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Scope Note
A successful grant application is a team effort. As part of your early planning process, talk to staff in your organization’s Office of Sponsored Research or equivalent. They can advise you on NIH applications, your organization's internal process, submission options, account registration, and software.
They can explain your organization's process and roles, including:
- Which of the application Submission Options you will use to access and fill out NIH application forms. You must use one of the listed submission options to complete and submit an NIH application.
- Who will set up your System Accounts.
- Steps necessary to complete your application.
- Which staff complete each section, form, and step of the application process. Roles will vary by organization.
- Your organization’s internal deadline(s) for when you should complete your parts of the application.
Staff in your Office of Sponsored Research can also be a great source of advice and guidance. They can:
- Help you understand NIH policies and processes.
- Advise on how to develop your application, including the budget.
- Suggest any other sources of advice at your organization, such as other investigators or department administrators who have experience with NIH applications.
Your organization's technical support staff can install any software you need. Many computers already have the following programs:
- A modern web browser. Check eRA Browser Compatibility and Grants.gov Supported Browsers.
- A word processor, preferably one that can save documents as PDF files. You must use PDF format for all application form attachments. If your word processor cannot save to PDF, there are free PDF converter programs online.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader. You need Acrobat Reader to view PDF documents, such as your attachments and the eRA-generated application image. Find free download links and a compatibility test on the Grants.gov Adobe Acrobat Reader Software Tip Sheet.