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Office of the Provost

Working With Your DRA

 

WORKING WITH YOUR DRA ON PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS

To be eligible for DRA support, the PI/Research Team must provide a minimum of three full weeks’ notice of the intent to submit (be mindful of holidays and university closures).  This timeframe does not change based on the amount of notice the PI/research team received about funding opportunities or invitations to submit.  The DRA support is a limited and university-wide shared resource and limiting support to eligible proposals minimizes the interruption of proposals already under development. 

To maximize the DRA support when developing proposals:

  • Start early and notify the DRA early in the process.  Do not wait until you need a budget/cayuse record
  • Maintain regular contact with the DRA throughout the proposal development process.  Respond to requests for information.
  • Develop a reasonable plan that considers work to be done, time available, and other priorities.  See Recommended Proposal Timeline. 
  • Finalize team – collaborators, subawards, etc – early.
  • When unexpected delays come up, keep the DRA informed and work with the DRA to update the plan
  • Finalize supplementary documents early.  They contain, by nature, relatively static information.  
  • Work with the DRA to ensure documents are complete and Cayuse SP record is approved at least three days BEFORE the sponsor deadline so that the proposal can receive an institutional review by OG&C.
  • Manage expectations – the amount of notice provided to the DRA determines the level of support received

Amount and level of support is determined by:

  • Amount of notice
  • Complexity of the proposal
  •  Proposals already in development process

If notice by the PI/research team is given to the DRA 3-4 weeks before the sponsor deadline, that notice should include:

  • Final versions of supplementary documents
  • Contact information of any external collaborators, include subawardees.  They should already have been identified and have agreed to participate so the DRA is able to collect final subaward documents efficiently and quickly
  • Budget elements, including effort of all personnel

If the PI is not prepared with the above, consider adjusting the timeline for rolling submissions or submit with the next opportunity.