This document provides an overview and agenda for a class on submitting grant applications through Grants.gov. The class will cover what Grants.gov is, the two options for completing applications from the University of Washington, how to find funding opportunities, and the UW submission process. The agenda includes an overview of Grants.gov, how to prepare and complete application forms, finding funding opportunities, and tips for successful submission.

1. The Basics 2015

2. Craig Johnson
Grant Administrator
Department of Medicine
crjohnson@medicine.washington.edu
221-3383
Instructor

3. Objectives
By the end of this class you will:
• Know what Grants.gov is and when to
use it
• Understand the 2 options for submitting
applications from the UW
• Know how to find funding opportunities
supported by Grants.gov
• Understand the UW process for
submitting Grants.gov applications
• Gain hands-on experience using

4. Agenda
Grants.gov Overview
Two ways to complete applications
Preparation time
What info do I need?
Where do I get it?
Finding & completing the Adobe
formset
Final Check and downloading
Q&A

5. What is Grants.gov?
• An electronic portal that allows users
to find, apply for, and manage over
1,000 grant opportunities from 26
different Federal agencies

6. When do I use Grants.gov?
• Depends on the agency and program
requirements.
• Some sponsors (e.g., NIH, NOAA)
currently use Grants.gov
• NSF has it’s own system (Fastlane)

7. Two Ways to Complete Grants.gov
Applications
#1 Adobe
– Search and download forms direct from
Grants.gov
– Complete forms
– Attach to eGC1 and route
– OSP will upload and submit your
application
– Errors and warning messages provided by
OSP

8. Two Ways to Complete Grants.gov
Applications
#2 SAGE Grant Runner
–Complete the forms directly in SAGE
(combined with eGC1)
–Route for campus approvals
–OSP submits application with a click
of a button
–Errors and warning messages
appear in eGC1 History &
Comments

9. SAGE Grant Runner
Grant Runner combines the eGC1 &
sponsor forms for some NIH funding
opportunities requiring SF424 R&R forms,
including Modular, Detailed and
Subaward Budgets
• Getting Started Grant Runner Guide
http://depts.washington.edu/research
/Docs/grant_runner_getting_started.p
df
• https://www.washington.edu/research

10. Getting Started
• NIH’s system is called eRA Commons.
• In order to apply to NIH, every PI (or
grad student) must have an active
account in Commons.
• Contact your Department
Administrator to request an NIH
Commons login account.

11. Getting Started
• Your computer is loaded with the most
currently supported version of Adobe
(9.1.2.)
– Grants.gov warns -anyone entering text on
the 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 GIM19

12. UW Routing and Submission
Process
Routing
on
Campus
In OSP
Review
by OSP
Admin

14. Navigating the Submission
Freeway
OSP transmits
application & receives
confirmation
Grants.gov performs
basic check
GRANT00001234
Agency System
(NIH)
eRA Commons
AN1234567

15. Grants.gov National Submission
Funnel
Grants.gov
UCLA
USC
UW
Everyone’s Goal:
100% success in submitting error free

16. UW Deadlines
(Submit Proposal)
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

17. Sponsor Deadlines
(Submit Proposal)
Any hard deadline that is missed will
usually result in the application being
returned without review
• Hint
– Create a calendar using the sponsor
deadline
– Count back 3 and 7 business days
UW
Holiday
-2
-10
-1-3-4
-8 -7 -6
-9

18. 7 Day Rule
3+ Day Rule
all business components
complete/final + draft
version of the science
(Research Strategy)
all proposal components
complete/final + final version
of the science (Research
Strategy)
What is due when?
QUIZ

19. 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 subcontracts 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!!

20. Demonstration of Grant.gov
System
• Finding Grant Opportunities
• Download Instructions
• Download application package
• Complete application package
• Viewing and Printing application package
• Email acknowledgements and notifications

21. http://www.washington.edu/research/
http://www.washington.edu/research/funding/opportunities/

22. Finding a Grant Opportunity

23. Finding a Grant Opportunity

24. Finding a Grant Opportunity

26. To download
application
For a full copy
of the instructions

29. Enter your email address here if you would like
updates on this PA
Save both to your desktop

30. 7 Steps to
Submit NIH proposal via
Grants.gov1. Download application package via
Grants.gov
2. Complete the application package
3. Complete a eGC1 in SAGE.
4. Upload application package to GC-1
and route to OSP
5. OSP will review & submit final
application
6. Validation process (multiple emails

31. 3 Steps to
Submit NIH Proposal via Grant
Runner1. Create, complete and submit to OSP
a new eGC1 in SAGE containing the
application package.
2. Real time validation info contained
within SAGE History and Comments.
3. Validation of NIH proposals via eRA
Commons.

32. Where do I look for more
info?
• NSF website:
http://www.nsf.gov
• NIH Instructions for 424 Forms
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/
424/index.htm
• NIH ERA’s Commons website:
https://commons.era.nih.gov/commo
ns
• Avoid Common Errors:
http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/a
voiding_errors.htm

33. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/faq.htm

34. Where can I go for help?
For technical questions:
http://grants.gov/ or 1-800-518-4726
For NIH’s overall plan for electronic
receipt, contact NIH Grants info at
grantsinfo@nih.gov
For UW procedure and process:
Contact OSP Help Desk at 685-4362 or
osphelp@u.washington.edu
For Grant Runner questions:
Contact the SAGE Help Desk at 685-
8335 or sagehelp@uw.edu.

35. Helpful Tips
• Always review the Program Announcement for
requirements (i.e. page limits, documentation,
etc.).
• Answer “Yes” on the eGC1 Ready-to-Submit
(RTS) question only when the proposal is ready
for submission
• The budget & SF424 form must have same start
date.
• Make sure to use the correct DUNS#.
• Level of effort must be listed on detailed
budget.
• Do not use headers and footers on documents.
• Grants.gov warns: ANYONE inserting text into an

36. More Helpful Tips
NIH Only:
• Make sure PI information in eRA Commons
matches the name used on the
application.
• Convert document attachments to PDF
format.
• Do not use “Assemble PDF Portfolio”
function in Adobe

37. Questions & Answers

38. In Closing
Course evaluations will be emailed
shortly following class.
THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!