eBRAP Guide: Registering and Submitting DoD CDMRP Proposals
Department of Defense CDMRP programs use a two-step process that catches teams used to NIH and NSF off guard: a pre-application in eBRAP, then a full application submitted through Grants.gov and checked in eBRAP afterward.
This guide walks through registration, both steps, and the verification period. To sign in, go to eBRAP directly.
Register before you apply
- The PI creates an eBRAP account; individual accounts are set up immediately.
- Organization registration takes one to two business days with a UEI, and much longer without one.
- The PI must invite the organization, business official, and AOR in eBRAP before submitting the pre-application, and request affiliation with the organization.
- The organization needs active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations; SAM.gov must be renewed every year, and only the AOR can submit in Grants.gov.
Step 1: the pre-application
| Type | Reviewed? | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of intent (LOI) | No | No invitation is issued; you can go straight to the full application |
| Pre-proposal | Yes | You receive an invitation or non-invitation to submit a full application, without feedback |
The program announcement says which type applies. Both have firm deadlines.
Step 2: the full application
- Build the package per the program announcement and the General Application Instructions for that fiscal year.
- Budget to the mechanism's caps and period, and apply your F&A rate.
- Extramural organizations submit through Grants.gov; intramural DoD organizations submit through eBRAP.
- There are no grace periods: a missed deadline means the application is rejected.
Step 3: verify in eBRAP
After submission, open the application in eBRAP and check every component for order and content. After the deadline you can no longer change the Project Narrative or the budget, but other components can be corrected until the verification period ends, typically a few days after the submission deadline.
Common pitfalls
- Confusing the pre-application and full-application deadlines, which are separate and both firm.
- Submitting in the wrong system. CDMRP uses eBRAP alongside Grants.gov, and each handles different components.
- Overlooking program-specific eligibility, which varies by mechanism and year.
Register the organization early, calendar both the pre-application and full application deadlines, and verify the application in eBRAP before the verification period closes.
Frequently asked questions
What is eBRAP?
The electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal that CDMRP uses to manage pre-applications, full applications, and some components, in coordination with Grants.gov.
Does CDMRP require a pre-application?
Most CDMRP mechanisms require a pre-application weeks before the full application, and both deadlines are enforced.
How variable are CDMRP mechanisms?
Very. Each program announcement sets its own eligibility, award size, and requirements, so read the current year's announcement for the specific mechanism.
What is the eBRAP verification period?
A short window after the full application deadline, typically a few days, when you can review the application in eBRAP and correct most components. The Project Narrative and budget cannot be changed after the deadline.
How long does eBRAP organization registration take?
About one to two business days if the organization has a UEI, and significantly longer without one, so register well before the pre-application deadline.
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