NATIONAL SERVICES PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS: How to Apply

Read through these instructions fully, as they include important step-by-step directions to ensure that your application is submitted successfully.

We use a staggered, multi-year review for National Services applicants. For FY 2023, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies will complete an off-year application.

Using Grants.gov

Electronic application through Grants.gov is MANDATORY.

The Grants.gov system must receive your validated application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on October 7, 2022.
Register or renew/verify your registration with Grants.gov and SAM.gov at least one month before the deadline.

IMPORTANT: Grants.gov will be down for maintenance and unavailable from September 23-29, 2022. We recommend that you submit your application by September 13, 2022 to give yourself ample time to resolve any problems that you might encounter. You take significant risk by waiting until the day of the deadline to submit your application. Late applications will not be accepted.

Registration

Register with Login.gov, SAM and Grants.gov or renew/verify these registrations
Before applying, your organization must create and maintain up-to-date registrations with Login.gov, the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Registering and maintaining these accounts is always FREE.
 
These registrations can take several weeks to finalize, so begin this process early! Registrations with Login.gov, SAM and Grants.gov must be active for you to submit your application. Finalize your registrations well before the application deadline. This should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise.

Register in the following order:

  1. Login.gov
  2. SAM
  3. Grants.gov

Both SAM and Grants.gov will require you to use your Login.gov username and password to log in to their sites.

Login.gov Registration

Go to Create an account to set up your Login.gov account. This account will allow you to access many government websites, including both SAM and Grants.gov.

SAM Registration

On April 4, 2022, the federal government switched from using a DUNS number to a new Unique Entity Identifier, also known as a “UEI.” The UEI is a 12-character alpha numeric value that will be assigned by SAM for free. You must have a UEI in order to submit your Partnership Agreements application.

Organizations already registered with SAM:

  • A UEI has been automatically assigned to your organization by SAM. The UEI will be visible in your organization’s SAM record.
  • If you have difficulty locating the UEI, contact SAM at 1-866-606-8220 or see the help section of SAM’s website.

When registering/renewing your SAM account, you must select “Yes” when completing the “Representations & Certifications” section. All awardees are required to have these representations & certifications in order to receive an award.

Your SAM registration must be current at the time a grant is made, and throughout the life of the award. SAM registrations, once activated, can take a day or more to be visible in Grants.gov. Verify your SAM registration well ahead of the application deadline.

Grants.gov Registration

New Applicants:

  • If your organization is not yet registered with Grants.gov, go to Organization Registration, after setting up your Login.gov account, and registering with SAM.
  • During the Grants.gov registration process, you will be asked to set up a separate username and password for Grants.gov.
  • After creating your Grants.gov account, you may link your Grants.gov and Login.gov accounts.
  • After linking accounts, you will use your Login.gov credentials each time you sign in to Grants.gov.

Returning Applicants:

  • If your organization already has registered with Grants.gov, renew your registration with SAM and verify that your registration with Grants.gov is current.
  • If you have not already linked your Grants.gov and Login.gov accounts, you will be prompted to link your accounts when you click the “login” button on Grants.gov. 

You must complete the Grants.gov registration process to access the application package. You will need the Login.gov Username and Password that you obtain during the registration process to submit your application, and you won’t be able to submit your application unless your SAM registration is active and up-to-date.

Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov Help

The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov, SAM, or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any questions about or need assistance with these sites contact them directly:

  • Login.gov Help: Consult the information posted in their Help Center, or use their online form to submit a question.
  • SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the SAM website at SAM Help.
  • Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email support@grants.gov, or consult the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

All Applicants: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package

Access the Grant Opportunity Package by clicking on the link below:

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE ON GRANTS.GOV
            [Funding Opportunity Number 2023NEA04PA]

  1. Clicking the link above will take you directly to the application package in Grants.gov.

  2. The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.

  3. You will be prompted to enter your Username and Password. In order to create the Workspace application, you must be logged into Grants.gov with a participant role of either Workspace Manager or Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). More information on participant roles can be found here.

  4. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:

    1. Fill in the Application Filing Name field, then
    2. Click the Create Workspace button.

  5. After creating a Workspace, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where you can begin working on the application. 

  6. After accessing the Grant Opportunity Package, you can find each Mandatory form by clicking on it OR you can scroll down your screen and you will come to each form in succession. The forms are:

    • Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424 Mandatory): This form asks for basic information about your organization and application. Complete this form first. Data entered here will populate fields of other forms where possible.  
    • Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL): See instructions for completing this form below.
    • Attachments Form: This is not a form in the conventional sense, but rather a place to attach additional items (e.g., your application narrative and strategic plan) that must be included for your Grants.gov Opportunity Package to be considered complete. See instructions for completing this form below.

Application Instructions

To access the full National Services application instructions for off year applicants, download the application instructions PDF.