Collaborating on the Review Process

Your supervisor, the principal scientist at a R&D firm, reviews grant applications for the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program.  He gives you an SBIR application, asking you to read it and email him your comments.  Portions that identify the company which submitted the application have been blacked out.  When you ask whether the funding agency knows that you are helping to review this grant application, he says, no, but it is common practice.  Should you review the application?  Should you notify the funding agency?  What if it were not a grant proposal but, rather, an article being reviewed for publication in a journal?

J1G says:  This practice might be commonplace; however, it is not only unethical, but perhaps also illegal.  The supervisor is at fault.  If I were the person being asked to do the review, I would politely decline unless the supervisor clears it first.  This situation requires sunshine.