Office of Research Administration

Working with DISC Pre-Award

The DISC Pre-Award Team is ready to assist Brandeis investigators with expertise in the preparation of their proposals to ensure each proposal meets federal, institutional, and sponsor requirements.  The DISC team works as a partner with investigators throughout the proposal preparation process and acts as the liaison between the investigator and the Pre-Award Services Office to ensure timely submission of proposals.  

 Relationship of investigator to DISC Pre-Award Team and the DISC Pre-Award Team's relationship to other university offices

Investigators are responsible to:
  • Inform the DISC Pre-Award Team as soon as possible of a grant submission by completing the DISC Office Pre-Award Submission Notification Form. 
    • We request a minimum of 4 weeks of notice from the due date (that is the earliest date: to the Sponsor, to the Pass-through Entity, if we are the subawardee, or if an earlier submission date is being requested by the PI)
    • We request a minimum of 6 weeks of notice for proposals involving subawards
    • We appreciate notification, even if an investigator is not 100% sure that a submission will happen
  • Promptly communicate and collaborate with your DISC Pre-Award team liaison all the way through the deadline that has been established.  Dropping off for periods of time (especially without notice) causes stress and delays in the process.  Be available. 
    • The DISC Pre-Award team is your liaison to the Office of Research Administration's Pre-Award Services (PAS) team.  Investigators should not reach out directly to PAS staff, as their role is to review the proposal that the investigator and the DISC Pre-Award team has prepared.  This separation of roles is important for institutional compliance, and your support in this is appreciated.
  • Prepare the elements of the Proposal:
    • Develop the narrative, abstract, and all content
    • Determine the content and justification of the budget
    • Maintain and update biographical sketches and list of references in the proper format
    • Keep track of current projects, committed effort, and all information about “in-kind” contributions AND communicate this information to your DISC Pre-Award liaison.
  • Grant your pre-award liaison access to relevant online systems.
  • Abide by Brandeis’ proposal deadline policy.
The DISC Pre-Award Team is responsible to:
  • Thoroughly review the funding opportunity announcements for required documents and other terms/conditions of the sponsor. 
  • Set a timeline for the investigator to submit the required materials to the DISC Pre-Award Team.  
  • Generate the Project Approval Form (PAF) and NIH certifications for RPPRs.
  • Prepare internal budgets.
    • The DISC Pre-Award liaison will work with the principal investigator(s) to determine what their budgetary needs are as well as incorporate/consider other factors such as organization and funding agency limitations or set rates (fringe, facilities and administrative costs, etc.).
    • The DISC Pre-Award liaison will provide templates and ensure budgets and justifications contain all necessary components and comply with federal, institutional, and sponsor guidelines and regulations.
    • Investigators are responsible for determining the content and justification of the budget.
  • Review biographical sketches. The DISC Pre-Award liaison will provide templates, when available, and confirm that biographical sketches contain the required information in the required format. 
    • Investigators are responsible for maintaining and updating their biographical sketches and list of references. 
  • Review current and pending support/other support documents.
    • While the investigator must provide the DISC Pre-Award liaison with the information for these documents, DISC Pre-Award liaisons will draft agency-compliant documents for the investigator to complete, approve and sign.
  • Organize internal data pulls.
  • Advise on document strategy to ensure that each document contains content required by the sponsor.
  • Work on prime/subaward proposals by liaising with administrators at other universities/institutions. Coordinate document collection from subawardee investigators and administrators at collaborating institutions.
  • Coordinate document collection from investigators.
  • Proofread documents for compliance to formatting requirements.
  • Work with investigators to assemble non-financial post-award documentation (such as progress reports, carry-forward request letters, final reports, PMCID auditing, just-in-times).
  • Assist with progress reports.
The DISC Pre-Award Team does NOT:
  • Search for funding opportunities.
  • Advise on fundable research strategies.
  • Write grants or proposals.
  • Read or edit grants or proposals.
  • Copy edit grants or proposals.