QuickLinks

To:	Deans, Directors, Chairs, Research Faculty, Business Managers
From:	Vonnie Perkins, eRA Program Manager, ORAA
Date:	2008-02-26
Subject:	New Software Requirements for Grants.gov Submissions

Over the past few years, increasing numbers of federal funding opportunities have required submission via Grants.gov and use of the Pure Edge or IBM WorkPlace Forms Viewer software. A major change is fast approaching. Soon, Adobe Reader 8.1.2 - and only Adobe Reader 8.1.2 - will be used to prepare, review, and submit Grants.gov applications.

Timeline:
Grants.gov has announced the following timeline for transition to Adobe Reader forms:

• After April 2008 all new applications posted in Grants.gov will require Adobe Reader 8.1.2 to complete.
• After June 2008, all applications posted in Grants.gov will require Adobe Reader 8.1.2 to complete.
• NIH has announced that it will be using Adobe Reader 8.1.2 forms for applications for all programs starting June 2008.
• For the time being, there are some application packages that still require Pure Edge or IBM Workplace Forms Viewer while others require Adobe Reader 8.1.2. Each funding opportunity can only be completed in one format or the other - the user does not have a choice between to two.

Issues of which to be aware:
It is imperative that the appropriate version, and same version, of Adobe Reader is used to open, review, and submit an application. The version that must be used is Adobe Reader 8.1.2. It is available from the Grants.gov download site:

http://grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp.

• First, you must use the Adobe Reader 8.1.2 program, and not Adobe Professional or other .pdf viewers.
• Second, you must use Adobe Reader 8.1.2. Grants.gov has discovered that if more than one version of Adobe Reader is used to prepare, review, and submit the application, the file will become corrupted and unacceptable by Grants.gov.
• Third, do not update Adobe Reader beyond version 8.1.2 without consulting the ORAA website. As new versions are released and deemed compatible with Grants.gov, ORAA will communicate this information through its website so the entire UM research community can use the same version of Adobe Reader.

It is not possible for ORAA staff to identify the version of Adobe Reader used to prepare an application. It is only when an application is submitted to Grants.gov and it is accepted - or rejected - that ORAA will know that this is an issue with the application. If an application is rejected, the PI will need to download and complete a new application package with Adobe Reader 8.1.2. An application must be accepted by Grants.gov for it to be submitted to the agency. An invalid submission will not meet the time deadline requirements of the agency.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance for anyone who prepares or reviews Grants.gov applications to have Adobe Reader 8.1.2 installed on their computers. ORAA suggests that Adobe Reader 8.1.2 is set as the default program used to open .pdf files especially because an application package opened in any other program may become corrupt and not accepted for submission by Grants.gov. Information about setting Adobe Reader 8.1.2 as the default application for opening .pdf files can be found on ORAA’s website:
http://www.umresearch.umd.edu/ORAA/era/ggov_adobeforms_Feb.pdf

In summary, very soon you will need to use Adobe Reader 8.1.2 to open and complete grant applications posted through Grants.gov. For the applications to be valid, no other program can be used with these forms.

If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at oraaonline@umresearch.umd.edu

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Regards,
Vonnie Perkins, eRA Program Manager, ORAA