Transition Strategy and Timeline for Electronic Submission

The simultaneous transition at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to electronic application submission and a new set of application forms is an ambitious initiative with an aggressive timetable. The transition involves numerous funding mechanisms and applications that range widely in size and complexity.

Transition to electronic submission relies on many elements for success:

• Technical development of systems at eRA (Electronic Research Administration, National Institutes of Health) and Grants.gov.
• Trans-agency resolution of policy and operational issues.
• Communications, training, and outreach.
• Acceptance of change by AHRQ staff.
• Acceptance of change by AHRQ research partners in the extramural community.

Transition strategy:

• AHRQ will transition by individual grant program and mechanism.
• AHRQ will announce plans to transition mechanisms in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.
• All applications in response to announcements for transitioned mechanisms will require electronic submission through Grants.gov on the SF 424 family of forms.
• Mechanisms not yet transitioned will continue to require submission of the paper PHS 398 Application Form or submission through commercial service providers.
• Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) will be posted in the Apply for Grants section at Grants.gov before the initial submission date. During the transition period, every effort will be made to post as soon as possible without conflicting with paper submission dates.

Transition Timetable for Individual Grant Programs and Mechanisms

Current as of August 2008

Internet Citation:

Transition Strategy and Timeline for Electronic Submission. August 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/timeline.htm