CASI will fund either one- or two-year projects. All projects must begin no later than August 20, 2002, to ensure a full 12 months of research. A one-year project's maximum period of funding in FY02 is July 1, 2002, to August 31, 2003, and may begin as early as July 1, if the enabling documentation is complete by that time. A two-year project's maximum period of funding is July 1, 2002, to August 31, 2004. Proposals for one- or two-year segments of larger, multi-year research streams are welcomed. However, such proposals should describe the larger research context and show how the proposed work is bounded within it. CASI funding is expected to lead to follow-on funding from the private sector or from federal programs.

Maximum budget is unlimited, however the required cost share will be based on the first $40,000 of the budget. Any amount over $40,000 will be paid solely by the collaborating company. Principal investigators are urged to keep costs minimal. Maximum faculty support is two month's salary per year or a one-course buy-out during the academic year. Purpose of travel must be stated. Equipment budget must be itemized and justified. If a faculty member is granted more than one award, CASI will adjust the salary budget accordingly.

As guidance, the following formula is typical of many CASI-funded one-year projects: one- or two-months faculty support; 12 months of 20-hours-per-week graduate student support with 40 hours per week in the summer preferred; tuition (private, in-state or out-of-state); and other direct costs, such as computer time.

As mentioned above, CASI funding is expected to lead to follow-on funding from the private sector or from federal programs. To this end, the proposal must contain the general outline of a plan to obtain additional funding and the amount to be sought. One of the project deliverables must be the proposal for additional funding. The project budget may contain up to ten percent of its total amount for efforts related to securing additional funding. Ten percent of the project funds will be withheld until a copy of the follow-on funding proposal submitted to the federal or private agency is received by CASI.

Each proposal must involve the participation of a member business, industry, or public entity participant, called the Collaborating Company. The Collaborating Company may be a single firm or group of firms, a single public entity or group of public entities.

A Collaborating company may be:

Collaborating companies of type (a) and (b) have full voting rights on the CASI Operating Board and their proposal processing fee is paid from membership dues. Collaborating companies of type (c) do not have any voting rights on the CASI Operating Board and must become dues paying members if the project is funded.

The principal investigator of a CASI grant shall not also be a principal of the Collaborating Company, where "principal" is defined as a corporate officer of the company.

Membership. CASI has five membership levels. Each level is related to the number of employees in the state of Colorado:

The budget must exclude indirect costs. Because CASI grants are funded largely with monies from the Colorado Advanced Technology Institute, all indirect costs must be waived by the institution.

University faculty member. Only full-time, tenure-track faculty at the member universities are eligible to apply for funding from CASI. As principal investigator of a CASI grant, the faculty member has the technical and contractual responsibility for acceptable and timely completion of the work proposed in accordance with the standard contracts and grants policy of the faculty member's university.

Graduate student, Postdoctoral Student, or Professional Research Assistant. Ideally, one or more graduate students are supported by the project. However, a postdoctoral student or a Professional Research Assistant may be more appropriate for some projects. At a minimum, the student should be supported half-time (20 hours / week for 12 months). If the company has restrictions on the type of student to be hired (e.g. only US Citizens and permanent residents), this must be clearly stated and justified in the proposal. The principal investigator is responsible for personnel and project management to ensure that the project is successfully carried out.

Collaborating business, industry or public entity. Each project must involve a scientist, technician, subject-matter expert, or management representative from the member Collaborating Company.

The intellectual property created in the course of the performance of work within the scope and time period, including any time extensions, of a CASI Technology Transfer project is the property of the university to which the grant is awarded. Licensure of intellectual property is governed by the Collaborating Company Intellectual Property Agreement and the Terms and Conditions, Attachments 4 and 5 of this RFP. The principal investigator is required to file an Intellectual Property Disclosure form with CASI as an attachment to the Final Report. Ten percent of the project funds will be withheld until the form is submitted.