Aunifiedindustry-Basedagricultureinitiativefundedbythewashingtonlegislatureprovidesan

EmergingResearchIssuesforWashingtonAgriculture2017InternalCompetitiveGrantProgram

RequestforProposals

AUnifiedIndustry-BasedAgricultureInitiativefundedbytheWashingtonLegislatureprovidesan internalcompetitivegrantsprogramtoaddressemergingissuesfacingWashington’sagriculturalindustries.Thegrantsprogramisstructuredtoprovidegreaterresponsivenesstoemergingresearchandoutreachneedsofstateagriculturalindustries.Asonemeasureofitssuccess,projectsrelatedtothefundedproposalsweresuccessfulinattracting over$22millionofexternalsupportforrelatedprojects,over$11millionofwhichhasbeenor willbespentinWashington. Over time the intent still remains to address emerging issues in Washington Agriculture, however, it has become increasingly important to attract federal support for these issues that complements support from commissions.

Theprogramhas evolved intoafocusedeffortbytheCAHNRSOfficeofResearchtoincreasecompetitively fundedresearchfromfederalagenciesandindustrythatwilladdressemergingissuesfacing Washington’sagricultureandenvironment.Itisintendedtoprovideseedmoneytogeneratepreliminarydatathatwillultimatelybeusedtoleveragenewsupportfromcompetitivefundingprogramsand/orfromcorporationsthatwillbringthebestsciencetobearonWashington’sproblems.Thus,proposalsthatbringtogetheranovelresearchteamorworktowardestablishingaproofofconceptareencouraged.Itisalsointendedtoprovidefunding fortakingnewdirectionstofillfundamentalknowledgegapsandotherwiseenhanceourcapacitytoaddresssignificantissuesfacingWashingtonAgriculture.TheERIprogramisnotdesignedforsupplementingcurrentlyfundedprojectsorasasubstituteforotherfunding.Ifaproposalmightappeartohavesomeoverlapwithcurrentlyfundedgrants,theproposalmustincludeanexplanationofthenoveltyoftheprojectandtheneed forfundsinthecontextofcurrentsupportsothatreviewerscanevaluatetheoverlap.

We will give priority to proposals that clearly articulate an alignment with the CAHNRS Office of Research strategic research goals. These are: (1) catalyze transformative discoveries to address agricultural, human, and natural resource challenges in alignment with WSU CAHNRS research aspirations [be strategic], (2) encourage collaborations [be collaborative], and (3) advance WSU CAHNRS reach both nationally and internationally in emerging areas of achievement [be visible].

TIMELINEFORTHE2016CALENDARYEARGRANTPROGRAM:

Oct 26,2016RFPissued

Nov 8, 2016 12-1PM,409 Hulbert Bag Lunch informational meeting for potential

Applicants, RSVP to required.

Dec 2,2016ProposalsduetoCAHNRSOfficeofResearch

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Feb 10,2017Anticipatedannouncementofawards

WHATISANEMERGINGISSUE?

In 2007, upon funding by the Washington Legislature, theCAHNRSstakeholder advisory board providedthefollowingguidancewhenitwasaskedtoidentify emergingissuesforWashington’sagriculturalindustries:

• Anemergingissueisatopicwhereresearch-basedinformationisneededandwhereWSU researchactivityiscurrentlyunder-invested.
• Priorityshouldbegiventoissuesthatarenotcommodityspecific,andhence,commodity commissionorindustryfundsmaynotbetargetedtoaddresstheissue.
• TheresearchshouldpositionWSUtotakealeadingregionalandnationalpositionasthetopicisrecognizedasbeingofregionalornationalimportance.

Researchissuesarenotlimitedtotraditionalproductionagriculture,butmayaddresssocialand economicissues related to agriculture. Collaborativeprojectsthatbringtogetherateamoffacultywithcomplementary skillsetsthatwillcomprehensivelyaddressanareaareencouraged. Projects will be judged based on how well they meet the two criteria below.

