Certified Research Administrator Practice Exam

If a graduate student wants to obtain a copy of a submitted proposal under FOIA, what should the research administrator do?

1. Provide the student with a copy of the proposal

2. Provide a copy of the proposal with proprietary information blacked out

3. Advise the student to request a copy 90 days after it's been submitted

4. Advise the student to wait to apply to the federal agency until after a decision is made on the proposal

The correct answer is: Advise the student to wait to apply to the federal agency until after a decision is made on the proposal

The most appropriate action for the research administrator, in this case, involves guiding the student regarding the timing and procedure for obtaining the proposal under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Advising the student to wait to apply to the federal agency until after a decision is made on the proposal reflects an understanding of the FOIA process and the implications of pending proposals. Typically, under FOIA, a submitted proposal is not subject to disclosure until the agency has made a decision on the funding or review of the proposal. This protects sensitive information during the evaluation process and ensures that the proposal is not prematurely released before the agency's decision is finalized. Therefore, waiting until a decision is made allows for compliance with the process and respects any proprietary interests involved in the proposal. This approach also emphasizes the importance of understanding the implications of FOIA requests in the context of federally funded research and the importance of following established guidelines to protect both the submitter's intellectual property and the integrity of the proposal review process.