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GRANTS.GOV PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

This document contains instructions for registering for SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and responding to Federal 

Funding Opportunities (FFO) for the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC). The 

Application Workflow below pertains to Grants.gov.
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Registering for SAM.gov and Grants.gov 

Before responding to opportunities, users must have an account with both SAM.gov and Grants.gov. 

SAM.gov 

SAM.gov registration can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. SAM.gov accounts must have an “Active” status

with current information the entire time an organization has an active Federal award OR application. Accounts 

must be renewed annually. If you already have an active account, verify the following information in SAM.gov 

before registering for Grants.gov:

• EIN (Employer Identification Number)

• DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet Number)

• Current contractor registration 

• Correct bank account information

• CAGE Code

o U.S. based organizations receive a Cage Code at the end of the registration process

o Organizations outside of the U.S. and territories must request an NCAGE Code, then a DUNS 

number, then complete the SAM.gov registration

Grants.gov 

Follow the instructions below to create an account with grants.gov. Note that account creation can take up to 

10 days.

1. Once your organization has an EIN and SAM.gov account, navigate to Grants.gov. 

a. Click Login in the upper right-hand corner if an account already exists and sign in with your 

username and password.
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2. Click Register in the upper right-hand corner to create an account. 

a. This link has further details on what organizations can expect when registering: 

i. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

3. Click the red Get Registered Now button. 

4. Complete the required information under the Register page. 
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5. An email will arrive from Grants.gov. Open the email and follow the instructions for completing 

registration. 

Beginning an Application on Grants.gov 

Follow the steps below to begin an application for a Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO). The SF 424 is 

required for the application. 

1. Log into Grants.gov once the registration steps above are completed. 

2. Search for the FFO using the search bar at the top of the screen. Enter the text OLDCC to search and 

click Go. 
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3. Search results will appear in the list below. 

4. Click the link under the Opportunity Number, OLDCC-21-F-0002, column. 

5. The Grant Opportunity will appear on the screen with the following four tabs: Synopsis, Version 

History, Related Documents, and Package. See below for more details on each tab. 

a. Click the red Subscribe button on the right to be notified of any change OLDCC makes to the 

FFO.

b. The Synopsis tab contains all the main details for the Grant Opportunity. 

c. See Related Documents under Additional Information in the Synopsis tab will route applicants

to the Related Documents tab where the FFO is attached.

d. The Version History tab contains a link to each version of the Grant Opportunity and the date it 

was updated. 

e. The Related Documents tab contains a link to all relevant documents that have been 

uploaded, such as the full FFO. This section will also contain the SF424. 

Submitting an Application on Grants.gov

Follow the steps below for completing required documents and the SF 424. 

Grants.gov Submissions

Please note the following about Grants.gov submissions:

• Don’t change the Funding Opportunity Number (if it’s not pre-populated)

• There is no Package ID Number

• Funding Application Name can be whatever the user prefers

• A workspace must be created in Grants.gov before an application can be completed

Grants.gov Application Workflow

1. Create Your Workspace

a. Workspaces are created for specific funding opportunities.

b. Workspaces can only be created by users with Workspace Manager Role, Standard AOR Role, 

Expanded AOR Role, or a Custom Role (with Create Workspace Privileges).

i. Workspace Manager, Standard AOR, and Expanded AOR are all COR Roles. 

c. Log into Grants.gov applicant account.

d. Search and locate the correct Grant Opportunity.

e. Click the red Apply button.

f. Enter the Application Filing Name on the Apply Now Using Workspace page.

g. Select the correct Profile, if there are more than one.

h. Select a user with Workspace Privileges if needed.

i. Click Create Workspace.

j. The screen will move to the newly created workspace.

2. Add Your Team Members

a. Workspace team members must have an account on grants.gov, but they don’t have to be a 

member of the applicant organization. The workspace owner will add the users to any 

necessary forms.

b. Users with the Workspace Manager Role, Standard AOR Role, Expanded AOR Role, or 

Custom Role (with Own Workspace Privilege) can add users to the workspace.

c. Go to Manage Workspace page and click Participants tab.

d. Click these buttons to add users:
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i. Add from Workspace Organization to search among organization’s registered users.

ii. Add by Username to search by name, including those outside your organization. A 

popup screen will allow you to choose the form access.

e. Click the Add box in the Actions column to add users. 

f. Note: To add a single user to multiple workspaces, click Manage Applicants on the Applicant 

Center page. Search for the desired user then Click Manage Workspace Access link in the 

Actions column. Click Add Workspaces and select the workspaces to add the user to. Click 

Save.