• AdescriptionoftheemergingissueinWashingtonandtheknowledgegapsthatwillbefilledbythesubsequentcompetitivelyfundedresearch.
• Adescriptionofhowthisseedmoneywillbeusedtogeneratedatathatwillenhancethecompetitivenessofeffortstoobtainadditionalexternalsupport.Thusastrategyforhowthisdataiscriticaltoenhancethecompetivenessofsubsequentresearchproposalsisessential.

Whoiseligibletoapply?TheleadPImustbeafacultymemberinaCAHNRSdepartmentor holdanARCfacultyappointmentifinanothercollege.ResearchprofessortrackfacultymembersareeligibletobeleadPIsbutassociatesinresearch,post-doctoralassociates,adjunctfaculty,and courtesyfacultymembersarenot.

Whatwillbethedurationofthegrants?Themaximumdurationis2years,startingFebruary10,2017.Proposalscanbewrittenfor1year. Initially,fundingwillbeprovidedonlyforthefirstyearbuttofacilitatesupportinggraduatestudents,thefirstyearbudgetcanrunthroughJune30,2018.Forasecondyearoffunding,aproposal,whichcanbeidenticaltotheinitialproposal,mustbesubmittedatthefollowingyear deadlineandmaybeapproved,if:

• Satisfactoryprogresstowardtheoriginallyproposedobjectivesisdocumented;
• Applicationsforsignificantalternativesourcesofcompetitivenon-universityfundshavebeensubmittedthroughtheCAHNRSOfficeofResearch/ARC;and
• Adequatefundsareavailable.Abudgetmustbesubmittedforthesecondyearofsupport.

Whatfundingamountswillbepermitted?Grantsmaybefundedupto$80,000overthepossibletwo-yearsofaproject,withfundingforthefirstyearlimitedto$50,000.Efficiencyinusingresourceswillbeanimportantelementofthereview.Thatis,proposalswillbeevaluatedbaseduponprojectedimpactperdollaroffunds invested;therefore,theminimumamountessentialtoaccomplishtheobjectivesoftheprojectshouldberequested.Partialfundingmayoccur,dependingonthereviewandfundsavailable.

NoteonAccountability.PIswhohavehadpreviousERIfundingmustincludeabriefsummary oftheiraccomplishmentsasaresultofthepreviouslyfundedproject.

Whatcriteriawillbeusedtoevaluateproposals?

Abilityoftheprojecttodefineandaddressanemergingissue.(25points)

Theproposalshouldclearlydescribewhythesubjectoftheproposalshouldbeconsidered tobeanEmergingIssue.Therationaleandsignificanceoftheproblemmustbeclearly articulated,includinghowstakeholdersmightultimatelybenefitfromcompletionofthecompetitivelyfundedresearch,theinformationgapstobefilled(theresearchablequestions)andhowtheresearchwillcontributetoanoverallsolution.TheintendedoutputofresearchconductedundertheERIistoenhancethecompetitivenessofsubsequentproposals.

Abilityofprojecttocatalyzefutureextramuralsupport.(25points)

Aprimaryobjectiveofthisgrantprogramistoencouragefacultytodeveloppreliminary datathatwillenhancethecompetitivenessoffuturecompetitivegrantproposals.This anticipatedoutcome(s)mustbeclearlydelineated.Potentialfundingsourcesandtheprojectleaders’strategyfordevelopingacompetitiveproposalarerequiredelementsof theproposal.

Anticipatedcompetitiveextramuralgrantapplicationsthatwillbefacilitatedbytheuseofthesefundsmustbeexplicitlydescribedinthegrantproposal(agency,program, applicationdeadline).Requestsforsecond-yearfundingmustbeaccompaniedbydocumentationthatcompetitiveextramuralgrantapplication(s)havebeensubmitted.

Appropriateresearchmethodologiesandapproaches(20points)

Theproposalswillbereviewedtoevaluatewhethertheapproachandmethodology,as articulated,aresufficienttoaccomplishthestatedobjectives.Thisshouldalsoincludeextensionactivitiesasappropriate.

