Proposal Development Accelerator Program
Call for submissions (Draft)
Submissions Close: April 13, 2026
PHT180 seeks two-page pitches from affiliates to accelerate the development of competitive proposals for external submission. This proposal-development support is intended to provide resources to remove bottlenecks such as sponsor alignment, team formation, targeted feasibility evidence, and grantsmanship.
Program Structure and Support
- Stage I (Pitch):
- ~8 teams selected
- up to $10,000 awarded.
- Stage II (Boost, ~3-month milestone):
- ~4 teams selected from Stage I
- up to an additional $20,000.
- Stage II selected proposals have access up to an additional $10,000 in PHT180 awards available through a 50/50 cost-sharing commitment from a departmental/college fund. This is beyond both Stage I and Stage II awards.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be PHT180 faculty affiliates prior to submission (teams encouraged).
- Pitches must target an external sponsor/mechanism and a realistic submission window.
Policy and Guidelines
Major Dates and Deadlines
| Call for pitches released: | March 16, 2026 | |
| Stage I pitch submission deadline: | April 13, 2026 | |
| Stage I decisions announced: | May 11, 2026 | |
| Stage II milestone packet due: | August 10, 2026 | |
| Boost decisions announced: | August 17, 2026 | |
| PDAP Program end date: | November 30, 2026 |
*The program goal is to have all Stage II proposals externally submitted within the 6 months of the PDAP program. No-cost-extension to support a delayed external submission is negotiable subject to valid reasons for the delay.
Stage I:
Required Submission (Two-Page Pitch; single PDF)
Page 1 – Project Summary
- Significance/innovation
- Team/expertise
- Tentative aims (bullets acceptable)
Page 2 – Plan of Development
- Primary target sponsor/mechanism (backup encouraged) and submission deadline/window
- Key gaps to proposal readiness and requested PHT180 support (services and/or funds)
- Funding request: dollar amounts with brief justification (proposal-development focused)
Sponsor and Submission Plan
-
1-page structured form — template here
Review Criteria
- Sponsor/mechanism fit (fundability) and clarity of value proposition
- Feasibility/timeline realism; team readiness and gap-closure plan
- Quality/coherence of tentative aims and development plan
- Appropriateness and leverage of requested PHT180 support
Submission Instructions and Key Dates
- Submit PDF to: pht180@rit.edu
- Please use the subject line "Lastname_PDAP_Stage1"
- Deadline: April 13, 2026
- Notifications: May 11, 2026
- Questions: pht180@rit.edu
Stage II:
Milestone Review and Boost (for Stage I Selected Teams)
Approximately three months after the initiation of Stage I awards, selected teams will submit a brief milestone update for Boost consideration. Approximately four teams will be selected for an additional Boost of up to $20,000 based on readiness for submission. Additional cost-match with departmental/college funds can be considered if applicable.
Required Milestone Materials
Concise; page limits will be provided to Stage I awardees:
- Updated 1-page project summary / specific aims
- Updated Sponsor and Submission Plan (1-page structured form)
- Brief progress update (high-level bullets)
- Boost request (amount, intended uses, and remaining gaps to submission)
- Letter of commitment to cost-sharing by department heads or college Deans (if applicable)
Boost Selection Criteria
- Aims quality and sponsor/mechanism fit
- Submission readiness and timeline credibility
- Progress/traction to date
- Gap-closure plan and appropriateness/leverage of the requested Boost
Submission Instructions and Key Dates
- Submit PDF to: pht180@rit.edu
- Please use the subject line "Lastname_PDAP_Stage2"
- Deadline: August 10, 2026
- Notifications: August 17, 2026
- Questions: pht180@rit.edu
