This page provides application guides for preparing electronic grant applications using the SF424 (R&R) application forms. Free Adobe Reader software is required. For minimum system requirements and download instructions, go to http://www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp. See the Electronic Submission of Grant Applications page for more information on the NIH electronic submission process.
Table of Contents for this Page:
Instructions for Restructured Application Forms
NIH and other PHS agencies have transitioned to Restructured Application Forms with new page limits. All applications now use the new application packages and instructions.
All NIH forms below that are approved for use through June 30, 2012 (those revised 06/2009) are still available for use; revised forms have been approved by OMB and are expected to be implemented in the summer, 2013.
SF424 (R&R) Application Guides for Restructured Application Forms:
To be used with applications that indicate “ADOBE-FORMS-B” or “ADOBE-FORMS-B1” or “ADOBE-FORMS-B2” in the “Competition ID” field of the SF424 (R&R) forms package. |
Date Posted |
MS Word File |
PDF File |
Application Guide SF424 (R&R) - Adobe Forms Version B Series |
07/06/2012 |
MS Word (3.5 MB) |
PDF (3 MB) |
SBIR/STTR Application Guide SF424 (R&R) - Adobe Forms Version B Series |
01/23/2013 |
MS Word (2.9 MB) |
PDF (2.7 MB) |
Individual Fellowship Application Guide SF424 (R&R) - Adobe Forms Version B Series
|
07/25/2011
|
MS Word (2.3 MB) |
PDF (2.5 MB) |
NIH requires all text attachments in an SF424 (R&R) application to be PDF. However, to avoid system errors, applicants should create text attachments using word processing software and then convert to PDF using PDF-generating software. While Word samples are provided below, applicants will need to convert the finished product to PDF before attaching within an SF424 (R&R) application. Do not use the PDF samples from the PHS398 application page. Those are fillable-PDF forms which will cause an error in the electronic submission of an SF424 (R&R) applications. |
Additional Format Pages |
Date Posted |
File Link/Format/Size |
Biographical Sketch Format Page â Adobe Forms Version B
(use also for Fellowship Sponsor/Co-Sponsors) |
11/13/2009 |
MS Word (36 KB) |
Biographical Sketch Sample â Adobe Forms Version B |
03/25/2011 |
MS Word (44 KB) |
Fellowship Applicant Biographical Sketch Format Page |
02/05/2010 |
MS Word (52 KB) |
Fellowship Application Biographical Sketch Sample |
04/19/2011 |
MS Word (79 KB) |
Referee Instructions for Mentored Career Development Awards |
08/11/2011 |
MS Word (38 KB) |
References for Fellowship Awards |
02/05/2010 |
MS Word (49 KB) |
Targeted/Planned Enrollment Table Format Page |
10/12/2005 |
MS Word (48 KB) |
Inclusion Enrollment Report Format Page (New Format) |
10/12/2005 |
MS Word (71 KB) |
Modular Budget Sample: Same Modules |
11/08/2005 |
PDF (27 KB) |
Modular Budget Sample: Variable Modules |
07/23/2008 |
PDF (26 KB) |
Additional Senior/Key Person Profiles (Format provided for those applications requiring > 8 Senior/Key Person Profiles) |
07/05/2006 |
MS Word (51 KB) |
Additional Performance Sites (Format provided for those applications requiring > 8 Project/Performance Sites) |
07/05/2006 |
MS Word (47 KB) |
Format for submitting modified Specific Aims, Project Summary/Abstract, and Public Health Relevance Statements to ICs when requested by NIH staff. |
05/01/2009 |
MS Word (27 KB)
PDF (20 KB) |
Data tables for use with Institutional Research Training grant applications using the SF424 (R&R).
