Montana State University is already registered as an institution through Grants.gov. No additional registration by Principal Investigators is necessary.

Federal grant programs are transitioning to electronic submission of proposals through Grants.gov. This website is a single access point allowing organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all federal grant-making agencies including grant programs such as NSF, NIH, EPA, USDA, DoED, DOD, DOE, USGS, DHHS, etc. See http://www.grants.gov for complete details.

If your sponsor requires submission through Grants.gov, contact your Fiscal Manager in OSP well in advance of due dates in order to assure an on-time application through this federally required system.

PIs can search the Grants.gov database to find federal opportunities, and also sign up for e-mail notifications. Comprehensive search mechanisms are available. Use the funding opportunity number of the program you wish to apply to for the next step.

On the Grants.gov web page you will find and download an application package using the free PureEdge software provided on the website (http://www.grants.gov/DownloadViewer).  Application packages are beginning to be posted in Adobe format. Adobe Reader 8.1.1, 8.1.2 or 9.0 must be used for these and is provided at http://www.grants.gov/resources/download_software.jsp#adobe811.  A test package is available at http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/AdobeVersioningTestOnly.jsp to verify if you have the correct version of Adobe Reader installed on your computer.  When you have completed and saved all required forms and fields, the proposal will be ready for submission.

Your completed Grants.gov file and any other required agency files can now be attached to the Electronic Proposal Clearance Form.  Look for “Transfer Grants.Gov Files to OSP” on the Main Options screen. This replaces the need to use the previous Web File Browser upload method. The maximum file size is 35 megabytes. After attaching your files, select Save at the top of the screen and then Close the proposal. An email message will be sent to the OSP Fiscal Managers to notify them that the files are ready to be received.

Your Fiscal Manager in OSP is the Authorized Organizational Representative who will then review and submit the proposal to the agency. PIs cannot submit the electronic proposal directly to Grants.gov.

Tips for Using Grants.gov

1. Use Internet Explorer.
2. Enable cookie support and pop-ups.
3. A PC works best; however, special instructions are provided for Mac OS X and Linux.
4. Register to receive notification of changes to application package.
5. Download PureEdge Viewer, Adobe Reader 8.1.1, 8.12 or 9.0, application instructions and application forms.
6. Notify OSP as soon as you begin the application process.
7. Complete the SF 424 (R&R) Form first (it populates other fields)
8. PIs sometimes need to register with individual agencies. Call Pre-Award Services, 994-6240 for assistance (ie NIH, NSF, NASA). “Credential, agency login” "on the R&R Sr/Key Person Profile" form refers to your agency specific username. (ie, eRA Commons username)
9. Fields not completed will show in yellow (Grants.gov mandatory fields; agencies may have others which are mandatory)
10. Mandatory forms must be moved to Mandatory Completed Documents (on right)
11. After entering data into the file, click the SAVE button each time before exiting. Save this file on your desktop. The file does not automatically save the data. You may get a warning message (message will continue till all data is entered). It’s OK to ignore message.
12. Most agencies require attachments to be in PDF. Do not use special characters (such as &, /, \, [, ], %, #) or spaces in file names.
13. Do “Check Package for Errors” when done with uploading files.
14. The “Submit” button becomes active after all mandatory elements are completed and moved to the right, and the document has been “Saved”.
15. NEW - Transfer completed file to OSP for submission by attaching your file to the Electronic Proposal Clearance Form.  Look for “Transfer Grants.Gov Files to OSP” on the Main Options screen. This replaces the need to use the previous Web File Browser upload method. The maximum file size is 35 megabytes. After attaching your files, select Save at the top of the screen and then Close the proposal. An email message will be sent to the OSP Fiscal Managers to notify them that the files are ready to be received.
16. Note your deadline (Mountain time?  Eastern time?  2 pm?  5 pm?)  Submit early!
17. Agency specific reminders:

NIH - PI must enter eRA Commons username at “Credential, agency login” (on Sr/Key Person form)

USDA - Complete the Conflict of Interest form (on Supplemental Info form)

HRSA - May require application to be completed in HRSA online, and signed cover sheet to be mailed by OSP.

NSF - Please use FastLane unless Grants.gov is required.           

Form 424 R&R

The first form you should complete in any Grants.gov application is the 424 R&R. Once saved it will populate other required forms. Here is the information you will need for this initial form. (Field numbers may vary across agencies.)

              Field 2          Applicant Identifier: PI Last Name, OSP Pending Number (OSP will add)

              Field 5          Legal Name: Montana State University

                                  DUNS #: 625447982

                                  Department: (PI’s Department); Division (PI’s College)

                                  Address:  309 Montana Hall, Bozeman, MT 59727-2470

                                  Person to be contacted on matters involving this application:  your Fiscal

                                  Manager’s name and email.

              Field 6          MSU Employer Identification number: 81- 6010045

              Field 7          Type of Applicant: (F) State Controlled Institution of Higher Education

              Field 14         Congressional District of a. Applicant: 1  For Grants.gov: MT-001

              Field 17         Is Application subject to review by state executive order 12372 process?

                                          b. No - Program is not covered by E.O. 12372

              Field 19         Authorized Representative: 

                                          Your Fiscal Manager’s name goes here

                                          Fiscal Manager; Montana State University

                                          Office of Sponsored Programs, VP for Research

                                          309 Montana Hall

                                          Bozeman, Gallatin, MT 59717-2470

                                          406-994-2381, 406-994-7951, grantsgov@montana.edu

                                                        (Note: For proposals to the National Science Foundation,

                                                        FMs should use their own email address.)

Resources

              Grants.gov Help Desk – 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov

              Grants.gov User Guide – http://www.Grants.gov/CustomerSupport

              OSP assistance – 994-2381 or 994-6240

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 8/7/08