The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is in the process of transitioning to electronic submission through Grants.gov for all AHRQ competing research and training applications. We
are also simultaneously transitioning from the PHS application form to the SF 424 Research and
Related (R&R).
This transition is occurring in stages based on the specific mechanism. An announcement will precede each mechanism transitioned, giving the date when electronic submission and use of the SF 424 will be required. Please see http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/timeline.htm for the transition timeline for each research grant program.
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Contents
What Are the Benefits?
What is AHRQ's Current Plan for Electronic Submission?
What is Grants.gov?
What is the eRA Commons?
How do Institutions and Applicants Prepare for Electronic Submission?
Determine the Mode of Submission
What Are the Steps for Electronic Submission?
Where Do I Go For Help?
Electronic Submission Web Site
Grants Information
Grants.gov
eRA Commons
What Are the Benefits?
- Standardized application format will help focus on scientific priorities.
- Efficiencies will be gained by automating the validation of business rules.
- A clearer grant image will be available.
- There is potential to shorten the time period from application submission to award.
- AHRQ and applicants will save thousands of pieces of paper per year and countless hours of human effort.
- Costs for scanning, printing, and data entry will be reduced.
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What is AHRQ's Current Plan for Electronic Submission?
- Present-September 2007—The transition schedule for research grant programs is posted at http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/timeline.htm.
- Applications for the transition submission date and thereafter must utilize the SF 424 (R&R) and be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Paper will not be accepted.
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What is Grants.gov?
- Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically Find and Apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grantmaking agencies.
- Grants.gov provides a single access point (portal) for more than 1,000 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grantmaking agencies.
- Any person, business, or State, local, or tribal government can use Grants.gov to electronically search for grant opportunities and apply for grants.
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What is the eRA Commons?
- The Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Commons is a meeting place on the Web where research organizations and grantees can receive and transmit information about the administration of biomedical and behavioral research grants.
- The eRA Commons interacts with Grants.gov to retrieve electronic applications for AHRQ grants submitted through the Grants.gov portal.
- Signing Officials (SO) and Principal Investigators (PI) use the eRA Commons to review identified errors and verify applications, which completes the electronic submission process.
- Applicants can access the status of their applications.
- Grantees can access the status of their awards, submit reports, and make requests electronically.
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How do Institutions and Applicants Prepare for Electronic Submission?
Registration—Start the registration process at least 4 weeks
before applications are due.
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Determine the Mode of Submission
Applicant organizations can submit applications to AHRQ through Grants.gov in one of two ways:
- Forms-based submission—Organizations using forms-based submission will rely on the PureEdge™ forms viewer provided free of charge from Grants.gov to download, complete, and submit application packages.
- System-to-system transfer of data—Organizations desiring a systems-to-system approach can work with Grants.gov to develop a data exchange system (that transmits XML data streams) or partner with an established commercial service provider that has already developed such an interface with Grants.gov.
To learn more, visit: www.ahrq.gov/path/egrants.htm
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What Are the Steps for Electronic Submission?
- Prepare to apply—register at Grants.gov & eRA Commons.
- Find opportunity and download application package.
- Prepare application.
- Submit application to Grants.gov.
- Wait for NIH to retrieve application.
- Check submission status in eRA Commons.
- Check assembled application.
- Submission complete.
For detailed submission instruction visit http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt.
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Where Do I Go For Help?
Electronic Submission Web Site
For up-to-date information on electronic submission and the SF 424 (R&R): http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt.
Grants Information
For AHRQ funding opportunities, application
guidelines, and grant-related resources contact:
George "Skip" Moyer
(301) 427-1452
Monday—Friday
8:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m. ET
skip.moyer@ahrq.hhs.gov
Web site: http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/
E-mail: e-grants@ahrq.hhs.gov
Grants.gov
For information about Grants.gov registration,
PureEdge™ software and form navigation:
Web site: http://grants.gov
Toll-free: 1-800-518-4726
Fax: (301) 480-0525
Phone support: Monday—Friday
Hours: 7:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m. ET
E-mail: support@grants.gov
eRA Commons
For information about eRA Commons registration, application validation, and post-submission functionality:
eRA Commons Web site: https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/index.jsp
eRA Web site: http://era.nih.gov
Telephone: (301) 402-7469
Toll-free: 1-866-504-9552
TTY: (301) 451-5939
Phone support: Monday—Friday
Hours: 7:00 a.m.—8:00 p.m. ET
E-mail: commons@od.nih.gov
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AHRQ Publication No. 06-M006
Revised June 2006
Internet Citation:
Electronic Submission of AHRQ Grant Applications. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. AHRQ Publication No. 06-M006, June 2006. http://www.ahrq.gov/grants/electgrant.htm
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 