Hi folks. I would appreciate your "take" on these questions: (1) have you
heard whether USDE will be providing the "safeguard" described below?; (2)
any possibility agencies will adopt FastLane? Federal Commons (when/if
available)? (3) any word that USDE will adopt either?  Below is the answer I
received from ED's help desk to the questions that follow:
USDE:   There is no hard answer because every organization is different. Fax
should be received within 3 days after submission.  The "you" is the
registered person. They will receive an email at the address they entered
when they registered.
QUESTION:   How do I interpret Step 8? Is there a time/days by which the fax
is to be submitted?  If only "authorized individuals for your organization
can submit the report," who does "you" refer to in this: "Click on the ready
to submit button at the bottom of your report. Enter and verify the
Authorizing Representative information. Click on the submit button. You will
receive an e-mail to confirm that your report was received."?  It appears
that "you" is the PI. A PI could submit the progress report without ever
obtaining an institutional signature until it is faxed. With no electronic
safeguard against PIs submitting the report, there is no way USDE can tell
if there is an institutional signature or anyone else's. PIs are not
generally creatures who appreciate bureaucracy; some may be quite happy to
ignore obtaining a proper signature. (Then again, do we need it on progress
reports? NSF does not require institutional signatures for such reports in
its e-system, FastLane. ) For its application submissions, FastLane has a
feature that requires the PI to submit the application to the grants office,
where only certain registered signers can electronically sign the
application. This electronic "safeguard" avoids the scenario that appears to
exist now with ED e-reports. Bottom line: Will there be an electronic
safeguard added to the e-reports & apps? [STEP 8 - Submit your Report. Only
authorized individuals for your organization can submit the report. Please
check with your certifying official or sponsored research office before
submission. Click on the ready to submit button at the bottom of your
report. Enter and verify the Authorizing Representative information. Click
on the submit button. You will receive an e-mail to confirm that your report
was received. Please print and keep this e-mail for your records. In
addition, when you submit your report, note the Program Office fax number
that you will need to use in Step 9 to fax the signed 524B.]  THANKS.
Donna Roxey, CRA
Sponsored Program Officer 3
The Ohio State University Research Foundation
1960 Kenny Road
TEL: 614-292-6471; FAX: 614-292-4315; E-MAIL: xxxxxx@osu.edu

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