Request for Research Proposals

Projects should logically fit into one of these broad areas:

Research proposals are expected to be concise (approx. 5 pages in total length, excluding budget pages) and contain the following (see attached):

• Cover sheet (provided): proposal overview and budget
• Contact Information: Name, address phone number, and email address of principal investigator and collaborators
• Project title
• Brief project justification and rationale:  Identified research need, brief review of similar academic and industry research and how proposed research is necessary, novel and will benefit farmers and the soybean industry. 
• Brief description of proposed research:  Research and communications to be done, purpose, expected outcomes, contribution to project goals, clear statement of communication and outreach strategies. 
• Other funding: Proposed research may complement and extend but must not duplicate already funded research.  Where applicable, a concise listing of related research and funding sources for the PI and collaborators, and a brief description of how this check-off funded research will be used to attract or complement additional funding support (public and private: e.g. USB, QSSB, USDA, company) to extend knowledge or expand research breadth and depth, especially in cases where basic research funding is requested.
• Clear and concise set of project metrics, economic impact on soybean farmers, and performance measures, milestones and deliverables, including:
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or performance metrics and how those will be measured
• An analysis and/or description of program/project economic impact, significance to soybean farmers, and return on the soybean checkoff investment
• Timelines and milestones for deliverables that will extend the state-of-the-art of basic and farmer-focused applied research
• Communication plan to include farmer-focused publications, field days and similar as well as updates to the National Soybean Checkoff Research Database.

• Clear description of a cost-efficient budget, sub-budgeted to projects within programs. A budget for years 2 and 3 is requested for multi-year concept projects.

It is critically important for researchers to identify how the deliverables will positively and tangibly impact Iowa soybean growers in the short- or long-term, and how deliverables will be communicated to growers and to the ISA. Budgets should include funding for publishing and broadly communicating results, and convening meetings if planned.  Researchers should reference first year deliverables when justifying multi-year projects and requests for project renewals, as continued funding will be determined by the demonstration of real, meaningful and applicable first-year or second-year results.  Researchers are strongly encouraged to demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations or synergies with other institutions and/or with ISA Research teams when/if appropriate.

Statement of allowed and non-allowed contract funding items and categories for soybean check-off compliance purposes.

Allowed:

Non-Allowed: