Before You Apply

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain three registrations to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. These registrations include SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. The complete registration process for all three systems can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants should begin this activity as soon as possible. If an eligible applicant does not have access to the internet, please contact the Agency Contacts listed in Section VII of the Notice of Funding Opportunity for submission instructions.

Prior to registering with eRA Commons, applicant organizations must first obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, if needed (refer to Section IV. Applications and Submission Information, Section C). Organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their full SAM and Grants.gov registrations; however, all registrations must be in place by the time of application submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.

The first listed PD/PI on the application must include their eRA Commons ID in the "Credential, e.g. agency login" field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile Form. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in that field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application.

What are the minimum requirements to apply for IOOS Funding through Grants.gov?

All proposals submitted to IOOS must include the following in order to meet minimum requirements. Please defer to the funding announcement for a complete list of requirements. All Standard Forms can be found on Grants.gov.

  1. Standard Form (SF) 424
  2. Title Page
  3. Project Summary
  4. Project Description and Milestone Schedule
  5. Data Management Plan
  6. References Cited
  7. SF-424A (for lead and any subawards)
  8. Budget Narrative (for lead and any subawards)
  9. Resumes
  10. Letters of Support
  11. CD-511
  12. SF-424B
  13. SF-LLL (If applicable)
  14. Environmental Compliance Questionnaire for NOAA Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity Applicants (fillable form)

How Do I Fill Out Standard Forms?

Refer to the instructions included with each form that can be found here.

How do I complete the budget narrative?

Refer to the Budget Narrative Guidance for NOAA Grants (Updated September 2023).

It is important that the budget information you provide on the SF-424 and SF-424A be consistent with the brief budget information presented in the project narrative and with detailed budget information provided in a budget appendix. Detailed budget information presented should, at a minimum, restate and further explain the information presented on form SF-424A.

Managing Your Grant

NOAA administers and manages all financial assistance awards through an online system called eRA Commons (formerly Grants Online). The following resources will step you through many processes that you’ll need during the life of your grant or cooperative agreement.

eRA Commons - All NOAA awards are administered using the eRA Commons system.

eRA Service Desk

  • Phone: 866-504-9552 (option 1)
  • Grant Support Portal for additional methods of contact.
  • Monday-Friday, 7am-8pm EST

eRA Commons Trainings 
https://www.commerce.gov/ocio/programs/gems/about-gems

eRA CommonsUser Guide
https://www.era.nih.gov/docs/Commons_UserGuide.pdf

Revision Requests (Formerly Award Action Requests)

Please note that the links referencing Grants Online are no longer available; however, the required documentation and helpful hints are still relevant.

  • No Cost Extensions – Information and instructions to submit additional time to complete grant activities. Requests must be made at least 30 days before the award end date and are not guaranteed. (December 2016, pdf 100KB)
  • Budget Reprogramming – Information and instructions to reprogram or modify the approved grant budget. (December 2016, pdf 205KB)
  • Change in Scope – Information and instructions on how to request approval to modify the scope of work for an approved grant. Requests are not guaranteed. (December 2016, pdf 53KB)
  • Foreign Travel and Fly America Act – All foreign travel must be pre-approved, and travelers must use a U.S. airline carrier. (December 2016, pdf 94KB)
  • Indirect Cost Rates – Information on the percentage and rules that entities are allowed to charge as overhead or indirect charge. (December 2016, pdf 101KB). For information on establishing Indirect or Facilities and Administrative Costs, contact: Michele Mazzocchetti, NOAA Grants Management Division at michele.mazzocchetti@noaa.gov.

Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP)

Please note that the links referencing Grants Online are no longer available; however, the required documentation and helpful hints are still relevant.

  • ASAP.gov Enrollment and Draw-down of Funds – The Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP) system is the preferred method for grantees with U.S. Bank accounts to draw down funds. (December 2016, pdf 100KB)
  • ASAP Training - Upcoming free training to learn more about ASAP.gov.
  • ASAP Reports and Inquiries Training - Learn the difference between reports and inquiries, identify their purpose, and understand how to run them. No charge for this training.
  • ASAP Customer Support - The ASAP team is available to assist you with technical problems or answer questions you may have. 8:00 am to 9:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time) Monday - Friday (Except Holidays)

Reporting Requirements

Please refer to your terms and conditions for due dates and type of report.

Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Guidance

RPPRs apply to research awards only. For reporting requirements, please refer to the eRA Commons User Guide, pages 315-366.

Performance Program Report (PPR) Guidance

PPRs apply to non-research awards only. For reporting requirements, refer to 2 CFR 200.329 (c-e).

Federal Financial Report (FFR) Guidance

For reporting requirements, please refer to the eRA Commons User Guide, pages 213-236.

Other

  • Indirect Cost Rates – Information on the percentage and rules that entities are allowed to charge as overhead or indirect charge. (December 2016, pdf 101KB)
  • Audits – Entities that expend more than $750,000 per year in federal funds are required to complete an annual audit. (December 2016, pdf 89KB)
  • Monitoring and Site Visits – IOOS grants staff are designated to monitor all federal awards, which may include site visits. All grantees are required to monitor their sub-awards and contractors in accordance with the grant regulations found in 2 CFR Part 200. (December 2016, pdf 88KB)
  • Adverse Enforcement Actions – Information on high-risk designation, award termination or suspension, and other negative actions resulting from poorly managed or executed federal awards. (June 2015, pdf 49KB)
  • Close Out Guidance and Extension to Close Out – Close out is the 120 days after award activities end and allows the grantee to pay all final invoices, complete final reports, and dispose of any equipment. (December 2016, pdf 98KB)
  • Common Grant/Cooperative Agreement Acronyms and Definitions – Adapted from 2 CFR Part 200. (December 2016, pdf 184KB)

Policies

NOAA grantees are bound to the Terms and Conditions within their specific award. General award terms and conditions include: