Attaching Documents, Saving Progress, Confirming and Submitting an Application, and Troubleshooting Suggestions is a resource from the South Carolina Department of Education that provides technical guidance for completing online grant applications administered by the SCDE. The guide explains how to attach required documents to applications, save progress using the optional save feature, and properly submit completed applications.

Applicants are reminded that a saved application is not a submitted application and must be returned to and finalized before clicking the Submit Application button. Specific instructions vary by grant type and are outlined in each program's Request for Proposals. This guide helps applicants navigate the SCDE online grant application system successfully.

Attaching Documents, Saving Progress, Confirming and Submitting an Application, and Troubleshooting Suggestions Every application requires attachments. Follow the directions provided in the Request for Proposals (RFP) or application instructions for the proper way to save those documents prior to attaching them to the application.

Some applications require applicants to combine multiple documents into one PDF document, so pay close attention to those instructions. To attach a document to an application, click the Choose File button under the item in the Proposal Attachments section of the online application. A dialog box will appear.

Navigate to where the files have been saved, select the document to be attached, and then click the Open button. The document name will appear when it is attached. If you attached the wrong file, just repeat the process above and select the correct file to attach and click on the Open button.

The most recent file will overwrite the previous one. South Carolina Department of Education Page 1 Saving Progress The RFP or application instructions will provide guidance on saving your progress online. This optional tool allows applicants to leave and return to a partially completed application.

Follow the directions below according to the type of grant. Note: A saved application is not a submitted application. You must use the hyperlink to return to the incomplete application and continue.

Once completed, click the Submit Application button in order to submit the complete application. Click the Save and Resume Later hyperlink in the lower center of the last completed screen. Create a password to be used to securely save the application and retrieve it later.

Remember where the password is stored because the SCDE does not have access to this information or the capability of resetting a password. South Carolina Department of Education Page 2 . A box will appear that will allow you to copy and save the hyperlink or have it sent to you via email.

Copy the hyperlink and save it in a location where it can be easily retrieved; you will not be able to access the saved form without the hyperlink. If the hyperlink will be emailed, use the email address of the person who is completing the online application. Make sure to enter the email address correctly because the SCDE does not have access to hyperlinks or partially completed applications.

Click on Send and save and resume link Enter email address Another dialogue box will confirm the receipt of the email with the hyperlink to the form. Before closing out of the online application, check your email in-box for an auto-generated email (see below). If you do not receive the email, check the junkmail box.

If the email is not there, click on the Resend email button and check in-box again. If this does not work, the email address might have been spelled incorrectly and will have to be saved again. To do so, click on the back arrow at the upper left corner of the screen to return to the online form and then repeat the process.

The form will be saved for 30 days. South Carolina Department of Education Page 3 Formula Grants Click the Save and Resume Later button located at the bottom of any page to save progress. You will receive a message asking if you want to proceed.

Click the Save and get link button to continue. Next, you will be directed to copy the hyperlink and save it for future use. Keep the hyperlink in a safe place as the SCDE cannot recover saved applications.

The other option is to have the hyperlink sent via email. Enter the email address of the person completing the online application and click the Send save and resume link button. Make sure you receive the email before closing the form.

South Carolina Department of Education Page 4 Confirming and Submitting the Application Once all data has been entered and files attached, click the Next button to proceed to the Confirmation Page. Not all applications will include this feature, but it provides the applicant the opportunity to review the data that has been entered to ensure acccuracy prior to submitting the application.

If corrections need to be made, click the Previous button to return to the application. Once all data has been verified, click the Submit Application button to finalize the application process and submt the application. A confirmation message will appear once complete and a confirmation email will be sent to the designated contact person.

That email will contain the data entered online (similar to the confirmation page). Retain this email along with the rest of the application components for your records. South Carolina Department of Education Page 5 Troubleshooting Suggestions Error Message: Combined files uploaded exceeds 25 MB If you received the error message above, the total file size of the attachments is over the 25 MB limit.

Try any of the following to correct the error: • Save PDF documents in black and white. For documents that must be scanned; scan in black and white. Unless the funder has asked for color, always scan in black and white to create a smaller file size.

Most programs no longer require signatures to be signed in blue. • Do not include unnecessary or extra documents. If the application instructions or RFP does not request additional information, do not include it.

Any additional information not required, usually gets thrown away. • Do not include graphics or pictures. Most proposal narratives are limited in the number of pages.

Do not waste valuable space by inserting logos, clip art, etc. Not only do they add to the file size, but they are distracting and do not add value to your proposal. • Reduce the file size of the PDF documents. To reduce the file size of PDF documents, open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro 1.

Select File 2. Save As Other 3. Click the Reduce Size PDF feature to save the document 4.

Select the Acrobat compatibility version, we suggest 8. 0 or later, and click OK. South Carolina Department of Education Page 6 Error Message: Uploaded the wrong type of file.

Verify that all file attachments are saved as directed in the RFP or application instructions. Some files will be limited by a certain type of file. For instance, most budget narratives are required to be saved as an Excel spreadsheet.

So ensure the file was saved as directed. To correct the error, refer to the RFP or application instructions for the proper way to compile and save all file attachments and resave all files appropriately. Then click the back button and navigate to the file attachments page and upload the corrected files.

Proceed to confirm the new data and then finalize the submission. Select Choose File to replace Did not receive confirmation email Refer to the RFP or application instructions to determine the person that has been designated to receive the confirmation email. Most of the time the project director or contact person will receive the confirmation email.

Refer to the designee to confirm receipt. If they did not receive the email, contact the SCDE grant manager to ensure receipt or if the application will need to be re-entered. South Carolina Department of Education Page 7