Blank Data Tables and Instructions and Sample Data Tables files are available for each of the situations listed below. The Instructions and Sample Data Tables file includes example data, and detailed instructions and rationale statements for each table. These are designed to print best in landscape mode. The Blank Data Tables file provides fillable format pages. |
Introduction |
Date Posted |
File Link/Format/Size |
Introduction to Data Tables – Read this First! |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (78 KB)
PDF (56 KB) |
Data Tables |
Date Posted |
Blank Data Tables
File Link/Format/Size |
Instructions and Sample Data Tables
File Link/Format/Size |
All Tables |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (285 KB) |
MS Word (414 KB)
PDF (349 KB) |
New Application – Predoctoral Training, Only
Submit the tables indicated: 1New, 2, 3, 4, 5A, 6ANew, 7A, 8A, 9ANew,
10 (optional) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (138 KB) |
MS Word (177 KB)
PDF (165 KB) |
Renewal/Revision Application – Predoctoral
Training, Only Submit the tables indicated: 1R/R, 2, 3, 4, 5A, 6AR/R, 7A, 8A, 9AR/R,
10, 11, 12A |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (175 KB) |
MS Word (222 KB)
PDF (200 KB) |
New Application – Postdoctoral Training,
Only Submit the tables indicated: 1New, 2, 3, 4, 5B, 6BNew, 7B, 8B, 9BNew,
10 (optional) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (140 KB) |
MS Word (187 KB)
PDF (171 KB) |
Renewal/Revision Application – Postdoctoral Training, Only
Submit the tables indicated: 1R/R, 2, 3, 4, 5B, 6BR/R, 7B, 8B, 9BR/R,
10, 11, 12B |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (171 KB) |
MS Word (225 KB)
PDF (199 KB) |
New Application – Mixed Pre- and Postdoctoral Training
Submit the tables indicated: 1New, 2, 3, 4, 5AB, 6ABNew, 7AB, 8AB, 9ABNew, 10 (optional) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (202 KB) |
MS Word (277 KB)
PDF (248 KB) |
Renewal/Revision Application – Mixed Pre- and Postdoctoral Training
Submit the tables indicated: 1R/R, 2, 3, 4, 5AB, 6ABR/R, 7AB, 8AB, 9ABR/R, 10, 11, 12AB |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (246 KB) |
MS Word (334 KB)
PDF (295 KB) |
Individual Blank Data Tables |
Date Posted |
File Link/Format/Size |
Data Table 1 (New) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (40 KB) |
Data Table 1 (Renewal/Revision) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (40 KB) |
Data Table 2 |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (40 KB) |
Data Table 3 |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (41 KB) |
Data Table 4 |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (43 KB) |
Data Table 5A |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (40 KB) |
Data Table 5B |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (44 KB) |
Data Table 6A (Predoc – New) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (41 KB) |
Data Table 6B (Postdoc – New) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (41 KB) |
Data Table 6A (Predoc – R/R) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (41 KB) |
Data Table 6B (Postdoc – R/R) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (41 KB) |
Data Table 7A |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (56 KB) |
Data Table 7B |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (55 KB) |
Data Table 8A |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (48 KB) |
Data Table 8B |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (45 KB) |
Data Table 9A (Predoc – New) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (40 KB) |
Data Table 9B (Postdoc – New) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (42 KB) |
Data Table 9A (Predoc – R/R) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (40 KB) |
Data Table 9B (Postdoc – R/R) |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (42 KB) |
Data Table 10 |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (43 KB) |
Data Table 11 |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (55 KB) |
Data Table 12A |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (45 KB) |
Data Table 12B |
11/24/2010 |
MS Word (41 KB) |
Other Information: |
Date Posted |
File Link/Format/Size |
eRA Assembly of the SF424 (R&R) Application (Adobe Forms Version B). Includes assembly of “K” Career Development Award applications.
(An information document describing the system-generated grant image of a SF424 (R&R) application once submitted and received by the agency). |
11/13/2009 |
MS Word (112 KB) |
eRA Assembly of the SF424 (R&R) âTâ Institutional Research Training Award Application (Adobe Forms Version B). (An information document describing the system-generated grant image of a SF424 (R&R) application once submitted and received by the agency). |
11/13/2009 |
MS Word (82 KB) |
Person Months Information: FAQs, including a Conversion Calculator |
04/21/2006 |
HTML (18 KB) |
Notable Changes Made to SF424 (R&R) Application Guides
6/18/2012: Revised Adobe Version B Series General Application Guide: Application Guide has been updated to include clarification regarding the due dates of Letters of Reference for Career Development Awards. A description of these edits is available in NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-11-079.
7/25/2011: Revised Adobe B Series General, Fellowship, and SBIR/STTR Application Guides: General & SBIR/STTR Application Guides have been updated for the transition to modified Adobe B2 form series. Updates to Guides include emphasis regarding the prohibition of the use of the Appendix to circumvent page limits; removal of all references to the error correction window; clarification of the meaning of on-time submission; clarification regarding the use of the Co-PD/PI role; addition of the Federal Financial Report (FFR or SF-425/SF-425A) requirement; update of NIH contact information; allowability of additional attachments to the R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form; requirement to maintain registration in the Central Contractor Registry Database (CCR); updated references to current NIH Guide Notices; updated guidance regarding the application viewing window and correcting errors; additional instructions for the PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Component; updated Table of Page limits; broken web links have been fixed and typographical errors have been corrected.
4/29/2011: Revised Adobe Version B Series SBIR/STTR Application Guide: The SBIR/STTR application Guide has been updated to include additional instructions for the Biosketch; Clarification regarding registering clinical trials in the Clinical Trials.gov Protocol Registration System; Clarification regarding the elimination of the two-day error correction window; Clarification regarding the meaning of “on time submission”; Clarification regarding the explanation of exclusions applied to the F&A base calculation in the Budget Justification section in the Budget component; and typographical errors have been corrected.
4/19/2011: Revised Adobe Version B Series Fellowship Application Guide: The Fellowship Application Guide has been updated to include; updated references to NIH Guide Notices; edits to the Individual Fellowship Biosketch Instructions and Sample, Personal Statement; Clarification regarding registering clinical trials in the Clinical Trials.gov Protocol Registration System; Emphasis on the elimination of the two-day error correction window and removal of guidance for use of the error correction window; Clarification of and emphasis on page limits; Emphasis on using Fellowship Reference Forms for Letters of Reference; Clarification of Instructions to Referees; and typographical errors have been corrected.
3/25/2011: Revised Adobe Version B Series General Application Guide: Application Guide has been updated to include additional instructions for the Biosketch; New page limits for Institutional Training Grants and Career Development Grants; Clarification regarding registering clinical trials in the Clinical Trials.gov Protocol Registration System; Clarification regarding the explanation of exclusions applied to the F&A base calculation in the Budget Justification section in the Budget component; and F&A and typographical errors have been corrected.
1/24/2011: New Adobe Version B-1 SBIR/STTR Application Guide: The SBIR/STTR application guide has been updated for the transition to modified Adobe B1 form series, which included minor modifications to the R&R Other Project Information and Project/Performance Site Location forms. A description of the more notable edits is available in NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-11-022.
1/18/2011: New Adobe Version B-1 Fellowship Application Guide: The Fellowship application guide has been updated for the transition to modified Adobe B1 form series, which included minor modifications to the R&R Other Project Information and Project/Performance Site Location forms. A description of the more notable edits is available in NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-11-022.
11/24/2010: New Adobe Version B1 General Application Guide: Application Guide has been updated for the transition to modified Adobe B1 form series, which includes minor modifications to the R&R Other Project Information and Project/Performance Site Location forms. Also includes clarifications regarding elimination of the error correction window, clarification to the policy on post-submission application materials, simplified instructions for the Research Training Program Plan data tables, revised instructions for the Responsible Conduct of Research in the Research Training Program Plan, as well as various other updates. A description of the more notable edits is available in NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-11-022.
05/20/2010: Revised Adobe B General, Fellowship, an SBIR/STTR Application Guides: Application Guides have been updated to include new and revised NIH policies such as a clarification to the Vertebrate Animal section of the Research Plan in Part I; an update to the Vertebrate Animal section in Part III; an emphasis on the prohibition on using the appendix to circumvent page limits per NOT-OD-10-077; an update to the instructions for “Type of Application” field in the 424 Cover Component per NOT-OD-10-052.
A description of the more notable edits is attached (MS Word - 35 KB).
03/24/2010: Adobe A versions of all Application Guides and references have been removed.
02/22/2010: Revised SBIR/STTR Adobe Version B Application Guide: The SBIR/STTR Adobe Version B Application guide has been updated. One hyperlink to the Office of Human Research Protections has been updated ; Part I, Section 5.4 Separate Attachments to the PHS 398 Research Plan Component was revised to reflect new business processes; and typographical errors have been corrected.
2/5/2010: New Individual Fellowship Adobe Version B Application Guide: The Individual Fellowship Application Guide has been updated for the transition to Adobe Forms Version B. This includes changes to the SF424 (R&R) instructions necessitated by the June 2008 OMB renewal of the forms, which includes changes to assist agencies implementing the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. Changes have also been made to the PHS Felllowship Supplemental Form as part of the NIH initiative to enhance peer review. Changes to this form were approved by OMB in June, 2009.
01/15/2010: New SBIR/STTR Adobe Version B Application Guide: The SBIR/STTR Application guide has been updated for the transition to Adobe Forms Version B. This includes changes to the SF424 (R&R) instructions necessitated by the June 2008 OMB renewal of the forms, which includes changes to assist agencies implementing the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, and includes the SBIR/STTR Information form as an SF424(R&R) form and no longer as a PHS398 agency-specific form. Although this has changed the “ownership” of the form it is not expected to have any impact on applicants. Changes have also been made to various PHS398 forms as part of the NIH initiative to enhance peer review. Changes to the PHS398 forms were approved by OMB in June, 2009.
12/22/2009: Revised Adobe B General Application Guide: The General Adobe-B Application Guide has been updated to include revised instructions for addressing the Responsible Conduct of Research in “K” and “T” grant applications, clarifying how preliminary studies and data should be provided in the Research Strategy, changing instructions for providing indirect cost information for “T” application that use both the R&R Budget and PHS 398 Training Budget forms, and revising instructions for submitting applications proposing human Embryonic Stem Cells. A description of the more notable edits is attached (MS Word - 67 KB).
Application Guides for SBIR/STTR and Fellowship applications are still being revised and will be updated soon.
11/13/2009: New Adobe Version B General Application Guide: The General Application guide has been updated for the transition to Adobe Forms B. This includes changes to the SF424 (R&R) form instructions necessitated by the June, 2008 OMB renewal of the forms, which includes changes to assist agencies implementing the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. Changes have also been made to various PHS398 forms as part of the NIH initiative to enhance peer review. Changes to the PHS398 forms were approved by OMB in June, 2009
This version of the application guide now also includes a separate instruction section for Institutional Training Grants to accommodate their transition to electronic submission effective with submissions on/after January 25, 2010.
Application Guides for SBIR/STTR and Fellowship applications will be updated soon.
Archive: See Notable Changes Archive
Contacts:
Grants Information
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov
Telephone: (301) 435-0714
Finding Help on Electronic Submission of Grant Applications
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