Electronic Proposal Submissions

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has directed all 26 federal granting agencies to begin transitioning from paper to electronic proposal/grant submissions through the http://www.grants.gov portal. Each agency has a different timeline and implementation strategy. Be sure to check agency websites frequently for updated information. (See selected agency websites below.)

NSF will not use Grants.gov this year for collaborative proposals or any other proposals containing subawards. Such applications should be submitted through Fast Lane. Click here http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovadvisory06.pdf to view NSF’s Grants.gov implementation strategy.

The NIH implementation timeline began in December 2005 with SBIR/STTR applications. One by one, all NIH competing research grant programs will transition from paper PHS 398 forms to electronic submission through Grants.gov using the new Standard 424 Research and Research Related form. Researchers should take careful note of the transition schedule to ensure that the appropriate form and transfer mechanism is used. R03s (Small Grant Program) and R21s (Exploratory and Developmental Grants) will transition June 1. R01 proposals were originally scheduled to convert to Grants.gov on Oct. 1 but NIH has pushed the date back to Feb 1, 2007. Once a mechanism converts to the electronic system, all future applications must use the SF 424 form and be submitted through Grants.gov.

The Office of Sponsored Programs Development conducts series of training sessions. It will posted our Workshops and Conferences web site. Please note the following information:

1. If you plan to submit through Grants.gov, contact Beverly Daly (ext. 8360 or 1619) for process tips and individual consultation.

2. Due to new agency business procedures and delays experienced with the new web-based system, PIs are required to submit the entire completed and FINAL proposal, inclusive of all components (as opposed to the fractional components required for paper proposals and non-federal electronic proposals) along with the Proposal Clearance Form to their Grants Management Specialist at least five (5) full business days in advance of the sponsoring agency's deadline, rather than the usual three. This is necessary because both Grants.gov and the funding agency conduct an electronic check of all applications. Identified errors must be corrected by the PI and successfully resubmitted by the Office of Grants Management to Grants.gov before the original deadline. Otherwise, the proposal will not progress to peer review. Our initial experience with NIH showed that applications required, on average, three submissions before acceptance.

3. Follow all instructions carefully. Each application package is tailored for a specific funding opportunity and includes specialized forms and instructions.

Basic Instructions for Using Grants.gov

1. Visit http://www.grants.gov/Apply to download the PureEdge Viewer, a free Windows-based program that allows you to access, complete, and submit applications electronically and securely. Mac users will want to determine their options by accessing the applicable hyperlink on the left hand side of the page.

2. Obtain the appropriate funding opportunity and/or CFDA number and enter it at http://www.grants.gov/Apply to access the application package and instructions. You can complete the application offline and route it through your organization for review, or completion of various components, just like any other email attachment. Everything you need to know is included in the application package and instructions so be sure to download both.

3. Submit the proposal as an email attachment, along with a completed Proposal Clearance Form, to your Grants Management specialist at least five (5) full business days before the deadline. The Office of Grants Management will submit your application to Grants.gov.

4. Once the proposal has been submitted, you can check the status of your application by a system-generated Grants.gov tracking number. PIs will be notified if their application contains errors, in which case the errors must be corrected and resubmitted through Grants.gov before the original agency deadline.

For more information about Grants. Gov

Frequently Asked Questions about Grants.gov

Search for Grant Opportunities on Grants.gov

List of Grant Making Agencies

How to Complete an Application Package

Download PureEdge Viewer

Customer Support

Electronic Submissions for Individual Federal Agencies

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

AHRQ Funding Opportunities

Electronic Grant Applications

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)