Abstract
How should universities respond to the increasing competition for federal research dollars? From the current literature and the varied professional perspectives of the respondents to a recent survey evaluation of a research and development program, this paper identifies a range of possible university responses. The responses include: argue with logic, demand with political clout, strategically develop niche expertise, provide training for faculty to develop the perspective and skills necessary for collaborative research, and maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the utilization of available funds.