Tips for Success

Resources for Applicants

Start Early and Submit before the Deadline

Completing required registrations and crafting a strong application can take a few months, and you’ll want to leave some time at the end in case of last-minute challenges.

Mandatory Registrations

• System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This government website consolidates all business registrations in a government vendor database so that payments can be made more efficiently.

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). All registrations require an UEI before beginning the remaining registrations. This number can be obtained through the SAM.gov system.
  • Current awardees who are already registered in SAM.gov will have a UEI automatically generated. It will be visible in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov.
  • All entities currently registered in eRA Commons will see their UEI automatically populated in their Institutional Profile File (IPF) and on Page One of the Notice of Award. No entity action is required.
• Grants.gov. This portal lists all available federal grants and is used by all 26 federal grant-making agencies, including NIH.
• Electronic Research Administration (eRA Commons). This NIH system allows applicants, grantees, and NIH staff to access, share and transmit their application and grant information. 
• SBA Company Registry. You must attach proof of your SBA Company Registry to your SBIR/STTR application.

Refine Your Idea

Successful applications demonstrate the clinical need and commercial potential of the technology or product. It’s a good idea to have a trusted colleague or mentor review your Specific Aims and provide feedback. While refining your idea, think about how you would answer these questions:

• What problem am I trying to solve and why is it a problem?
• How would I describe my technology or solution for this problem?
• Who needs and will use this solution?
• What is my research plan?
• What is the competition?
• What expertise does my team require and how will I ensure we meet those needs?
• Are my project and proposed budget feasible?

Take Advantage of Guidance and Resources

• Talk to your program officer about your project idea before you submit. They can help you determine if your idea is a good fit for NIAAA and the best track to pursue.
• Browse NIH RePORTER to see what other projects have already been funded.
• Use Application FORMS-I after Jan. 25, 2025. You can review the How to Apply – Application Guide for Version/FORMS-I and Annotated FORMS-I for step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application. You can also review the Significant Change in FORMS-I compared to the previous FORMS-H version used in 2024. You can also use NIH ASSIST, a program that will walk you through the entire application.
• Check out examples of successful applications from NIA, NIAID, and NCI.

Resources for Grant Recipients

NIAAA and NIH SEED offer multiple tools and resources to help you manage your award and grow your business. 

Read the NIH Grants Policy Statement

Access Payment Management System materials

Check out entrepreneurship and business support resources

Navigating Your NIAAA SBIR/STTR Grant: Resources for Grant Recipients