Interdisciplinary,team-basedapproachtoaddresstheissue(s)(10points)

Notallemergingissuesareinterdisciplinaryinnature;butforthemanythatare,itisimportanttodescribethemulti-disciplinaryandinterdisciplinarycomponentsoftheproject.Theformationofteamstoaddresstheemergingissuesisstronglyrecommended.

Facultycapacitytosuccessfullycompletetheproject(10points)

Theresearcherslistedfortheprojectshouldbeactivelyinvolvedintheprojectandhaveadocumentedhistoryofresearchproductivitythatisappropriatefortheresearchbeing proposed.Thespecificroleofeachfacultymemberlistedontheproposalmustbeexplicitlyandclearlydescribedandthecomponentoftheprojectthatdependsoneach facultymember’seffortmustbestated.Isthebudgetappropriate?

Contributionstograduateeducation(10points)

InsupportofoneofthemostbroadlyidentifiedbenchmarksatWSUandinCAHNRS, facultyareencouragedtosupportPh.D.graduatestudentsthroughthisprogram, recognizingthatfundingbeyondoneyear(uptoamaximumoftwo)isnotguaranteedand thefacultymemberand/ordepartmentmustbewillingtocontinuethesupportofthestudentbeyondthedurationofERIsupport.

Separationfromcurrentlyfundedprojects.

Iftheprojectappearstobearoutinecontinuation,componentorsupplementationof significantcurrentlyfundedresearch,itisnoteligibleforERIfunding.

Notethefollowingdefinitionsoftargeteddeliverables:

• Outputscanbeproductssuchasjournalpublications,web-basedinformation,other publications,presentations,workshops,seminars,orothertangibleitems,activities,or events
• Outcomesarenewormodifiedbehaviors,practices,orpoliciesinWashingtonthatresultlargelyfromtheeffortsandoutputsofaprojectorprogram.
• Impactsaretheexpectedorpotentialsocial,economicand/orenvironmentalbenefitsto specificaudiencesandthebroadersocietythatcouldbeattributedtoaproject.

ProposalGuidelines

1.Thetextoftheproposalshouldnotexceedsix(6)pages,mustaddresseachoftheevaluationcriteria,andmustinclude:

a.Title,leadPIname,department,andcontactinformation;cooperatingPI(s)name(s), department(s)andcontactinformation

b.Requestedduration

c.Amountrequestedforthefirstyearandestimateofthefundingtoberequestedinthesecondyear,ifapplicable

d.Projectabstract,includingbriefdescriptionofEmergingIssue(s)beingaddressedand theresearchstrategythatisproposed.(halfpage)

e.ProblemStatementincludingrationaleandsignificanceoftheproblemfromtheperspectiveofWashingtonstakeholders.Itshouldbemadeclearhowtheresearch conductedinthisprojectwillcloseexistinggapsinourabilitytoconductresearch thataddressesanEmergingIssueforWashington’sstakeholders

f.Objectives

g.ResearchMethodology.Intendedoutputsmustbeclearlystated

h.Describehowtheseresultswillbecriticalinpositioningthegrouptosuccessfully obtainextramuralfunding.Asignificantpartoftheevaluationwillbetocritically evaluatetheprojectleader’sstrategyforusingthesefundsasafoundationfor obtainingadditionalcompetitivefunds.

i.DescriptionoftheTeamandEachPerson’sResponsibility

j.AnticipatedCompetitiveExtramuralGrantApplication(s)thatwillemergefromthis project(agency,program,applicationdeadline)

k.GraduateStudentParticipationintheproject,includingthenameofthegraduatedegreeprograminwhichthestudent(s)willenroll.Thesestudentsmaybesupported bytheprojectorhaveotherrelationshipstoit.

Forasecondyearoffunding,aproposal,whichcanbeidenticaltotheinitialproposal,mustbesubmittedatthefollowingyeardeadlineandmaybeapproved,if:

1.Satisfactoryprogresstowardtheoriginallyproposedobjectivesisdocumentedinaprogressreportoffourpagesorless;

2.Applicationsforsignificantalternativesourcesofcompetitivenon-universityfundshavebeensubmittedthroughtheCAHNRSOfficeofResearch/ARC;

3.Itcontainsabudgetforthesecondyearofsupportthatliststheamountreceivedinthefirstyear,firstyearfundsremaining,theamountrequestedforthesecondyearandaplan forhowthesecondyearmoneywouldbespentand;

4.Adequatefundsareavailable.

