An Introduction to Grants.gov

Sponsored Programs Office

February 22, 2011

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Agenda• General Overview of Grants.gov• Searching for a Solicitation• Different Forms for Different Agencies• Standard Information for Application Forms• File Upload• Submitting to Grants.gov• Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Grants.gov?• The federal web portal for finding grant

opportunities from any federal agency and locating application packages

• Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically apply for federal grants.

• Grant applications must be submitted through grants.gov when the federal agency’s program guidelines require that the application be submitted through Grants.gov.

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Grants.gov RegistrationDo I need to register on Grants.gov? • Principal Investigators should not register on

Grants.gov (although may need agency specific ID)

• Only the Institution and the Authorized Organization Representative need to be registered on Grants.gov

• Michigan Tech is registered on Grants.gov4

Grants.gov RegistrationDo I need to register on the Federal Agencies

website?• Some federal agencies such as the National

Science Foundation (NSF), other Public Health Agencies, etc. do require that PI’s and/or Co-PI’s register on their grants management systems when submitting applications through Grants.gov.

• For example if a PI is submitting to NSF, they must be registered on FastLane. 5

Grants.gov• What do I need to know about submitting a

Grants.gov proposal at Michigan Tech?– Only the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) can

submit a proposal through Grants.gov– Internal Proposal Deadline to SPO

http://www.mtu.edu/research/administration/sponsored-programs/office/proposal-preparation/spo-internal-deadlines.html

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Find Grant Opportunities

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Searching for SolicitationsFind in Grants.gov

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Apply for Grants

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Put in your email for updates

Read Instructions

Download Application 11

Grants.gov Application• Each application is specific to a particular program

and cannot be used to apply to another opportunity or program.

• The Find feature in Grants.gov is used to search and identify a particular program to which an application will be submitted.

• By clicking the Apply for Grant Electronically, the application package is downloaded (make sure you do each time you plan to submit).

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Grants.gov Application• Read the application instructions! You would

be surprised how many different ways there are of filling out these “standard” forms. The solicitation will indicate which components are required and which are optional.

• Complete all fields that are yellow. If it does not apply enter a zero or N/A.

• Use Adobe version 8.1.3 or above13

When searching from the Synopsis page, you can select the Application button

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Download application & instructions, select the corresponding link

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Adobe Reader Application Package:Open the application

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Cover

Page

Completing the Cover Page:Remember to save often

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Move forms to the right side; Start with 424 (424 populates additional field in the application)

Steps For Completing Forms

1. When you open a required form, all required fields are noted by an asterisk and sometimes highlighted in yellow with a red border.

2. Optional fields and completed fields are displayed in white. 3. Select any field to enter the necessary information. 4. Use the TAB button on your keyboard to move from field to

field. 5. If you enter invalid or incomplete information in a required field,

you will receive an error message upon leaving the field.

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SF-424: Fill in all the required fieldsand the SPONSOR Fields

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Attaching Documents• In addition to forms, application packages may

also require that you submit specific documentation, such as a program background statement, for example. Specific instructions for additional documentation will be included in the application package instructions.

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Steps for Attaching Documents

1. To open a form that requires you to attach a document, select the form name to move it to the form for submission list and then select the Open Form button which appears below the appropriate box.

2. Once the form is open, you can attach documents from your computer to the form. Depending on the form, you may be able to attach a PDF, Text Document, Word Document or other type of documents. After completing a form, move it to the appropriate Completed Documents for Submission box.

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Attaching Documents:Attach the required files

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Attaching Documents

• A Browse window opens• Select document to attach• Select open button• You will return to the Attachments form• File names of the attachment will now appear

in the form on the line of which you selected• Repeat process until you have attached all

necessary documents24

Application AttachmentsNaming your Application Attachments• No longer than approximately 50 characters• Do not use special characters (%,/,#)• Do not use spacing• Use underscore for spacing (my_File.pdf)• There is a paper clip icon in Adobe Reader forms on

the left side of the page in every application. You CANNOT attach documents with this function.

If these hints are not followed, applications may be rejected 25

Deleting an Attachment

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Saving & Finalizing the Application• Once all required and optional documents are

completed and attached select Save. – If errors are found, select the Check Package for

Errors button which will identify each error. – Correct errors found and select save.

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Application• The Save & Submit button will become active after all errors

have been resolved and the package has been saved.• Even though the Save & Submit button will become active,

only authorized organizational rep’s are allowed to submit the proposal.

• Refer to Proposal Submission Guidelines handout for additional information

• Send this saved document to the appropriate analyst in SPO.• SPO will complete a final review and submit the application.

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Application Submitted• The submission will generate a series of e-

mails containing the Grants.gov tracking number and other important information

• These messages are only sent to the SPO office– Application was received and assigned tracking

number– Application validated by Grants.gov– Application received by grantor agency– Application reviewed by grantor agency 29

After Application Submitted

• Once the proposal is accepted by the agency, it no longer resides in Grants.gov

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Questions?

Sponsored Programs Office906-487-2226

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