Understand Submission Processes
If this is the first time submitting a proposal to NIH or NSF, you may need to complete sponsor-specific registrations coordinated through OSP. See Electronic Submission and Registration for details.
- NIH: The PI must be registered in NIH eRA Commons before proposal submission. See eRA Commons Access
- NSF: PI's submit proposals through Research.gov. See NSF Research.gov Access
At the University of Utah, OSP is responsible for coordinating the institutional review and submission of proposals, as well as accepting awards on behalf of the University.
General Submission Workflow
1. Download or Prepare the Application
The PI or designee begins by preparing the application package using the appropriate system or platform:
- Cayuse (for Grants.gov) or Workspace for NIH proposals
- Research.gov for NSF proposals
The PI/designee completes all components of the proposal, following sponsor guidelines and formatting requirements. If you are new to the process, it is helpful to send a draft budget or other early components to your SPO for preliminary review and guidance.
2. Submit the Proposal Package to OSP
After internal approvals and completion of the proposal:
The PI/designee routes the final proposal package to the SPO for OSP's institutional review and submission.
Depending on the timeframe, and in accordance with OSP Business Practices - Review & Submission, the SPO reviews the proposal for compliance, required institutional approvals, completeness, and alignment with sponsor and University requirements.
If corrections or updates are needed, the SPO will return the package for revision.
3. OSP Submits the Proposal
OSP submits the final proposal to the sponsor unless the sponsor's rules allow the PI to submit directly.
- Federal sponsors (e.g., NIH, NSF): Submission must be completed by an authorized institutional official in OSP.
- Foundations or other sponsors: Some permit PI submission directly through sponsor portals or email; however, OSP must still review and approve the proposal before submission.
If there is any uncertainty about who submits or how the proposal must be delivered, contact OSP.
