--- name: grants-gov-monitor description: "Monitor federal grant opportunities across Grants.gov (Simpler.grants.gov is the modern UX), SAM.gov assistance listings (the post-CFDA replacement that preserves CFDA program numbers), and direct agency portals — NIH RePORTER + NIH Guide, NSF Funding, DOE OSTI, USDA NIFA, EPA Grants." version: "1.0.1" category: analysis platforms: - CLAUDE_CODE --- # Federal Grants Monitor You build a pipeline of federal grant opportunities matched to your organization's eligibility, capability, and capacity. The 2026 landscape: 2,200+ federal assistance programs (per SAM.gov assistance listings, which replaced CFDA). GrantMetric reports ~900+ active opportunities across NIH/NSF/DOD/USDA/EPA/etc. The discipline isn't finding grants — it's filtering them. ============================================================ === PRE-FLIGHT === ============================================================ - [ ] **Organization type**: 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), educational (IHE), state/local government, tribal, for-profit small business (SBIR/STTR eligibility), individual researcher. - [ ] **Mission focus / research domain**: biomedical, energy, education, environment, social services, arts, defense, agriculture. - [ ] **NAICS / discipline codes**: define what the org can credibly execute. - [ ] **Past awards**: prior NIH/NSF/agency grants enable continuation funding paths. - [ ] **DUNS/UEI**: org must have UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) at SAM.gov to receive awards. - [ ] **Cost-share capacity**: many federal programs require 10-50% match. If you can't match, filter those out. - [ ] **Indirect rate**: federally negotiated rate or de minimis 10% MTDC. Recovery: - New org without UEI: route to SAM.gov registration first (3-5 days for new registrations). - For SBIR/STTR: validate small-business criteria (≤ 500 employees, US-owned, primary place of business in US). ============================================================ === PHASE 1: OPPORTUNITY INGESTION === ============================================================ Pull from multiple sources daily: **Grants.gov API** (open, no key required): ``` GET https://api.grants.gov/v1/api/search2 ?keyword={query} &oppStatuses=forecasted|posted &eligibilities={code_list} &fundingCategories={cat_list} &agencies={agency_list} ``` **SAM.gov Assistance Listings**: 2,200+ programs with CFDA numbers (still used as program identifiers post-CFDA sunset). Use SAM.gov API. **Agency-specific portals**: - **NIH Guide**: parameterized RSS / API for FOAs (R01, K series, R21, R03, SBIR, STTR). https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/ - **NSF Funding**: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/ — programs across directorates (BIO, CSE, ENG, GEO, MPS, EHR, SBE). - **DOE OSTI**: science.osti.gov for DOE Office of Science. - **USDA NIFA**: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities — AFRI, BFRDP, etc. - **EPA Grants**: epa.gov/grants - **NEH/NEA**: humanities + arts. - **IES** (Department of Education): https://ies.ed.gov/funding/ Persist all opportunities to a local DB with schema: ```json { "opp_id": "...", "source": "GRANTS_GOV|SAM_AL|NIH|NSF|DOE|...", "title": "...", "agency": "...", "cfda_number": "93.279", "summary": "...", "eligibility_codes": ["...", "..."], "category": ["...", "..."], "funding_total_estimate": 5000000, "award_floor": 100000, "award_ceiling": 500000, "expected_award_count": 10, "post_date": "2026-04-01", "loi_due": "2026-06-15", "full_app_due": "2026-08-15", "url": "...", "match_required_pct": 25, "indirect_cap_pct": null, "geographic_restriction": null, "performance_period_months": 36 } ``` VALIDATION: Daily ingestion captures > 95% of newly-posted opportunities. Diff vs previous day produces a clean "new today" list. ============================================================ === PHASE 2: ELIGIBILITY FILTER === ============================================================ Filter the universe to opportunities the user can actually apply for: | Eligibility Code | Org Types | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | 00 | Unrestricted | | 01 | County governments | | 02 | City or township | | 04 | Special district | | 05 | Independent school district | | 06 | Public/State controlled IHE | | 07 | Native American tribal organizations (federally recognized) | | 08 | Public housing authorities | | 11 | Native American tribal organizations (non-federally recognized) | | 12 | Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status | | 13 | Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status | | 20 | Private institutions of higher education | | 21 | Individuals | | 22 | For-profit organizations (non-small businesses) | | 23 | Small businesses | | 25 | Others | | 99 | Unrestricted | Map user's org type → eligibility codes → opportunities. Hide non-eligible. Surface "near eligible" (e.g., need fiscal sponsor) separately. VALIDATION: Filter precision ≥ 95% (no false-positive "eligible" opportunities). ============================================================ === PHASE 3: CAPABILITY MATCH SCORING === ============================================================ Beyond eligibility, score each opportunity on capability fit: | Dimension | Score 1-5 | Notes | | --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Subject-matter fit** | 1 = adjacent, 5 = on-mission | Cosine similarity of opp summary vs org capability statement | | **Prior award credibility** | 1 = no past, 5 = active funded researcher in the program | Pull from NIH RePORTER / USAspending | | **Award size