Proposal Components

Components of a Proposal

The proposal format depends on the requirements of the sponsor. Most sponsors have policies and procedures for submission of proposals and might require the use of specific application forms; other sponsors are less directive. In any case, PIs should obtain most recent versions of guidelines and should follow the required proposal format. Proposals generally include the following components:

Section	Description
Abstract or Proposal Summary	Outlines the proposed research, including objectives, methodology, and significance of the research.
Proposal Narrative or Research Plan	Provides a full and detailed explanation of the proposed research, typically including a project timetable. It should include general background information regarding how the project relates to previous and current research.
CV/Biographical Sketch	Should be submitted for all key personnel, indicating background, professional interests, research capabilities and publications. For information on biosketches and requirements for NSF and NIH please use the SciENcv Guide.
References	List all references cited in the proposal per sponsor requirements.
Budget and Budget Justification	Includes a reasonable estimate of the financial support required to conduct the project, including justification of budget expenses. Consult the Proposal Budget Development and Fringe Rates pages for up to date templates and information.
Facilities and Resources	Describes equipment or other relevant resources that will be available for use on the project. Examples of such resources include laboratory and office spaces, library resources, animal facilities, and computer services or available equipment.
Equipment	Describes equipment that will be available for use on the project.
Data Management Plan	When this is required by the sponsor, this plan often includes: types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project. Find detailed information on the NIH Data Management Plan requirements here.
Letters of Support	Letters of support from non-university investigation may also be required.
Current & Pending/Other Support	This is a compilation of the current funding and time commitments for the Principal Investigator (PI) and any other key project personnel. (For NSF proposals, please see NSF specific guidance and the SciENcv Guide. For NIH proposals, please see NIH specific guidance.)