What should a research administrator do if a grad student requests a submitted proposal under FOIA?

The appropriate action for a research administrator when dealing with a graduate student's request for a submitted proposal under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is to advise the student to wait to apply to the federal agency until after a decision is made on the proposal. This choice reflects the importance of maintaining the integrity of the proposal process and the sensitive nature of the information contained within proposals that may still be under review.

Typically, proposals submitted for grant funding often contain preliminary ideas, methods, and sensitive information that should not be disclosed until a decision is reached by the funding agency. Sharing the proposal prematurely could compromise both the confidentiality of the submitted work and the competitive position of the organization or individual submitting the proposal.

Therefore, guiding the student to wait until a decision is made ensures that any potentially sensitive data remains protected until the appropriate time, which is crucial in a research and funding context. This approach also fosters compliance with federal regulations concerning the handling of submitted proposals.