Information on Competitive GrantsMany programs funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are competitive grants. Applying for competitive federal grants is a process that includes several steps. Comprehensive information about applying for federal grants can be found here, or click here to see a step-by-step registration guide from Grants.gov. Some Basics Many grantees and first-tier subgrantees seeking federal grants will need to obtain both a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and register with Central Contracting Registration (CCR). Please note individuals applying for federal grants are exempt from these two requirements. Because it can take some time to receive a DUNS number and to register in the CCR, if you are considering applying for recovery act funding and do not already have a DUNS number and are not registered in the CCR, you should begin both of these processes immediately. Note for Individuals: If you are an individual applying for a grant on your own behalf and not on behalf of a company, academic or research institution, state, local or tribal government, not-for-profit, or other type of organization, refer to the Individual Registration at Grants.gov. If you apply as an individual to a grant application package designated for organizations, your application will be rejected. Obtaining a DUNS number An application for a federal grant in non complete unless it has a DUNS number (individuals are exempt from this requirement). A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of entities receiving federal funds. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, simple, one-time activity; however, obtaining a DUNS number can take some time. Obtain a DUNS number by calling 1-866-705-5711 or by applying online here.
All applicants for federal grants (other than individuals) must maintain current registrations in the CCR database. This is a repository for standard information about federal financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. To learn more about CCR registration procedures please click here. More detailed information on obtaining a DUNS number and registering with CCR can be found here.
**Update** - April 23, 2009 :
Due to anticipated increases in system activity resulting from application traffic, some federal grant applications will now be processed outside of Grants.gov. Please note, Grants.gov will still remain the source to find all available federal grant opportunities. Applicants should still use Grants.gov to find the grant opportunity that best fits their funding needs. This change does mean that applicants should carefully read over the application instructions for their grant opportunity posted on Grants.gov even if the applicant has already applied before. These instructions will indicate whether the grant will be processed by Grants.gov or another federal agency and will also include steps for how to proceed through the application process. This change also means that applicants for grants being processed by federal agencies other than Grants.gov should contact the designated official specified in the grant announcement for questions related to that agency’s processing system. To read the full Recovery Act and System Alleviation Notice, which includes a list of federal agencies that are now processing grant applications, click here.
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