Adobe Application Forms and Electronic Submission

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Adobe Application Forms and Electronic Submission
November 14, 2008
Changes to electronic applications are on the
way. Learn how this affects YOU today!
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NIH Transition to Adobe Forms
Pilot completed
Adobe forms available for Small Business
Conference FOAs
Check FOA for new Adobe forms
Begin using Adobe for most Jan. 1 receipts

• Most receipt dates on or after Jan 1, 2009 must
  use Adobe, except
• Small business (R41,R42, R43, R44) and
  conference (R13/U13s) grant
• applications with Jan. 7, 2009 AIDS submission
  deadlines
• FOAs expiring on or before January 31, 2009 will
  continue to use Pure Edge until the expiration
  date. (See complete list). 

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NIH Transition Schedule from PureEdge to Adobe
for Standard Submission Dates
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Some FOAs are Being Published Without Electronic
Application Forms

• NIH is waiting for updates to be made to the
  SF424 (RR).
• System-to-System Providers should get in touch
  with Grants.gov for information on schema changes
• We expect to add the newly updated forms to the
  Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) by early
  December 2008
• New forms for small business and conference FOAs
  will be available in early February 2009

Advice Develop your research plan and
attachments now. Wait to complete the actual
forms until you download the correct application
in December.

• More at http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice
  -files/NOT-OD-08-117.html

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Adobe Not very different

• The new Adobe forms look very similar to PureEdge
  forms
• Changes mainly cosmetic
• Overall electronic submission process remains the
  same
• Find opportunity
• Download application package
• Develop research plan and other PDF attachments
• Complete forms
• Submit application
• Check assembled application in eRA Commons

Works on both Macs and PCs
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but follow these important tips to ensure
success

• Adobe Reader 8.1.3 or 9.0 required to open forms
• Stay tuned to Grants.govs Download Software
  page for changes (http//www.grants.gov/help/down
  load_software.jsp)
• A pop-up usually warns if you have a wrong
  version
• If using an Adobe Acrobat product to create PDFs,
  check Grants.govs Web site for help on settings
• To ensure the application reader opens in the
  correct version of Adobe

Using an old version of Adobe Reader may
prevent successful submission of your application!
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Sample Changes to Application Forms

• RR Senior/Key Person Profile
• Added Degree Type and Year (note this will allow
  NIH to remove Degree fields from PHS 398 Cover
  Pg Supplement)
• RR Project/Performance Site Location(s)
• Moved Congressional District data from RR Cover
  Component
• Added DUNS Number field
• PHS 398 Checklist
• Added Disclosure Permission Statement
• RR Other Project Information
• Re-ordered and revised Human Subjects fields
• Revised fields on Environmental Impact
• Added field for impact on Historical Places

• More at http//grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm

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Reminder Avoid Common eSubmission Errors

• Use PDF format for text attachments and do not
  embed movies or other materials in PDF
  attachments.
• RR Senior/Key Person Profile(s) form
• Include eRA Commons Username in the Credential,
  e.g., agency login field for all individuals
  assigned a PD/PI role.
• Include the Organization Name for all Senior/Key
  Persons listed.
• RR Budget form - Senior/Key Person effort must
  be greater than zero.
• Clicking Submit is not the last step.
  Remember. . . if you cant view it (in Commons),
  we cant review it !

More at http//era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/avoi
ding_errors.htm
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BE PREPARED!!

• Review the Funding Opportunity
• and begin working on your research plan
• Ensure ALL computers have Adobe 8.1.2 or 9.0
  installed

N O W !
December

• Go back to the FOA and download the new Adobe
  application package

January

• Submit your application in Adobe for most FOAs

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Follow the Usual Process for Electronic
Submission Support 

• Contact Grants.gov Contact Center for questions
  on form functionality or submission of the forms
  to Grants.gov. 
• Grants.gov Contact Center
• E-mail support_at_grants.gov
• Phone [phone]
• Contact the eRA Help Desk at NIH with post
  submission questions or technical issues that
  threaten NIHs timely receipt of your
  application.
• Document technical issues involving application
  submission with Grants.gov Contact Center and
  provide NIH with the contact center tracking
  number
• eRA Help Desk
• Web support http//ithelpdesk.nih.gov/eRA/
• Phone [phone] or 301-402-7469

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Adobe Transition Resources

• NIH Electronic Submission of Grant Applications
  Web site http//era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/
• Grants.gov Web site (Applicant Resources)
  http//grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp

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Future Transitions to Electronic Submission with
Adobe Forms

• Career Development (K) February 12, 2009
• Fellowship (F) April 8, 2009
• Training (T) September 25, 2009
• Complex TBD