|
NIH has already received over 1600 error-free R01 applications for the February 5, 2007 receipt date. Here are some of the top errors encountered by applicants to date.
| Errors |
Notes |
| The {0} attachment is not in PDF format, or the filename is invalid. All attachments must be provided to the agency in PDF format, filenames must be included with no spaces or special characters (including brackets), and a .pdf extension must be used. |
See our PDF guidelines for tips on creating PDF files that the eRA system will accept.
In many cases the issue is the use of special characters like brackets and slashes in attachment filenames. |
| The eRA Commons Username must be submitted for the PD/PI in the PD/PI Credential field on the Senior/Key Person page. |
This NIH requirement is easy to miss, as the field on the government-wide form is not marked as mandatory.
Remember, if your application includes multiple-PIs, the eRA Commons Username must be provided for all Sr./Key persons with the PD/PI role. |
| Senior/Key Person {0}, listed on the 424 RR Detailed Budget Page for budget year {1}, must include effort of a value greater than zero in calendar months, academic months, or summer months. Note: use either calendar months or a combination of academic and summer months. |
Unless otherwise specified in an agency announcement, Sr./Key personnel are defined as all individuals who contribute in a substantive, measurable way to the scientific development or execution of the project, whether or not salaries are requested.
If no effort is contributed, NIH does not consider them integral to the project. |
| The organization name for Key Person {0} must be provided on the Senior/Key Person page. |
NIH requires the "Organization Name" field to be included for each Sr./Key person. This field is not marked as mandatory on the government-wide form, so it is easy to miss. |
The Downside of Auto-population in Forms
One of the nice things about the Grants.gov forms is that when you fill out information on the SF424 (R&R) form, information from that form automatically populates into various forms. For example, information provided on the SF424 (R&R) carries to the following fields on other forms in the application package:
Organizational DUNS-On the R&R Budget (ONLY for project applicants)
Organization Name- On the R&R Budget (ONLY for project applicants)
Start Date- On the R&R Budget (ONLY for project applicants)
PD/PI information (prefix, First, Middle, Last name, Suffix)-
1). PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement
2). On the R&R Budget, R&R Senior Key Person
Applicant Organization Contact- Person to be contacted (prefix, First, Middle and Last name, suffix, phone#, fax number, email)- On the PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement
Type of Application-
1). On the PHS 398 Research Plan
2). PHS 398 Checklist
Federal Identifier- On the PHS 398 Checklist
Most of the time this works without a hitch. However, NIH has been getting an increasing number of complaints that when information is corrected on the SF424 (R&R) the change does not carry through to the other forms causing Warnings or Errors during the validation process. Grants.gov reports the only corrective action an applicant can take is to pull a fresh copy of the application package and cut and paste information from one form to the other. Until Grants.gov can fix the issue in the forms themselves or NIH can implement a workaround (which unfortunately cannot happen before the February 5 R01 receipt date), we do not have a lot of options. Please try to be extremely careful when filling out the SF424 (R&R), especially the fields mentioned above. If you run into this issue, please contact the eRA Commons help desk (http://ithelpdesk.nih.gov/eRA/) so that we can document that you have encountered this form issue.
New Training Resources Posted
New automated tutorials are now available on the Training page of the Electronic Submission Web site. Watch at your own pace and receive step-by-step instructions. A sample of topics includes Finding Grant Opportunities and downloading applications, Check E-Application Status - SO (Signing Official), and Check E-Application Status - PI (Principal Investigator).
Space Still Available for NIH Regional Seminar
There still is space available at the NIH Regional to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 5-6, 2007 (http://conferences.utah.edu/nih2007/). The program includes a diversity of topics related to both the application and review processes, as well as post award administration, grant writing and more. Hands-on electronic submission training is being offered at the University of Utah campus on March 7 following the two-day seminar. Space is limited, so act now if you want to take advantage of this opportunity.
PureEdge Character Limitation
We have received notification from Grants.gov that although the PureEdge forms will accept 75 characters for the following fields, only 60 characters is actually allowed by the system:
- ‘Enter name of Organization’ on Research & Related Budget - Section A & B form
- ‘Organization Name’ on Research & Related Senior/Key Person (Expanded) form
Grants.gov will address this discrepancy when they move to Adobe forms. In the meantime, they have asked us to help spread the word and will update their website information.
Are You Checking Your Application Image?
Don’t forget that last step…checking the assembled application in eRA Commons. When checking the overall application, pay special attention to the information in the attachments. Is the correct information included - it is easy to attach the wrong file by mistake. Is the information presented correctly – files formatted correctly, no data corruption, no flipped diagrams or missing information? Remember, if the assembled application does not correctly reflect your submitted information due to a Grants.gov or eRA Commons system issue (this happens rarely, but it could happen) – contact the eRA Commons help desk immediately (http://ithelpdesk.nih.gov/eRA/). You will not be penalized for system issues outside your control.
|
