Message Archive

Here is a list of things you should know as you prepare yourself for the transition to Grants.gov. If you know you will soon apply for a grant that requires submission through Grants.gov, you should contact your DRDA Project Representative as soon as possible for more guidance.

** Check the Grants.gov transition date for your funding Agencies and Programs
The funding agency or program you are applying to may not yet be using Grants.gov for grant applications. Eventually, all Federal grant applications will be done in Grants.gov, but it is being done in phases. Please look at the program announcements/instructions to see if you can apply via Grants.gov. There is more info on the research website about specific agency timelines. If in doubt, contact your DRDA Project Representative.

** Register with your funding agency (if required)
Several agencies require you to register on their agency specific website for electronic grant applications, including NIH which requires registration in the NIH eRA Commons. Check to see if you will need to register with your funding agencies.

For NIH eRA Commons registration go to: http://www.research.umich.edu/nih/commons/

Note: The University already is fully registered with Grants.gov; no further Grants.gov registration is required for individual investigators.

** New software will be needed to view and fill out federal grant applications
The Federal government provides free software through Grants.gov called the PureEdge Viewer to view and fill out grant applications. There are several ways to get access to and use PureEdge. For all of the options, you will need to contact your local system administrator to download it on your computer if you do not currently have system administrator rights.

Non-PC users: PureEdge only works on PCs, but it does work through a Citrix client server on Macs and other systems. This is currently available to download on Grants.gov, and DRDA is exploring other options. We will provide more detail soon.

We would like to estimate how many non-PC users this may affect. If you can, please respond to this message and write "Non-PC User" in the message. Thanks!

** Sending your grant application to DRDA
For the time being, we will be in a combined paper and electronic world. You will still need to route a paper PAF and administrative shell to DRDA along with your electronic grant application file. To send DRDA your electronic application file, we have created a webpage where you can upload the grant application you completed in PureEdge. We will retrieve and review your proposals electronically. Specifics on the use of this DRDA server will be provided in my next message. In the meantime, contact your DRDA Project Representative for advice on how to send to us.

** Deadlines With Grants.gov, it will be imperative that PIs avoid last minute submissions. DRDA will be requesting more time to review applications that go through Grants.gov. We are reviewing our deadline policy and will provide more detail in a future announcement.

** Training
We have some grants.gov training sessions avaiable for enrollment posted on the UM Research website. The frequency of those training sessions will increase as we head into spring and summer 2006 and as more agencies require Grants.gov submission. View the Current training schedule
http://cgi.research.umich.edu/training/research/research_training_dates.lasso?descr_id=105

** Liaison
Bob Beattie at DRDA is our primary contact person for Grants.gov issues. Do not hesitate to contact him if you have questions or need help. His phone number is 936-1283; his e-mail address is beattie@umich.edu

DRDA is now using Grants.gov and taking steps to prepare the University for its wider use by federal agencies. We ask that you stay posted on how your role will change in preparing Federal grant applications. Working together, we can make it a smooth transition.

Jim Randolph
764-7242
nihjim@umich.edu
http://www.research.umich.edu/era/grantsgov/index.html

To be added to Grants-gov-info:
Send e-mail to DRDA-NET-REQUESTS@umich.edu. Please put grants-gov-info in the subject line.]

-OR-

Go to the UM online directory Grants-gov-info[If that link doesn't work, go to http://directory.umich.edu and search for "grants gov info." When that page comes up, bind to the directory (kerberos password), and click the "Join" button.