Funding Opportunities - Limited Submissions

Funding agencies (sponsors) may place limits on the number of letters of intent or proposals that any one university may submit in response to a funding opportunity announcement (commonly referred to as Request for Proposals – RFP). The following policy is designed to support an equitable review process while preventing any potential disqualification of submissions by Appalachian State University due to more than one application being submitted.

General Information*

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) will:

  • Distribute information about funding opportunities with limited submission restrictions directly to faculty via e-mail as well as by posting a list of certain programs. Since it is not possible to maintain an exhaustive list of all programs, it remains the faculty member’s responsibility to notify the ORSP staff if he is considering applying to a program that has a limited submission restriction.
  • Publicize formatting and content requirements for statements of interest and concept papers. To ensure fairness throughout the review process, materials that do not conform to these requirements may not receive review.
  • Create a calendar that establishes an internal deadline by which faculty members must submit statements of interest or concept papers as well as the sponsor’s deadline.
  • Coordinate an internal competition when the number of faculty and staff who are interested in submitting proposals exceeds the number of submissions allowed by the sponsor. Internal competition coordination includes establishing an ad hoc panel to review statements of interest or concept papers. Multiple applications from one college are allowable; however, college deans will be asked to rank multiple applicants from their colleges. Department chairs and college deans will be requested to identify qualified evaluators from their departments and colleges to serve on the ad hoc review panel. Ad hoc review panel members’ identities will remain confidential.
  • Assist the faculty member whose concept paper was selected by the ad hoc panel to prepare and submit the proposal following standard ORSP practices. Applicants who are selected by the internal review committee will have to respond within five working days with a firm commitment to develop the proposal or the slot will be offered to the next applicant.
  • Work with the faculty members whose concept papers were not selected to find alternate sources of external funding.

Other Considerations

A faculty member interested in applying for limited submission programs that are not listed on the ORSP web site or that have not been sent via e-mail to faculty must notify the ORSP immediately in order to ensure that he is not excluded from consideration due to other statements of interest or concept papers being received by ORSP for that particular competition. The ORSP will contact relevant department chairs and deans to determine whether additional faculty may be submitting statements of interest or concept papers.

Since each request for proposal (RFP) is unique, deadlines for each internal competition will vary. In all cases, internal deadlines will be scheduled in such a manner to provide the selected applicant the maximum amount of time available to prepare a competitive proposal.

*Portions excerpted from UNC-Wilmington’s Limited Submission Policy used with permission.

Common Programs with Limited Submissions

Because it is not possible to maintain an exhaustive list of all programs, it remains the faculty member’s responsibility to notify the ORSP staff if he is considering applying to a program that has a limited submission restriction.   However, we have compiled a list of common programs with limited submissions requirements.  Application limits are shown for reference purposes only. Always check the most current version of the program guidelines to verify individual or institutional limits.

If you require further assistance, please contact us!