Research Challenge Fund Emergency Support Program (ERCF)

Deadlines: February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15

In recognition of the occurrence of urgent research needs and for unexpected special situations arising in the course of research projects or proposal development, the University Research Challenge Fund (URCF) Advisory Committee has established the Emergency Support Program. In order to provide more flexibility and faster turnaround, there will be four opportunities to submit to the Emergency Support Program. Please note that this Program is supplemental to the URCF Program; it is not meant to serve the same purpose. The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) distributes the URCF Guidelines at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Guidelines & Eligibility

Application may be made by those holding Principal Investigator status. In scientific disciplines, requests may be for emergency needs for projects currently funded by external sponsors or for the completion of a proposal in preparation for an external sponsor program deadline. Emergency support will be available in nonscience disciplines without the requirements of ongoing external support or proposal development deadlines where extreme conditions of timeliness make such support necessary.

All proposals for emergency funding must be supported by a detailed letter from the Department Chair or Unit Director certifying the emergency nature of the request.

Allowable Categories of Proposals:

Faculty may request funds for repair of equipment for research, provided that the equipment is either specialized or used uniquely by the researcher and is not generally maintained by the applicant's department; emergency supplies; emergency travel (e.g., to accept an invitation to present a paper; to use archival material only available for a limited time; etc.); or for other, clearly immediate needs that will be evaluated on the basis of the Committee's experience. No personnel costs will be supported. The urgency of any request and the nature of any immediate need must be clearly detailed and justified. These emergency requests should reflect unexpected needs that require immediate funding. Requests that address ongoing or predictable needs are more appropriate for submission to the URCF competition or external funding sources.

Review Process:

Emergency funding requests will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the URCF Advisory Committee, with the assistance of other University and external expertise as needed. The Committee will critically examine the nature of the emergency. Proposers may expect to hear from the Committee within six weeks of the deadline for submission.

Proposal Assistance/Submission Procedure:

Questions about submitting an emergency funding proposal may be addressed to Projects Officers in the Office of Sponsored Programs (x82121). Final drafts should be checked by OSP Projects Officers before proposals are copied for submission. Applicants must submit an OSP Synopsis Form to their Department Chair and Dean for signoff, and any other forms required to OSP with their proposal. The deadline will not be extended. No copies of the proposal will be returned to the applicant.

Budgets:

Necessary costs should be listed in a one page all inclusive budget. Requests for equipment must include a current price quotation (within 30 days of the deadline) for each item and the source of the quoted price. Proposals requesting funding of more than $5,000 are not encouraged. Last year, three awards were made. The average amount was $3,000; the range was $1,000 to $5,000.

Awards:

Emergency funding awards may be activated immediately on receipt of the notice of the award. Once the award has been accepted, with whatever conditions the Committee attaches, an account number is established by the Research/Restricted Accounting Services Department and monthly financial reports are issued by that office. Any proposed budget revisions, with an accompanying explanation, should be forwarded to the OSP Projects Officer for institutional clearance before being implemented.

Reporting:

Emergency funding award recipients will be asked to report on the use of their award and on its impact on and importance to their research.

Proposal Format
  1. Face Sheet
    1. Project title.
    2. Principal Investigator(s).
    3. Faculty rank(s).
    4. Department(s) and school(s).
    5. Address(es):room/building(s)/phone number(s)/e-mail address.
    6. Amount requested.
    7. Requested starting date.

  2. Budget Itemize costs on one page.

  3. Project Statement (two double spaced pages or less, succinct and readable)
    1. Relevance of the request to current work and to the likelihood of initial or additional external funding based on this work;
    2. Justification of request for emergency funding;
    3. Statement of how the proposal relates to interests of the URCF.

  4. Letter of Certification of Emergency (from the Department Chair or Unit Director).

  5. Relevant Certifications: See OSP Synopsis Form; complete items 1, 2, 4, 10 and 11.

  6. Appendix Materials (limit to items relevant to the project)
    1. Curriculum(a) vitae (one page), including related publications.
    2. Current and pending support for related projects, plus resume of any past funding, highlighting any relating to a previous URCF award.
    3. Other technical data (charts, tables, etc.), as appropriate.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION/ RECEIPT Submit 6 copies, plus appropriate signed Synopsis Form, including departmental and school approvals, to:
Richard L. Louth, Director
University Research Challenge Fund Advisory Committee
New York University
Office of Sponsored Programs
665 Broadway Suite 801
New York, NY 10012

N.B. Proposals submitted to deadlines that fall on a weekend or University holiday are due the next business day.

665 Broadway, Suite 801 | New York, NY 10012-2331
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