National Institutes of Health (NIH) ASSIST

• Collaboration: Multiple users with eRA Commons accounts can work on an application together, with granular control over access privileges. 
• Secure, Web-Based Entry: Applications are prepared and submitted through a secure online portal. 
• Data Pre-Population: The system can pre-populate information from user and institutional profiles in eRA Commons. 
• Pre-Submission Validation: ASSIST checks applications for errors and warnings against many NIH business rules before submission. 
• Submission Tracking: Users can track the status of their application from within ASSIST. 
• Preview Functionality: You can preview the application in NIH format before submitting it. 
• Integrated Help and Messaging: The system provides online help, applicant tips, and system alerts to guide users through the process. 

• All ASSIST users must have an eRA Commons account to use ASSIST. The eRA Commons account registration must be initiated by a Proposal Administrator in the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).
• Once OSP has initiated the eRA Commons account registration, the user will receive an email confirming their registration.
• The user should then log into their eRA Commons account and complete and verify that all personal information located within the Personal Profile tab of their eRA Commons account is correct.

Before beginning an NIH proposal, principal investigators should be familiar with the NIH proposal guidelines found in the NIH Application Guide. Applicants must first identify a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to which they want to apply. The FOA text indicates whether ASSIST can be used for that opportunity.

1. Log into the ASSIST system
2. From the Welcome page, enter the FOA in the Funding Opportunity Announcement # field.
3. Select the Go button. The Initiate Application page displays. Enter a title for the application in the Application Project Title field.
4. Select the Lead Applicant Organization Name from the drop-down menu.
5. Review the Lead Applicant Organization Address.
6. Review the Lead Applicant Organization DUNS number.
7. Click OK if any System for Award Management (SAM) Registration Status screens appear. After clicking OK, you will return to the Initiate Application screen.
8. Select the Initiate Application button to continue.
• The Application Information page will display as read-only with the status Work in Progress. The message Application saved will appear at the top of the page.
• After initiating the application, the user can manage access to the record, edit forms, and add new components (applies only to multi-project applications).

• Once the ASSIST application is completed, the proposal information and documents must be entered and uploaded into FAU’s Novelution system.
• The proposal will then be routed for approval by the Chair, Dean’s Office, and Office of Sponsored Programs.
• After approval, the Proposal Administrator will contact the principal investigator for final review and submission to NIH.

• After submitting a proposal, the principal investigator can log into eRA Commons to check the status of their proposal.
• Upon logging in, you will land on the Home page. From there, click Status in the blue horizontal menu bar to search for your proposal record.

For additional guidance on using ASSIST, please view the ASSIST User Guide or view any of the ASSIST training videos and presentations for step-by-step guidance.