Request for Proposals Competition

MAFMA encourages technology transfer through university-industry relationships by awarding matching funds to those research proposals deemed worthy through this competition.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Principal investigators must be from a MAFMA university and are allowed only one proposal each in this competition.  Principal investigators may be involved in one other MAFMA project as a collaborative investigator in addition to their own project.  Investigators from any U.S. research institution may participate through cooperative projects with investigators at MAFMA universities (but in no more than two proposed projects); however, the principal investigator must be from a participating university.  Industry collaborators providing matching funds must have manufacturing sites in the U.S.

Investigators who have previously received MAFMA funding, may submit applications for additional funding to continue or expand their projects.  In such cases, the project description section should include a brief statement of progress/impact and the objectives should be distinct from those used in previous years.  Such applications must also identify new or expanded sources of industry matching funds to qualify for another year of MAFMA funding.

PROJECT SCOPE AND DURATION
A wide scope of projects will be considered.  Most relevant proposals will have regional impact with high visibility; will be based on research ideas that the industry believes to be important; and will be able to show success in the short-term such as one year from the date of initial funding.  Areas of research might include food safety, food engineering, nutrition, food microbiology and chemistry, etc. Furthermore, projects must have a food focus; projects involving industrial agricultural products, with no food applications, are not accepted.  Projects should not contain specific product development or contract research work. 

REVIEW PROCESS
Proposals will be reviewed by a Peer Review Board comprised of university and industry representatives as well as consultants who do not have a vested interest in any of the projects under consideration.  Final selection of proposals for funding by the Peer Review Board will be based upon scientific merit, industrial interest, short-term impact, matching fund commitments (including level of industry matching) and availability of MAFMA funds.

FUNDING

MAFMA funds up to $50,000 to match the contribution from the industry in co-sponsored research projects.  MAFMA research funds must be matched at least 1:1 with industry funds, and greater industry contributions are welcome.  Principal investigators are responsible for identifying sources of matching funds from industrial or other partners.  Any company providing matching funds automatically becomes an industrial member of MAFMA.  Proposals are funded for one year with the potential for renewal. 

Funds must be used for research only.  No overhead will be paid on these awards.  No Alliance funds can be used for tuition remission, facility renovation or refurbishment, fixed-equipment purchase or installation, or for planning, acquisition or construction of a building or facility.

At least one-half of the match provided by "industry" must be cash, with the remainder consisting of “in-kind” contributions such as salaries, equipment, supplies, etc.  "Industry" funds originate from private industry, trade associations or commodity boards, but at least some of the match must come from individual food or related companies.  No funds from government or university grants are allowed for matching purposes.  A letter of commitment specifying matching funds is required from each company or association providing such funds and must accompany the submitted proposal.  These letters from food companies should also provide a statement of the industrial relevance of the proposed project.  For continuation proposals seeking a second (or more) year of funding, additional (new) sources of industry matching funds must be identified.  The new source(s) of matching funds must be made clear in the proposal and the industry letters of commitment.

Patent, licensing and exclusivity issues will be negotiated between the universities themselves and their industry partners.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
June 19, 2009             Deadline for submission of proposals
and for principal investigators to supply
written documentation of matching funds/industrial relevance
August, 2009        Proposals are funded (other start dates may be considered depending on the circumstances)
July 31, 2010                      Finish projects
September 1, 2010    Final reports are due

 PROPOSAL FORMAT
Proposals must not exceed 5 single-sided 8 ½ by 11 inch pages with one inch margins, single spaced 12-point or larger type.  Other forms and attachments must also be included but do not count against the page limit.  Forms to be included are the cover sheet, budget form, budget narrative, USDA Research and Related Other Project Information Form numbers 1-5 only.  Industry matching funds proposal budget form (multiple when necessary; one for each company) and industry letters documenting matching funds are required attachments.  A MAFMA cover sheet (attached) must be the first page on all copies.  Electronic versions of the forms may be downloaded from the MAFMA website: www.mafma.unl.edu

• A MAFMA budget form (attached) must be filled out for each proposal.
• A budget narrative must accompany the budget form (see attached examples); no budget narrative is necessary for the matching funds
• All budget categories, with the exception of Indirect Costs, for which support is requested, must be individually listed (with costs) in the same order as the budget and justified on a separate sheet of paper and placed immediately behind the Budget form.
• “Nonexpendable Equipment” and “All Other Direct Costs” categories must be itemized and the cost per item must be provided
• The attached USDA "Research and Related Other Project Information" form numbers 1-5 must be completed and returned with proposals.  Please print name on top of page. 
• The proposal must include a MAFMA cover sheet, project title, statement of work, objectives, a brief project description, an impact statement, estimated time frame, MAFMA budget form, budget narrative, and USDA Research and Related Other Project Information form.
• Written documentation of the matching fund commitment is required at the time of proposal submission.
• Submit the original plus 7 copies by June 19, 20 09 to:

Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing Alliance
         University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Attn: Joey Best
Room 143 Food Industry Complex
Lincoln, NE  68583-0919

PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA
The following point system will be used by reviewers to rate proposals.  This may be helpful to investigators during proposal generation.

Points
Demonstrated relevance to the food manufacturing industry . . . 45
Clearly written - scientifically sound  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Results have regional impact with high potential visibility  . . . .   25

Total points available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

 

Absolute requirements (checklist):

• Principal investigator is from a MAFMA University
• Industry collaborator has manufacturing sites in the U.S.
• Written documentation of matching funds and industry                         relevance
• Budget and Budget Narrative included in proposal
• MAFMA Cover Sheet
• Research and Related Other Project Information Form
• Proposal received by June 19, 2009
• Correct proposal format only will be forwarded to reviewers