- Finding Opportunitiescompleted
- Applying for an Award
- Managing an Awardnot completed
- Closing Out an Awardnot completed
Step 2 of 4 Grant Lifecycle
Applying for an Award
Application instructions are provided the in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted on Grants.gov. The NOFO is the official, authoritative guidance on the competition for that opportunity.
Before applying, you should read the entire NOFO. The NOFO includes a description of the type(s) of projects sought and the eligibility criteria for applicants.
Applicants must submit their application electronically through Grants.gov. The Chief Grants Management Officer (CGMO) will only consider a waiver of this requirement only if submission through grants.gov is not possible because of an unavoidable technical limitation. Requests for a waiver must be submitted according to the instructions in the NOFO.
The following describes common elements of applications for OASH programs. The published NOFO on grants.gov takes precedence over any general guidance presented here.
Application Components
Forms
Your application must be prepared using the forms and information provided in the online application package on Grants.gov. This includes:
SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance
SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs
SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Project Abstract Summary
Additional forms may be required and will be included in the application package. Current version and instructions for each form are found under the Related Documents tab on Grants.gov for the NOFO.
Narratives
The project narrative and the budget narrative tell the story of your proposed project.
The project narrative is the most important part of your application, because we will use it as the primary basis to determine whether your project merits an award. The project narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. The narrative should refer to and be consistent with the appendices requested. You should respond to all of the content requested in the NOFO unless it clearly does not relate to your project.
The budget narrative should include a detailed line-item budget that includes calculations for all costs and activities by the “object class categories” identified on SF-424A form and a justification for the costs. Your budget narrative should justify the overall cost of the project as well as the proposed cost per activity, service delivered, and/or product. It should define the amount of work you have planned and expect to perform, what it will cost, and an explanation of how the result is cost effective. The NOFO will identify any restrictions on costs.
Indirect costs may be included per 45 C.F.R. § 75.414. See the Budget Narrative section of this announcement for more information. To obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate with the Federal Government you may contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Cost Allocation Services (CAS) regional office that is applicable to your State.
Direct and Indirect Costs proposed and, if successful, charged to the HHS/OASH award must meet the cost requirements of 45 C.F.R. Part 75 “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards,” Subpart E—Cost Principles. You should thoroughly review these regulations before developing your proposed budget.
Formatting
Improperly formatting your application can result in disqualification. You should pay particular attention to the formatting instructions in the NOFO. 00 The narratives of applications responding to OASH NOFOs must be
Double-spaced
In an easily readable 12 point font such as Times New Roman or Arial
On 8.5x11 page size with 1” margins on all sides (top, left, bottom, and right)
Within the page limits specified
You must use an acceptable file format for your application. OASH does not accept MS Excel files, compressed file formats, or password protected files.
Acceptable File Formats (extension)
Adobe PDF (.pdf)
Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
Image formats (.jpg, .gif, .tif, or .bmp only)
Unacceptable File Formats (extension)
Microsoft Excel files (.xls)
Any compressed file formats (e.g., .zip, .rar, or Adobe Portfolio)
Any password-protected files
On submission, your files will be converted to Adobe PDF format. You are strongly encouraged to convert your narratives to Adobe PDF prior to submission to ensure there are no errors introduced during such a conversion. OASH will not be responsible for errors in the conversion.
Important Grants.gov Information
To ensure successful submission of your application, you should carefully follow the step-by-step instructions provided at step-by-step instructions.
For information on registering for Grants.gov or for troubleshooting technical issues with submission, refer to www.grants.gov or contact the Grants.gov Contact Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (excluding Federal holidays) at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.