Prepare Application
- Application Guide [SF424 (R&R)]
- Sample Application Forms
- Application Examples
- Training video and handouts on SF424 (R&R) form
- Grants.gov Application Package Demo
- Finding the PHS398 elements in the SF424 (R&R) form (crosswalk)
- Errors and warnings (validations)
- Important Tips (PDF, etc.)
- Prepare Application FAQs
Application Guide [SF424 (R&R)]
Two versions of the application guides are currently available, each corresponding to a version of the SF424 (R&R) forms. Version 1 of the application guide continues to be used for Funding Opportunity Announcements posted before June 15, 2006 unless and until such opportunities are reposted. Version 2 of the application guide is to be used only with Funding Opportunity Announcements using Version 2 of the SF424 (R&R) forms (the updated application forms). These funding opportunities are clearly noted with a "Version-2-Forms" in the "Competition ID" field of the forms package. This field appears at the top left hand of the page when you open an application package with the PureEdge viewer.
For more details on the transition from Version 1 to Version 2 of the forms, see NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-06-078.
Version 2: To be used for FOAs clearly noted with "Version-2-Forms" in "Competition ID" field of SF424 (R&R) forms package.
- Link to Version 2 of
the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (doc)
(Updated September 13, 2007)
The guide contains the detailed instructions for filling out the SF424 (R&R) Application Form. - Link to Version 2 of the SBIR/STTR SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (doc)
(Updated September 13, 2007)
The guide contains detailed instructions for filling out the SF424 (R&R) Application Form to submit SBIR/STTR grant applications.
Version 1: To be used for FOAs posted before June 15, 2006, unless and until such opportunities are reposted
- Link to Version 1 of
the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (doc)
(Updated June 15, 2006)
The guide contains the detailed instructions for filling out the SF424 (R&R) Application Form. - Link to Version 1 of
the SBIR/STTR SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (doc)
(Updated June 15, 2006)
The guide contains detailed instructions for filling out the SF424 (R&R) Application Form to submit SBIR/STTR grant applications.
Sample Application Forms
- Link to SF424
(R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information Webpage
(OER website)
Sample application forms are available on the above webpage.
Note: The application packages on the page are for practice only and are not to be used to submit any applications. The appropriate application package and instructions are linked to each Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). You may search for an appropriate FOA either in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts or Grants.gov FIND and APPLY sections.
Application Examples
- Link to a completed SBIR Phase I PHS 398 application (pdf)
- Link to a completed SBIR Phase I SF424 (R&R) application (pdf)
Compare the PHS 398 and the SF424 (R&R) using real application examples. The first link is an annotated SBIR Phase I PHS 398 completed grant application taken and edited from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website, while the second link shows a corresponding completed SBIR Phase I grant application on the new electronic SF424 (R&R) application form.
Training Video & Handouts on SF424 (R&R) Form
- Link to a video of A Walk Through the SF424 (R&R)*
(December 15, 2005; 1 hr 46 min, 376 bytes)
The video walks the viewer through the SF424 (R&R) Application Form.Note: To watch the video, you will need the RealPlayer software from Real Networks. HHS/CDC staff can download Windows RealPlayer or Mac RealPlayer. Others can download this free RealPlayer.
Note: The video was recorded before HHS/CDC announced that it was moving the transition of the R01 and subsequent mechanisms by one round to February 2007. Current timeline of the transition to electronic submission (pdf).
- Link to a slide
presentation A Walk Through the SF424 (R&R) (ppt)
(Updated February 2006; PowerPoint)
This slide presentation accompanies the above video. - Link to a PDF version of all SF424 (R&R) components and
agency-specific material (pdf)
This PDF version of a SF424 (R&R) application form allows you to become familiar with the SF424 (R&R) without requiring the use of the PureEdgeTM viewer. - Link to Version 1 of
the eRA Assembly of the SF424 (R&R) Application (doc)
This informational document details the table of contents and the order in which the SF424 (R&R) application form is system-assembled once received by the agency. - Link to Version 2 of
the eRA Assembly of the SF424 (R&R) Application (doc)
This informational document details the table of contents and the order in which the SF424 (R&R) application form is system-assembled once received by the agency.
Imp. Note: Verification process change effective May 10, 2006
HHS/CDC will no longer require the verification of the grant application by the AOR/SO and PD/PI. The verification step will be replaced with a two business day period for the AOR/SO and PI/PD to review the assembled application in eRA Commons. Only the SO has the ability to "reject" the application to address warnings or if it does not correctly reflect the submitted application package due to Grants.gov or eRA Commons system issues. If no action is taken, the application automatically moves forward.
The training video and handouts above do not reflect this process change.
Grants.gov Application Package Demo
Finding the PHS398 items in the SF424 (R&R) Form (crosswalk)
- Link to Mapping 398 Data to the SF424 (R&R) (pdf) Crosswalk
(November 15, 2005)
This crosswalk maps the data items from the old PHS 398 form to its location in the new SF424 (R&R) form and cross references the Grants.gov SF424 (R&R) Application Guide where applicable.
Errors and warnings (Validations)
- Link to SF424 (R&R) Validations (pdf) | SF424 (R&R) Validations with changes tracked (pdf)
(October 16, 2006)
A detailed listing of errors and warnings that an applicant may encounter during the validation process, along with tips to help you understand these better. This will help an applicant figure out and fix problems in the application.
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: September 22 , 2006 (pdf)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: August 24, 2006 (pdf)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: July 14, 2006 (pdf)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: May 11, 2006 (pdf)
Previously updated validations with changes tracked: April 28, 2006 (pdf) - Link to Generic Validations Summary
(March 21, 2006)
A summary listing of generic validations that applies to all grant applications. - Link to Grant Program/Mechanism Specific-Limited Validations
(August 3, 2006)
There is a limited set of mechanism specific validations that, although standard values are assigned, NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) may choose not to have eRA systems enforce applicant compliance with these standard values in order to allow alternative values specified in a Funding Opportunity Announcements to be accepted. When this happens we call it "opting-out of limited validations". This document explains the concept of limited validations and provides a chart of the limited validations and their standard values.
Important Tips (including PDF)
- To avoid PDF problems, keep these PDF guidelines in mind.
- Under Senior Key Person, in Section A & B of the Research & Related Budget form, be sure to include the PD/PI.
- HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants not to use double columns to present their research plans. Since some/many reviewers will be reviewing the electronic document, not a paper version, the two column format may pose difficulties.
- Applicants who submit a corrected application through Grants.gov must include a cover letter or extend the existing one because the information from the previous application is not retained and each submission has to be complete in itself.
