Tailored Collaboration Program

The Tailored Collaboration (TC) Program is a matching program designed to support utility-specific/regional issues. It provides an opportunity for subscribing utilities to partner with WRF in regional research projects or projects that address issues of interest to a significant subgroup of WRF subscribers. The program receives 20% of WRF’s allocated budget each year.

Pre-proposals are due June 7, 2021.

Overview

Projects funded under the Tailored Collaboration Program are chosen annually through a two-stage competitive process:

Stage 1 - WRF issues a annual call for pre-proposals. Submitted ideas are evaluated and approved by the Tailored Collaboration Review Committee (TCRC).

Stage 2 - Candidates whose pre-proposals were approved in Stage 1 are instructed to submit a full proposal to compete for funding. The full proposals are evaluated and approved by TCRC.

Applicants can apply for a 1:1 match of up to $100,000 of WRF funds. WRF funds 7-8 projects per year through this program.

Program Details

Each TC proposal must be sponsored by a utility that has paid its WRF subscription
Cash match is required in order to submit a proposal to the program
WRF will provide a 1:1 match, up to $100,000, for every $1 in cash that a subscriber or group of subscribers provides toward the project.

There is no minimum in-kind contribution required.

Selection Criteria

Proposals are selected based on:

Topic breadth and applicability
Originality
Technical approach
Budget
Management plan
Qualifications of key personnel

Submitters will be notified by the second week of August about the outcome, and short-listed research teams will be given approximately 45 days to complete and submit their full proposals. The final funding decision will be made by mid-November.

Process

First, submit a pre-proposal according to the Tailored Collaboration Program pre-proposal guidelines. Those who submit the best pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal.

View the Pre-Proposal Forms

Proposal Guidelines

Visit WRF's Proposal Guidelines page to access supporting documentation, deadline requirements, and information regarding where to send your pre-proposal for the Tailored Collaboration Program.

View the Guidelines