Once again, you can work with Grants, Contracts, and Intellectual Property as they often know the program officers or can advise you about the process. GCIP has experience with these types of interactions and can help to make sure that these interactions are efficient and effective. This is not an exact science. This is okay, should be expected, and one more reason to work with Grants, Contracts, and Intellectual Property. Be Open to Feedback.
Constructive criticism can be helpful.
Turn to your peers in your department and ask them to read a draft of your proposal. By receiving feedback from more experienced grant writers, you will be able to improve the quality of your proposal. Seeking a grant can be a humbling experience. The process of procuring a grant can be very lengthy. In some cases the turnaround time from submission to notice is 7-8 months.