Meeting Coordination and Scheduling
Coordination of scheduling and meetings by providing the use and space for polycom, phone conferencing, etc. that can connect with other institutions via video-conference as applicable. The PMU staff will organize meeting times and locations for team meetings and workshops during the proposal development process; and will serve as unbiased facilitators to conduct productive working team meetings.
Developing Timelines
Help develop reasonable timelines for all input and approvals. Assist with the proposal preparation and submission timelines. Work with the interdisciplinary team to meet or revise these deadlines.
Coordination
Follow up with team members and subcontractor PI's on their due dates for budgets, scopes of work, biosketches, etc. PMU has the ability to serve as the hub for all pre-submission documents by working with the team to collect either in hardcopy or, if faculty like, using new the Sharepoint for electronic coordination for all involved faculty and staff. Coordinate review teams at the appropriate time in the proposal building process. Provide a library of informational templates and supporting documents for reference as needed.
Budget
Work with the lead PI's departmental administrator to do the actual proposal budget by making sure that all needed information has been provided. If a major project or activity (i.e., federal funding) ensure that enough administrative support is budgeted.
Agency
PMU staff will, in coordination with the lead PI and team, review, identify and comment on all aspects of the RFP that will need to be addressed during the proposal preparation stage. Work with the interdisciplinary team to establish a work breakdown structure. The PMU will assist with the administrative components of the guidelines. Can serve as a liaison between the agency and the interdisciplinary team.
Cost Sharing
Will communicate on behalf of the interdisciplinary team with the different entities involved in securing approvals and all required documents for cost-sharing commitments as needed.
Communication
Be in regular contact with the PI and the team throughout the process and bring in others as necessary (i.e., faculty who can discuss important programmatic components diversity, assessment, broader impact, education, outreach, etc.). Identify and assist in providing required resources or experts (i.e., graphic productions, assessments, information technology).
Finding Funded Proposals
Locate previously funded proposals from a variety of awarded PI's and institutions. Provide copies for all team members. Provide informative overviews, insights and summaries on the different components and requirements of the funded proposals to the interdisciplinary team.
Mission
The Proposal Management Unit (PMU) was created in response to WSU's Strategic Plan to benchmark extramural proposals for "Center and Program Project Grants…" WSU recognizes the importance of these large programmatic grants with the goal of growing the university's stature as a research institution. The PMU staff will directly assist interdisciplinary teams in the administrative and logistical requirements to make the task of preparing large proposals less demanding by providing this special level of support needed to successfully submit to the funding agencies.