3. Complete Your Forms

a. Complete the SF424 (required – Step B) and the Attachments Form (optional – Step C).

b. SF424 (required) Instructions:

i. Type of Submission: Application

i. Type of Application: New

ii. Date Received: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned.

iii. Applicant Identifier: Leave blank.

iv. Federal Identifiers

1. Federal Entity Identifier: Leave blank.

2. Federal Award Identifier: Leave blank.

v. Date Received by State: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned.

vi. State Application Identifier: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned.

vii. Applicant Information:

1. Legal Name: Enter the legal name of the applicant organization. Do NOT list 

abbreviations or acronyms unless they are part of the organization’s legal name.

2. Employer/Taxpayer ID Number (EIN/TIN): Entities should enter their EIN 

provided by the IRS.

viii. Organizational DUNS: Enter the organization’s UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) number. If 

a UEI/DUNS number is not required at time of submission, please enter 4444-44444 

(without the dash).

ix. Address: Enter the address of the applicant.

x. Organizational Unit: Enter the name of the primary organizational unit (and department 

or division, if applicable) that will undertake the assistance activity, if applicable.

xi. Point of Contact: Enter the name, title, and all contact information of the person to be 

contacted on matters involving this application.

xii. Type of Applicant: Select an applicant type (type of organization).

xiii. Name of Federal Agency: Enter “Department of Defense”.

xiv. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 12.600.

xv. Funding Opportunity Number: Enter the Funding Opportunity Number and title. This 

number will be automatically completed on electronic applications. Otherwise, it can be

found in the NOFO.

xvi. Competition Identification Number: Enter the Competition Identification Number and 

title. This number will be automatically completed on electronic applications.

xvii. Areas Affected by Project: List the regions or states expected to be affected by the 

project.

xviii. Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: Enter the title of your proposed program (if 

necessary, delete pre-printed wording).

1. Attach the proposal document(s). The suggested order for adding attachments is

PART I Regional Manufacturing Community Description and Strategy Proposal,

PART II Execution Plan Slide Presentation, PART III Supporting Documentation

Attachments (in compliance with the overall application page limit).
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2. A Regional Manufacturing Community Description and Strategy proposal may

not exceed 15 pages single-sided, single-spaced with 1-inch margins, 11 point

Times New Roman font, and including all maps, drawings, diagrams excepting

any signed Memorandums of Understanding which do not count toward the 15-

page total.

3. The Execution Plan Side Presentation may not exceed 10 single-sided pages

PowerPoint presentation, including all relevant maps, drawing and diagrams.

4. Supporting Documentation Attachments may not exceed 25 single sided pages

(in Word or PDF format). Letters of support/ matching fund commitment will 

count toward the application page limit.

5. Note: Standard Form 424 does not count towards the application page limit.

6. Click Add Attachments. 

xix. Congressional Districts of:

1. Applicant: Please enter congressional district.

2. Program/Project: Please enter congressional district. 

xx. Proposed Project:

1. Start Date: Please refer to the NOFO for the estimated start date. 

2. End Date: Enter your projected end date.

xxi. Estimated Funding ($):

1. Federal: Enter the amount requested for the program described in the proposal.

2. Applicant: Enter any proposed cost-share. If none, enter “0.”

3. State: Enter “0.”

4. Local: Enter “0.”

5. Other: Enter “0.”

6. Program Income: Enter “0.”

7. TOTAL: This field will auto-populate based on the numbers in fields a-f.

xxii. E.O. 12372: Select “a. Program is covered by E.O.12372.”

xxiii. Applicant Delinquent on Any Federal Debt? Select the appropriate box. If you 

answer “yes” to this question you will be required to provide an explanation.
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xxiv. Certification and Signature of Authorized Representative: Enter the name, title, and 

all contact information of the individual authorized to sign for the application on behalf of 

the applicant organization.

c. The Attachments Form is used to add attachments. 

i. Accepted file types are Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF. 

ii. Attach any supporting documents.

4. Submit Your Application

a. Users with Standard AOR Role, Expanded AOR Role, or Custom Role (with Submit Privileges) 

can submit the application.

b. Click Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace Page under the Forms tab. 

i. This button will be available if no errors have been made. 

ii. All required and optional forms must be in the “Passed” status. 

iii. The workspace must have an active SAM registration. 

iv. The application package’s Open Date should be today or in the past. 

v. The application package’s Closing Date should be today or in the future.

c. Once an application is submitted, go to the Applicants dropdown menu and select Track My 

Application for status updates. Enter the tracking number then click Track. 

5. Track Your Application

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by 5:00 pm PDT on July 12, 2021 PDT. 

Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time

stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by

Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an

acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with

the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also

receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov tracking number in an email serving as proof 

of their timely submission.

b. When OLDCC successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the 

download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of 

the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the 

application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov 

receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for 

the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by OLDCC.