Grants

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What services does the Pre-Award Services Center provide? We assist CSU faculty with their grant proposals. In collaboration with the Principal Investigator, we help with each step of the submission process, including PASS, electronic SP-1, review of guidelines, and budget review. Also, we act as a liaison to the office of Sponsored Programs.
  • Are faculty members required to work with the Pre-Award Services Center when submitting a proposal? No. The pre-award center is an optional service provided to faculty in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Experiment Station, and Extension. If they prefer, faculty may work directly with the Office of Sponsored Programs to submit proposals.
  • How does faculty find external sources of funding? There are several options for finding external sources of funding, including SPIN searches, SMARTS notification, and searches of the Foundation Directory. Click here for detailed information on finding external support.
  • What are "SPIN" and "SMARTS"? SPIN is an acronym for "Sponsored Programs Information Network," a computer database of current and available funding sources. SMARTS is the "SPIN Matching and Researcher Transmittal System," an electronic notification system that alerts faculty to funding opportunities that match specific program criteria. This database is free to CSU faculty. Contact Staci Folot, 970.491.1560 or Staci.Folot@ColoState.EDU, in Sponsored Programs if you would like to receive SMARTS email notifications of funding opportunities in your area of interest.
  • What are the steps in completing a proposal? Click here for details on the Proposal Submission Process.
  • What is an "RFP" or "RFA"? RFP and RFA are acronyms for "request for proposal" and "request for application." These terms refer to requests from funding sources for submissions of project proposals. Each funding source has specific and unique RFP/RFA requirements, which are usually found on the funder's web site and need to be followed exactly. The word "guidelines" is often used interchangeably with RFP/RFA.
  • What is PASS? The Proposal Approval Support System (PASS) is an internal CSU system that notifies Sponsored Programs that you are planning to submit a grant. Click here to access PASS.
  • What is an SP-1 Form? Proposals are submitted on behalf of CSU and must be authorized by appropriate University administrators prior to submission. This is accomplished by obtaining signatures on the Sponsored Programs Project Approval Form, or SP-1 Form. Signatures are required by the Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigators, Department Head/Director, Dean, and Regulatory Committee (when applicable). The College encourages use of electronic SP-1s (also called eSP-1s), which makes the signature process extremely easy.
  • What is PBS? The Proposal Budget Spreadsheet (PBS) is an electronic spreadsheet program used to assist faculty and staff in the accurate creation of proposal budgets. It is an excellent and valuable resource that ensures budgets are correct. Click here for PBS.
  • What are indirect costs? Indirect costs, also known as "F&A" (Facilities and Administrative Costs), are the costs of doing research that cannot be directly related to a specific project but are still incurred by the University as an expense of engaging in research. Examples include facilities and equipment, library expenses, research administration, and accounting support. Click here to link to the chart that outlines CSU's negotiated indirect rates.
  • What is cost share? Cost share refers to the sharing of project costs by sources other than the external funder. Examples of cost sharing include salary and fringe benefits and time of researchers. It is suggested that cost share not be included in proposals unless required by the funder.
  • Where can I get frequently requested information such as CSU's Duns number and tax number? Frequently requested information on CSU (including the DUNS number) is available by clicking here.
  • What is the role of the Office of Sponsored Programs? The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is the coordinating office for externally funded sponsored activities at the University. OSP serves Colorado State University faculty with identifying funding opportunities and with the preparation and submission of proposals, as well as in the administration of the University's funded projects with contractual arrangements. Click here to link to the OSP Website.
  • Who are the contacts in the Office of Sponsored Programs? The OSP staff is organized into teams supporting each college and unit. The members of Team 5, who supports the College of Applied Human Sciences, are Candyce Jeffery, Chris Carsten, Cliff Choury, and Julie Harvey. Email address: sponsoredprogramsteam5@research.colostate.edu

Updated Monday, August 29, 2011