Yes, ok this is the NIH SRA. I think the admin is asking you for everything so you can submit everything and generate the bio project # and bio sample # all together.
Again the flow goes like this:
Bioproject -> Biosamples -> SRA samples
I submit them separately. So, go to Submissions | Submission Portal. Then select new bio project.
Bioproject:
Most microbiome data is 16S => metagenome
Do not submit any bio samples at this time
Submit it and await a PRJNA number (it will be PRJNA XXXXXXXX)
XXXXXXX = series of numbers
Once you have a PRJNA number, this number should go into your publication.
Biosample:
So the BioSample submission is annoying
You need to use their metagenome file to submit your 20 samples
The submission requires specific words for it go through
For example, for human microbiome, you need to say the host is "Homo sapiens" and cannot deviate from this
Another weird thing is that they require you to submit the GPS coordinates from where the samples were collected -> you actually don't need to do this it can be filled in with "missing" which is what I usually do.
Submit these BioSamples. NIH will generate a SAMNXXXXX (XXXXX being a series of numbers for each sample) this is going to be important because you are going to want to submit forward/reverse samples per sample.
Sequence Read Archives (SRA)
Here is where you submit ANOTHER file which has your SAMN# associated with the samples you are submitting to the NIH SRA. These will connect the SAMN# to each sample to the samples forward/reverse.fastq files.
The file contains specific qualities about your sequence files such as amplicons, 16S RNA, Illumina MiSeq/HiSeq etc. You likely will need all the information from your sequencing core.
Actual submission of files
You will upload the files to a specific file location accessible through FTP that the SRA will generate for your reference. They will only generate these files after you finish the SRA submission.
If you have someone from NIH working on their end to help you submit these files I would recommend it. I am otherwise here to help! Ben