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Request for Proposals on Water Research, Education, and Outreach

Water Sustainability Program, University of Arizona , November 2007

Click here to download the PDF of the RFP.

Click here to download the Excel spreadsheet for the budget template.

Funded by the Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF) and administered by the Arizona Board of Regents.

Water is crucial to Arizona's economy and to the health and well being of its residents. The availability of water shapes the environment in which we live and directly affects our quality of life. Competing demands for water due to unprecedented population growth, emerging contaminants, industry needs, ecological concerns, drought and the uncertainties of climate change all contribute to the growing need for improved water science and understanding of all aspects of water for the long-term sustainability of the state and its economic development. In addition, a thorough understanding of the interrelationships among the scientific aspects and the social, economic, legal and policy aspects of water demand is vitally important to decision-makers.

The University of Arizona Water Sustainability Program (WSP) is now in the seventh year of funding through the state Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF). Five campus water centers, with a history of major federal and private sector funding serve as the principal centers for faculty and staff water research, education and outreach, and distribution of TRIF dollars for WSP. These centers are: the Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor Manufacturing (ERC); the Center for Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA); the Superfund Basic Research Program (SBRP); the Water Quality Center (WQC); and the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC). Directors of the five water centers serve as the WSP Executive Committee.

A major objective of TRIF programs at the state universities is to enhance research and education in areas critical to economic development in Arizona. For WSP, this is accomplished by developing new research and education programs and new university-industry partnerships to address state water challenges. Attracting additional funds is key to the long term success of the program. WSP has the responsibility of assuring the Arizona Board of Regents that TRIF money invested in this program is leveraged to fully advance outcomes.

The competitive grants program is a major component of the WSP to strengthen research, education and outreach efforts at the UA and to ensure a sustainable, high-quality water supply for economic development and enhanced quality of life for all of Arizona.

WHO CAN APPLY:

Only faculty members and staff at the UA are eligible to submit proposals, but joint funding from investigators and stakeholders outside the UA is strongly encouraged. Researchers in any of the social, biological, physical, and engineering sciences, and fields such as water management, water law, and health sciences, are invited to apply.

The RFP, budget template, and additional information can be found on the WSP web site www.uawater.arizona.edu under the grants menu.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE & IMPORTANT DATES:

FUNDING AREAS:

Proposals will be accepted from faculty and staff at UA on any topic related to critical water issues in the state.

FUNDING INFORMATION:

Single year and two-year proposals will be accepted; however, preference will be given to one year proposals. Requests for renewal of funding in the following year will be considered and funds awarded on a competitive basis.

It is expected that most single investigator proposals will be funded at about $25,000 to $50,000 direct funds per proposal for one year. Multi-investigator proposals are encouraged and may be funded at higher levels. There will be no indirect costs deducted, but personnel costs should include fringe benefits. Investigators are strongly encouraged to negotiate matching funds from the private sector, utilities or government agencies. Investigators are also strongly encouraged to provide student opportunities in their proposals. The total amount of new money available for this grant cycle starting July 1, 2008 is expected to be about $1 million.

PROPOSAL REVIEW:

Expert review panels composed of faculty from the University of Arizona and possibly Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University, and technical reviewers from federal, state, county and municipal agencies, NGOs and the private sector will evaluate the proposals. The proposal review process will be similar to the review process used by federal agencies such as NSF, NASA, DOE or EPA. The recommendations of the review panels will be considered by the WSP Executive Committee to determine final award decisions.

PROPOSAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES:

The proposals shall consist of the following four sections, as specified:

SECTION 1 (one page)

  1. Title
  2. Project Summary: An 80-100 word summary of the project proposal.
  3. Principal Investigator(s) name(s) and College/Department: Provide the name, department, college, email address and phone number for all principal investigators and identify the primary project contact. Only UA faculty and staff can be listed as a principal investigator.
  4. TRIF funds requested for each project year.
  5. Leveraged (matching) funds pledged and source(s) for each project year.
  6. Statement of critical regional or state water problems: Include an explanation of the need for and the timeliness of the proposed research; identify the stakeholders and potential users (two paragraphs maximum).
  7. Statement of results or benefits: Describe the product of the proposed effort, its relevance to the critical problem; and its usability by the stakeholders identified in 6 above (two paragraphs maximum).

SECTION 2 (five pages)

  1. Nature, scope and objectives of the research.
  2. Approach, methods, procedures, and facilities: Provide enough information to permit evaluation of the technical adequacy of the approach to satisfy the objectives.
  3. Related Research: Show by literature and communication citations the similarities and dissimilarities of the proposed project to completed or on-going research on the same topic.
  4. Training potential: Specify the number of post-doctorate, graduate and undergraduate students, who will work directly on the project and estimate the number who will receive educational benefits, generally, from the project.
  5. Information Transfer: Describe how information on the results of the project work will be disseminated and their application promoted.

SECTION 3 (additional pages as needed)

  1. Interaction with Water Centers: Include a statement identifying which water center(s) is most relevant to your proposed topic area and how your work would complement the mission of the selected center(s) (ERC, SAHRA, SBRP, WQC, WRRC).
  2. Partnerships: Identify external project partners and their matching dollars, in-kind contributions or other support. Attach matching funds and/or in-kind contributions commitment letter(s) signed by authorized personnel.
  3. Citation list.
  4. Qualifications of the investigator(s): Include resume(s) of the investigator(s) not to exceed two pages for each one; and list no more than 15 pertinent publications.

SECTION 4

Budget Breakdown - Submit a detailed budget for FY2008-09 using the Excel template provided, listing the contact PI and proposal title. No indirect costs are to be included. Include a narrative explaining the proposed activities of paid personnel. Modify the template for year 2 requests in FY2009-10.

  1. Salaries and Wages: Identify the individuals and categories of salaries and wages, the estimated hours or percentage of time, and the rate of compensation proposed for each individual or category.
  2. ERE Rates: Use provisional rates applicable at the UA for FY09.
  3. Materials and Supplies: These include amounts estimated for office, laboratory, computing, and field supplies.
  4. Travel: List the total costs, in-state as well as out-of-state, for which the money will be used.
  5. Other Operating: Includes consultants, independent contractors, equipment less than $5,000, etc.
  6. Equipment: Equipment purchases greater than $5,000 with a useful life of more than 1 year.
  7. Capital Purchases: Refers to property or infrastructure improvements having a total cost in excess of $100,000.
  8. Total Estimated Costs: Total items (1) through (6).

Click here to download the Excel spread sheet for the budget template.

NOTES:

TRIF funds cannot be used for administrative support. Also, ABOR guidelines specify that "TRIF funding may be used to pay salaries only for persons directly involved in projects or activities funded under this program that would otherwise not be funded through general fund appropriations" (general fund appropriations refers to state funds). ABOR emphasizes that TRIF funds are to be used for new projects rather than replacing funds for existing projects.

Principal investigators will be requested to submit an interim progress report six months into the funding cycle and a year end report. Details will be provided. Final reports will be due at the conclusion of the project. Principal investigators will also be requested to provide a poster and/or present the findings of project work.

Please forward an electronic version (MS Word document, font size 11) on CD and 6 hardcopies of the proposal by January 31, 2008 to:

Jackie Moxley

Water Sustainability Program Coordinator

University of Arizona

Water Resources Research Center

350 North Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85721

Phone: 1-520-792-9591 ext. 17

FAX: 1-520-792-8518

Email: