JSA Initiatives Fund Call for Proposals for FY2009
Questions and Answers

• July 20, 2008. Question/Comment:  Please clarify the statement that "Proposals submitted by PI's who are members of the user community require the sign-off of the Users Group Chair on behalf of the Users Group Board."
  
  Answer:  All projects, programs, and activities supported by the Initiatives Fund are for the benefit of the Lab's programs and the Lab's user community.  Proposers generally fall into two categories, either Lab employees or Lab users who are not Lab employees.  The authorized sign-off's (AD and Lab Director for Lab employees; Users Group Chair in behalf of UGBOD for users) provide an opportunity for the Lab leadership and the Users Group leadership to coordinate and be made aware of the many proposals that are anticipated.  If a member of the JLab user community chooses to submit a proposal without the sign-off of the Users Group Board, he/she may do so, and will need the authorized sign-off of his/her home institution.  This requirement is similar to other funding agency's requirements for institutional acknowledgment and authorization for proposals submitted by its staff members and ensures that the proposer's organization is cognizant of the activities of its staff.

• July 27, 2008. Question/Comment:  Will there be an extension to the posted September 12, 2008, date for receipt of proposals?
  
  Answer:  The FY2009 Call for Proposal, issued on July 10, provides nine weeks for proposal preparation. The receipt date of September 12 allows sufficient time for the Initiatives Fund Evaluation Committee to conduct a thorough and fair review of both new proposals and the re-evaluation of on-going programs supported by the Initiatives Fund. The recommendations of the Evaluation Committee will be announced at the Fall JSA Programs Committee meeting in early November. Proposers should plan to make responsive submittals in time to meet the September 12 deadline.

• July 27, 2008. Question/Comment:  What is the total amount of funds available for FY2009 Initiatives Fund projects??
  
  Answer:  The owners of JSA have committed to $500K per fiscal year for the Initiatives Fund program.  Unused prior year funds are carried over to the following year.  For the JSA contract period of four months in FY2006, the Initiatives Fund available was $166.7K; expenditures totaled $184.2K.  In FY2007, the Initiatives Fund available was $482.5K, accounting for the overage from FY2006; expenditures totaled $388.1K. For the current year, the Initiatives Fund available is $594.4K including the carryover from prior year, of which $574.4K is committed.
  
  Therefore, the beginning balance anticipated for FY2009 Initiatives Fund will be $520K.
  
  The following are on-going projects, with estimated costs, that the JSA Programs Committee historically has recommended for continuation for support under the JSA Initiatives Fund program.  As part of the annual evaluation of new project awards, the Evaluation Committee will review these on-going projects including the award amounts to ensure their continued relevance and value to the Jefferson Lab and the JLab community.
  * JLab Director's Discretionary Fund, $125K
  * JSA/JLab Graduate Fellowship Program, $110K
  * JSA/JLab Sabbatical Support Program, $36K
  * JSA/JLab Senior Post Doctoral Fellowship, $50K
  * JSA/JLab Patent Awards, $10K
  * Hampton Roads Partnership Membership for JLab, $8K

• September 26, 2008. Question/Comment:  What is the status of the award of Initiatives Fund projects for FY2009?
  
  Answer:  Twenty-two proposals were received from JLab users and staff in response to this call for proposal. An evaluation committee has been appointed to conduct its review of proposals. The committee's report will be presented and finalized at the JSA Programs Committee meeting in early November. The recommendations for FY2009 awards will be forwarded to the JSA owners. Notice to proposers is expected by the end of November.