# Presentation: 721674

## It’s About The Money - Research Funding

**It’s About The Money - Research Funding**
**New Scientist Training**
**30 April 2008**
**Randy Shoemaker, USDA-ARS-CICGRU**
**Ames, Iowa**

## Cooperative Research and Development Agreement 

**Cooperative Research and Development Agreement**** **
**The (CRADA) program is the primary tool linking government **
**and industry researchers. **
**The non-Federal partner agrees to provide funds, personnel, **
**services, facilities and equipment or other resources needed **
**to conduct a specific research or development effort while **
**the Federal government agrees to provide similar **
**resources (but not funds) to the partner. **

## Grant – an agreement to transfer something of value 

**Grant**** – an agreement to transfer something of value **
**(money, property, services, etc.) to the recipient to carry **
**out or stimulate activities that are not for the direct benefit **
**or use of the Federal government or carry out a public **
**purpose with no substantial involvement anticipated **
**between ARS and the recipient.  **
**It must be related to the mission of ARS.**

## Federal obligations for research 1990-2006

**Federal obligations for research 1990-2006**

**Source: http//www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08303**

## Federal obligations for research 1990-2006

**Federal obligations for research 1990-2006**

**Source: http//www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08303**

**Notes:**
USDA only about aa 15% increase
NSF is about a 58% increase
DOE is about 59%
Big winner is Health and Human Services: 171%

## External Funding:  To write, or not to write

**It is time consuming - detracts from research and writing of manuscripts.**
**Low success rate.**
**Incurs obligations to non-ARS groups.**
**Reports, reports, reports.**

## External Funding:  To write, or not to write

_**External Funding:  To write, or not to write**_

**Permits us to put our thoughts down on paper and to **
**critically evaluate them.**
**A good excuse to get intimate with the literature.**
**Increases resource stream - fund things you may not**
**be able to fund without a grant.**
**Increase staffing.**
**Success demonstrates recognition and impact.**

## Applying for a Grant

_**Applying for a Grant**_

**Get an idea, talk it out, think it out.**
**Prepare a Letter of Intent (New Incoming Agreement)**
**Once approved, prepare the proposal**
**Register with Grants.gov (Federal grants only)**
**Submit the proposal**
**Notice of award **
**Prepare AD-416 and AD-417**
**Set up accounts**
**Letter of Intent for Outgoing Agreement (SCA)**
**Once approved, prepare SCA(s)**
**Conduct research**
**File timely reports to the funding agency**
**AD-421 annual reports for ARS**

## Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement (RCA)– 

**Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement (RCA****)– **
**similar to the trust fund cooperative agreement except **
**the cooperator pays when billed by ARS for costs **
**incurred in performance of project of mutual interest **
**between the parties.**

## Trust fund (TFCA)– an agreement that involves 

**Trust fund (TFCA)–** **an agreement that involves **
**cooperative research of mutual interest between the **
**Agency and another party (sponsoring organization).  **
**ARS is the performing agency and is paid in advance **
**of performance.**

## Research Support Agreement (RSA) – a cost 

**Research Support Agreement (RSA)** **– a cost **
**reimbursable agreement between ARS and State **
**Cooperative Institutions or other colleges and **
**universities, for the acquisition of goods or services **
**including personal services, to carry out agricultural **
**research, extension, or teaching activities of **
**mutual interest.**

## Applying for a Grant

_**Applying for a Grant**_

**Get an idea, talk it out, think it out.**
**Prepare a Letter of Intent (New Incoming Agreement)**
**Once approved, prepare the proposal**
**Register with Grants.gov (Federal grants only)**
**Submit the proposal**
**Notice of award **
**Prepare AD-416 and AD-417**
**Set up accounts**
**Letter of Intent for Outgoing Agreement (SCA)**
**Once approved, prepare SCA(s)**
**Conduct research**
**File timely reports to the funding agency**
**AD-421 annual reports for ARS**

## Specific Cooperative Agreement (SCA) – 

**Specific Cooperative Agreement (SCA) ****– **
**an agreement between the Agency and another party **
**that describes in detail, a jointly planned, executed, **
**and funded research program or project of mutual **
**interest between the parties where both **
**parties contribute resources.**

## University of Michigan Proposal Writer’s Guide

**University of Michigan Proposal Writer’s Guide**
**Don Thackrey**
**Why Proposals are Rejected:**
**Problem (58%)**
**B.  Approach (73%)**
**C.  Investigator (55%)**
**D.  Other (16%)**

## Know your topic.

**Know your topic.**
**Know your Program Director (and your NPLs).**
**Target your proposal precisely to the RFP.**
**Keep your Lead Scientist, RL and NPL in the loop. They **
**will keep the Directors in the loop.**
**Your Unit Secretary knows everything and can solve **
**all problems.**

## Remember...

**Remember...**
**An outstanding proposal will be remembered for **
**a short time by a few people.**
**The author(s) of a poor proposal will be remembered for **
**a long time by an increasing number of people.**