NIH (all its
institutes, including AHRQ), for most of it's grant mechanisms, has
moved to an online grant application
system. NIH now uses grants.gov as its online grant application portal.
As part of this new system, NIH requires applicants to use the
SF424 forms.
The old PHS398 forms are no longer valid for grant programs that have
transitioned into the new electronic system.
Here are some STEPS
that we recommend you follow, to help make your application process less
stressful (at
least 4 weeks before the grant deadline). Click
here for a flow chart illustration of the grant application process.
1)
STEP 1: Obtain an eRA commons account
–
eRA commons is a system NIH developed to
facilitate the discrete exchange of essential information between NIH
and applicant organizations (and applicants). The “Commons” is a
Web-interface where NIH and the grantee community are able conduct their
extramural research administration business electronically. Here is the
link to eRA commons -
https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/
To
obtain individual accounts to access eRA commons, please contact
Judi Rioch (3-9985) at the
Office of Research and Sponsored programs. This process typically takes
1-2 days.
Whether
you are applying for a grant now or plan to do so in the future, we recommend that you
get eRA access now. This will not only help you in the grant application
process (as explained in point #5 below), but will also provide you
useful information pertaining to all the grants that you have applied at
NIH, the documents associated
with those grants (PDF files of the entire grant, face page for progress
report, summary statement, etc),
other contact information (of program official, review dates,
study section names and codes, etc) and
status information.
2)
STEP 2: Download Pure Edge Viewer
– Pure Edge is a software
which will allow you
to access, complete and submit applications electronically and securely
on Grants.gov. Click on
this link to download Pure Edge:
http://grants.gov/DownloadViewer. Grants.gov is planning to move to
an 'Adobe' version of forms. We will keep you posted as and when this
change is finalized.
3)
STEP 3: Download Grant Application package –
You can search for the grant mechanism or program announcement (PA) or
RFA (request for application) by following this link:
http://grants.gov/search/basic.do
You can search using
keywords or the PA or RFA number or grants listed under various
agencies. Once you find the opportunity you are interested in, click on
the "How to Apply?" tab on the top and follow the
download application link and save the file on your
computer.
At this stage you are
ready to start filling out your grant application on your computer. You
can save the application in parts and complete it later.
Submitting your grant application
- ORSP is the only office authorized to submit electronic proposals
through grants.gov. After your
application has been filled and all documents have been uploaded into
the Pure Edge application form, send the file to the Office of Research
and Sponsored programs.
NOTE:
Even with the new electronic
submission, all applications need a signed transmittal form and a
detailed budget for ORSP approval.
What happens after ORSP submits the grant?
– NIH notifies both the PI (Principal Investigator) and SO (Signing
Official) by email to check the eRA Commons for results of the NIH
validations check. Because email can be unreliable, PIs and SOs should
periodically check
eRA Commons for the status of their application. This
is another important reason why you need an eRA commons account before
you apply for a grant.
