FY 2028 Request for Concepts/Proposals
- Concept Note Deadline: 5:00 p.m., June 30, 2026
- UNL Invited Proposal Deadline: 5:00 p.m., August 31, 2026
Concept notes must be submitted via email, and invited proposals must be submitted in NuRamp.
For guidelines on how to prepare and submit a concept note and invited proposal to this competition, download the Request for Concepts/Proposals.
Overview
Each year, the University of Nebraska System presents a portfolio of appropriations requests to Nebraska’s congressional delegation, seeking advocacy and funding for priority projects and programs. Strong preference is given to requests that will enhance research capacity and infrastructure to fuel future research; advance the university’s mission, strengths, and strategic priorities; and demonstrate state and national interest and impact. Typical budgets for federal appropriation request projects range from $3 million to $5 million.
UNL faculty and staff are invited to submit concept notes outlining potential federal appropriations request projects by June 30, 2026. Following review of the concept notes, select teams will be invited to submit a federal appropriations request proposal by August 31, 2026, for consideration as one of UNL’s requests that will be submitted for further consideration as one of the University of Nebraska’s federal priority appropriation requests for FY 2028. UNL will advance a handful of federal appropriations requests as part of the University of Nebraska-wide federal appropriations process.
Office Hours
Those interested in learning more about federal appropriations requests generally and the new process outlined in the Request for Concepts/Proposals are encouraged to register and attend one of two virtual office hours being offered in June:
- Friday, June 5, 2026: 10 to 11 a.m. Register for the June 5 office hour.
- Wednesday, June 10, 2026: 2 to 3 p.m. Register for the June 10 office hour.
Additional Information
For programmatic questions (e.g., regarding the fit of a project idea with the federal appropriations priority request process), contact Jessie Herrmann, director of government relations, at jherrmann2@unl.edu or 402-472-3554, or Nathan Meier, associate vice chancellor for research, at nlm@unl.edu or 402-472-3902.
For questions regarding concept note or proposal submission, contact Matthew Dwyer, senior research development program coordinator, at mdwyer4@unl.edu or 402-472-1661.
