Using Grants'gov: the Reality Show Discussion at the SAI Tenth Annual Meeting San Juan, Puerto Rico

1
Using Grants.gov the Reality ShowDiscussion at
the SAI Tenth Annual MeetingSan Juan, Puerto Rico

• Beth Strausser (bstrauss_at_nsf.gov)
• Senior Policy Analyst
• National Science Foundation Policy Office

2
Submitting an Application to NSF through
Grants.gov
7. NSF downloads submitted application packages
and validates and inserts the information into
FastLane
1. Applicant navigates to Grants.gov website
2. Applicant searches for funding opportunities
5. AOR submits application package to Grants.gov
3. Applicant finds a funding opportunity and
downloads application package (PureEdge forms)
and instructions
4. Applicant completes application package
6,8. Confirmations are sent by both Grants.gov
and NSF
Applicant or Researcher
3
Important Dates

• Release Date Date funding opportunity is posted
  on Grants.gov. Applicants may download
  application package and start working on
  application.
• Opening Date - the first date the completed
  application can be submitted to Grants.gov.
• Closing Date the date which the application is
  due. NSF proposals have to be submitted by 5pm
  proposers local time in order to meet the
  deadline. Any proposals submitted after 5pm
  local time will be returned without review!!

4
Behind the Scenes at NSF

• NSFs Grants.gov Proposal Integration provides a
  seamless process which
• Electronically downloads submitted application
  packages to NSF from Grants.gov and
• Inserts the data into FastLane
• Proposals submitted via Grants.gov look the same
  as proposals submitted via FastLane to programs
  and reviewers

5
NSF Implementation in 2007

• Those programs designated required in 06 remain
  required in 07
• Unless otherwise specified, optional submission
  for the vast majority of NSF programs
• Will not be used until a Grants.gov solution has
  been developed for
• Separately submitted collaborative proposals
• Fellowship programs that require submission of
  reference letters

6
Required to be submitted through Grants.gov in
2007

• Antarctic Artists and Writers (OPP)
• Scientific Computing Research Environments for
  the
• Mathematical Sciences (MPS)
• Living Stock Collections (BIO)
• Advanced Learning Technologies (CISE)
• CEDAR, GEM, and SHINE Postdoctoral Research (GEO)
• Research in Disability Education (EHR)
• Infrastructure Materials Applications and
  Structural Mechanics (ENG)
• Geography and Regional Science (SBE)

7
NSF Grants.gov Submissions

• Since June 2005, 1,038 proposals submitted via
  Grants.gov
• 565 successfully submitted (54 success rate)
• 473 required correction and resubmission (46)
• Of the eight programs requiring submission, 444
  proposals were submitted
• Of the 214 programs with optional submission, 594
  proposals were submitted using Grants.gov
• When submission through Grants.gov was an option,
  1 of the applicants chose to submit through
  Grants.gov

8
Major Problems Encountered

• Applicants submitting applications with
  attachments that are not in PDF.
• The PI or Co-PI typed their name differently in
  various portions of the application and the
  software could not tell if this was the same or
  another individual.
• Applicants had varying success in submitting
  proposals, some taking as many as four attempts
  before successful insertion into FastLane.

9
Top 5 Items Applicants Need to Check

• Allow time for editing after submission
• Can use FastLanes Proposal File Update module to
  make changes
• The changes will be automatically accepted prior
  to
• the deadline date specified in a program
  solicitation or
• initiation of external peer review in cases when
  a target date is utilized or
• initiation of external peer review in the case of
  an unsolicited proposal

10
Top 5 Items Applicants Need to Check

• Check for duplicate key persons on the Research
  and Related (RR) Senior/Key Person form
• Allow time for editing after submission
• Can use FastLanes Proposal File Update module to
  make changes

11
Top 5 Items Applicants Need to Check

• Review the NSF CheckList form
• Check for duplicate key persons on the RR
  Senior/Key Person form
• Allow time for editing after submission

12
Top 5 Items Applicants Need to Check

• Always use the organizations legal name
• Review the NSF CheckList form
• Check for duplicate key persons on the RR
  Senior/Key Person form
• Allow time for editing after submission

13
(No Transcript)
14
If The University of Minnesota, University of
Minnesota or U of Minnesota is entered, the
organization will not be found in FastLane and
will be registered as a new organization!
15
Top 5 Items Applicants Need to Check

• Attachments must be in PDF format!
• Always use the organizations legal name
• Review the NSF CheckList form
• Check for duplicate key persons on the RR
  Senior/Key Person form
• Allow time for editing after submission

16
Attachments must be in PDF!

• Refer to Section 3.2.1, Creating PDF Files
• Non-Adobe Acrobat Users
• Can use Convert Files to PDF available under
  Quick Links in FastLane through Proposal
  Preparation or Research Administration

17
And, please dont forget.

• NSF also does not accept applications through
  Grants.gov for
• Letters of Intent
• Preliminary Proposals
• Changed/Corrected Applications
• Continuations
• Supplemental Funding Requests

18
Words to Live By.

• File attachments must be in pdf
• Check to ensure the program does not require
  mandatory submission
• Check the institutional names used!
• Use the Checklist
• Read the Grants.gov Application Guide
• Follow any special instruction in the funding
  opportunity
• Allow extra time for editing!!!

19
Where to go for Help?

• Grants.gov Support
• Email support_at_grants.gov
• Phone Number 1-800-518-4726
• Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 700
  a.m. to 900 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
• Questions related to
• Grants.gov registration
• Downloading and submitting applications
• How to find an application lost on your computer

20
Where to go for Help?

• NSF IT Help Central for questions related to
• Entering information on the form or additional
  guidance
• Did NSF receive the proposal?
• Program Office for all questions related to the
  programmatic aspects of the proposal
• Policy Office for all questions related to SF 424
  Research and Related (RR) completion