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How Projects Are Awarded

Types of support

Support is usually given in the form of contracts, not grants. Contracts ensure that projects supported will focus on an agreed topic and that the results will be made available to the scientific and regulatory communities and the public on an agreed schedule. Our policies require most authors to submit their results for publication to peer-reviewed journals to ensure maximum programme transparency. Grants can be let under certain conditions, such as when the specific goals of a project cannot be predicted, and when the results are not time-sensitive.

Application procedure

The Joint Industry Programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life (JIP SML) has initiated a third phase involving new research projects. As part of Phase III, new Request for Proposals (RFP) announcements for specific projects or project areas will be published on this website (and on other list servers such as MarMam and Bioacoustics L) based upon Research Topics of Interest as identified by the JIP. RFPs will be the principal route for allocation of JIP funds. The JIP recognises that there may be ideas for which content falls outside of scope for these calls. Therefore, whilst unsolicited proposals are not encouraged, the JIP will consider unsolicited pre-proposals that offer new, novel and breakthrough approaches to addressing key subjects. A small component of the overall programme budget remains un-allocated to account for this research.

Submitting an Unsolicited Pre-Proposal:

To ensure clarity and fairness in the consideration of unsolicited proposals the following protocol should be followed:

  • Unsolicited pre-proposals should be submitted by 15th September 2014 for consideration for the 2014 budget and thereafter once per year as advertised here.
  • Pre-proposals should be submitted in the JIP SML Unsolicited Proposal template and not exceed three pages. Those submissions not adhering to the template and three page limit will not be reviewed.
  • Whilst the JIP will make all reasonable efforts to keep the information secure, it does not provide any warranties over confidentiality or protection of background intellectual property. The JIP will not enter into separate confidentiality agreements with potential partners for unsolicited proposals.
  • The JIP reserves the right to not fund any unsolicited proposals and/or may direct the contributors to related RFPs
  • The decision of the JIP is final and the originating authors are not entitled to proposal feedback or documented appraisal of their ideas
  • The JIP reserves the option to issue a competitive RFP for the solicitation of full proposals in the event that multiple pre-proposals are received addressing the same topic of interest to the JIP.

Potential outcomes of an Unsolicited Pre-Proposal submission are 1) encouragement to develop and submit a full proposal, 2) consideration of a future RFP in the proposed topic area, or 3) rejection of the submission.

Research that addresses global issues in marine sound will be favoured over research that addresses local or regional issues.

Unsolicited pre-proposals will be assessed for 1) relevance to JIP Research Topics of Interest, 2) relevance to JIP research questions, 3) overlap with current RFPs, and 4) technical merit.

Investigators whose unsolicited pre-proposals lead to encouragement to develop and submit a full proposal should follow the guidelines of Format for Proposals Responding to RFP. Full proposals will be evaluated according to the criteria and review process listed under Proposal Review Procedures. Unsolicited pre-proposals should be sent electronically to info@soundandmarinelife.org. We will acknowledge receipt of proposals submitted.

Unsolicited Proposal Template