2. OBJECTIVES
Learn:
• What Grants.gov is
• Avoiding errors for Grants.gov
applications
• Where to look for funding
opportunities
• Where to find information to
complete Adobe Forms set
• Additional Resources
3. What is Grants.gov?
Portal that allows users to find, apply for, and
manage over 1,000 grant opportunities from 26
different Federal agencies
4. Grants.gov
• Depends on the agency and program
requirements.
• Some sponsors (e.g., NIH, NOAA) currently use
Grants.gov
• Fastlane is the optimal system to use for
submitting to NSF, don’t use Adobe Forms
5. NIH
3 Ways to Submit
Adobe Forms SAGE: Grant Runner ASSIST
Download Grants.gov forms Complete forms directly in
SAGE (combined with eGC1)
Complete application in ASSIST
Complete forms Route for approvals Data validation, errors &
warnings provided within
ASSIST
Attach to SAGE eGC1 & route
for approvals
OSP reviews & submits
application to NIH
Complete SAGE eGC1 & route
for campus & OSP approvals
OSP reviews, uploads &
submits application to NIH
Errors and warning messages
appear in eGC1 History &
Comments
OSP reviews & submits
application to NIH
Errors and warning messages
provided by OSP
Combines eGC1 & sponsor
forms for some NIH funding
opportunities
SAGE Getting Started guide:
http://depts.washington.edu/r
esearch/Docs/grant_runner_g
etting_started.pdf
https://www.washington.edu/
research/?page=nihAssist
5
6. 7 steps to submit NIH proposal via
Grants.Gov
1. Download application package via Grants.gov
2. Complete application package
3. Complete eGC1 in SAGE.
4. Upload application package to GC-1 & route to
OSP
5. OSP reviews & submit final application
6. Validation process (multiple emails btw OSP,
Grants.gov & department)
7. Validation of NIH proposals via ERA Commons
7. Getting Started
• NIH’s system is called eRA Commons.
• Every PI (or grad student) must have an active
account in Commons for NIH submission.
• Contact your Department Administrator to
request an NIH Commons login account.
8. Getting Started
• Grants.gov warns: anyone entering text on
Adobe forms should be using the same
version of Adobe.
• Search, download and become familiar with
the Program Announcement and instructions
• Schedule so that submission is in compliance
with UW GIM19
9. UW Routing and Submission process
Routing
on
Campus
In OSP
Review
by OSP
Admin
10.
11. OSP transmits
application & receives
confirmation
Grants.gov performs
basic check
GRANT00001234
Agency System
(NIH)
eRA Commons
AN1234567
Navigating The Submission Freeway
12. Submit Proposal –
UW Deadlines GIM 19
7+ days:
• All final business elements and draft scope of
work
• Approved by campus reviewers and IN OSP
• OSP needs to be able to do a meaningful review
3+ days:
• Final proposal in complete & final format
• Status = IN OSP by 5pm
-3 days:
• Any application received by OSP after 5pm 3
business days before the sponsor deadline will
not be reviewed and will be sent back to the
PI/Dept
• Waiver Process
• https://www.washington.edu/research/osp/gim/
gim19.html
12
13. Submit Proposal –
Sponsor Deadlines
Any hard deadline that is
missed will result in the
application being returned
without review.
Best Practice:
• Create a calendar using sponsor
deadline
• Count back 3 and 7 business days
• Make a reasonable timeline for
each section/part
• Concurrent timelines for admin vs.
science sections
• Don’t forget about holidays and
vacations
13
JULY 201X
UW
Holiday
-2
-10
-1-3-4
-8 -7 -6
-9
14. Quiz: what is due when?
7 Day Rule
• all business components
complete/final + draft
version of the science
(Research Strategy)
3+ Day Rule
• all proposal components
complete/final + final
version of the science
(Research Strategy)
14
23. DEC 2015
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Save both to your desktop
24. Avoiding Errors!
Helpful Tips
• Review & Follow Program Announcement
requirements i.e. page limits, documentation…
• eGC1 Ready-to-Submit (RTS) question =“YES”,
ONLY when ready for sponsor submission
• Budget & SF424 must have same start date.
• Use correct DUNS#.
25. Avoiding Errors!
Helpful Tips
• Detailed budget MUST list level of effort
• Do not use headers & footers on documents.
• Grants.gov warns: ANYONE inserting text into
an application should use the SAME version of
Adobe.
26. Avoid Errors!
Helpful Tips
NIH Only:
• PI information in eRA Commons must match
name used on application.
• Convert document attachments to PDF
format.
• Do not use “Assemble PDF Portfolio” function
in Adobe
27. Additional Resources:
• NSF website:
http://www.nsf.gov
• NIH How to Apply Instruction Guide
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-
guide.htm
• NIH ERA’s Commons website:
https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons
• Avoid Common Errors from NIH:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-
guide/learn-how-we-check-your-application-for-
completeness/avoiding-common-errors.htm
28. When am I really ready to submit?
All required eGC1 fields completed
All COMPLETED sponsor forms attached
IRB or IACUC studies / protocol approval dates
IRB / IACUC modifications applied for
Attached paperwork for subawards or consultants
Research Plan & budget is attached in FINAL form
Attachments are in correct format (NIH=PDF only)
F&A rate is in accordance with GIM 13A
Any required waivers approved (e.g. IDC, e-GC1 addendum,
GIM 19)
Then RTS = YES!!
30. Need help?
• Grants.gov Technical questions:
http://grants.gov/ or 1-800-518-4726
• UW proposal preparation procedures &
process: osphelp@uw.edu or 685-4362
• Grant Runner questions:
sagehelp@uw.edu or 685-8335
• NIH electronic submission errors & warnings
• Grants.gov Outages Calendar
31. Questions about your Grants.gov
proposal?
Contact your OSP Reviewer.
Include the following information with your inquiry:
• Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
number
• Name of sponsoring agency
• GRANT tracking number (available post-
submission)
• Specific question or area of concern