How to Get a Pre-Proposal/Letter of Intent (LOI) to Submit Processed by the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)
Important Notice: All LOIs should be sent to OSP a minimum of two (2) days prior to the sponsor's deadline.
Last Updated: 6/22/2026
Type |
Letter / Pre-Application |
Budget |
OSP Estimate of Time (days) for Processing |
Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Proposal/LOI which does not require an Institutional Signature: | Y | N | 0 | If the Pre-Proposal does not require a signature and does not include a detailed budget, the Principal Investigator (PI) may submit it to the sponsor without a review by OSP. |
| Pre-Proposal/LOI with Budget and UAB Signature and Pre-Proposal/LOI which does not require an Institutional Signature but requires OSP submission to sponsor (e.g. NIH, NSF, etc.): | Y | Y | 2 | OSP requires the completion and submission of a funding proposal submission in myUABResearch. Submit the LOI, URL link to the sponsor guidelines, and budget to OSP for review in myUABResearch. In the title of the proposal, please include “LOI: Application Title” or “Pre-proposal: Application Title” so data entry can recognize the submission as exempt from the five day deadline. You may also include any additional information in the General Proposal Information section of the funding proposal. |
| Pre-Proposal/LOI (no budget) Needing UAB Signature and there is no Cost Sharing Commitment or submission of Pre-Proposal on the sponsor's site: | Y | N | 1 | If the Pre-Proposal is a submission on the sponsor's site or a simple Letter of Intent (LOI) to submit a pre-proposal and there is no commitment of cost sharing from UAB. OSP requires the completion and submission of a funding proposal through myUABResearch. Submit the LOI, URL link to the sponsor guidelines, and budget to OSP for review in myUABResearch. In the title of the proposal, please include “LOI: Application Title” or “Pre-proposal: Application Title” so data entry can recognize the submission as exempt from the five day deadline. You may also include any additional information in the General Proposal Information section of the funding proposal. |
| Pre-Proposal with Cost Sharing Commitment (budget must be included): | Y | Y | 2 | If cost sharing language exists or is inferred in the LOI or Pre-Proposal, then the packet requires the completion and submission of a funding proposal submission through myUABResearch Submit the required documents including the budget LOI, URL link to the sponsor guidelines, and signed Cost Sharing Commitment Form to OSP through myUABResearch. In the title of the proposal, please include “LOI: Application Title” or “Pre-proposal: Application Title” so data entry can recognize the submission as exempt from the five day deadline. You may also include any additional information in the General Proposal Information section of the funding proposal. |