Prior to Applying for FNS Discretionary Grants Electronically

Step 1

Why: To comply with a new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) mandate that all applicants for Federal assistance be identified by a DUNS number.

How: Specific procedures

Assistance in obtaining a DUNS number is available from D&B at 1-866-705-5711.

How Long: Registration by phone will take only as long as a few minutes, plus any holding time. Registration via the website may take up to 30 business days. 

Once a DUNS number has been received, this step is complete.
Go to Step 2.

Why: To provide basic information relevant to procurement and financial transactions in order to facilitate paperless transactions with Federal Government agencies.  This registration must be updated or renewed annually in order to maintain an active status. 

How:

• Go to www.ccr.gov.
• Click the Start New Registration link.
• Complete the Registration Worksheet.
• Complete and submit the Registration Acknowledgement 
• Complete and submit the eBusiness Point of Contact information. The person designated as the eBusiness Point of Contact will be the recipient of an email resulting from Step 4 and will also perform Step 5.)

Assistance is available from the CCR Assistance Center at 888-227-2423 or 269-961-4725

How Long: Two notices will be generated. The length of time to receive these notices will vary depending upon mode of transmission. (email or regular mail).

Once the notices have been received, the CCR step is complete. 
Go to Step 3.

Why: To receive the necessary credentials that will identify you while conducting secure, electronic transactions with the Federal Government.  (Once received, these credentials may allow you to perform electronic activity with the Federal Government besides grant applications.) 

How:

1) Browse to www.grants.gov.
2) Click the Get Started tab.
3) Click the Register with Credential Provider link on the left of the screen.
4) Click the Credential Provider link in the body text.
5) Enter your DUNS number.
6) Click the Register button.
7) Scroll to the bottom of the page and press the "User Id" button.
8) Complete the Registration forms.
9) Remember to keep a copy of the confirmation page for your records.

Assistance is available from support@grants.gov.

How Long: It could take 20 to 30 minutes for the Credential Provider program to send your credential to Grants.gov.

When you have received a username and password from the Credential Provider Registration and once your credential has been added to the Grants.gov data base, this step is complete.
Go to Step 4.

Why: To identify your organization to Grants.gov.

How:

1) Browse to www.grants.gov.
2) Click the Get Started tab.
3) Click the Register with Grants.gov link on the left of the screen.
4) Enter the username and password that you received from the Credential Provider registration.
5) Click the Register button.
6) Complete the registration which includes providing your DUNS number.

Assistance is available from support@grants.gov. 

How Long: Within a few days after completion of the Grants.gov registration, the eBusiness Point of Contact designated in the CCR registration (re: step 2 above) will receive an email stating that you have signed up to become an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).

When the email has been received, this step is complete.
Go to Step 5.

Why: To assign the Agency Applicant role to an AOR. The AOR is the organization's authorized electronic submitter of Federal grant applications. The AOR must be assigned before he/she can submit applications using Grants.gov.

How: This step is performed by the eBusiness Point of Contact (re: step 2 above)

1) Browse to www.grants.gov.

2) Click the Ebiz link.

3) Enter your DUNS Number and MPIN (from steps 1 & 2 above)
4) Complete the remainder of the information to designate the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) for the Applicant Entity.

Assistance for this step is available from support@grants.gov. 

How Long: The designation of the AOR in Grants.gov should occur instantly.

Once the AOR has been designated in Grants.gov, this step is complete. 
Go to Step 6.

Why: PureEdge Viewer is required in order to complete and submit grant applications through Grants.gov.

How: This step may be performed at any time prior to accessing grant application documents.  You must download the software and then install it on your computer.

1) Browse to www.grants.gov.
2) Under Get Started Step 2, click the PureEdge Viewer link in the middle of the paragraph.
3) Verify that your computer meets system requirements.
4) Click the .exe file link on the Download Application Viewer Screen. 
5) Click the Save button on the File Download Window.
6) Save the PureEdge Viewer to a filename and folder on your computer.
7) While the download is in progress, a status screen will pop up.
8) Once the download is complete, open the downloaded file.
9) In the prompt pop-up box, click yes to start the install process
10) Respond as necessary to all following prompts.

Assistance for this step is available from support@grants.gov. 
You may also call the FNS Grants Management Unit at 703-305-2048 for assistance.

How Long: From 2 to 10 minutes, depending upon the amount of computer traffic.

Once the PureEdge Viewer is installed on your computer this step is complete. You now will be able to view, complete and submit forms within Grants.gov.

How: This step is performed by the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR)

1) Browse to www.grants.gov.
2) Download a grant application package.
3) Log off from Grants.gov.  It is not necessary to remain on-line for the forms completion activity.  It is necessary that the person(s) who will be completing the forms have the PureEdge Viewer software on his/her computer(s).
4) Complete all forms in the selected grant application package.
5) Log onto Grants.gov.
6) Submit the completed grant application package.

Assistance for this step is available from support@grants.gov. 
You may also call the FNS Grants Management Unit at 703-305-2048 for assistance.

FNS has compiled a number of helpful hints, suggestions and tips that can make a grant application more successful. This page can be found at -  GrantsTips.htm.

How Long: The length of time to process and make decisions on FNS discretionary grants opportunities varies.  FNS strives to notify all applicants of the final decision on an application within 90 days following the closing date of each solicitation.