What should I include in the budget for my proposal (how do I estimate effort, travel, materials, etc.)?

While crafting your research proposal, you should get an idea of what you'll need to carry out the project's work like additional equipment, supplies, or personnel. Occasionally, solicitations will require certain budget items, such as yearly travel to sponsor meetings, etc. However, outside of that the sponsors typically allow a reasonable degree of flexibility in the budget. The important part is that your research proposal and budget justification can effectively communicate a budget item's inclusion to the reviewers.