Chapter 8 -
After Submission

1. Agencies usually send a notice of receipt for your application. A number is usually assigned by the agency to your application, and your receipt will include the assigned number.
2. Your grant is reviewed by the agency for eligibility, authorized signatures, required assurances, required human subject or animal welfare certification, if appropriate, and completeness. Further review will determine if you meet the specificity of the guidelines.
3. Review time varies by agencies, as well as the specific program. Some agencies have one, two, or four submission dates and review accordingly.
4. Agencies use either internal or "in-home" reviews by regular agency staff or use external or "peer" review by external reviewers. Sometimes "peer" review is by a select panel of experts who meet at the agency to review the proposed proposal. Other agencies may used field readers to review your grant. Scores are assigned by the reviewers, and review comments are collected and are available later to the proposal author.
5. The budget is reviewed by the agency. If the grant is to be awarded, an agency official will review the budget carefully before notification of the award.
6. If an agency is interested in funding your grant, revision of your proposal may be requested. Sometimes only clarifying materials are needed, objectives or timeline adjusted, or new items added or certain items deleted. The agency official will work with you on budget revisions.
7. An agency may be interested in funding your grant but has concerns about the budget. The agency offices will discuss the questioned items, request additional information, request certain changes, or add on items. Make sure that the budget, after negotiations, will allow you to complete the project and meet all goals and objectives.
8. If the grant is approved, you will receive an award announcement which includes the assigned project number, dollars funded, start and end times, and contact personnel. Share the approval with the Grants Office, Business Office, and Internal Auditor. Keep the original safe in the event of an audit.
9. If you are funded, ask for the reviewer comments. The comments may help you be more successful in your proposal.
10. If you are unsuccessful, you will be notified. If the reviewer comments are not with the notice that funding is not approved, request the reviewer comments. Use the comments to review your proposal in preparation of another submission. Share the denial letter, and comment, reviews with the Grant Office.