2010-2011 WRRI Call for Preproposals

July 28, 2009

The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) of The University of North Carolina invites preproposals from faculty members of senior colleges and universities in North Carolina for FY 2010-11 research funding. Project preproposals will primarily be reviewed for need and relevance. Full proposals will thereafter be requested only from investigators who have submitted preproposals that are found to be of HIGH importance and relevance. To be considered, completed preproposals must be submitted by 4:00 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009, to WRRI at water_resources@ncsu.edu.

Total available funds are approximately $250,000. This includes $92,000 in federal funds (if appropriated by Congress) from the U.S. Geological Survey. The maximum award is $50,000. WRRI does not pay indirect costs. The starting date for projects accepted for U.S. Geological Survey funding is March 1, 2010. Other projects may start later. All projects must be completed within a 12-month period.

WRRI identifies and supports research needed to help solve water quality and water resources problems in North Carolina and the region. A list of priority research topics identified this year by the WRRI Advisory Committee is viewable here. While it is highly recommended that preproposals specifically address a WRRI research priority topic, preproposals on any water resources topic that fall within the Institute’s mission and on emerging issues will be considered. WRRI strongly encourages collaboration among researchers from different institutions, and with state, federal and local agencies. Additional consideration will be given to qualified preproposals where the principal investigator is in early-career status.

Principal investigators may be asked to revise scopes of work and budgets so that their work can be included in WRRI’s 2010-11 research portfolio. Not all highly rated projects may be included for funding, due to program priorities and funding considerations. Results of peer reviews and the selection process will be completed in December 2009. The proposals selected for U.S. Geological Survey funding will be submitted to U.S. Geological Survey in January 2010.

Proposals not eligible include research on health effects involving human subjects, and research involving oceanography (estuarine research-oriented proposals are acceptable).

Timeliness of researcher performance on past projects funded through WRRI will be a factor in proposal selection. As a consequence, any researcher who is late in reporting on or completing an ongoing study funded through WRRI without an approved no-cost extension may not be eligible to be a named participant in any proposal for the 2010-2011 funding cycle. If you have any questions about your eligibility for the 2010-2011 funding cycle, please contact Lynne Bridger at 919-513-1216 or via email (lynne_bridger@ncsu.edu).

Prospective applicants having specific questions regarding either the appropriateness of their subject matter for WRRI support or the Institute's competitive research funding process are welcome to contact me at 919-515-2455 or via email (michael_voiland@ncsu.edu).

Thank you and good luck!

Download the RFP application packet or each document individually:

• Call for Preproposals (pdf)
• Instructions to Preproposal Applicants (pdf)
• Attachment 1: WRRI Priority Research Areas for FY 2010-2011 (pdf)
• Attachment 2: WRRI Preproposal Form (interactive pdf)
• Attachment 3: Sample Statement of Purpose and Relevancy (pdf)
• Attachment 4: CV Form (MS Word doc)
• Attachment 5: WRRI Timeline for FY 2010-2011 Funding (pdf)
• RFP Application Packet (pdf) - Everything above

NOTE: Please download Attachment 2 and Attachment 4 separately when you are ready to fill them out. These are the items that will be due on Monday, August 31 at 4:00 pm.

Timeline: This timeline depends upon the timing of the Congressional budget approval process for federal fiscal year 2010.

Questions? Contact Kelly Porter, at kelly_porter@ncsu.edu or 919-513-1152.