APPLYING FOR GRANTS INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST THE APPLICATION
For those organizations who are applying for federal funding for the first time, a number of steps must be completed. This effort can most easily be described as an initial registration process.
While this process can be considered one-time work, as with any registration there is a level of maintenance required. In most cases, the federal agencies you register with will require at least some type of maintenance once a year.
Anyone doing “business” with the federal government must register within the Central Contractors Registration (CCR) system. This can be done at bpn.gov/ccr. Organizations must do this regardless of whether they are looking to be awarded a contract or a grant.
Please note, when going to register in the CCR system the first thing you will have to do is receive a DUNS number. This can be obtained at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS number is necessary to complete your CCR.
Each one of these steps takes time. Receiving your DUNS can take up to 1 full business day, and it is recommended to allow at least 3 business days for your CCR registration to become active.
In addition to these steps, you may also need to complete an ORCA registration and a Federal Reporting registration.
An ORCA registration is only necessary if the solicitation you are responding to requires you to have an active registration in CCR (which is the case in most instances, particularly for contract opportunities.) You can complete your ORCA registration at https://orca.bpn.gov/login.aspx.
A Federal Reporting registration is required under ARRA. Not all recipients of ARRA funding will have to report under these rules, however, some will and this will be specified as part of the application and award process for all ARRA funding (and this reporting which is the basis for all the information about ARRA spending reported on the various sites listed previously). To register in the Federal Reporting Registration go to https://www.federalreporting.gov/federalreporting/home.do.
Finally, it is also helpful (and in some instances required in order to ultimately complete a grant application process) to also create “log-ins” at the agency (Department of ‘x’) or resource site (like grants.gov) level. While this presents another step in the “set-up” process, it can be useful because it allows you to tap into tracking systems which provide you alerts of new opportunities and/or provides you information about the status of pending or secured grants.