1. To prepare to use the Adobe forms, install a Grants.gov-compatible version of Adobe Professional from http://rasp-adobe.med.cornell.edu. If you have any difficulty installing or using Adobe Professional please contact ITS support at 212-746-4878 or support@med.cornell.edu. See the Adobe FAQs for more information on using the Adobe-based forms.
2. Search for the specific grant opportunity on the NIH website: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html. Print or save the instructions for the grant opportunity.
3. Click "Apply for Grant Electronically" within the specific instructions to download the grant application package (you may use either ADOBE-FORMS-B1 or ADOBE-FORMS-B2 packages for deadlines on/before January 7, 2012, but NIH strongly encourages applicants to use ADOBE-FORMS-B2 whenever possible) and the NIH general instructions ("B Series" SF424 (R&R) Application Guide).
4. Print or save the "B Series" SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Save the application package locally to your desktop, server...
5. Complete the application. Check for errors, fix any errors, and save it again.
6. Send application to RASP as an email attachment at Grants-gov@med.cornell.edu. The packages are often too large to send through Eudora/Outlook so use the website transfer.med.cornell.edu. RASP also requires submission of the Electronic Routing Form (ERF) and other relevant internal paperwork in order to review and submit your application. Visit https://erf.med.cornell.edu/routing/RARFClient/routingClient.html to access the ERF.
7. Work with your Grants and Contracts Specialist in RASP to edit your application as needed.
8. RASP will submit the application to Grants.gov on your behalf when it is complete.
9. Track the status of your submitted application package at Grants.gov or through the email messages sent from Grants.gov until you are notified via email by Grants.gov and then the NIH eRA Commons https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/ that NIH has received it.
10. The NIH eRA Commons software then checks the application against NIH's validation rules.
11. NIH notifies both the PI and RASP by email to check the NIH eRA Commons for results of the NIH validations check. Because email can be unreliable, PIs and RASP should periodically check the NIH eRA Commons for the status of an application.
    
    Starting January 25, 2011, applications submitted through Grants.gov must be error-free prior to the deadline. Correcting NIH eRA Commons-identified errors and warnings after the deadline will no longer be an option. Changed/Corrected applications can still be submitted BEFORE the deadline. Changed/Corrected applications submitted AFTER the deadline (to address system identified errors/warnings) will no longer be accepted.
1. PIs can edit and resubmit an error-free application prior to the submission deadline. The PI must ask RASP to "Reject" the error-free application and then submit the Changed/Corrected application, through RASP, within two business days and prior to the submission deadline.
2. Applications with NIH eRA Commons-identified errors must be corrected and resubmitted prior to the deadline. PIs must visit the NIH eRA Commons to view the errors, fix the errors (and any warnings that the PI chooses to address), and then submit, through RASP, a Changed/Corrected application within two business days and prior to the submission deadline.
3. Once an application passes validation and the final grant image visible in the eRA Commons is acceptable to the PI then no further action is necessary. The application will automatically move forward for processing by the Division of Receipt and Referral after two business days.
12. Both the PI and RASP will receive email notification when an application is rejected or when the application automatically moves forward in the process after two business days.


13. After the application moves forward, the NIH eRA Commons saves the data and grant image, and NIH begins processing the application.


14. Applicants can now track the progress of their application on the NIH eRA Commons.

NOTE 1: The word warning characterizes any condition that is acceptable, but worthy of bringing to the PIs attention. It is at the PIs discretion whether a warning requires any action. Warnings do not stop further application processing. If an application submission results in warnings (but no errors), it will automatically move forward after two business days if no action is taken.

NOTE 2: NIH, AHRQ, CDC, FDA and NIOSH are phasing in use of ADOBE-FORMS-B2, which will be used with new funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) posted on/after July 22, 2011. NIH will soon reissue R01, R03, and R21 parent announcements with the new forms and expire the current parent R01, R03, and R21 FOAs on January 7, 2010. Applicants may use either ADOBE-FORMS-B1 or the new ADOBE-FORMS-B2 packages for deadlines on/before January 7, 2012, but NIH strongly encourages applicants to use ADOBE-FORMS-B2 whenever possible. ADOBE-FORMS-B2 packages resolve intermittent submission errors and include a revised R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form that provides for up to 30 subaward attachments. The incorporation of these forms does not result in any major changes to the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. All applicants should carefully read their FOA and the appropriate "B Series" Application Guide for program-specific instructions before completing their application.