Submitting Unsolicited Proposals
An open solicitation is not always required to pursue federal funding. Several federal agencies provide mechanisms for submitting investigator-initiated or unsolicited research ideas, but the process varies substantially by agency.
Use the agency guides below to determine whether your idea may be submitted, how to identify the appropriate program or contact, and what steps to take before preparing a proposal. When in doubt, contact the Office of Research Development before developing a full submission.
Best for: Investigator-initiated biomedical, behavioral, clinical, public-health, and related research.
How it works: NIH uses Parent Announcements to receive investigator-initiated—or what NIH itself calls unsolicited—applications. These broad NOFOs generally don't specify a scientific topic and instead provide the mechanism through which researchers submit ideas in their own area of investigation.
Not all Institutes accept investigator-initiated proposals, so be sure to confirm on the institute's webpage and use the application guide for the most up-to-date instructions.
Then:
1 | Identify the appropriate NIH Institute or Center
2 | Select the right activity code — R01, R21, R03, etc.
3 | Confirm that the Institute participates in the Parent Announcement
4 | Contact the appropriate Program Officer
5 | Submit for one of NIH's standard receipt dates
Best for: Investigator-driven fundamental research that aligns with an NSF program or disciplinary portfolio.
How it works: Many NSF core programs accept proposals without a project-specific solicitation, and most Engineering core programs, for example, currently accept unsolicited proposals at any time. NSF also provides guidance for ideas that do not have an obvious programmatic home.
Then use the same repeatable mini-template for every agency:
1 | Find the right home
Identify the directorate, division, and program that most closely aligns with the proposed work.
2 | Prepare a concept
Develop a concise concept paper describing the problem, research question, approach, significance, and alignment with NSF priorities.
3 | Talk to a Program Officer
Contact the appropriate NSF Program Director before committing substantial effort to a full proposal.
4 | Determine submission route
Confirm whether the program accepts proposals at any time, uses a target date, or requires submission under a specific solicitation.
5 | Prepare & route through MSU
Follow the applicable NSF PAPPG requirements and initiate the proposal through Cayuse/OSP.
NSF Funding Search by Directorate | Current NSF PAPPG | ORD Concept Paper Resources
PROCEED CAREFULLY!
Important: DOE policies vary by office. For example, the Office of Science does not accept unsolicited proposals for financial assistance and instead maintains open funding announcements.
DOE has a formal central process for unsolicited proposals, with NETL serving as the central point of receipt across DOE program research areas.
Then:
- Identify the relevant DOE program office
- Check for an existing FOA first
- Contact program staff regarding the concept
- Determine whether the idea qualifies for DOE's unsolicited mechanism
- Follow NETL's unsolicited proposal submission guidance
If you are unsure or have questions about any of these steps, please contact use at development@ord.msstate.edu.
Best for: Innovative basic and applied research, technology development, and solutions relevant to national security and the missions of DoD components.
How it works: DoD can consider true unsolicited proposals under federal acquisition regulations, but researchers should not assume that an unsolicited full proposal is the best—or accepted—route. In many cases, DoD research organizations maintain Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) covering broad technical areas and encourage researchers to submit a white paper or concept paper before developing a full proposal. Requirements vary considerably among the Army, Navy, Air Force, DARPA, and other DoD organizations.
1 | Identify the Right DoD Organization
Determine which military service, research laboratory, warfare center, or defense agency has a mission and research portfolio that aligns with your idea.
2 | Look for an Active BAA First
Search for an active Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) that encompasses your research area. Many DoD BAAs remain open for extended periods and allow researchers to propose innovative ideas within broadly defined areas of interest.
3 | Identify the Technical Point of Contact
Review the BAA or agency research information for the appropriate Program Officer, Program Manager, or technical point of contact. DoD funding is strongly mission-driven, so establishing relevance to the sponsor's specific research needs is essential.
4 | Prepare a White Paper or Concept Paper
When permitted, begin with a concise white paper describing the problem, proposed approach, innovation, anticipated outcomes, and relevance to the DoD mission. Follow the individual BAA's instructions carefully, as required content, page limits, submission methods, and evaluation procedures vary.
5 | Submit a Full Proposal Only Through the Appropriate Route
A full proposal may be requested following review of a white paper, submitted directly under a BAA that permits full proposals, or—less commonly—submitted as a true unsolicited proposal under the procedures established by the individual DoD component. Confirm the submission route before developing a full application.
Important: A novel idea alone does not make a proposal appropriate for unsolicited submission. Under FAR Subpart 15.6, a true unsolicited proposal must be independently developed, innovative and unique, prepared without government supervision or endorsement, and sufficiently detailed for the government to determine whether the proposed work could benefit its mission.