Grant Runner Before You Begin

Before you begin using Grant Runner, you need to:

  • Find an eligible funding opportunity
  • Register with eRA Commons
  • Get access to SAGE

Find an Eligible Funding Opportunity

To search for eligible grant opportunities, go to the Grants.gov Search Grants page. When you find a relevant NIH opportunity, be sure to make a note of the funding opportunity number. You will need this when you complete the Grant Runner wizard.

Register with eRA Commons

PIs (Principal Investigators) applying for grants from the NIH must have an account on the electronic Research Administration Commons (eRA Commons) website. eRA Commons serves as a virtual meeting place where the NIH exchanges information with its grantees and applicants can track their applications.

Please note the following:

  • Registration produces an ID, which you must enter in the credential field on the RR Senior/Key Profile Component. NIH will reject your application without the PD/PI Commons ID.
  • This is a one-time registration. Once a PI creates an account, be sure to enter the same PD/PI Commons ID each time that PI applies for NIH funds.
  • Make a note of the information used to register at eRA Commons. The PI information within the grant application should match this information as closely as possible.
  • For a link to the eRA Commons registration page and additional information, see NIH’s Registration Requirements for Electronic Submission.

Get Access to SAGE

SAGE (System to Administer Grants Electronically) is the UW system through which you submit your grant materials to the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). In order to use SAGE, you have must have access. SAGE uses the UW Access to Systems, Tools, Resources and Applications (ASTRA) tool.

Log into SAGE at sage.washington.edu.

If you have difficulty logging in, contact your unit’s ASTRA administrator to ensure you have a role.

Create a Grant Runner Application in SAGE

You will use the Grant Runner Wizard to create your application. The wizard will step you through a series of questions to verify if your application is eligible to use the automated submission process. You will need to provide the Funding Opportunity ID to complete the wizard. This ID is listed in the synopsis for each grant opportunity on Grants.gov.

The Grant Runner Wizard provides tools for you to look up UW organizational codes, sponsors, and Principal Investigators. The Wizard data will automatically populate parts of your eGC1 and SF424 forms, so you do not have to enter the same information more than once.

Helpful Reminders

  • The Sponsor’s Application Instructions document and Program Announcement (PA) should always be the primary source of information regarding important criteria, such as page count, file size, and document types required by the sponsoring agency.
  • All documents that are attached to the SF424 (R&R) form must be in PDF format.