Proposal Submission Deadlines
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Last Updated: Oct 21, 2026, 08:47 AM
Staff members in the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration collaborate closely with Principal Investigators to navigate the complexities of securing sponsored research funding. While it is primarily the responsibility of the PI to ascertain that the proposal meets the specific requirements of a given request for proposals (RFP), OSPA staff work hard to ensure proposals meet university, sponsor, state and federal requirements and to transmit complete proposal packages via various sponsor submission portals/mechanisms.
To maximize the chances that proposals result in grants awarded, it is important that SIU continue to submit the highest quality proposals. Last-minute submissions do not allow for thorough review, which can result in errors, the proposal being rejected and tarnishing SIU’s reputation with sponsors. Submitting proposal information according to the timeline described below enables OSPA staff to thoroughly vet applications, check components against solicitation/RFP requirements and confirm the upload of many required files via the appropriate sponsor-required mechanisms. In addition, adherence to the timeline allows for the proper management of any compliance concerns (financial conflicts of interest, human subjects research, export controls, etc.).
Note: Our office cannot guarantee submission unless all internal deadlines are followed. OSPA prioritizes review of components received by the internal deadlines; any other timeline will be reviewed as time allows and may be considered “at risk” of not being submitted. OSPA cannot ensure full review without the appropriate lead time.
Proposal Submission Deadlines: The deadline date does not count in the determination of the internal timeline. If SIU is the subrecipient, the deadline dates apply to the lead institution’s deadline, not the prime sponsor’s deadline.
Proposal Submission Deadlines
| Deadline | Proposal Document |
|---|---|
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15 business days |
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10 business days |
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Five business days |
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Three business days |
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One FULL business day (8 a.m. the day before sponsor deadline if deadline time is end of day; if deadline time is earlier, additional time is required) |
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The project description/specific aims/research strategy are the only proposal components that may be in non-final status three full business days prior to the sponsor deadline. Although this draft may be replaced until the final internal deadline, all RFP-mandated narrative components must be in place in order for OSPA staff to begin their review.
OSPA staff strive to vet and submit all proposals for which they receive full application materials. However, even if OSPA staff workload permits submission of full proposal materials received after the relevant internal deadline, the PI incurs the following risks:
The proposal may not be submitted if components are submitted late and/or OSPA workloads do not allow time for required internal review (i.e. budget rates, required approvals, etc.). Priority is given to documents submitted in accordance with internal deadlines.
In the event that the sponsor wants to fund a proposal that was submitted without full review, OSPA reserves the right to review and request changes prior to acceptance of an award or to decline the award if the budget or other commitments contained in the proposal do not conform to SIU requirements. It is the responsibility of the PI to make any necessary changes.