WHITE PAPERS, PRE-PROPOSALS, LETTERS OF INTENT, OR LETTERS OF INQUIRY
White papers, often used by defense agencies, and letters of intent and pre-proposals, typically used by non-defense agencies, facilitate both the application and review processes by eliminating unnecessary work for you and the sponsor.
White Papers & Pre-Proposals
Proposal preparation and review are costly for both applicants and sponsors, so white papers and pre-proposals are often used to identify applications of high interest based on a relatively brief submission. The sponsor is interested in quickly identifying projects whose outcomes will advance their agenda; OSP’s expertise and familiarity with the process can assist PIs in garnering the sponsor’s attention.
The request for white papers or for pre-proposals is typically presented in a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) or a solicitation for proposals. The information requested typically focuses on the idea, approach and outcomes, and how these will address the sponsor’s needs. White papers or pre-proposals of interest may result in an invitation to submit a full proposal according to the sponsor’s guidelines.
Do white papers or pre-proposals have to be reviewed and authorized by OSP?
Ordinarily white papers are non-binding and do not create a legal obligation on behalf of the University to the sponsor. Unless the white paper or pre-proposal is submitted through an electronic system, e.g., Grants.gov or FASTLANE, etc, OSP does not need to be involved in its review and submission. However, we do strongly recommend that you engage us, particularly in developing the budget. Sponsors often estimate their financial needs based on the project costs included in white papers; so, working with OSP to estimate project costs will ensure that the proposed total cost includes frequently overlooked categories such as fringe benefits or indirect costs.
More information about preparing white papers can be found at:
http://osp.syr.edu/Training&Workshops/PreparingWhitePapers.ppt
Letters of Inquiry
Letters of inquiry are a variation on the theme of white papers/pre-proposals, and are typically used by foundations to determine if your proposed project coincides with the foundation’s interests. In two to three pages, a letter of inquiry should describe the project, its aims, significance to sponsor and/or society, duration and the amount of funds required to complete the project’s goals and objectives.
More information about the suggested content and organization of Letters of Inquiry can be found at: http://osp.syr.edu/Training&Workshops/Letterofinquiry.ppt#268,4,Letter of Inquiry
Letters of intent
Letters of intent (LOI) are used by sponsors to facilitate the review process. LOIs allow the sponsor to anticipate the possible number of applications generated by the funding opportunity announcement or solicitation; to prepare for the review process by identifying areas of expertise needed; and to avoid conflicts of interest during review. The information typically requested includes, but is not limited to:
- Principal Investigator, other key personnel and their affiliations
- Project title
- Concise project summary
- Total requested funds