Large-scale Proposal Consultation and Coordination : Research and Engagement : UMass Amherst

The Office of Research Development offers large-scale proposal consultation and coordination. Services include:

Competitive intelligence and proposal strategy
Partner/stakeholder engagement
Technical writing, editing
Layouts and graphics
Government relations liaison, including assistance with cost-sharing requests from state agencies
Project management and Proposal Response Team coordination across Research and Engagement units: UMass Innovation Institute, Technology Transfer Office, the Office of Pre-Award Services, and the Office of Post-Award Management. See more below.

Proposal Response Teams (PRT)

The Office of Research and Engagement offers a suite of services spanning multiple offices to help provide comprehensive support for complex, large scale, and other proposals that are a high priority to the campus and academic units. There is also oversight management of these services to streamline processes and reduce the administrative burden on lead PIs. Services can be provided and coordinated with departmental and college support units as appropriate.

Process for Requesting and Receiving Service

PRT Services

Project Management: We work to coordination R&E services and department/college support, manage the initial assessment of the opportunity and planned submission, and provide ongoing proposal project management and facilitation. We serve as a resource for both the faculty and their support team, assisting with troubleshooting, decision-making as needed, utilizing standardized project management and proposal development methods and tools.

Research Development: Assessment, strategy, networking, competitive intelligence, narrative grantsmanship review, grant writing, government and stakeholder relations, and coordination of university commitments and cost share.

Proposal Development—Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS):

OPAS Proposal Reviewer: Will participate from the beginning of the process and provide ongoing assessments to the PI and proposal development team. This is the same person that will review the proposal once it reaches OPAS for compliance reviews. Consults and advises on the application of university, sponsor and solicitation policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Proposal Development Administrator: (Optional and/or collaborative with department/college support when available.) Assists with overall timeline management, budget, subcontract coordination, solicitation compliance (font, pages, biosketches, etc.), proposal compilation, and routing.
OPAS Director: Verifies and confirms strategies to reduce last minute revisions prior to submission. Initial point of contact in determining OPAS team assignments.

Award Management—Office of Post-Award Management (OPAM): Evaluates any terms and conditions that may conflict with university policies, as well as state and federal laws.

Compliance: Evaluates and confirms strategies that address topics, including: international, human subject and clinical trial research, ethical use of animals, export control, etc.