The U.S. Department of Education has issued revised common instructions for applicants to discretionary grant programs, aiming to streamline processes and reduce barriers for prospective applicants. These instructions apply across various funding opportunities and are intended to standardize application procedures while providing clarity on submission requirements.

Applicants must use the federal Grants.gov portal for electronic submissions, which requires active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Organizations must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) before registering in SAM.gov. The SAM registration process typically takes 7–10 business days but may take longer, so applicants are advised to start early. Once SAM registration is complete, applicants must register as Authorized Organization Representatives (AORs) on Grants.gov to submit applications. All submissions must meet deadline requirements, as late submissions will not be accepted.

Proposals must include completed forms such as the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance), ED-524 (Budget Information), and assurances and certifications specific to the Department of Education. All narrative sections and attachments must be submitted in Portable Document Format (PDF) or Microsoft Word, with the Department recommending non-fillable PDF files to ensure timely processing. Submissions containing unsupported file types or password-protected documents will not be reviewed.

The Department discourages paper applications but provides exceptions for applicants without internet access. In such cases, written notification of intent to submit a paper application must be provided at least 14 days before the deadline. Paper submissions must include a UEI number and provide proof of mailing to be considered valid.

The Grants.gov system provides applicants with real-time validation and error notifications during the submission process. Applicants encountering technical issues should contact the Grants.gov Support Center immediately and retain proof of communication. If verified technical issues prevent submission by the deadline, the Department may grant a one-day extension to resolve the issue.

The Department provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities, including accessible formats of application documents. For further information or assistance, applicants are encouraged to contact the designated program officer listed in the funding announcement.

Additional details and resources are available on the Department of Education’s website, Grants.gov, and SAM.gov. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure compliance with all instructions and requirements for successful submission.