• Visit our "Finding funding" section for resources.
• Become familiar with funding trends and timing cycles.
• Contact Heather Johnston in OARS if you need assistance locating an appropriate funding opportunity.

• Notify your OARS consultant of your intention to submit a proposal at least 10 working days prior to the funding agency's submission deadline by creating a new record in eSPA (see below).  You are encouraged to contact your OARS consultant much earlier than that when possible, especially if you haven't worked with OARS before.
• Review the guidelines in the RFP carefully; if necessary, contact your OARS consultant for help interpreting the guidelines.
• Contact your OARS consultant if you have any questions about Miami or agency procedures.
• Contact Research Compliance staff if you have any questions about research compliance requirements.
• Consider contacting the program officer or other agency contact to inquire whether your project is a good fit for their program.
• Visit DMPTool.org for data management plan guidance and examples.
• Visit our "Grant writing resources" page for proposal writing resources.
• Visit our "Proposal preparation resources" section for standard data and language often included in proposals.

• Think through your project carefully and identify what resources you will need to complete it.
• Ask for what you actually need to complete the project — no more and no less.
• Visit our "Budget resources" page for institutional information you may need to complete the budget, including fringe benefit and indirect cost rates.
• Submit a draft of the budget to your OARS consultant, who will help you develop the final budget and budget justification.
• Release the final approved budget to your OARS consultant in eSPA at least two working days prior to the funding agency's submission deadline.

• At least ten working days prior to the funding agency's submission deadline, login to eSPA and create a new proposal record by:
  • Clicking on the Cayuse SP link;
  • Clicking on Start New Proposal in the Proposal Dashboard;
  • Filling in the requested information.

Visit our "eSPA" page for additional information and support.

• Complete the online new eSPA record decision tree questionnaire if you are requesting supplemental funding or a continuation.

• In eSPA, release the final proposal -- including an approved budget -- to your OARS consultant for final review at least two working days prior to the funding agency's submission deadline.