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SF 424 Grant Application Information

General SF 424 Resources

• eRA's Electronic Application Process Page - The most comprehensive and current information regarding the SF 424 application.
• NIH eSubmission Tips for Investigators [PDF] - This is an overview of the submission process specifically for Principal Investigators.
• Listserv for Updates on the Electronic Submission Program - Subscribe to get updated information on any changes in the SF 424 application process.
• Foreign Institution e-Registration Instructions - Provides instructions for setting up institutional accounts at Grants.gov, specifically highlighting the differences between domestic and foreign institutions. (Note: this is only for grants.gov, and is not the complete set of instructions for submitting a grant application).
• Avoiding Common Errors - List created by the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) to help grantees submit error-free SF 424 applications.
• SF 424 (R&R) Validations [PDF] - A detailed listing of errors and warnings that an applicant may encounter during the validation process, along with tips to help you understand these better and correct any simple errors.
• OER's FAQs for Foreign Institutions
• Movie: Walk Through of the 424 Process - [Real Player Media File]. Presentation by Marcia Hahn, Director of Grant Policy, OER.

Do I need to submit the SF 424?

• According to the President's Management Agenda and Public Law 106-107, all federal grants and contracts will eventually be announced and submitted through a single portal (www.grants.gov). The SF 424 is the standard electronic form used by grants.gov for grant applications.
• Grants are transitioned to electronic format based on the type of program. You can find a timeline for transition here [PDF].
• When in doubt, check your Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for instructions. Find FOAs here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html.
• If your FOA requires electronic submission, the program announcement will have a button that says, "Apply for Grant Electronically." Clicking on that button will bring you to a page that allows you to download both the necessary forms and instructions for that specific FOA.