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NIST GCR 05–873
Customer Satisfaction Findings from the Advanced Technology Program’s
Survey of ATP Applicants 2002
2. Applicant
Perceptions of the ATP Proposal Process
The Advanced
Technology Program (ATP) aims to make the proposal process useful to
companies and ensures fair and equal treatment of all applicants. The
Survey of ATP Applicants 2002 collected information about applicants’ perceptions
of the proposal process.
Respondents
were asked to indicate:
- how useful
to their company was the process of preparing the ATP
proposal
- how useful
to their company was information received from ATP during
the review process
- the extent
to which they believed the ATP review and decision process
was a fair process
- the likelihood
that they will apply for ATP funding again.
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Most applicants view
the ATP proposal process as useful
- Preparing an ATP proposal
may be useful to an applicant for a variety of reasons. It may catalyze
discussion and planning, focus attention on specific R&D or business
issues, or clarify management commitment.
- Three-quarters of
all applicants report that the process of preparing an ATP proposal
is useful (See Figure 2–1.)1
- Just over two-thirds
of all applicants regard the information received from ATP during
the proposal process to be useful (See Figure 2–1.)
- During the proposal
process, companies respond to questions from ATP in oral review regarding
technical risk and business aspects of the project. In telephone
debriefing of nonawardees, companies receive feedback on the strengths
and weaknesses of their proposal against ATP criteria.
- The extent to which
the 2002 applicants viewed the ATP proposal process as useful to
their company is almost identical to that found for the year 2000
applicants
Figure
2–1. Usefulness to Company of the ATP Proposal Process
Most applicants view
the ATP proposal process as fair
- Three-quarters of
all applicants report that the ATP review and decision process is
a fair process. (See Figure 2–2.)2 These findings
for the 2002 applicants are comparable to what was found for the
year 2000 applicants.
- ATP places great emphasis
on ensuring the integrity and fairness of the proposal review and
decision process. All proposals are peer-reviewed by technical and
business specialists and evaluated according to clearly established
criteria.3
Figure 2–12.
Beliefs that the ATP Review and Decision Process is Fair
Many applicants believe they will
apply for funding again
- Two-thirds of the
2002 applicants say that they will apply for ATP funding again. (See
Figure 2–3.)4
Both awardees and nonawardees
view the ATP proposal process positively
- Not surprisingly,
awardees view the ATP proposal process more favorably than nonawardees.
(See Figure 2–4.)
- Still, most nonawardees
view the ATP proposal process favorably, and are likely to apply
for funding again.
Figure 2–3.
Likelihood of Applying for ATP Funding Again
Figure 2–4.
Awardee and Nonawardee Perceptions of the ATP Proposal Process
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1. We have combined the response categories “very useful” and “somewhat
useful” for ease of reporting.
2. We have
combined the response categories “large extent” and “moderate” for
ease of reporting the portion of applicants that view the process as
fair.
3. Technical
reviewers are government employees and business reviewers are private
sector business specialists. All reviewers sign a strict nondisclosure
agreement to ensure confidentiality of the information in the proposals.
4. We have
combined the response categories “very likely” and “somewhat
likely” for ease of reporting.
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Date created:
July 29, 205 Last updated:
August 4, 2005
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