At UW, the process of applying for a funding opportunity begins with the Principal Investigator (PI) or Research Administrator at least a month before the granting agency’s deadline, thus allowing sufficient time to:

• Compile the forms and other documents required for the application as well as those required internally
• Prepare and complete them in SAGE (System to Administer Grants Electronically)
• Route the application electronically to obtain the requisite approvals within your Unit, other units and compliance offices, and finally from the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)

The approval process is the same for manual submissions via Grants.gov, and automated submissions using Grant Runner. The PI/Research Administrator electronically routes the application package and the UW’s internal electronic Grants and Contracts form (eGC1) through the approval process using SAGE.  
SAGE also makes the completed application and eGC1 available to the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), which provides the final University vetting and submits the application to Grants.gov (either manually or automated via Grant Runner).

Important note for NIH applicants: The 48-hour period for validating your application on the eRA Commons must take into account the official submission deadline. Investigators who decide to reject their application and edit it must resubmit before the deadline.