Pre-Applications

More and more funding opportunities are requiring the submission of a pre-application (also known as pre-proposal, concept paper, white paper, letter-of-inquiry, etc.) prior to submitting a full proposal. This pre-application generally includes a summary of the project, a list of the personnel involved, and a budget or cost-range for the project; however, it is not a full application.

When the sponsor requirements include any of the following requirements as a pre-application, department administrators must submit a pre-application item in Coeus (application type: “Pre-Application”), as well as a pre-application PEER log:

  1. The signature of the Institutional Official for VUMC (OSP)
  2. A detailed budget rather than an overall cost-range
  3. Involvement of institutional commitments, such as
  • Cost sharing or matching funds
  • Waiving of F&A costs

What is required?

  • Sponsor guidelines
  • Sponsor documentation
  • A budget (if applicable), categorized and justified
    • No budget required if the only item needed is the institutional signature
  • Coeus proposal development
    • Type: pre-application
  • PEER log
    • Type: pre-application

What is not required?

  • Full routing process through all involved academic areas
  • "Special Review" tab in Coeus
  • "Key Personnel" tab in Coeus
  • Questionnaire
  • PI Assurance or COIs

When the following conditions apply, it is not necessary to enter the pre-application into Coeus:

  1. An itemized budget is not required. If a total budget amount is stated, it should be clear to the potential sponsor that the amount quoted is only an estimate and should in no way be considered a final quote.
  2. No specific commitment of VUMC personnel, facilities, and/or funds
  3. The potential sponsor does not require a VUMC-authorized signature

If a full application is later requested, administrators should proceed with a new proposal development as normal.

For further questions or concerns involving this process, please contact your OSP specialist.

If a full application is later requested, administrators should proceed with a new proposal development as normal.

For questions or concerns involving this process, please contact your OSP specialist.