Identification of the Problem and Technical Approach

Section Basics: 

In this section applicants should define the specific technical problem or opportunity addressed by the application.  Applicants should provide enough background information so that the importance of the problem/opportunity is clear.  They should indicate the overall technical approach to the problem/opportunity and the part that the proposed research plays in providing needed results.   

 

Although each section of the Project Narrative is important, the first section is extremely so as it is the first part of your proposed project that reviewers will encounter, and it lays the groundwork for all that follows.  This section should take up a significant portion of the narrative and applicants should plan on dedicating around 3-4 pages to addressing it thoroughly.   

 

For further discussion of this section, please see the Phase 0 tutorial “Drafting the First Section of the Project Narrative,” available in pdf or as a podcast.   

 

 

Section goals: 

  1. Define the specific problem or opportunity addressed in the application and demonstrate synergy between your interests and the needs specified by DOE.
  2. Provide sufficient background information so that the importance of the problem/opportunity is clear. 
  3. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the topic and subtopic to which you are responding 
  4. Discuss your technical approach to the problem and address any prior research that lays the foundation for this approach.  
  5. Differentiate your approach from the current (if any) methods used to address the problem/opportunity.  
  6. Clearly identify the benefits of funding your approach as opposed to an alternative.  
  7. Explain how your method or approach will advance or address the identified topic/subtopic pair.  
  8. Provide a general overview of the methods you will use and the expected outcomes and benefits.  

 


Pro tips

Using headings subheadings will help provide greater clarity to the response and ensure that each portion of the question is addressed.  For instance, the first part of this section could be broken down into Identification and Significance of the Problem or Opportunity and then Technical Approach. The Technical Approach section could then be further broken down into Current Methods Used to Address Problem and then [Company Name]’s Technical Approach.   

 

Applicants should demonstrate that they have read and understand the requirements of the topic and associated subtopic and that the proposed project meets the needs identified by DOE.  If the topic or subtopic description referenced specific literature, it is useful to mention and/or discuss that literature to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of DOE’s needs.   

 

Present statements and arguments in a scholarly fashion and provide evidence to substantiate your position.   

 

Avoid including promotional language about your company or information that is tangential to the discussion of the problem/opportunity and your technical approach.