Standard Forms

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF-424
This is a standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications and applications and related information under
discretionary programs. Some of the items are required and some are optional at the discretion of the applicant or the federal agency (agency).
Required fields on the form are identified with an asterisk (*) and are also specified as “Required” in the instructions below. In addition to these
instructions, applicants must consult agency instructions to determine other specific requirements.
Item
1.

2.

Entry:
Type of Submission: (Required) Select one type of
submission in accordance with agency instructions.
• Pre-application
• Application
• Changed/Corrected Application – Check if this submission
is to change or correct a previously submitted application.
Unless requested by the agency, applicants may not use this
form to submit changes after the closing date.
Type of Application: (Required) Select one type of application
in accordance with agency instructions.
• New – An application that is being submitted to an agency
for the first time.
• Continuation - An extension for an additional funding/budget
period for a project with a projected completion date. This
can include renewals.
• Revision - Any change in the federal government’s financial
obligation or contingent liability from an existing obligation. If
a revision, enter the appropriate letter(s). More than one may
be selected. If "Other" is selected, please specify in text box
provided.

3.

4.

5a.
5b.

6.
7.
8.

A. Increase Award
D. Decrease Duration
B. Decrease Award
E. Other (specify)
C. Increase Duration
Date Received: Leave this field blank. This date will be
assigned by the Federal agency.

Applicant Identifier: Enter the entity identifier assigned buy
the Federal agency, if any, or the applicant’s control number
if applicable.
Federal Entity Identifier: Enter the number assigned to your
organization by the federal agency, if any.
Federal Award Identifier: For new applications, enter NA.
For a continuation or revision to an existing award, enter the
previously assigned federal award identifier number. If a
changed/corrected application, enter the federal identifier in
accordance with agency instructions.
Date Received by State: Leave this field blank. This date will
be assigned by the state, if applicable.
State Application Identifier: Leave this field blank. This
identifier will be assigned by the state, if applicable.
Applicant Information: Enter the following in accordance with
agency instructions:

a. Legal Name: (Required) Enter the legal name of applicant
that will undertake the assistance activity. This is the
organization that has registered with the Central Contractor
Registry (CCR). Information on registering with CCR may be
obtained by visiting www.Grants.gov.
b. Employer/Taxpayer Number (EIN/TIN): (Required) Enter
the employer or taxpayer identification number (EIN or TIN)
as assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. If your
organization is not in the US, enter 44-4444444.

Item:
10.

Entry:
Name Of Federal Agency: (Required) Enter the name of the
federal agency from which assistance is being requested with
this application.

11.

Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance Number/Title:
Enter the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and
title of the program under which assistance is requested, as
found in the program announcement, if applicable.

12.

Funding Opportunity Number/Title: (Required) Enter the
Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and title of the opportunity
under which assistance is requested, as found in the program
announcement.

13.

Competition Identification Number/Title: Enter the competition
identification number and title of the competition under which
assistance is requested, if applicable.

14.

Areas Affected By Project: This data element is intended for
use only by programs for which the area(s) affected are likely
to be different than the place(s) of performance reported on the
SF-424 Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form. Add
attachment to enter additional areas, if needed.

15.

Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: (Required) Enter a brief
descriptive title of the project. If appropriate, attach a map
showing project location (e.g., construction or real property
projects). For pre-applications, attach a summary description
of the project.

16.

Congressional Districts Of: 16a. (Required) Enter the
applicant’s congressional district. 16b. Enter all district(s)
affected by the program or project. Enter in the format: 2
characters state abbreviation – 3 characters district number,
e.g., CA-005 for California 5th district, CA-012 for California 12
district, NC-103 for North Carolina’s 103 district. If all
congressional districts in a state are affected, enter “all” for the
district number, e.g., MD-all for all congressional districts in
Maryland. If nationwide, i.e. all districts within all states are
affected, enter US-all. If the program/project is outside the US,
enter 00-000. This optional data element is intended for use
only by programs for which the area(s) affected are likely to be
different than place(s) of performance reported on the SF-424
Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form. Attach an
additional list of program/project congressional districts, if
needed.
Proposed Project Start and End Dates: (Required) Enter the
proposed start date and end date of the project.

17.

18.

Estimated Funding: (Required) Enter the amount requested, or
to be contributed during the first funding/budget period by each
contributor. Value of in-kind contributions should be included
on appropriate lines, as applicable. If the action will result in a
dollar change to an existing award, indicate only the amount of
the change. For decreases, enclose the amounts in
parentheses.

9.

c. Organizational DUNS: (Required) Enter the organization’s
DUNS or DUNS+4 number received from Dun and
Bradstreet. Information on obtaining a DUNS number may be
obtained by visiting www.Grants.gov.

19.

d. Address: Enter address: Street 1 (Required); city
(Required); County/Parish, State (Required if country is US),
Province, Country (Required), 9-digit zip/postal code
(Required if country US).

20.

e. Organizational Unit: Enter the name of the primary
organizational unit, department or division that will undertake
the assistance activity.

21.

f. Name and contact information of person to be contacted on
matters involving this application: Enter the first and last name
(Required); prefix, middle name, suffix, title. Enter
organizational affiliation if affiliated with an organization other
than that in 7.a. Telephone number and email (Required);
fax number.
Type of Applicant: (Required) Select up to three applicant
type(s) in accordance with agency instructions.
A. State Government
M. Nonprofit
B. County Government
N. Private Institution of
C. City or Township
Higher Education
O. Individual
Government
D. Special District
P. For-Profit
Government
Organization (Other
E. Regional Organization
than Small Business)
F. U.S. Territory or
Q. Small Business
R. Hispanic-serving
Possession
G. Independent School
Institution
S. Historically Black
District
H. Public/State
Colleges and
Controlled Institution of
Universities (HBCUs)
T. Tribally Controlled
Higher Education
I.
Indian/Native
Colleges and
American Tribal
Universities (TCCUs)
U. Alaska Native and
Government (Federally
Recognized)
Native Hawaiian
J. Indian/Native
Serving Institutions
V. Non-US Entity
American Tribal
W. Other (specify)
Government (Other
than Federally
Recognized)
K. Indian/Native
American Tribally
Designated
Organization
L. Public/Indian Housing
Authority

Is Application Subject to Review by State Under Executive
Order 12372 Process? (Required) Applicants should contact the
State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Federal Executive
Order 12372 to determine whether the application is subject to
the State intergovernmental review process. Select the
appropriate box. If “a.” is selected, enter the date the
application was submitted to the State.
Is the Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt?
(Required) Select the appropriate box. This question applies to
the applicant organization, not the person who signs as the
authorized representative. Categories of federal debt include;
but, may not be limited to: delinquent audit disallowances,
loans and taxes. If yes, include an explanation in an
attachment.
Authorized Representative: To be signed and dated by the
authorized representative of the applicant organization. Enter
the first and last name (Required); prefix, middle name, suffix.
Enter title, telephone number, email (Required); and fax
number. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for you
to sign this application as the official representative must be on
file in the applicant’s office. (Certain federal agencies may
require that this authorization be submitted as part of the
application.)

[U.S Department of Education note: As of spring, 2010, the FON discussed in Block 12 of the instructions can be found via the
following URL: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp.]