Application News and Updates
October 12, 2007
Grants.gov does not support the new Microsoft Vista Operating system. The PureEdge software used by Grants.gov for forms is not compatible with Vista. Grants.gov is reviewing the Vista operating system to adopt standard security configurations by February 1, 2008, in compliance with Office of Management and Budget's memorandum. Email the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov, or call 1-800-518-4726, for more information.
October 12, 2007
CSRESS is using PureEdge forms packages to process electronic applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 submitted through Grants.gov. The decision to use PureEdge forms was based on several reasons:
| 1. |
The Adobe forms that CSREES would use have not been completed. We realize that Grants.gov has been advertising that Adobe forms are ready, but this does not apply to the Research and Related (R&R) forms package that CSREES uses. |
| 2. |
It is important to provide the best support and service to the applicant community. We can accomplish this with the experience we gained in FY 2007 supporting applicants using PureEdge forms. |
| 3. |
We have posted two major Requests for Applications for Small Business Innovation Research Program (Phase I) and the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program using the PureEdge forms. These two programs comprise approximately 75 percent of our applications submitted to CSREES each year. |
| 4. |
We will have adequate time to test the Adobe forms and train our staff. This is particularly important to us so that we can properly support applicants. |
| 5. |
We want to avoid confusion that supporting dual applications forms may cause. This would be a problem if we opted to use Adobe forms once they are developed. |
| 6. |
Grants.gov has agreed to support PureEdge forms for FY 2008. |
September 6, 2007
Grants.gov has been experiencing technical problems with the “Apply for Grants” section of their web site. The fiscal year 2008 Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Request for Applications (RFA) instructs applicants to use this link to access the application package for this program. As a result, CSREES is extending the SBIR Phase I application submission deadline, as follows:
Program |
Funding Opportunity Number |
Extended Application
Submission Deadline |
Small Business Innovation Research Program (Phase I) |
USDA-CSREES-SBIR-000891 |
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 |
Until Grants.gov is able to correct this issue, please use the funding opportunity number link above to access the SBIR Phase I application package directly.
July 24, 2007
On July 20, Grants.gov notified some registrants of their E-mail Alerts system of modifications to the CSREES funding opportunities listed below. The Grants.gov messages might have incorrectly prompted some recipients to believe that these funding opportunities were open for applications. However, the Grants.gov messages refer to closed FY 2007 funding opportunities, which a careful reading of the messages corroborate. (Please note that the 2008 USDA SBIR funding opportunity is open for applications) We at CSREES apologize for any confusion that this episode may have caused.
Funding Opportunity Number |
Funding Opportunity Title |
USDA-CSREES-SBIR-000100 |
Small Business Innovation Research |
USDA-CSREES-CBGP-000364 |
1890 Institution Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants Program |
USDA-CSREES-ICGP-000365 |
National Integrated Water Quality Program |
USDA-CSREES-CFP-000384 |
Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program |
USDA-CSREES-ICGP-000404 |
Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers |
USDA-CSREES-EF47-000425 |
1890 Facilities Grants Program |
USDA-CSREES-ICGP-000448 |
Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) |
USDA-CSREES-SLBCD-000484 |
Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification Program |
USDA-CSREES-OP-000525 |
New Technologies for Ag Extension |
June 13, 2007
For those few programs where paper application submissions will be accepted (see relevant Request For Applications), CSREES will require applicants to submit printed versions of completed SF-424 Research and Related forms and CSREES-specific data forms for the program of interest. The forms package can be downloaded through the funding opportunity of interest at Grants.gov and printed once completed. The printed application must be signed by the Authorized Representative and mailed to CSREES according to the guidance in the relevant Request for Applications.
June 6, 2007
Grants.gov will be unavailable from Saturday, June 9, 2007 through Sunday, June 10, 2007 (as it was from Saturday, May 26, 2007 through Monday, May 28, 2007) for infrastructure upgrades. As a result, CSREES is extending application submission deadlines, as follows:
Program |
Funding Opportunity Number |
Extended Application Submission Deadline |
Smith-Lever Special Needs Program |
USDA-CSREES-SLBCD-000589 |
Friday, June 8, 2007 |
Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate & Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program |
USDA-CSREES-HEP-000526 | Friday, June 8, 2007 |
Critical Agricultural Materials |
USDA-CSREES-OP-000771 |
Friday, June 15, 2007 |
CSREES does not plan to extend other competitive submission deadlines as a result of the maintenance.
Although Grants.gov anticipates its site will be live again on Monday, June, 11, 2007, applicants are encouraged to consult the Grants.gov Technical Alerts page for updated information.
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