Grant Applicant Resources

Grants.gov

Grants.gov is your place to FIND and APPLY for federal grants. Using the Grants.gov system makes it faster, easier and more cost effective for grant applicants to electronically interact with federal grant-making agencies. It also provides the following key benefits, among many others, to the grant community:

• Helping the grant community learn more about available opportunities.
• Facilitating interaction with the federal government.
• Simplifying the grant application process to save applicants costs, time and hassle.
• Making it easier to research and find federal grant opportunities.
• Making electronic grant application processing easier.
• Providing a secure and reliable source to apply for federal grants.

The office was chartered to deliver a system that provides a centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities.

Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number

If you want to bid on government proposals, you will need to get a D-U-N-S Number for each physical location of your business. You can get your D-U-N-S Number expedited for free if you are required to register with the federal government for contracts or grants.

The D&B D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses. It is used to establish a business credit file, which is often referenced by lenders and potential business partners to help predict the reliability and/or financial stability of the company in question. D-U-N-S, which stands for data universal number system, is used to and maintain accurate and timely information on +265M global businesses.

System for Award Management (SAM)

In order to submit an application through Grants.gov, an applicant must register for a Grants.gov user ID and password. Note that this process can take between three to five business days or as long as four weeks if all steps are not completed correctly. To avoid delays, applicants are strongly encouraged to start early and not wait until the approaching application deadline before registering, logging in, reviewing the application instructions, and applying. Information about the Grants.gov registration process for organizations can be found at http://grants.gov/applicants/organization_registration.jsp

Please note that organizations already registered with Grants.gov do not need to re-register; however, all registered organizations must keep their Grants.gov password and SAM database (which now incorporates CCR) registration up-to-date or their applications will not be accepted by Grants.gov. Note that your CCR username will not work in SAM. You must create a new SAM user account to renew or update your registration. Registration on SAM is a requirement. To obtain additional information and to verify that all required registrations are current, please visit the SAM website.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Guidance

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is the foundation of modern American environmental protection in the United States and its commonwealths, territories, and possessions. NEPA provides a mandate and a framework for Federal agencies to consider all reasonably foreseeable environmental effects of their proposed actions and to involve and inform the public in the decision-making process.

Applicants must complete proposals according to environmental requirements noted in grant announcements or in requests for applications. Applicants must provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist (e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef systems). After applications are submitted, NOAA may require additional information to fulfill NEPA requirements. If NOAA determines that an environmental assessment is required, applicants may be requested to assist in drafting the assessment. Applicants may also be required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying and implementing feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their proposal.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is a government-wide collection of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by departments and establishments of the Federal government. The intent of the Catalog is to improve coordination and communication between the Federal government and State and local governments.

Each program is assigned a unique number by agency and program that follows the program throughout the assistance lifecycle enabling data and funding transparency. The complete CFDA number is a five digit number, XX.XXX, where the first two digits represent the Funding Agency and the second three digits represent the program. CFDA serves as the authoritative source for all CFDA numbers, including those assigned to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, or the Recovery Act) programs.

Grants Online

This is a site for Department of Commerce grant officials and applicants who become grantees. This unified grant processing system has been used by NOAA program officers since 2005 and by NOAA recipients since 2006.

You can view information about your current grants; submit post-award action requests, progress reports, and financial reports; and correspond with your Federal Program Officer and Grant Specialist.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

The CFR is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to federal regulation. Each volume of the CFR is updated once each calendar year. The following section has a bearing on NOAA grants: Title 2 – Grants and Agreements.

Department of Commerce, Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual

This grants manual is intended to provide a common understanding of the framework for the administration of grants and cooperative agreements within which Department of Commerce staff members and responsible recipient officials must operate.

Department of Commerce, Grants Management Division

This site includes information on Department of Commerce grant policies, opportunities, agency contacts, and Grants Online.

Department of Commerce, NOAA Grants Management Division: www.ago.noaa.gov/index.html
This site includes information on grant policy, training, forms, and on-line resources related to award administration.