To apply for a SAMHSA grant, your organization must have completed the following registrations: DUNS, SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons (new requirement for all new FY17 Discretionary Grant Programs due to SAMHSA’s transition to NIH’s eRA grants system).
Before You Apply, Register Your Organization
SAMHSA recommends that you begin the following registration processes as soon as you know you want to apply for a grant. These registrations can take up to six weeks.
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number
If your organization doesn’t have one, register for a free DUNS Number. This number is required for all organizations applying to the U.S. Federal Government for grants. Online registration takes one to two business days; if requested by phone, a DUNS number is provided immediately. Grants.gov will reject electronic submissions from applicants without a valid DUNS number.
System for Award Management (SAM)
SAM is the official U.S. Government system that aids in managing the federal awards process. After you register with SAM, you must update the information there every 12 months for your account to remain active. When you update your SAM record, it takes two to three days to complete the validation process. It may take an additional one to two days for Grants.gov to validate your SAM registration. Grants.gov will reject electronic submissions from applicants with expired SAM registrations.
Grants.gov
To apply for a federal grant, complete the Grants.gov registration process. The Organization Registration Checklist (PDF | 104 KB) from Grants.gov provides registration guidance for a company, institution, state, local or tribal government, or other type of organization.
Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) Status and E-Business Point of Contact
Make sure the person submitting your application is properly registered with Grants.gov as the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) for the specific DUNS Number cited in your application.
If your organization is registered at Grants.gov, check your AOR status before you apply for a grant. Make sure that the AOR registered with Grants.gov is still with your organization. If you need to assign a new AOR, do so promptly. Not having an active AOR may prevent your application from being accepted by Grants.gov. You may need to contact your organization’s E-Business Point of Contact, the person who can assign AOR roles.
eRA Commons
eRA Commons requires a one-time registration, separate from the Grants.gov registration. You must register in eRA Commons and receive a Commons ID in order to get access to electronic submission, receive notifications on the status of your application, and retrieve grant information.
If this is your first time registering with eRA Commons, either the AOR from the SF-424 or the Business Official (BO) from the HHS Checklist must complete the online Institution Registration Form. Instructions on how to complete the online Institution Registration Form will be provided on the eRA Commons Online Registration Page.
After you complete the online Institution Registration Form and click Submit, the eRA Commons will send you an e-mail notification from era-notify@mail.nih.gov with the link to confirm your email address. Once your e-mail address is verified, your request will be reviewed and you will be informed of the result via email.
For more information on eRA Commons Registration:
- See Section II-1.4 in the updated FOA: Part II
- Register in eRA Commons
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