eSubmission News and Updates
NIH eSubmission Items of Interest — September 14, 2006
Automagical Grants.gov Application Packages
Like all of you, we gain wisdom through experience. Last July we updated hundreds of announcements with Grants.gov’s Research & Related Version 2 application form sets (see NOT-OD-06-078). Within a short time we uncovered an issue with the R&R Senior/Key Person Profile Form in which several of the attachments were missing from the form and issued a workaround in the NIH Guide (see NOT-OD-06-087). Here comes the cool part…last month Grants.gov deployed to production a fix to the R&R Senior/Key Person Profile form. Without our reposting the application package, any new downloads of current opportunities with Version 2 forms include the fix – automagically!
The posting of new application packages is still necessary to move from one major Grants.gov version to another (as we are doing with our transition from Version 1 forms to Version 2) and also for some changes that affect the structure of a form. However, this is great news in that applicants can immediately take full advantage of many Grants.gov form adjustments.
So, what does that mean to you? Well, it illustrates the importance of downloading a fresh copy of the application package and instructions from Grants.gov each time you plan on submitting an application. Following this advice will ensure you have the latest and greatest forms.
While we’re talking form changes…
Reminder: SBIR, STTR and R13/U13 Opportunities
Moving to Version 2 Forms
Don’t forget the second set of Version 2 updates will
go out this week. The following grant programs will be updated with Version
2 forms:
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) (R43, R44)
- Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) (R41, R42)
- Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13/U13)
- Opportunities postponed from first set of updates due to imminent receipt
dates
- PAR-06-095 NIDCD Translational Research Grants (R21)
- PAR-06-118 AHRQ Grants for Health Services Research Dissertation (R36)
- PAR-06-217 Mental Health Dissertation Research Grant To Increase Diversity (R36)
- PAR-06-293 Quick-Trials for Imaging and Image-Guided Interventions: Exploratory Grants (R21)
- PAR-06-294 Small Grants Program for Cancer Epidemiology (R03)
- PAR-06-313 Cancer Prevention Research Small Grant Program (R03)
- PAR-06-420 Brain Disorders in the Developing World: Research Across the Lifespan (R21)
- PAR-06-448 AHRQ Small Research Grant Program (R03)
- PAR-06-451 Quick-Trials for Novel Cancer Therapies: Exploratory Grants (R21)
- PAR-06-458 Small Grants for Behavioral Research in Cancer Control (R03)
- PAR-06-460 NINDS Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34)
Applicants should use the new Version 2 packages beginning September 15. Once these updates are complete, only applications that will expire naturally by the end of the calendar year will remain on the Version 1 application forms.
In the News – Grants.gov Awards Integration
Contract
Many of you may have heard that Grants.gov has just awarded their integration
contract to Anteon Corporation. With the announcement less than a week old,
it is far too soon to provide any details on what, if any, impact the Grants.gov
changes will have on NIH’s overall electronic application program. NIH
remains committed to our solution that combines the Grants.gov portal with
our own eRA system for processing grant applications. In fact, NIH has provided
one of our top resources to assist in their efforts. Our lead eSubmission
development manager has been detailed to Grants.gov to work directly with
them two days a week for the next several months. We’ll share any new
developments as they unfold.
Our First R01 Submissions Have Arrived
There are currently two R01 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) that
allow the electronic submission of applications as part of the Multiple-PI
pilot. We have received our first R01 submissions. OK, there aren’t
a lot of R01 applications yet, but it’s a start and a milestone to be
noted. When you add the few R01 applications to the more than 12,000 applications
we have received across our other grant programs, then you really have something.
Increase in the Use of System-to-System Solutions
Since NIH announced its intention to move all grant opportunities to full
electronic submission, there has been a five fold increase in the number of
universities and companies developing electronic system-to-system (S2S) interfaces.
Expanded interest in S2S solutions also is evidenced in tremendous increase
in subscribers to our System-to-System listserv
over the last several months. The use of system-to-system solutions provides
many advantages, including (depending on the solution): platform independence,
integration with internal systems and portability of information between applications.
Our website includes a list of Service Providers that
have requested to be listed on our site and have filled out our questionnaire.
Save your emails and letters…NIH will not endorse any of these companies
or provide any guidance in choosing one solution over another. The website
will, however, get you started on your own analysis. If your organization
is preparing its own S2S solution, your first stop should be Grants.gov
but you’ll also want to check out the resources on our System-to-System
Developers page. An S2S solution may or may not be right for your circumstances,
but it is an option worth exploring.
System Changes Cut Down PDF Errors
NIH recently deployed changes to the eRA System that has reduced the number
of PDF errors associated with application submissions. The eRA System can
now accept PDF attachments with editable fields. Our system will automatically
“flatten” the files, saving applicants from receiving an error
and having to alter the attachment and resubmit the entire application. For
more advice on generating NIH eSubmission-friendly PDF see PDF
Issues: Guidelines.
Sheri
NIH Electronic Submission Team
