Proposal Review Process

Preliminary review

A preliminary review, using certain guidelines to help reviewers discuss and evaluate each proposal, is followed by contact over the phone. This call gives reviewers a chance to ask clarifying questions about your proposal and gives you an opportunity to provide additional information about items the reviewers have questions about. You may be asked to submit written responses, which will then become part of the proposal.

Personal interviews

During the next phase, review teams select the highest-ranking projects for 45-minute personal interviews. If your proposal advances to this point, you will be invited to choose from one of several locations where interviews are conducted; slots are filled on a first-come-first-served basis.

Finalist interviews

Finalists will meet with an interview team to discuss in detail what people and resources will be needed to attain the performance target, what impediments to attaining the target might occur, and what the time frame for achieving the milestones that lead to the target will be. Ideally, the project leader and key collaborators will participate in this interview.

Proposal funding decisions

The results of the interviews will be presented to the Northeast SARE Administrative Council, and the council will decide which proposals to fund.