A solicitation is more than a list of instructions. It communicates what the sponsor values, what problem they are trying to solve, what kinds of teams they expect, and how reviewers may judge competitiveness. Strategic solicitation review helps teams identify both explicit requirements and implicit expectations.
Use this resource when:
- A solicitation is long, complex, or unusually structured.
- The team is unsure what the sponsor actually wants.
- Review criteria do not map cleanly onto the proposal sections.
- The opportunity includes multiple required components, cores, tracks, phases, or partner roles.
- The team needs to distinguish compliance requirements from competitiveness factors.
What to extract from the solicitation:
| Element | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Sponsor goals | Defines the problem the proposal must help solve |
| Eligibility and submission limits | Determines whether Yale or the PI can apply |
| Required components | Shapes proposal structure and workplan |
| Review criteria | Shows how reviewers will evaluate the proposal |
| Program priorities | Reveals what the sponsor may value beyond technical merit |
| Required partners or stakeholders | Affects team formation and timeline |
| Budget and duration | Determines whether the scope is realistic |
| Special requirements | May trigger institutional, compliance, commercialization, data, or security considerations |
Strategic questions to ask:
- What is the sponsor trying to change, build, accelerate, or solve?
- What would a highly responsive proposal need to demonstrate?
- What will reviewers likely expect to see immediately?
- Are there terms repeated throughout the solicitation that should shape the proposal language?
- Are some requirements buried in sections that teams might overlook?
- Does the solicitation reward interdisciplinarity, translation, workforce development, community engagement, infrastructure, or institutional commitment?
YRD can help with:
- Solicitation analysis
- Review criteria mapping
- Proposal structure recommendations
- Responsiveness and competitiveness assessment
- Identifying sections that may require early planning