Sidebar
Limited Submissions (LS) are funding opportunities in which the sponsor restricts the number of proposals an institution may submit. To ensure compliance with these limits and support strong, competitive applications, UofL’s Research Development & Support (RDS) team coordinates the internal review and selection process for all LS opportunities. Institutional approval through this process is required before a proposal may be submitted to the sponsor.
How the Process Works
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1. Opportunity posting
Limited submission opportunities are posted in InfoReady, where faculty can find internal guidelines, deadlines, and submission requirements. Opportunities are also shared through our weekly limited submissions newsletter.
If you want to submit to a limited submission opportunity that has not already been identified/posted notify us immediately by emailing the Office of Research Development & Support. Time permitting, the stated process will then be initiated. If there is insufficient time, you will be granted permission to proceed in most cases. Failure to contact us, or to meet the deadlines for submission of the internal LOI and internal grant may preclude submission of the application through the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (OSPA).
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Internal application
Faculty interested in applying must submit the required materials—such as letters of intent or internal proposals—through InfoReady by the listed internal deadline. These deadlines ensure adequate time for review and for selected applicants to prepare a competitive full proposal.
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Review and selection
Applications are evaluated by a panel of UofL faculty with expertise relevant to the opportunity for full applications and following a “first qualified” process. When needed, additional reviewers or research leadership may be consulted—for example, for large, multidisciplinary, or strategic proposals. Reviewers assess alignment with sponsor requirements and the overall strength of the proposed project.
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4. Notification and next steps
We notify applicants of the internal decision and provide next steps for those selected to move forward to the sponsor. Selected applicants work with their unit and research administrators to develop and submit the full proposal.
Review Pathways
A full review is triggered when more than the allowed number of applicants submit internal applications by the internal deadline.
Process:
- Applicants are asked to provide more detailed proposal information.
- A review team of at least 3 internal reviewers is assigned to evaluate and score applications.
- Reviewers assess sponsor alignment, project merit, and competitiveness.
- The top-ranked proposal is selected as UofL’s submission.
- All applicants receive reviewer feedback.
An opportunity receives the first qualified designation under any of the following conditions:
- No applicants submit by the internal deadline.
- A new opportunity is identified within three weeks of the sponsor’s deadline.
- An internal deadline passes with no submissions, prompting the opportunity to convert to first Qqualified; in this case, the internal deadline becomes the sponsor deadline.
Process:
- The first qualified researcher to submit an internal application will represent UofL.
- All standard requirements still apply, including internal compliance checks and proposal routing.
Important Deadline Requirement
Regardless of whether an opportunity is in Full Review or First Qualified status, OSPA requires all final proposals to be submitted in Cayuse at least five business days before the sponsor’s deadline.
Special Circumstances
If a sponsor deadline is released with limited lead time, we may note in InfoReady that the opportunity will follow a first‑come, first‑served process. This ensures UofL can still participate while meeting sponsor requirements.
Commitment to Transparency
We strive to maintain a fair and transparent selection process. When possible, reviewer feedback is shared with applicants—both selected and not selected—to strengthen future submissions.
Find Opportunities
Applicants must meet all posted deadlines to participate in the limited submission process. If you miss a deadline, you may contact resdevel@louisville.edu to inquire whether the opportunity is still open.