Re: e-GAPS Gregory K. Schmidt 17 Mar 2000 10:56 EST

I feel the need to vent, so excuse me a moment.

Way back when ERA was a pipe dream, UCLA, MIT, Duke, Notre Dame, FAMU, and a few
others sat in a cold, dark room talking about standardizing the application cover
page into an EDI format.  We were talking about STANDARDIZING all the definitions at
the federal level (ours too).  We talked about STANDARDIZING how this was going to
be transmitted and the processes as well.

At the time, this being my first meeting, I sat silent thinking, 'you know.  I've
seen federal standardization take place before.'

Like the time they said the FPR (Fed Procurement Regs) and ASPR (Armed Services
Procurement Regs) were too fractured to be managed any more.  So, they came up with
FAR as the standard across the government.  Well, that lasted a long time, didn't
it?

It's time (maybe past time) for the FDP to stand up and say that this is
ridiculous!  The FDP needs to say, "Pick a standard.  Work with us and build a
process.  Then stick to it.  All of you."

Now, how do we get to the foundations?

Thanks.  I feel better now.

"James R. Brett" wrote:

> Rebecca,
>
> I think that to emulate Fastlane, the "Application Manager" must be the person
> who submits.  You may not want to emulate Fastlane, however.
>
> It bothers me that eGAPS thinks they can prevent "innocent faculty" from making
> the mistake of submitting without authorization by the simple expedient of
> "warnings" at the last minute on the last screen!  The warnings on cigarette
> packages don't seem to have much effect, why would these?  RED warnings have not
> prevented most of us from printing out misspelled words from our wordprocessing
> programs.  The sad truth is that we tend to ignore things like this, especially
> when it is obvious that the authorized representative has gone home for the
> weekend and the deadline is midnight.
>
> In fact the eGAPS and Army and DoJ systems are poorly thought out and fail to
> recognize that the preponderance of applications in research and development are
> not from individuals but from institutions which provide the personnel and
> physical resources for the accomplishment of the projects.
>
> Jim
>
> "Puig, Rebecca" wrote:
>
> > I just reviewed the E-Gaps website and there appears to be two levels of
> > administration.  The first being the "Application Manager", which would
> > logically equate to the Principle Investigator.  Second, the "Submit"
> > person.  They ask for separate information for the person who actually
> > submit's the proposal and that person must be a Authorized Representative of
> > the institution.
> >
> > I agree that there appears to be no checks and balances as to whether or not
> > this person is really an "Authorized Rep", but at least it would put a
> > second name to the approval (a partner in crime, sort to speak).
> >
> > What do you think?
> >
> > Rebecca K. Puig
> > Division of Sponsored Research
> > University of South Florida
> > 4202 East Fowler Avenue, FAO 126
> > Tampa, FL  33620-7900
> > (813) 974-2897 Voice
> > (813) 974-4962 Fax
> > xxxxxx@research.usf.edu
> > http://www.research.usf.edu/sr/
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nancy Peterson [mailto:xxxxxx@WINONA.MSUS.EDU]
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 10:58 AM
> > To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
> > Subject: Re: e-GAPS
> >
> > I know several of the RESADM people have contacted the Education Department
> > about e-gaps.   The responses we received have been less than satisfactory.
> > They say they can't use a system like NSF's Fastlane because they have
> > applicants from numerous organizations that don't hve anything like an SRO
> > to coordinate submissions.  And they say they can't impose any ADDITIONAL
> > requirements in their electronic application process that are not part of
> > their hard copy application process (which makes no sense to me -- since
> > hard copies require signatures as proof of institutional approval).
> >
> > My Academic Vice President has told his Deans that if any faculty member
> > submits a proposal without advance approval, it will be turned down.  (A
> > gentleman I spoke to in Arkansas said his institution did this with a very
> > large award that many faculty knew about.  He said they have not had a
> > problem since then.)
> >
> > Unfortunately, it may take drastic measures such as turning down awards to
> > have an impact on e-gaps.  Until the Education Department is swamped with
> > numerous garbage-quality proposals, and finds itself committing time and
> > resources to processing and budgeting for proposals that are going to be
> > turned down, it seems bound and determined to not re-consider its position.
> >
> > **************************************************************************
> >
> > Nancy Kay Peterson
> > Director of Grants & Sponsored Projects
> > Somsen Hall Room 202-C
> > Winona State University
> > Winona, MN  55987
> >
> > Phone:  507.457.5519
> > Fax:       507.457.2415
> > xxxxxx@winona.msus.edu
> > http://www.winona.msus.edu/grants/
> >
> >                     Charna K
> >                     Howson               To:     xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
> >                     <xxxxxx@UNC        cc:
> >                     G.EDU>               Subject:     e-GAPS
> >                     Sent by:
> >                     Research
> >                     Administratio
> >                     n List
> >                     <xxxxxx@hri
> >                     net.org>
> >
> >                     03/14/00
> >                     09:20 AM
> >                     Please
> >                     respond to
> >                     Research
> >                     Administratio
> >                     n Discussion
> >                     List
> >
> > I have just finished reading about the US Dept. of Ed's e-GAPS
> > system in response to an inquiry from a PI who plans to submit
> > two proposals electronically in April.  My review of the Web
> > site and documentation indicates there is no institutional
> > blessing required, just the assumption that the PI got it before
> > hitting the electronic send button.  I'm not excited about this
> > one!!
> >
> > Would anyone who has had previous experience with the system
> > provide me with guidance, insights, concerns either by e-mail or
> > by phone?  I am supposed to discuss the system with my PI later
> > this afternoon.
> >
> > Thanks for the help,
> > Charna
> >
> > ----------------------
> > Charna K Howson
> > Associate Director
> > Office of Research Services
> > 100 McIver Building, UNCG
> > P.O. Box 26170
> > Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
> > Phone:  336 334-4316
> > Fax:    336 334-3140
> > E-mail: xxxxxx@uncg.edu
> >
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>
> --
> James R. Brett, Ph.D., Director
> Office of University Research
> California State University, Long Beach
> 562-985-4833   fax 985-8665
> http://www.csulb.edu/~research
>
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--
Gregory K. Schmidt
Assistant Controller
Florida A&M University
201 FHAC
Tallahassee, FL  32307

850.561.2956 voice
850.561.2461 fax

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