Proposal Management & Grants.gov

The following information is intended to assist in understanding how eRPM and Grants.gov are connected. Detailed system information is available in the Grants.gov from eRPM step by step procedure.

How do I determine if the Grants.gov opportunity is available electronically?
Are the forms for my Grants.gov opportunity supported?
What is the difference between Adobe and system to system submission?
What is Copy PAF Info to Grants.gov (aka copy mapping)?
Who can I contact for help with Grants.gov forms?

How do I determine if the Grants.gov opportunity is available electronically?

While all Federal Agencies must post their funding opportunities in Grants.gov, not all opportunities are available for electronic submission through Grants.gov (i.e., cannot be submitted via Adobe Forms Package or eResearch submission to Grants.gov). If the FOA is not available for electronic submission to the sponsor select "no" to PAF question 1.3 and you will enter the FOA on another page.
To determine if your FOA is available for electronic submission, either:

  • On the grants.gov web site, use the grant finder to find the FOA. It will indicate if it is available for electronic submission.
  • In eRPM, select "yes" to PAF question 1.3 and enter the FOA on the next page. If you can't find it in Grants.gov, return to this page and select 'No," You will enter the FOA in question 1.11, Sponsor Solicitation Number.

Are the forms for my Grants.gov opportunity supported and what does that mean?

Once you type in the FOA Number in PAF question 1.6 you will find out if all required forms are supported and what optional forms are supported.

There are over 150 forms used in Grants.gov applications. Each opportunity has a subset of those forms that are either required or optional. Many, but not all of these forms are supported by the eRPM system. If all the forms you wish to submit (those that are required plus optional forms you want to include) are supported, then you have the option to select the eResearch submission to grants.gov (aka system to system) or Adobe submission method. If any of the forms you wish to submit are not supported, then you must select the Adobe submission method.

What is the difference between Adobe and system to system submission methods?

eResearch submission to Grants.gov (aka system to system)

  • This is referred to as the system to system (S2S) submission. This means the data is sent in an XML stream directly from our server to the Grants.gov server. The forms are filled out in eRPM by clicking on the link that appears on the PAF workspace.
    NOTE: In order to see the link you must select “eResearch submission to Grants.gov” on the routing instructions screen in the PAF.
  • This link allows you to edit the application. The forms are the same SF424 forms that you would see if you were filling out the Adobe package.
  • A response from Grants.gov regarding the submission status is usually received by eRPM in a few seconds. Busy proposal periods may take a little longer. The proposal status can be viewed in the SF424 workspace.
  • Advantages: better error checking, fewer submission errors, and option to copy map.

Adobe submission to Grants.gov

  • The Adobe package is downloaded from the Grants.gov website to your computer.
  • Forms are filled out using Adobe Reader.
  • The Adobe package is a file on your computer.
  • Once the Adobe package is completed it is uploaded from your computer into the PAF in eRPM as an attachment.  It would be your final proposal document for submission (section 6.1 of the PAF).
  • DRDA staff downloads the Adobe package to their desktop and submits to Grants.gov using the “SUBMIT” button on the Adobe forms and a UM password. They are the only ones with the institutional authority to submit.
  • A response from Grants.gov is sent via an email to the DRDA Project Representative. This may take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours. Responses are generally slower than a S2S submission.

In either case, the same proposal forms are filled out by the PI/Project Team and the same information is sent to Grants.gov.  DRDA submits the proposals. 

What is Copy PAF Info to Grants.gov (aka copy mapping)?

Copy mapping means that the data entered on the PAF, along with some standard University of Michigan info will be transferred to the FOA forms. Not all forms that are supported by eRPM can be copy mapped. Copy mapping is only available if eResearch submission to grants.gov submission method is selected.

To determine which forms can be copy mapped, refer to the spreadsheet of copy mapped forms.

For additional information refer to the Copy PAF Info to Grants.gov forms section in the eRPM Grants.gov step-by-step procedure.

Who can I contact for help with Grants.gov forms?