Contact for CAL Proposal Processing Assistance
Staff assistance is available for the following:
- Budget and budget justification preparation
- Preparation of internal paperwork (such as the eTransmittal) and sponsor forms
- Funding searches
- Academic Specialist PI Exemption Requests
Timeline for Proposal Preparation and Submission
Proposal preparation takes considerable time and effort. This timeline has been developed to allow sufficient lead time to produce a quality proposal, and to receive required internal approvals.
At least 12 business days before sponsor’s deadline – 2-3 months recommended:
- RFP/PROPOSAL GUIDELINES – Send to CAL’s pre-award research administrator. CAL’s research administrator will send it to OSP by 10 full business days before the sponsor’s deadline, to meet OSP’s requirement.
- Complete CAL’s Proposal Processing form and submit to CAL’s research administrator.
- BUDGET – Start drafting with assistance of CAL’s research administrator.
- ETRANSMITTAL – CAL’s research administrator will create an eTransmittal, MSU’s internal proposal approval form.
- COST SHARING – The PI should submit requests to their department Chair, who will then submit to CAL’s Senior Associate Dean for Research. May require considerable lead time. CAL’s Cost Sharing Policy
- SPACE NEEDS – The PI should submit requests for unmet space needs to their department Chair, who will then submit to CAL. May require considerable lead time.
8 business days before sponsor’s deadline:
- Budget must be finalized with CAL’s research administrator.
- CAL’s research administrator will submit the final budget to OSP for approval at least 6 business days before the sponsor’s deadline, to meet OSP’s requirement.
- CAL’s research administrator will finalize the eTransmittal and administrative portions of sponsor forms.
- After OSP approves the budget, CAL’s research administrator will route the eTransmittal for approval.
4 business days before sponsor’s deadline:
- The PI must submit the finalized proposal to CAL’s research administrator.
- CAL’s research administrator will send it to OSP for submission by 7:59 AM THREE full business days before the sponsor’s deadline, to meet OSP’s requirement.
- The eTransmittal must be fully approved 3 full business days before the sponsor’s deadline.
Late Submissions:
- Must be approved by CAL’s Associate Dean for Research.
CAL Budget Preparation Templates and Resources
CAL Budget Justification template
CAL Graduate Student Assistant Rates for 2025-2025
Sponsored Programs website for MSU’s proposal processing guidelines.
Grant Writing Resources
A Useful Heuristic for Grant Proposal Writing – Prof. Bill Hart-Davidson