Skip to main content
  1. Research Offices
  2. Research Development
  3. Proposal Resources and Services
  4. Proposal Services
  5. External Review Program

RD External Proposal Review Program

Research Development has added a new External Proposal Review Program to provide additional options for expert review before proposal submission.

Why should you submit your proposal for external expert review?

Peer reviews of draft proposals can provide valuable feedback to a researcher or research team, enhance the quality of the submission, and cultivate a collaborative culture. It can also aid in proposal documents being completed earlier, providing additional time to a PI or team for refinement. There are times when an external review from experts in your field is warranted, especially if you are applying to a funding opportunity that is new to FSU, you are conducting research in a field with little overlap on campus, or you need an external consultant for a high-impact submission. FSU RD is offering paid external expert review opportunities for ready-to-submit proposals that meet the criteria below.

How does it work?

Eligibility: Open to all tenure-track, tenured, and research faculty serving as Primary / Principal Investigator, regardless of the field of study. 

Funds Available: The External Proposal Review Program offers payment of up to $500 per proposal. PIs may only receive one paid external review through this program per fiscal year. There is a limit on the total program funds available annually and requests are fulfilled on a first come, first served basis. This page will be updated if/when we have exhausted resources.

  • Proposals between $25K and $100K can receive $350 for reviewer payment
  • Proposals over $100K can receive $500 for reviewer payment
  • All amounts can be used for a single review or may be divided between reviewers in the case that more than one external expert is identified

Stipulations: 

  • Proposal materials (e.g., aims, research strategy/narrative, biosketch(es)) must be in a near complete stage
  • Faculty must request approval from their Chair
  • Faculty will locate and request their own reviewer(s)
  • Reviewers must sign a confidentiality agreement and complete a form W-9
  • Reviewers must commit to completing and returning feedback to the PI and RD staff member within 10 business days (i.e., 2 weeks) of receipt of the proposal

Deadlines: The application form and Chair approval, along with the proposal materials, must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the Sponsored Research Administration's proposal submission deadline.

  • Example timeline:
    • Agency Deadline: October 5
    • SRA Deadline: October 2
    • Application, Approval, and Proposal Materials Deadline: September 2

Ready for review?

Work with an RD staff member in your discipline to submit your request to the External Proposal Review Program. You may start by submitting basic information through this form: RD External Review Program Application.