Frequently Asked Questions for FY22 RFP
Q: What does PI-CASC fund, or what will they not fund?
A: PI-CASC developed the RFP Science Research areas based on needs identified via inputs from local and regional resource managers. The RFP is intended to develop science and relationships to meet those needs. To that end, we invite proposals that address the science needs expressed in the RFP. Responses must make explicit connections between proposed work and the priorities PI-CASC has enumerated in the RFP.
Q: My research does not line up with this RFP, is there any other opportunity to work with PI-CASC?
A: PI-CASC is excited to develop new relationships and hear your ideas about cultural and natural resource management and science and how they might work together to provide capacity towards climate adaptation and resilience to climate change in our region. To that end, we would note that we both welcome unsolicited contact for information sharing and PI-CASC accepts unsolicited proposals on a rolling basis. There is no guarantee of funding, but we do accept them for consideration. An unsolicited proposal would not be competed the same way as an RFP but would be considered in context of ongoing projects and emerging needs. Unsolicited proposals are also filed away and may be revisited as opportunities for collaboration or increased funding are identified.
To join a PI-CASC mailing list for updates, please consider sharing your interest and email contact with us at picasc@hawaii.edu.
Q: Are UHH or UOG PI’s eligible?
A: PI-CASC developed the RFP Science Research areas based on needs identified via inputs from local and regional resource managers. The RFP is intended to develop science and relationships to meet those needs. To that end, we invite proposals that address the science needs expressed in the RFP. Responses must make explicit connections between proposed work and the priorities PI-CASC has enumerated in the RFP.
Q: Why must I identify Darren Lerner as the Lead PI on my project.? I thought I would be the Lead PI – what should I call myself?
A: The PI-CASC is a part of the National CASC network. In FY20 the Federal CASC NHQ structured the way that money is moved within the Consortium relationship across the CASC network in a more formal way, which requires that the Consortium PI be identified as the Lead PI. In the Pacific, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, and University of Guam are consortium member institutions. All proposal originating from one of these eligible institutions will need to apply through the consortium, and Darren Lerner will need to be identified as the “Lead PI” on the project. The UHM, UHH, or UOG researcher would be the Research PI and will interface with Dr. Lerner about the award. This is not negotiable – it is the way the program is now structured. Dr. Lerner will not be involved with research related to the project. The person on the proposal who would normally be considered the Lead PI will be considered the “Research PI.” Other than having Darren Lerner as a Lead PI, it is not necessary to have additional UHM PIs on a project.
If the project’s PI is with the USGS there is no need to go through the consortium application process, though USGS PIs will need to consider how to pass subawards to any university or other researchers.
Proposals may include researchers and managers on their team who are not associated or affiliated with a consortium institution or the USGS.
Q: Is there protocol re: who is supposed to actually submit?
A: Anyone can be the project’s delegate to submit the proposal.
Q: I am not with the USGS, but I am a Federal Employee. Am I eligible to apply?
A: Federal interagency researchers would need to partner with a consortium member or USGS researcher to be eligible, with UH/USGS serving as the lead PI. This arrangement causes the project to be categorized as a Cooperative Agreement, meaning it would need to run through the secretarial approval process. That being said, we have funded interagency agreements directly in the past. Federal researchers and resource managers are welcome to contact us for consideration of a proposal we could fund outside of this competition, dependent on budget and research needs.
Q: Do potential applicants need to contact PI-CASC leadership prior to submission in order to be considered?
A: No, their contact information is provided as a courtesy in case you have questions or concerns you would like to raise.
Q: Within the University System, what positions are eligible for Research PI or Co-I status? (Please see Q&A above regarding identification of Darren Lerner as Lead PI on all consortium proposals).
A: An eligible UH or UOG staff/employee/faculty must be in a board of regent-approved hire and have a PNF that describes when and how much they get paid. If hired through RCUH, the individual is not eligible to be a PI or Co-I unless they are affiliated with any UH unit. Should their unit of affiliation be willing to support them then yes, they can serve as a research PI.
Additional questions can be directed to hkerkering@usgs.gov or lerner@hawaii.edu. PI- CASC and Sea Grant can assist in determining the fiscal process. While it is important to have these details established in the SOI, there will be time to iron out details during the full proposal stage, if invited.
Q: There is an negotiated indirect cost agreement with UH and Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU). Can we apply that negotiated rate or do we need to use the University IDC rate?
A: USGS CASC cannot utilize the lower IDC rates for CESUs. The CASCs were set up as a University/Consortium partnership and funds going through the University must carry the full negotiated IDC rate.
Q: When are the projects expected to begin?
A: Unfortunately, there is no direct answer or confirmed date. There are a number of factors that influence the time that we may be able to disburse the award funds. This competition is run under the assumption that FY22 funds will be available to support PI-CASC. We cannot award funds until we have a FY22 budget, but it is not yet known when we will have our FY22 budget in hand. In past years, the budget has usually been made available to USGS sometime in late Spring. The time from selection to receiving funds varies depending on whether the recipient is a university or federal entity. A university award will also need to go through a DOI approval process before it can be awarded, which also adds time. Given all of these considerations and our experience, we do not expect that the funds will be available until spring 2022, though it could possibly be later. We suggest planning for late spring/early summer 2022.
Q: Can a single PI submit multiple statements of interest to the FY 21 RFP on RFPManager? For example, can a researcher that is eligible to be a PI submit proposals on behalf of multiple postdocs and/or junior faculty that are not eligible to serve as project PIs?
A: Yes, this is possible. You should be able to click “apply” again to start a new application.
Q: Am I eligible to apply if I am faculty at a UH Community College?
A: Yes. Please submit an SOI with you as the PI, listing your UH Community College affiliation. If selected to submit a full proposal, you will become the “Research PI”. According to the award requirements, you must list Dr. Darren Lerner, UHM as the Lead PI in the full proposal. In that capacity, Dr. Lerner is solely serving as a mechanism to transfer funds from UHM (an eligible institution) to you. You will be responsible for managing and implementing the proposed work. Because the UH Community Colleges are part of the UH System, there are no additional indirect costs to move the funds through UHM. However, we do recommend that you work with your institution when crafting your budget. PICASC staff can work with you on these details as you prepare the full proposal.
Q: Can graduate students be their own PI? Do we need a faculty member to be our PI on our project?
A: PI CASC has no restrictions on graduate students or postdoctoral researchers affiliated with eligible institutions serving as PIs. However, we encourage you to inquire with your respective departments in the eligible institutions to determine if they require that you have a different level of recognition within your department. Achieving this level of recognition may take some time, so we encourage you to take these steps as soon as possible.
Q: Is there the plan to fund only the islands beyond Hawaiʻi or can Hawaiʻi projects still get funded?
A: The intent with this particular RFP is to increase research and capacity building activities in the non-Hawaiian islands in the Pacific Region. Researchers or managers based in Hawaiʻi may partner with managers and/or scientists and/or students from or on the other Pacific islands, so long as the project being proposed meets the research objectives and science priorities identified in the FY22 RFP. For the FY22 RFP, PI CASC is highly unlikely to fund a proposal that is only looking at the Hawaiʻi context.
Q: Could we use a previously successful PI-CASC grant application as a template for starting work outside Hawaiʻi or do you want to see projects originating in those islands?
A: You can use previously successful grant applications as templates, though the project being proposed should meet the research objectives and science priorities identified in the FY22 RFP.
Q: Can you select more than one research theme for your proposal?
A: Yes.