Prepare Application
Application Guide [SF424 (R&R)]
Application Example
NIH Submission Tips for Investigators
Training Assistance
Finding the PHS398 elements in the SF424 (R&R) form (crosswalk)
Errors and warnings (validations)
Important Tips (PDF, etc.)
Prepare Application FAQs
Application Guide [SF424 (R&R)]
Adobe Applications:
If submitting an Adobe application package with a Competition ID of ‘ADOBE-FORMS-A,’ use the Adobe Application Guide found on this page; SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information
Application Example
- Link to a completed SBIR Phase II SF424 (R&R) Application (PDF - 1.74 MB) (from NIAID website)
This is a link to a real example of a completed SBIR Phase II grant application, using the electronic SF424 (R&R) application form, posted on the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website. For a more detailed explanation, see NIAID's Model SBIR Phase II Application and Summary Statement webpage.
NIH Submission Tips for Investigators
Specific Tips for the Principal Investigator (PDF - 56 KB) to get a handle on the electronic submission process.
[We recommend you print this PDF as a front and back, one page sheet]
Training Assistance
For training materials, videos, handouts and other assistance, visit the Training page.
Finding the PHS398 items in the SF424 (R&R) Form (crosswalk)
- Link to Mapping 398 Data to the SF424 (R&R) (PDF - 560 KB) Crosswalk
(November 15, 2005)
This crosswalk maps the data items from the old PHS 398 form to its location in the new SF424 (R&R) form and cross references the Grants.gov SF424 (R&R) Application Guide where applicable.Errors and warnings (Validations)
- Link to SF424 (R&R) Validations (PDF - 759 KB) | SF424 (R&R) Validations with changes tracked - (PDF - 774 KB)
(July 23, 2009)
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. This will help an applicant figure out and fix problems in the application.
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: April 24, 2009 (PDF - 874 MB)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: December 12, 2008 (PDF - 626 MB)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: October 10, 2008 (PDF - 798 MB)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: August 8, 2008 (PDF - 792 MB)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: June 13, 2008 (PDF - 776 MB)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: Apr. 11, 2008 (PDF - 775 MB)
- Link to Grant Program/Mechanism Specific-Limited Validations
(December 18, 2006)
There is a limited set of mechanism specific validations that, although standard values are assigned, NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) may choose not to have eRA systems enforce applicant compliance with these standard values in order to allow alternative values specified in a Funding Opportunity Announcements to be accepted. When this happens we call it “opting-out of limited validations”. This document explains the concept of limited validations and provides a chart of the limited validations and their standard values.
- Link to Timeline for Enhancing Peer Review changes (including changes in page limits)
Important Tips (including PDF)
- To avoid PDF problems, keep these guidelines in mind.
- Under Senior Key Person, in Section A & B of the Research & Related Budget form, be sure to include the PD/PI.
- NIH strongly encourages applicants not to use double columns to present their research plans. Since some/many reviewers will be reviewing the electronic document, not a paper version, the two column format may pose difficulties.
- Applicants who submit a corrected application through Grants.gov must include a cover letter or extend the existing one because the information from the previous application is not retained and each submission has to be complete in itself.
Prepare Application FAQs
- Link to Prepare Application FAQs