Application Process Definitions

Requests for Applications (RFA): A document issued by sponsor. Quite often this term is used by the National Institutes of Health when they want to focus on a particular area, and provide the Pricipal Investigator latitude in designing the study, and spending the funds. Proposals submitted in response to RFAs generally result in the award of a grant.

Request for Proposal (RFP): Announcements that specify a topic of research, methods to be used, and product(s) to be delivered. Proposals submitted in response to RFPs generally results in the award of a contract with terms and conditions which provide the sponsor with a lot of control over how the project is conducted.

Request for Quotations (RFQ): A formal request issued generally by private sponsors when they need a specific piece of work performed.

Program Announcement (PA): A document issued by a sponsor which describes the existence of a funding opportunity. It may describe new or expanded interest in a particular extramural program or be a reminder of a continuing interest in an extramural program.

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