2.Appendedmaterials(thesearenotpartofthesix-pagelimit)

a.ProgressReport(≤4pages)andsummaryofresultsfrompreviousERIproject(s)(1 page),ifapplicable.

b.Referencecitationsfromthebodyoftheproposal

c.One-ortwo-pageCVofeachfacultymemberparticipatingintheprojectasPIorco- PI.(Note:OnlytwopagesofeachCVwillbesenttothereviewers.)

d.Onepagedetailedbudgetincludingadescriptionofanymatchingorleverageddollars. DonotincludeanyF&A.Allsalariesandwagesmustbeincludedbutnotbenefits.Do notincludegraduatestudenttuition.GraduateStudentsshouldbepaidattheGraduateResearchAssistantshiplevels.Salaryandbenefitsforpermanentfacultyandstaffcannotbepaidfromtherequestedfunds.ResourceuseefficiencyshouldbeclearintheResearchMethodologyandApproach,andintheExtensionplan.

e.CompletedAssuranceForm.

f.CompletedCurrentandPendingSupportForm.

g.Discussionofoverlapoftheproposalwithcurrentlyfundedresearch.

Allproposalsmustfollowtheformatshownbelow:Max.PageLength: Proposal:Six(6)pagesorless

AppendedMaterials:nolimitbutdon’tforgetthattheinterestof reviewersmaybelimited

Font:TimesNewRoman,12pt.orlarger

Margins:1”marginstop,bottom,bothsides

Software:MicrosoftWord(youmayalsosubmitaPDFifyouanticipate

formattingproblems.) BudgetinExcel

Exclusions:DoNOTincludeanytypeofheader/footer

SubmittheproposalelectronicallytotheCAHNRSOfficeofResearch/ARCby5PM, December 2, 2016.Allproposalsmustbeemailedtoand.ThestaffoftheOfficeofResearch/ARCwillacknowledgereceiptofareadableproposalwithinoneworkingdayaftersubmission.

ReviewProcess:

Allproposalswillbereviewedbya panel that consists of the Associate Dean for Research & Director of the ARC, the Assistant Director of the ARC, and a panel of faculty from CAHNRS serving as members of the CAHNRS Associate Dean for Research’s Faculty Advisory Council, and ad hoc reviewers as needed.

NOTES

Questions:IfyouhavequestionsaboutthisRFP,pleasecontacttheCAHNRSOfficeof Research/ARCbyemailator.IfweneedtopostaFAQ,itwillbeaccessiblethroughtheARCwebsite[

Acknowledgment:

Allpublications,posters,websites,fielddaypresentations,etc.resultingfromthisinternalcompetitivegrantprogrammustincludethefollowinginformation:

“Thisactivitywasfunded,inpart,withanEmergingResearchIssuesInternalCompetitiveGrantfromtheWashingtonStateUniversity,CollegeofAgricultural,Human,andNaturalResourceSciences,AgriculturalResearchCenterprojectWNP00xxx.”

FinalReport:

Afinalreportisrequiredforeachprojectattheendoftheapprovedfundingperiod.Appropriatemetrics(outputs)shouldbeincludedinthefinalreportthatwillbeindicativeofscience-based researchthatwillhelpachievelonger-termobjectivesassociatedwiththeemergingissues.Alistofanticipatedpublications,fielddays,websiteURLs,etc.shouldbeincludedintheFinalReport.Withinsixmonthsofthecompletionoftheproposal,projectleadermustprovideacopyofaproposalsubmittedtoacompetitivefundingsourceortoacorporatesponsor.Additionaldetails concerningreportingwillbeprovidedtothosereceivingawards.

AgriculturalResearchCenterprogramsandemploymentareavailabletoallwithoutdiscrimination.EvidenceofnoncompliancemaybereportedtotheWSUCenterforHuman nd509-335-8288.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY: Assurance Statement