Grants.gov
(With thanks to the Research Offices of
UW-Madison and Union College, who
gave permission to make use of their
presentation materials)
What is Grants.gov?
• Federal government’s solution for a "one stop
shop" for finding and applying for funding (26
agencies).
• Will replace federal agency-specific proposal
submission systems.
• NSF will still have Fastlane, NIH will still have
eRA Commons, etc. for post-submission
functions.
Will My Federal Funding Agency
use Grants.gov?
• Agencies slow to shift.
• OMB tied the agencies’ federal
appropriations to their use of Grants.gov.
Today
• ORSP: Overview of process
• You: Questions
• ORSP: Research answers
Later
DO NOT REGISTER. UWEC is registered.
Searching
FON or CFDA
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance)
Select >1 in any
category using
control key
Search Alternatives
• www.cos.com
• more than feds
Search Alternatives
• SPIN (Sponsored Programs Information
Network)
Download to Your Computer
• Software
• Application materials
PureEdge Viewer (ICS Viewer)
• Download software to your computer
• Download application package, rename it with
your name, the agency and the due date
• Complete the application on your computer
Entered CFDA
Application Package
Notification
Download
both
Application Instructions
Read both the regular
RFP guidelines and
these. Mismatches
have been found
between these
instructions and the
form instructions.
Note different instructions
for different agencies
Grants.gov-speak
• FOA (Funding Opportunity Announcement) =
RFP/RFA (Request for Proposals or Applications.
• Component = a form.
• Application package = all components needed for
a particular FOA.
• SF424 (R&R) (Standard Form 424 (Research &
Related)) = The first form – info on this form
populates other forms.
• E-Business POC (Point of Contact) and AOR
(Authorized Organizational Representative) =
ORSP.
Application Package Concept
Application package (PureEdge file) is like a manila file
folder with the label already printed and a group of
mandatory, blank, forms inside.
Application-Specific Forms
CFDA 47.050
Application Package
(PureEdge file)
Some forms will ask you to
upload/attach pdf
documents (science,
biosketch, etc.)
You are not online anymore
Check for correct
grant package
Yellow = required field
Open form, complete, move to right
Components for R & R
• Required
–
–
–
–
–
–
R&R Application cover component (SF424)
R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s)
R&R Other Project Information
R&R Senior/Key Person
R&R Budget
R&R Personal Data
• Optional, where appropriate
– R&R Subaward Budget Attachment Form
Cover Component
Info You Need
• Legal name and address: Use UWEC
name and address
• Type of applicant: H. Public/State
controlled institution of higher education
• EIN/TIN: 39-1805963
• Organizational DUNS #: 12-051-3759
• Congressional District: 3
Other Project Information
Project Summary
Project Narrative
References
Facilities
Equipment
Budget Forms
personnel
Equipment
Travel
Participants
Other direct costs
Indirect costs
Attach budget
justification
Ready to Submit?
• 2 options
– Upload the PureEdge file to \\fs3\grantssh$
and let ORSP know it is there (log out and
back on to Windows before mapping to this
drive)
– Put it on a memory stick or CD and bring it to
ORSP
After Submission
• E-mails arrive:
–
–
–
–
Grants.gov acknowledges submission
Grants.gov validates submission
Agency acknowledges download from G.g
Agency assigns a tracking number
• Any errors found must be changed before the
submission deadline
• DO NOT submit at the last minute
• DO NOT disappear after initial submission
Tips for Success
• Start early
• Use Internet Explorer and a Windows
environment
• Read instruction package carefully –
agency instructions vary
• Ask ORSP for help
• Save often
• Submit early
Macintosh Users Warning
• PureEdge does not work on a Mac
• You can use “Citrix” running remotely with
your Mac as a terminal. Others have
encountered many problems.
• If you decide to use a Mac we need EVEN
MORE lead time as you would be our
guinea pig.
Problems OTHERS Have Had
• When saving, file does not overwrite and
generates new file each time
• Grants.gov accepts package (and you
think you are done) but agency does not
• Mac instructions actually do not work
• Online system is so overloaded near a
deadline that submission is significantly
delayed
• And more
A Plea
• UWEC has submitted 3 grants through
Grants.gov, mostly without difficulty
• The Research Officers listserv is FULL of
Grants.gov horror stories, although they
seem to be decreasing
• PLEASE give ORSP maximum possible
lead time to be able to assist you well