GrantSolutions Basics for ACL Grantees

U.S. Administration for Community Living

Last update: October 28, 2013

1 
Content

• Requesting User Account (pgs.3-4) 

• Logging In (pgs. 5-6) 

• Basic Navigation (pgs. 7-16) 

• Submitting Reports as Grant Notes (pgs. 17-23) 

• Requesting Amendments (pgs. 27-39) 

• Request Help (pg. 40)

• Training Videos (pg. 41)

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Requesting Grantee User Account

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https://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/USGranteeUserAccountRequestForm_jun2013.pdf 
4 

When your account has been created, you should receive two emails: 

one with your user name and one with your temporary password. 
Accessing the GS System

http://www.grantsolutions.gov/ 

5 
LOG IN

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Note that Username and 

Password are case-sensitive. 
HOME SCREEN – MY GRANTS LIST

7 

*Note: Black boxes indicate where 

grantee identifying information will be. 

Throughout this training document, all 

grantee information is blacked out to 

protect confidentiality. 

Don’t see your grant 

listed here? 

Please call the 

GrantSolutions Helpdesk 

to troubleshoot.

GrantSolutions User 

Support 

(202) 401-5282

or (866) 577-0771 

help@grantsolutions.gov
Screen Navigation

8 

Menu

Drop Down 

List

Menu Item Description

Account Management You are able to edit your user information, such as your profile, password, etc.

FundingOpportunity You are able to view some – but not all – Federal Funding Opportunities you may be eligible to 

apply for. However, ACL does not accept applications submitted through GrantSolutions at this 

time.

Applications N/A - ACL does not accept applications submitted through GrantSolutions at this time.

Grants This is a central point of management for grants. Most grant information may be obtained and post 

award actions can be viewed at this location. 

Reports N/A - ACL will not be using the Reports feature at this time. Program Performance Reports (PPRs), 

Financial Reports (ex: SF-425), and other reports (if applicable) should be submitted in 

GrantSolutions as Grant Notes. 

Online Data Collection N/A – ACL will not be using the Online Data Collection feature at this time. 

Help/Support The Help/Support link will give you the contact information for the GrantSolutions Helpdesk. 
MY GRANTS LIST

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UPDATE PROFILE

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CHANGE PASSWORD

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NOTIFICATION PREFERENCES

12 

Although grantees are able to turn 

off certain notifications by 

unchecking boxes, it may be helpful 

to keep them on – especially when 

you are new to using GrantSolutions. 
CCR VALIDATION

13 
MY GRANT LIST

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VIEW NGA

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VIEW NGA

16 
GRANT NOTES

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*Note: Some grantees may 

have multiple grants for the 

same program, so please 

ensure that you are selecting 

the appropriate grant number

when adding a grant note. 
ADDING A GRANT NOTE

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Any existing notes

for this grant will be listed here.

This grant currently has one note. 

These fields can be used 

to search existing notes 

by date, note category, 

etc.

Click Add to add 

a new Grant Note.
GRANT NOTE BREAKDOWN

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This field should automatically 

populate with your name.

You should always select 

“Correspondence” note type There are several different Category Types 

to choose from

Multiple files – of different file types (ex: 

PDF, Word, JPEG etc.) – can be attached to 

a single Grant Note.

 

Click “Submit” to save note

Provide brief description here

Provide brief description of file here

Click “Upload” to add file

*N

Add attachments (if applicable).

ote: You are not required to include 

attachments with a Grant Note. 
EXAMPLE 

SUBMITTING A PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT AS A GRANT NOTE

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Correspondence

Programmatic Report

Four files uploaded

(PPR and three attachments)

 

You can edit, delete, 

or view the note by 

clicking on these icons

Don’t forget to click Submit! Make sure the status says “Successful” 

prior to clicking “Submit”.
SHOWS GRANT NOTE HAS BEEN ADDED

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Correspondence

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To ensure all files have been 

successfully attached, click 

the magnifying glass to view 

your note contents.

Programmatic 

Report
REPORTS

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Beginning October 1st, 2013, ACL grantees are 

required to submit all ACL Program Performance 

Reports (PPRs) and Financial Reports (ex: SF-425) in 

GrantSolutions as Grant Notes. ACL will no longer 

use the Grants.Office@acl.hhs.gov mailbox.
CATEGORIZING AND NAMING GRANT NOTES

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Program Performance Reports (PPRs) Financial Reports

Subject Insert PPR and Reporting Period

For example: if the Reporting Period is 9-

30-12 – 3-31-13, the subject would read 

“PPR – 9-30-12 to 3-31-13”

Insert Type of Report and Reporting Period

For example: if the Reporting Period for an SF425 is 9-30-12 to 9-30-13, the subject would 

read “SF-425 – 9-30-12 to 9-30-13”

Note Type Correspondence Correspondence

Category Type Programmatic Report Financial Report

Notes Enter brief description of submission Enter brief description of submission

Description

Insert PPR and Reporting Period

For example: if the Reporting Period for a 

PPR is 9-30-12 to 3-31-13, the subject 

would read “PPR – 9-30-12 to 3-31-13”

Insert Type of Report and Reporting Period

For example: if the Reporting Period for an SF425 is 9-30-12 to 9-30-13, the description 

would read “SF-425 – 9-30-12 to 9-30-13”

For submitting other documents, unless instructed otherwise, please Categorize these Notes as “Other” 

and ensure the Subject, Notes section, and Description clearly indicate what is being submitted. 

Basic information about reporting requirements can be found on ACL’s website, Information for Current Grantees, 

and in the Terms and Conditions of grant Notice of Awards. 
SEND MESSAGE – N/A

ACL will not be using the GrantSolutions “Send Message” feature at this time. 

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HISTORY

25 
HISTORY

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Manage Amendments

One example of an 

Amendment (which are 

sometimes referred to as 

grant revisions and/or 

prior approval requests) 

is a no cost extension

request)

27 

. 
Manage Amendments

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Select Type of Amendment

29 
30 

Application Control Checklist

Click here to upload any 

documentation 

(if required for the amendment 

you are requesting)
Uploading Required Documentation 

(if required for the amendment you are requesting)

31 
Uploading Required Documentation 

(if required for the amendment you are requesting)

32 
Uploading Required Documentation 

(if required for the amendment you are requesting)

33 

NCE Request Letter – 10-28-13
Verify Submission

34 

1 

Number 1 indicates that one 

document has been uploaded
Final Submission

35 

NCE Request Letter – 10-28-13
Final Submission

36 
Confirmation

37 
Application Control Checklist

38 

1 
Confirmation

39 

Indicates 

amendment has 

been submitted 

and is currently 

under review at 

ACL
GrantSolutions Technical Support

Monday - Friday

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST 

(202) 401-5282 or (866) 577-0771 

help@grantsolutions.gov

40 40
GrantSolutions Training Video

• This video (broken into 4 parts – links below)

provides a walkthrough of GrantSolutions. It does,

however, show some features of GrantSolutions that

ACL is not using at this time. Nevertheless, it may be

a useful supplement to this PowerPoint.

• Part 1

• Part 2

• Part 3

• Part 4

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