Source: http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/faq-rfpI/index.php?qa=questions&amp;qa_1=proposal-content-required-information
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 09:05:11+00:00

Document:
Given the broad scope of our research, a 5 page reference section is not adequate. Is it permissible to use an abbreviated citation listing, such as that used in AAAS's Science (where the article title is not listed)?
The instructions say the subcontractor budget justification is limited to two pages. Is the budget justification for the Lead Institution's Main Budget also limited to two pages?
I have an international co-PI whose institution has to abide by the laws of the country they are in. Once the award has been granted, will the GRI representatives be able to accommodate international legal criteria? Otherwise there is no point in having international participation.
I do not see a template for the institutional letter of collaboration. Where can I find this form?
On page 5 of the GRI_RFP_Instructions under the Narrative Description of the Data Management Objectives, what is meant by the statement "It is essential that provision be made that video data tagged with appropriate information be included in the data submission". Is this indicating that any video data submitted to the archive be appropriately tagged? Or is this referring to an additional type of video data?
What is meant by "derivatives" in the bullet: Policies and provisions for re-use, distribution, and the production of derivatives" in the section f of the Consortium description on page 4 of the GRI_RFP_Instructions. Please define "derivatives".
When compiling our complete application package, is there a specific order we should adhere to when uploading the lead organization and consortium partners' budgets, justifications, and indirect cost rate agreements? For example, should all the budgets be presented together, followed by all the justifications and IDC agreements; or should we group these documents together for each institution?
The Cover Sheet Template only allows room for 12 co-PIs and the Lead PI. However there are more than 12 institutions involved, so the Steering Committee (up to 20 PIs/institutions) will include more than those listed on the Cover Page. How do we include someone from each institution on the cover? Also, the proposal instructions state that C&P forms are only needed from those listed on the cover page of the proposal, which means some of the major co-PIs will not need to submit them?
The Instruction states that "Administrative support should be provided from the overhead, unless specific exceptions are requested and accepted through the review and contract process." Does this mean that we (even the Lead Institution) can not budget for a secretary to assist with the project management?
Several of the budget FAQs refer to the "RFP-I Preparation and Submission Instructions." Where is the "RFP-I Preparation and Submission Instructions" located?
The instructions for proposal submission asks to "Include a copy of the negotiated indirect cost rate agreement as supporting documentation". If we have non-US institutions, or for-profit US companies as partners, what do they need to submit?
Would you please explain what article 20.2.4 - No Application of Open Meetings or Records Laws mean?
In the discussion about the annual two day meetings, the FAQ indicates the first meeting is scheduled for 'January 2013 and each January following'. This would mean the first annual meeting would happen in the middle of year 2. Since the annual meeting is anticipation of the following year's activity - I wonder if the first meeting is actually January 2012?
Just to clarify the question on Restricted Funding, if other support we receive is for the same but say additional work and is not "double dipping" then it would or would not be acceptable?
Audit - The statement made in this clause says "both the Parties and the Research Board shall have the right, at their own expense and upon reasonable notice, to examine at reasonable intervals and during the regular business hours all research documentation and any other books, records and data relating to this Agreement or any Approved Research Projects."
The reporting requirements are not clearly defined in the RFP. The only mention of required reports that I could identify is found in the Master Research Agreement. What will the reporting requirements be (i.e., quarterly, annually) for proposals chosen for awards?
Are letters of commitment required for any personnel (PI, Co-PIs, collaborators, affiliates, etc.) for this applications?
Is the “Table of Partnerships” intended to list (a) only the lead investigator from each of the universities that are consortium members, (b) those leads from each university as well as other investigators also from those universities leading subprojects, or (c) all investigators including those at universities who are not consortium members but instead are “Affiliated” (as per one of the FAQs under personnel).
Weblinks to proposal illustrations The rfp states that captions on figures can direct the reader to a digital file of the image. Is there a central server where these images can be loaded? Or can we give a link pointing to a departmental or other website at our own campus?
If participating as a for-profit institution, which does not have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, is there a maximum allowed rate (or alternatively an approved standard indirect rate) that can be used?
I have been reviewing the RFP-I solicitation dated 25 April 2011 AND have also been reviewing the FAQ's for this RFP. In my review of the solicitation, I do not see a reference to a "limit" on the number of proposals from one institution based on "theme." Can you please point out the section and/or page where this information is reflected? Thank you!
I am a sub-award with an annual dollar amount of over $100K/per year. Do fill out one budget template combining the 3 years and one combined 2-page budget justification? Instructions say "Submit a separate budget and budget justification (two-page limit) for each participating institution in cases where the sub-award exceeds $100K per year." And the Lead Institution would need to do the budget template for each year, with a separate justification after each yearly template, correct?
Should we list this proposal as a pending proposal on our current and pending support forms?
A previous FAQ on the statement of participation in multiple Consortia only says it should be in the body of each proposal. Should this be in the Narrative Description of Supplementary Objectives or elsewhere?
In our planned budget, some Consortium members will get >$100k and some <$100k per year. Do we need a separate budget sheet for EVERY co-PI, or just the institution (if multiple co-PIs from that institution), or just those co-PIs receiving >$100k?
On version 3 of the current and pending support form, the last section on the page will not let me enter the Total Award Period Covered information. Some of the PI's in our group are just leaving this section blank and moving on to a second page. Is this acceptable or is there a way to fix that field?
The last section—Survival—in Appendix 3 does not have a termination date stated.
The last paragraph in the sixth section of Appendix 3 should provide that BP will not acquire any background rights to any type of IP created before the start of any BP funded project, except through explicit disclosure and negotiation asserting terms which are normal for any arm’s length License with a company which has not participated in the creation of such background rights. In many cases it would be likely federal money was involved and thus federal terms will apply.
A3 Intellectual Property, etc.: In the sixth section—Right of Negotiation—of Appendix 3, please explain the royalty cap. Federal law prevents the predetermination of the value of any undisclosed, or, not yet invented, invention. In addition, a predetermined cap is in conflict with the referenced IRS rules.
A3 Intellectual Property, etc.: The fourth section—Disclosure; Patent Protection; Payment of Costs--of Appendix 3 does not provide in the event the Research Institution assigns to BP or 3rd party, all rights in Inventions that the Research Institution elects not to pursue, the Research Institution shall retain an irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide, fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual license to use for research and educational purposes.
§ 17 Governing Law: Please explain this section regarding "the laws of the State of Delaware." Should this read ‘governed and construed by applicable state law’?
§ 16 Term and Termination: Should there be a provision for a Consortia or Consortia member to terminate?
§15 Disputes: Please explain the requirement to enter into binding arbitration. Mediation and/or non-binding arbitration are acceptable first steps, but should a mutually acceptable resolution not be reached, there should be the ability to resort to other legal means for resolution.
§12 Indemnities, ¶2: Regarding the certification requirement stated in the second paragraph of section 12, please explain why it does not read ‘to certify to the best of its knowledge’.
§10.4 Record Retention: Clarification is requested for the record retention requirements stated in §10.4. The first part of this section requires 6 years and later the requirement is stated as 3 years after the project expiration.
§10.3 Audits: The Research Consortia is required to permit the Parties and the Research Board or its authorized representatives to participate in any inspection by a regulatory authority and shall permit same sufficient time to comment on any correspondence that the GRI Administrative Unit or Research Consortia proposes to send to any regulatory authority before it is submitted.
§7.2 Content of Grant Agreements: There is a requirement that . . . the Lead Research Institution shall represent and warrant . . . that all legal responsibilities for compliance with health and safety regulations, environmental regulations, animal experimentation regulations and any other applicable local, state, or federal regulations will be the sole responsibility of the Research Institution which employs or contracts with the Research Project Director.
§2.9, Restricted Funding (first part): It is certainly understandable that we should not be accepting funding from any other sponsor to fund the same work as proposed for funding under the GRI RFP. However, by the nature of most research in academic institutions, funding is often sought and received from multiple sources to fund related work.
§2.5.2 Research Consortium Invoice Submission: There is a requirement to “submit all invoices and supporting documentation for expenditures.” Please define “supporting documentation” and specify if there a particular format required for invoices.
Throughout the Master Agreement, the terms “Capital Equipment”, “Capital Expenditure”, and “equipment” are used. Please provide definitions for these terms.
Can letters of support be submitted and, if so, do they count towards the page limit?

References: § 17

§ 16

§15

§12

§10
 §10

§10

§7

§2

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