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Pre-Proposals

A pre-proposal is a short description of a project that does not involve a binding commitment of university resources. Depending on the sponsor, a pre-proposal may be called a preliminary proposal, white paper, letter of intent (LOI), or concept paper.  Typically, the purpose of a pre-proposal is to inform and catch the interest of a potential sponsor so that the sponsor then requests a formal proposal including full technical and budget information.

A pre-proposal may include a total cost estimate; however, it does not typically include a line-item budget and is not expected to result directly in an award. Note: even when a line-item budget is not being provided, the total estimated project cost presented to the sponsor should factor in F&A (indirect) costs, except in situations where only direct cost totals are requested.

Institutional signature and routing:

A pre-proposal must be routed to Sponsored Research (via a new CERES funding proposal record) when any of the following applies: 

  • Institutional endorsement is required
  • A detailed budget is required
  • The pre-proposal must be submitted system-to-system (via CERES) or through another system in which only the university has submission capabilities (e.g., Research.gov)
  • A separate, new CERES funding proposal record is required if invited to proceed to a full proposal.