of the budget is a significant factor in the selection process. All requested budget items must be accompanied by justification of how they will contribute to the successful completion of the project. Strong justifications are expected for faculty summer salary and graduate student assistantships included in the request.

Revised Budget

If a proposal is awarded at less than the amount originally requested, a revised budget and scope of work is required to be submitted to the program coordinator(s). Funds will not be released until these documents have been received.