Limited Submissions
Limited submissions are external sponsored funding opportunities that require an internal selection process because the sponsor limits the number of proposals and/or imposes specific restrictions on applications submitted by Tufts.
Please note that not all limited submissions are announced. Announcements are made with an emphasis on those opportunities of broad interest to the Tufts community, and the list below is not exhaustive. If you are interested in a limited submission that does not appear below, please contact your local research administrator (LRA) and email the Limited Submissions team at limitedsubmissions@tufts.edu.
InfoReady
In our continuous efforts to improve our support for the research and scholarship community, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) is pleased to use Tufts InfoReady – a portal designed to streamline the application process for limited submission opportunities. Our goal is to cultivate a thriving research culture, foster top-tier research initiatives, and increase participation in limited submission competitions.
Tufts InfoReady serves as the platform for submitting and reviewing limited submission opportunities.
For Externally Sponsored Limited Submissions Opportunities
- Investigators will use Tufts InfoReady to submit letters of intent (LOIs), and if needed, full internal applications. OVPR will conduct a peer review process to select the proposal(s) selected for submission to external funding agencies.
- Tufts InfoReady will not take the place of the university Research Administration System (RAS) used for proposal submissions to external agencies. OVPR-approved institutional candidate(s) or nominee(s) for limited submission competitions must use RAS to submit full proposals to external sponsors
About Limited Submissions
Limited submissions are external sponsored funding opportunities that require an internal selection process because the sponsor limits the number of proposals and/or imposes specific restrictions on applications submitted by Tufts. This information is often located in the “Eligibility” sections of funding opportunity announcements (FOAs).
The Limited Submissions Team in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) identifies limited submission opportunities and coordinates the university-wide review and nomination of applications for these opportunities to ensure such submission restrictions are met. For those limited submission opportunities from foundations, the OVPR collaborates closely with the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) to facilitate the process. Proposals cannot be submitted outside of the limited submissions process described below.
The process is designed to provide principal investigators and their teams with as much time as possible to prepare submissions to the sponsor while allowing for a fair management of internal competitions.
Tufts Process
Identification
OVPR and CFR identify limited submission funding opportunities through Internet searches, PIVOT alerts, mailings, newsletters, invitations, and previous opportunities.
If a faculty or staff member identifies a limited submission prior to or instead of an OVPR announcement, that individual will notify the Limited Submissions Team immediately to ensure that the team is aware of the opportunity and that no more than the specified numbers of applications are submitted.
Announcement
When a limited opportunity for a broad number of investigators is identified, the OVPR will notify the research community by posting to Tufts InfoReady.
Some limited opportunities are focused on a specific scientific area or are open only to a specific group. In these cases, the Limited Submissions Team may target the opportunity to those who match the sponsor’s eligibility requirements. However, if an investigator is interested in a particular opportunity with a limitation, they should email Limited Submissions immediately to expedite the process.
Email of Intent
For Limited Submissions that have been announced and for those identified by interested investigators, anyone wishing to send a proposal in response should apply via Tufts InfoReady.
Internal Competition
If the number of emails of intent exceeds the maximum number allowed by the sponsor, potential applicants will be notified and asked to prepare an internal application via Tufts InfoReady.
Review, Selection, and Notification
If the number of internal proposals exceeds the institutional limit, OVPR uses the internal selection process described below. Exceptions to this process are made in certain situations. For example, the nominee may be selected by the Vice Provost for Research and/or the Provost when an opportunity reflects a strategic priority or requires significant institutional commitment.
For the standard internal selection process, a review committee composed of at least three individuals with expertise in the topic and/or the sponsor/program will be selected by the Limited Submissions Committee. The Committee will ensure that the reviewers do not have conflicts of interest with any of the applicants. These individuals will review all internal proposals according to the review criteria listed below and the sponsor’s requirements and/or funding priorities.
The OVPR will select the candidate(s) based on the committee’s recommendations. De-identified reviewer feedback will be provided upon request. Information about the faculty review committee and selected candidate(s) is confidential.
All candidates will be notified of the final decisions of the committee via email. The department/school’s Lead Research Administrator will be cc’d on the official nomination letter, and Corporate & Foundation Relations will be included when relevant.
If a proposal cannot be completed, please contact the Limited Submission Team immediately so another PI may have the opportunity to apply.
Submission to the Sponsor
All proposals indicating a limit on the number of submissions from Tufts must be accompanied by an official letter of nomination from the Limited Submissions Team to be processed, regardless of whether they were announced by the OVPR.
All nominees should work with their assigned research administrator in their department or school to prepare submission to the sponsor.
In addition, for foundation proposals the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) will work with the nominee(s) to review the foundation's latest requirements, goals, previously funded proposals, and the university’s history and internal connections with the foundation. The appropriate CFR representative will be cc’d on the official nomination letter.
Review Criteria
Review criteria are determined based on the criteria employed by the sponsor for each funding program. In general, limited submission internal proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Intellectual Merit: How important is the proposed research to advancing knowledge within its field or across fields? How well qualified is the proposer? To what extent does the project suggest and explore original concepts? How well conceived is the proposed project? What is the likelihood of success?
- Match to Sponsor’s Program and Tufts Goals: How well does the proposed project address the sponsor’s programmatic requirements and goals? Given Tufts’ research goals and strengths, what are the benefits to the relevant campus(es)?
- Other Relevant Factors: Includes such factors relevant to the specific FOA as cultural competency; public outreach efforts; quality of the evaluation design; if applicable, comments from previous submissions to the same program and the current proposal’s responsiveness to those comments.
We encourage researchers to collaborate with other groups at Tufts when possible. This team-based approach adds breadth to the proposal, while supporting the interdisciplinary focus that is increasingly promoted by federal and nonfederal agencies.
Timeline
The Limited Submissions process is designed to offer applicants as much time as possible to develop their submissions to external sponsors. Limited Submission Opportunities will be announced a minimum of one month prior to sponsor deadline. The typical timeline for limited submissions is as follows, with some flexibility provided for the needs of specific sponsors.
Please contact the Limited Submissions Team at limitedsubmissions@tufts.edu for any questions about the limited submissions process.