Government Procurement Certification Grant Writing & Proposals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the role of the 'project narrative' versus the 'abstract' in a federal grant application?
- The abstract is longer and provides full technical detail; the narrative is a summary
- The abstract is a brief summary; the narrative provides the full technical and programmatic detail (Correct answer)
- Both documents contain identical content in different formats
- The narrative is submitted only if the abstract is approved in a pre-application stage
Correct answer: The abstract is a brief summary; the narrative provides the full technical and programmatic detail
The abstract (or executive summary) is a concise overview for public posting, while the project narrative is the detailed technical document reviewers evaluate.
Question 2: A grant applicant submits a proposal two days before the posted deadline but the agency's grants.gov portal rejects it due to a technical error. Under most NOFO terms, what is the likely outcome?
- The agency must automatically extend the deadline for all applicants
- The application is disqualified unless the agency grants a waiver based on documented technical issues (Correct answer)
- The applicant may resubmit via email up to 30 days after the deadline
- The agency is required by law to accept late submissions caused by system errors
Correct answer: The application is disqualified unless the agency grants a waiver based on documented technical issues
Most NOFOs allow applicants to request a waiver for documented Grants.gov system errors, but approval is discretionary, not guaranteed.
Question 3: Which element is NOT typically found in the budget justification narrative of a federal grant proposal?
- Explanation of how personnel time was calculated
- Description of equipment purchase necessity
- Organization's historical financial audit results (Correct answer)
- Rationale for travel costs and destinations
Correct answer: Organization's historical financial audit results
Budget justifications explain individual line items; audit history is addressed in financial capability sections or attachments, not the budget narrative.
Question 4: According to 2 CFR Part 200, equipment purchased with federal grant funds with a unit cost over $5,000 must be:
- Returned to the federal agency at project end
- Tagged, inventoried, and disposed of per federal requirements (Correct answer)
- Depreciated over seven years and billed as indirect cost
- Transferred to a subrecipient automatically
Correct answer: Tagged, inventoried, and disposed of per federal requirements
2 CFR 200.313 requires grantees to maintain property records, conduct physical inventories, and follow federal disposition requirements for equipment over the threshold.
Question 5: What is the purpose of the SF-424 form in a federal grant application package?
- It certifies compliance with civil rights requirements
- It is the standard application cover sheet that captures basic applicant and project information (Correct answer)
- It provides the detailed budget by object class categories
- It authorizes the agency to conduct a pre-award risk assessment
Correct answer: It is the standard application cover sheet that captures basic applicant and project information
SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) is the required cover page form capturing the applicant's legal name, DUNS/UEI, project title, funding request, and assurances.
Question 6: A 'subaward' in federal grants terminology refers to:
- A reduced award given after the agency negotiates down the budget
- Federal funds passed through a prime recipient to a subrecipient to carry out program activities (Correct answer)
- A contract for goods or services procured under the grant
- An emergency supplemental award added to an existing grant
Correct answer: Federal funds passed through a prime recipient to a subrecipient to carry out program activities
A subaward passes federal funds from a prime recipient (grantee) to a subrecipient that is responsible for a portion of the programmatic work.
Question 7: Which evaluation criterion is most directly assessed when reviewers score a proposal's 'significance' section in NIH or NSF applications?
- Whether the budget is reasonable relative to the work proposed
- Whether the project addresses an important problem and will advance the field (Correct answer)
- Whether the applicant organization has adequate infrastructure
- Whether the timeline is achievable within the project period
Correct answer: Whether the project addresses an important problem and will advance the field
The 'significance' criterion asks whether solving the problem will have a substantial impact on the field, driving scientific or practical advancement.
Government Procurement Certification Grant Writing & Proposals 3
What is the role of the 'project narrative' versus the 'abstract' in a federal grant application?