The CGI Hub specializes in concierge research development services and training aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of federal grant proposals. These specialized services are offered in conjunction with the pre-award services provided by the research grant offices within the colleges. 

Here's how it works. 

• Principal investigators (PIs) who work in colleges or on system campuses with dedicated research staff should contact their research office regarding their intent to submit a federal proposal and their need for research development services.
• The college or campus research office should then complete the CGI Hub Services form to request the needed CGI Hub services.
• The CGI Hub will reach out to the PI and the research office to set up a collaborative work plan that suits their needs.
• Those investigators who do not have a dedicated research office in their college or system campus should complete the CGI Hub Services form directly, and the CGI Hub team will follow up directly with the PI.

CGI Hub federal proposal development services target faculty and research administrators. Undergraduate and graduate students should contact their faculty mentors or the Office of National Fellowships and Scholar Programs for proposal development support.

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Learn more about our levels of service.

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Level 1: Basic Services Level

At this level, services are considered basic and take minimal time for completion, such as, but not limited to: 

• Proposal checklists and submission requirements
• Competitive review of biographical sketches
• Assistance with SciENcv, including biographical sketches and current and pending documents
• Institutional boilerplate language and documents
• Ancillary or templated documents
• Budget and budget justification services
• Finding funding

If you are interested in receiving Level 1 services, please submit a request form at least 2-3 weeks before the agency deadline.

Level 2: Intermediate Services Level

At this level, services will take planning with additional support on campus and possible coordination of contracted services, such as, but not limited to:

• Technical editing assistance with final drafts
• Graphic design services
• University Libraries services with data management and sharing plans
• Competitive review of proposal

If you are interested in receiving Level 2 services (includes Level 1 services listed above), please submit a request form at least one month before the agency deadline.

Level 3: Advanced Services Level

At this level, services will require significant resources and time for completion. These services will normally take place with the PI teams for complete research development of proposals:

• Proposal development plan and timeline
• Grant writing and technical editing services during development of proposal drafts with PIs
• Team Science support (teaming)
• Red Team reviews
• Research funding landscape

If you are interested in receiving Level 3 services (includes Level 1 and/or Level 2  services listed above), please submit a request form as soon as you are considering a proposal for submission. Depending on the size of the proposal and which services you would like at this level, it is best to submit a request form at least three months before the agency deadline.

CGI Hub Role in the USC Proposal Ecosystem

Roles and Responsibilities Matrix

Each major step in the sponsored award life cycle is listed on a separate line in the left-most column of the matrix. The cells in the second through fifth columns show responsibility for each step, by role:

• Column 2: The Carolina Grants & Innovation Hub (CGI Hub) (Research Development)
• Column 3: The Office of Sponsored Awards Management (SAM) (Pre-award)
• Column 4: Principal Investigator (PI)
• Column 5: The Division/Unit Administrator (the business manager or other research administrator residing in a department, college, or other academic unit) (Pre-award)

In each column, letters are used to indicate the responsibility level for each role:

• P indicates a Primary Responsibility: The responsibility for a step resides primarily with the role denoted with a P.
• S indicates a Supporting Responsibility: When an S appears, it denotes supporting or secondary responsibility for a given step.
• G indicates a Guidance Responsibility: When G appears in a cell, the corresponding role/column will provide guidance and advice for the step, as needed.

Activity/Step	CGI Hub	SAM	PI	Division/Unit Administrator	Notes
Identification of funding opportunities	S		P	S
Teaming for large proposals; Team Science	S		P
Technical editing of proposal drafts	S		P		CGI Hub provides technical editing during the drafting stage and final draft edits.
Graphic design services	P				CGI Hub provides contracted graphic design services for proposals’ figures, graphs, and tables.
Institutional boilerplate language and templates	P			S	CGI Hub hosts the Research Toolbox and develops/writes institutional boilerplates and templates.
Competitive review of proposal documents	S		P		CGI Hub will provide a review of supporting documents to ensure alignment with proposal narratives.
External proposal reviews	P		S		Large proposals may be eligible for external reviewer services. PIs will be responsible for identifying potential reviewers for the CGI Hub to conduct Red Team Reviews.
Develop proposal documentation and budget	G & S	G	P	S	Research Development Services: CGI Hub;  Pre-award Services: Unit Research Office
Prepare proposal package using sponsor guidelines and forms	G & S	G	P	S	Forms and administrative tasks will be covered by Pre-award Services in Unit Research Office
Create & submit proposal through USCeRA for administrative review and approval			P	S
Review proposal package to ensure compliance with sponsor guidelines and USC policies	G	P	S	S
Submit final, approved proposal to funding agency		P	S

 

Request proposal development services