FY25 Proposal Guidance - WHOI Investigators
Step 1: Grants.gov package
In grants.gov, enter the federal funding opportunity (FFO) number that is assigned to CINAR for this award year: NOAA-OAR-CIPO-2025-29413 -- To start an application, here is the link to the workspace. Here is a link to the FFO document.
Grants.gov application page information. On the first page of the grants.gov application package, please use the following naming convention in the Application Filing Name field: WHOI Proposal #, Institution, PI Last Name (based on the following example: CINAR 123 [Streamlyne proposal #] 12345.00 [Budget Tool # ] WHOI Anderson). Please also use the same convention for naming the submission file. You will need to take out a new budget tool number in WHOI Grants, and not use any previous one from the 2019-2024 cycle.
Step 2: Proposal Templates and Documents
***Download these proposal templates and then refer to instructions below***
Step 3: Project Narrative Components (in the following order):
- CINAR cover sheet (download here)
- Abstract and Project Description: please use our template for FY25, which is available for download here. Note that there are several new sections required (e.g., Results of Prior Support). See template or NOAA Guidance for additional details.
- Note: File name of Project Narrative should not exceed 50 characters - use: Project CINAR 123 12345_00 WHOI PI lastname
- We can no longer include footers in the Abstract and Project Description. When processing in grants.gov, a table of contents along with numbered pages will be generated.
Step 4: CV and C&P for each PI are now required.
- Vitae. (single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, two (2) pages maximum, per person): Provide resumes of the Principal Investigator for the project and other key personnel critical to the success of the project. Ensure that resumes address qualifications relevant to conducting the proposed work. Publication lists should be limited to all publications in the last 3 years with up to five other relevant papers.
- Current and pending support.: For each principal investigator, submit a list which includes project title, supporting agency with grant number, investigator months, dollar value, and duration. Please be sure to list this proposal in the C&P.
Step 5: Budget narrative guidelines:
1. Budget justification. The CINAR template is available for download here. We also encourage you to review NOAA's budget narrative guidance, which is available here. In your narrative, include specific details of what is being purchased and why, referencing sections in the WHOI budget (for example: 6. Other 1.a). Also, a generic item such as "Laboratory Supplies - $2,000" should be detailed in the justification, i.e. glassware, chemicals, rubber gloves, etc. Try to avoid using the words “miscellaneous” and "etc." as much as possible. If you are including any supply items over $5,000, please include:
- A description of the item and how it will be used in the project.
- A statement describing “lease vs. purchase” – why you are buying the equipment rather than leasing (if it is unavailable for lease, you can state that.)
For outside services where an individual is named, especially subawards, a sole source justification statement is needed.
2. WHOI budget (from WHOIgrants). Please be sure to include Task 1 (3.5% for 2025 ) in the fee category. A blank placeholder sub-budget for Task I must be included in the version to aid in the post-award process. This placeholder sub-budget is not included in the grants.gov submission.
3. Negotiated rate agreement (WHOI's negotiated rate agreement )
4. Subaward documentation (if applicable). Subaward 424A is included in Optional Other Attachments
5. Task 1 Statement: Please include the following statement in your budget narrative: "Funds toward Task I activities are budgeted. These activities relate to the management and administration of CINAR, including support for the CI director, administrator, and support staff, as well as travel, supplies, and education and outreach activities."
Note that the File name of Budget Narrative should not exceed 50 characters - use: Budget CINAR 123 12345_00 WHOI PI lastname. We can no longer include footers in the Budget Narrative. When processing in grants.gov, a table of contents along with numbered pages will be generated.
Next steps:
- After the narratives have been reviewed and approved by the CINAR Office, the proposal can be submitted through WHOI's Grant and Contract Services (GCS) department to Grants.gov.