| # | Requirement | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOI1 | Draft LOI project description (≤1 page / ~3,500 chars, single-spaced) | D | complete |
| LOI2 | Assemble the seven LOI fields | D | complete |
| LOI3 | Submit LOI at iesreview.ed.gov/LOI/LOISubmit | D | complete |
| LOI4 | Confirm LOI receipt-acknowledgment email received and filed | D | complete |
| # | Requirement | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| N1 | Significance — must describe: the method developed/improved; how it helps solve practical problems of education researchers; how researchers will obtain and use it | D | complete |
| N1a | Significance recs — the specific methodological issue and why it matters for applied **education** research; current practice *in education sciences* and why unsatisfactory; the new method vs. practice: (a) different enough, (b) theoretical + empirical reasons, (c) easier/more efficient; products; how researchers use them to improve design/analysis/interpretation; results of prior awards if building on one | D | complete |
| N2 | Research Plan — must describe plans and methods for: developing the method; determining it works as intended; determining education researchers can use it | D | complete |
| N2a | Research Plan recs — activities + sequence and **what changes** from the existing method; theoretical derivations and endpoint (estimator, bounds…); secondary-data design, variables, structure, appropriateness, **linking feasibility**; **explicit missing-data handling**; simulation spec at Methods-section detail (manipulated factors, outcomes, "consequential" criteria, DGP, n, fixed/varied values, software); end-user testing: setting, testers, success criteria by user type, feedback loop, UX/HCI best practice; latest versions: preprint repository, software host (GitHub/CRAN), dependency management | D | complete |
| N3 | Personnel — must describe the project team | D | complete |
| N3a | Personnel recs — background of all key personnel **and consultants**; roles/responsibilities; **% effort over a 12-month calendar year**; experience producing similar methods products; prior success disseminating to education researchers; collective expertise; prior Methods-award results if any | D | complete |
| N4 | Resources — must describe research infrastructure and capacity to conduct the project | D | complete |
| N4a | Resources recs — "do not rely on institutional reputation"; capacity to manage a grant of this size; current access to resources; plan to acquire resources (server/cloud computing time); access to education researchers for user testing; access to offices supporting App A and App E; access to data sets/platforms with letters/licenses/MOUs in App D; partner commitments | D | complete |
| # | Requirement | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| APP-A | Engagement & Dissemination Plan (**required, ≤3 pp; scored as its own criterion**): engagement with users **including during application development**; named user groups by sector; engagement methods (needs assessment, users on team, software user testing incl. A/B); dissemination to colleges/universities, research orgs, SEAs/LEAs; venues for education researchers; post-release feedback; **history of key personnel mapped onto tasks** | D | complete |
| APP-B | Response to Reviewers (resubmissions only, ≤3 pp) | D | complete |
| APP-C | Supplemental Materials (optional, ≤5 pp; figures/charts/tables only: timeline, diagrams, product screenshots) | C | complete |
| APP-D | Letters of Agreement (optional, no page limit; legible, not reduced; show time, role, resources, coordination) | EA | complete |
| APP-E | Data Sharing & Management Plan (recommended for novel simulations; ≤5 pp; program-officer reviewed; costs in budget): platforms + pre-registration; data description, PII, documentation, code; admin plan incl. **key-personnel departure**, ≥10-yr availability, DUAs; **simulation items: seeds, replicates, factors, code versioning, release notes** | D | complete |
| APP-F | Alignment with SEER Standards (**required**, ≤3 pp incl. table; program-officer reviewed; award-decision factor). Table columns: *SEER Domain/Standard · High-level summary · Pages in Narrative and/or Appendix*; rows D1 (Theory & Hypotheses; Research Design; Communication of Uncertainty; Integrity; Conflicts of Interest), D2 (Relevant & Student-Outcomes Focused; Engagement; Generalizability; Design for Scale — N/A), D3 (Pre-registration; Open Data; Open Methods; Open Access), D4 — N/A (no impact evaluation) | D | complete |
| # | Requirement | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Project Summary/Abstract (2 pp **recommended**) with headings: (a) Title — Title; Topic · (b) Project Summary — Purpose; Products · (c) Structured Abstract — Research Design and Methods; User Testing; Dissemination; Use in Applied Education Research; Related Projects → **Item 7** | D | complete |
| S2 | Bibliography & References Cited — full citations (all authors in order, titles, pages, year); author-date → **Item 9**; every entry verified to exist | C | complete |
| S3 | Human Subjects Narrative — exempt (Exemption 4, secondary data; D 2026-09-24); no IRB certification at submission → **Item 12** | D | complete |
| S4 | Biographical sketches — D and Adam (key); Braun optional (consultant). ≤5 pp incl. current & pending; **this application listed as pending**; effort % of 12-month year; SciENcv IES format → R&R Senior/Key Person Profile | EA | complete |
| # | Requirement | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Grants.gov org registration; AOR role approved; Workspace | EA | complete |
| F2 | SF-424 (R&R) + R&R Personal Data + Project/Performance Site + R&R Other Project Information + Lobbying Form completed; 4b = **NCER-Core**; 5 = UEI exactly as registered; 8 = New; 11 title ≤200 chars; 15 ≤ $900K | EA | complete |
| F3 | SAM.gov registration / UEI active | EA | complete |
| F4 | R&R Budget (Sections A–L per year) + one Budget Justification PDF at **Section L, Period 1**; allowable/allocable/reasonable (2 CFR 200 E); no participant support (training competitions only); DSMP costs included; indirect 15% MTDC de minimis | D | complete |
| F5 | Assurances/certifications via the AOR: MFTRP (institution + each senior/key person); foreign-support documentation kept; RECR & Confucius Institute N/A (not an IHE) | EA | complete |
| F6 | Application submitted, **validated**, received by agency, tracking number assigned before 11:59:59 PM ET 10/1 (plan: submit 9/29) | EA | in progress |
| F7 | **Research Security Training** completed within 12 months before submission by each senior/key person (D, Adam); SECURE Center module accepted; AOR certifies | EA | complete |
| F8 | **PIDs (ORCID)** for all key personnel — in biosketch **and** R&R Senior/Key Person Profile "Credential" field | EA | complete |
| F9 | Budget includes the **annual 3-day PI meeting in Washington, DC** (all 3 years) | C | complete |
| F10 | Award limits: ≤3 years; ≤$900,000 (treated as **total** cost; PO asked 9/24); budget reflects actual need; start 2027-07-01 to 2027-09-01 | D | complete |
| F11 | AI use allowed; applicant certifies content "true, complete, and accurate" regardless of AI generation — D reviews and owns every claim | D | complete |
| # | Requirement | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FMT1 | 8.5×11; 1-in margins; single-spaced; 12-pt Times New Roman/Courier/Courier New/Arial; page numbers **bottom or upper right** | C | complete |
| FMT2 | Author-date parenthetical citations throughout (no numeric) | C | complete |
| FMT3 | Section 508: alt text for every chart/figure/graph; color never sole encoding; table header rows | C | complete |
| FMT4 | Page limits: narrative 15 (hard); APP-A/F 3; APP-C/E 5; biosketch 5; abstract 2 (recommended) | C | complete |
| FMT5 | Narrative + appendices merged into one PDF, appendices alphabetical → R&R Other Project Info **Item 8** | C | complete |
| FMT6 | Tagged, accessible PDFs (lualatex + tagpdf; fallback Acrobat autotag), read-only/flattened | C | complete |
| FMT7 | File names <50 chars, unique, allowed characters only; package size sensible (<5 MB typical) | C | complete |