ORI HOT TOPIC - Grants.gov Update

Grants.gov has been designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget as the single access point for all grant programs offered by 26 Federal grant-making agencies. It provides a single interface for agencies to announce their grant opportunities and for all grant applicants to find and apply for those opportunities. Agencies are in various phases of making the transition.

Timeline
NU proposal submission process
NU training opportunities
Quick tips
Samples
Other resources

Timeline
* These NIH submissions must currently be processed through Grants.gov

* NIH may shift the R01 implementation date further into the future, due to a delay in the tools needed for submission for Mac users. A notice of clarification in the NIH Guide is anticipated in October 2006.

NU's proposal submission process

1. PI's must first register for an eRA Commons account (NIH Submissions only). To register, please contact Mike Green, OSR Information/ERA Specialist.
2. Download the PureEdge Application Viewer. A free software package that will allow you to complete and submit applications electronically and securely on Grants.gov
3. Find and Download the appropriate Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in Grants.gov. (It is advised that you download application packages from the solicitation rather than from the Grants.gov website).
4. Complete the Application package. For step by step assistance, please see Pure Edge interactive demo.
5. Notify your OSR Grant and Contract Officer of your intent to submit an application via Grants.gov. Submit the OSR-1 and OSR-100 forms to OSR, along with a hard copy of your proposal.
6. Using instructions provided by OSR, Upload your application to the NUIT Depot WebFile server. Depot is a Northwestern web-based file sharing tool. Due to technical constraints, applications should not be forwarded to OSR via email.
7. OSR reviews application package, requests any necessary revisions, and Submits final version to Grants.gov before deadline.
8. Application moves through the Grants.gov Validation and NIH Commons Verification process. If errors are found, application will be returned. Your OSR GCO will work with you to correct any errors and resubmit if necessary.

PLEASE NOTE: Frank DiSanto sent a memo to PIs in April '06 about the NIH Grants.gov deadlines, asking researchers to redefine their concept of proposal deadline, and submit completed NIH proposals to OSR at least five business days before the deadline. Since that time, OSR staff have had many opportunities to review and submit proposals to NIH via Grants.gov. The NIH validation process is quite complex, and it is not unusual for OSR, the PI, and the PI’s staff to spend several days working through the various validations.

Training Opportunities

• NEW hands-on training opportunities in Chicago and Evanston!
• Depot - Depot is a web-based file sharing tool which OSR utilizes as a means to gather and review Grants.gov applications from submitting Investigators. Depot allows users to save files on a server that can be easily accessed from anywhere online, on or off campus. Please contact your OSR GCO for assistance.
• Grants.gov Complete Submission Process Workshop Presentation
• Workshop Handouts
• For additional assistance or training opportunities in Chicago, please contact Bruce Elliott, 312.503.7955 or b-elliott@northwestern.edu
• For additional assistance or training opportunities in Evanston, please contact Sue Ross, 847.491.3003 or sross@northwestern.edu

Quick tips

• DO NOT Register with Grants.gov. Northwestern University is already registered as an Institution and PI's do not have to individually register.
• DO NOT obtain a DUNS number for Grants.gov. All applications must use Northwestern University's assigned DUNS.
• DO Use PC/Windows machines while completing applications with the PureEdge software. For Mac users, an improved PureEdge viewer \ will not be available until at least late 2006. In the meantime, an alternative option is to use a software emulator/Virtual PC.
• DO submit your OSR forms and application materials in a timely manner to assure enough time for internal review and the Validation/Verification process of Grants.gov and NIH Commons.
• DO familiarize yourself with materials provided at Grants.gov and the NIH, as well as utilize OSR guidance materials and attend training.

Sample SF 424 (R&R)
Please see these examples below for each campus and follow the template where appropriate as you prepare your submission to assure correct data and sufficient processing time.
Sample for Evanston applications
Sample for Chicago applications

Other Agencies
National Science Foundation
Department of Energy

Additional Resources
NIH Electronic Submission of Grant Application Update
NIH Electronic Submission FAQ's
SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide and Forms