fit** | 1 = too small to bother / too big to credibly win, 5 = right size for org capacity | $25k-$1M sweet spot for small nonprofits | | **Deadline reality** | 1 = < 30 days (rushed), 5 = > 90 days | Quality proposals need 6-12 weeks | | **Match feasibility** | 1 = can't meet match, 5 = no match required | Tag opps with > 25% match if user lacks capacity | | **Competition density** | 1 = R01 (10% success rate), 5 = niche small business (40%+) | Pull historical award rate per program | **Composite Pwin** = weighted average. Pursue threshold: ≥ 3.5. VALIDATION: Each opp has Pwin score with rationale per dimension. ============================================================ === PHASE 4: DEADLINE CALENDAR === ============================================================ Generate calendar with critical dates per opportunity: - **LOI (Letter of Intent) deadline** — often 6-8 weeks before full app - **Full application deadline** — the binding date - **Pre-application consultation window** — for programs that strongly encourage agency contact (NSF program officer, NIH program contact) - **Renewal / continuation cycles** — for K/R awards - **JIT (Just-In-Time) submission** — NIH-specific (post-review) Output `grants_calendar.ics`. Reminder: 12 weeks / 8 weeks / 4 weeks / 2 weeks / 1 week before each deadline. VALIDATION: Calendar imports cleanly. Reminders fire at expected intervals. ============================================================ === PHASE 5: SAM.GOV + UEI READINESS === ============================================================ Before applying, verify: - [ ] UEI exists at SAM.gov - [ ] SAM.gov registration is ACTIVE (not expired — annual renewal required) - [ ] Org has Federal Tax ID (EIN) on file - [ ] If applicable: System for Award Management (SAM) Reps & Certs current - [ ] Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) — or default to de minimis 10% MTDC - [ ] CCR / SAM Entity Management has no exclusions / debarments - [ ] Workspace at Grants.gov configured with the right roles (AOR, signing official, etc.) Generate `sam_uei_health_check.md` flagging any gaps. VALIDATION: SAM.gov registration verified within 30 days. Expired registration blocks federal awards. ============================================================ === PHASE 6: PROPOSAL READINESS SCAFFOLD === ============================================================ For each "pursue" opportunity, generate the proposal-prep package: - **Capability statement** (org-level, agency-tailored) - **Bio sketches** for key personnel (NIH biosketch format if NIH; NSF Current & Pending Support if NSF) - **Specific Aims / Research Strategy** template per agency (NIH 1-page Specific Aims, 12-page Research Strategy) - **Budget** template per agency rules (PHS 398, NSF FastLane / Research.gov, etc.) - **Budget justification** template (personnel by % effort, equipment, supplies, travel, indirect) - **Data Management Plan** (NSF DMP, NIH DMSP) - **Resource Sharing Plan** (NIH model organisms, software) - **Letters of Support** template (collaborators, vendors, advisors) - **Compliance**: IRB / IACUC / IBC / Conflict of Interest disclosures - **Single Audit** awareness: $750k+/yr federal aggregate triggers 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F single audit Output `proposal_kit/{opp_id}/` directory. VALIDATION: Kit has all standard sections; agency-specific templates populated. ============================================================ === PHASE 7: WEEKLY DIGEST === ============================================================ Schedule weekly Monday digest: ```markdown # Grants Pipeline — Week of {date} ## New opportunities this week ({N}) {Filtered list with Pwin ≥ 2 — surface broader pool, even if below pursue threshold} ## Pursue queue ({M}) {Opps with Pwin ≥ 3.5 + LOI/app deadline within 12 weeks} ## Deadlines this month {Calendar excerpt} ## Closed / awarded {Recent awardees in your topic area (intelligence)} ## Recommended actions {1-3 specific next steps — e.g., "Email NSF program officer X re: opp Y", "Begin biosketch updates for {personnel}", "Confirm NICRA covers indirect on opp Z"} ``` VALIDATION: Digest fits one screen; actions are concrete. ============================================================ === SELF-REVIEW === ============================================================ - **Complete**: Ingest + eligibility + scoring + calendar + SAM/UEI + readiness + digest? - **Robust**: Handles multi-source dedup, CFDA preservation, agency-specific deadlines? - **Clean**: Digest is actionable, not exhaustive? - **Grants-credible**: Would a sponsored programs office or development director recognize the workflow? Common gap: SAM.gov registration expiring mid-application cycle → reject. Verify annually with explicit reminder. ============================================================ === LEARNINGS CAPTURE === ============================================================ `~/.claude/skills/grants-gov-monitor/LEARNINGS.md`. ============================================================ === STRICT RULES === ============================================================ - Never apply for a grant where you're not eligible. Wasted effort + brand damage with agency. - Never let SAM.gov registration expire. Annual renewal required; mid-cycle expiration = rejected award. - Never skip the cost-share check. Agency match requirements are non-negotiable. - Never pursue an opp with Pwin < 3.5 unless strategic (capability building, agency relationship). - Always check the 2 CFR Part 200 single audit threshold ($750k/yr federal aggregate) — triggers additional compliance overhead.