Demonstrations

The FDP's purpose is to reduce the administrative burdens associated with research grants and contracts. The interaction between FDP’s university and federal representatives began as a result of annual meetings but solidified as the result of the many collaborative working groups, committees, and task forces that came together for the purpose of developing specific work products defined as Demonstrations.

As with any growing organization, it is crucial to assess past work and determine areas that require clarity and development.  As an outcome of Phase VII’s strategic plan, Demonstration types have expanded, and a process for submitting a new Demonstration project for consideration has been developed.

Phase VII Demonstrations include various types of activities such as studies, surveys, tools, guidance documents, new initiatives, pilot projects, and ongoing projects.  Demonstrations have specific objectives and may require an evaluation of outcomes in order to determine suitability for the full FDP. 

To review a list of current Demonstrations, click here.

The following table includes the five (5) Demonstration types.

Demonstration Type	Description
Exploratory Initiative, Study, or White Paper Development	activity to initially review or research an issue that furthers the FDP’s mission to streamline the administration of federally sponsored research; completed prior to advancing to another demonstration type; assessment of current state and follow-up evaluation of outcomes may be required
Tool or Guidance Document	activity that provides specific information for the FDP to either meet its needs for planning or to provide information in response to questions addressed to the FDP; assessment of current state and follow-up evaluation of outcomes may be required
Survey	activity that provides specific information for the FDP to either meet its needs for planning or to provide information in response to questions addressed to the FDP; assessment of current state and follow-up evaluation of outcomes may be required
Pilot Project	formal activity of the FDP that may need written commitments from specific federal agencies and FDP member organizations confirming their intention to participate in the pilot project and evaluate it at appropriate points in its development and implementation; assessment of current state and follow-up evaluation of outcomes is required
Ongoing Project	ongoing extension of any demonstration activity that has completed the evaluation of outcomes and resulted in sustained FDP membership and/or federal agency benefit; participation in an ongoing project may be a requirement of FDP membership

 

Proposal Submission and Review Process

A Demonstration would normally involve at least one-member institution and may involve a federal agency.  A Demonstration can either be assigned by an FDP Committee Co-Chair or, if submitted by an individual member or group of members of the FDP, must indicate the applicable oversight FDP Committee.  All Demonstration proposals require a completed Demonstration Proposal Form.  The level of detail required is dependent on the type of Demonstration.

Once the Demonstration Proposal Form is submitted, the appropriate oversight Committee Co-Chairs and/or Executive Committee will review and approve and/or provide feedback as follows:

Demonstration Type	Oversight Committee Co-Chair Requirement	Executive Committee Requirement
Exploratory Initiative, Study, or White Paper Development	Approval required	Notification only
Tool or Guidance Document	Approval required	Advanced notification required
Survey	Approval required	Advanced notification required for all surveys; Approval required if survey is distributed more broadly than a Committee
Pilot Project	Approval required	Approval required
Ongoing Project	Approval required	Approval required

 

Demonstration Reporting Requirements

1. Upon final approval, the responsible group will provide a short 2-3 paragraph summary of the Demonstration to the General Membership.
2. The responsible group will provide interim updates at one or more General meetings during the Demonstration.  Interim reports should include the following:
   1. List of participants
   2. Quantitative description of transactions measured or evaluated
   3. Preliminary results
   4. Any change in anticipated duration of the Demonstration
   5. Comparison of the interim results to the original proposed evaluation plan
   6. Recommendations for next steps
3. The responsible group will prepare a final evaluation based on the original plan and/or other assessment measures that become apparent during the Demonstration.