I think Bob gave some excellent answers, but I think there are a few points that need to be emphasized. * NIH has announced its commitment to accept applications through Grants.gov. As I understand it, you submit to G.g (in some version of the 424 R&R, whether that's using Pure Edge or a S2S route), G.g sends to NIH, and NIH then converts the information from NIH to a 398. Some of us question the wisdom of this approach, but as I understand it, this is the plan as of now. * On the expected life span of FastLane & other systems. Last Fall, in a presentation to our Regional NCURA group, Jean Feldman committed to FastLane being around for another year at least. My interpretation is that we don't know how long FastLane & others will be around, but that the goal is that all grant activity at some point will travel through G.g. In the long run, this is a good thing, but the transitions will be difficult. Frankly, the progress on these fronts has been a lot faster than I would have predicted three years ago, although clearly there is still a long way to go. * Just to clarify one point. NIH Commons was never intended to be a front end for grant application submission. NIH does accept applications electronically, but only through some third party - one of the CGAP vendors Bob mentioned or G.g. There is also the possibility of using a home grown S2S solution - either by sending e-applications directly to NIH or through G.g. Robert Beattie wrote: > Here is my take on some of John's questions. > > I think we can expect all agencies to keep their grants management > systems -- FastLane, NIH Commons, Education eGrants, etc. Grants.gov > is currently only planned for grants submission (and the Find part of > course). Grant seekers can send their applications via Grants.gov to > the agencies who will then post them to their own sites. In the > Grants.gov webcast there was mention of error checking but this can be > nothing like what NIH Commons or FastLane currently do. So, G.g is > "just" a conduit to get the applications into the agency system. > There is a meeting soon of G.g staff and some of its user community to > discuss adding features to the system such as post award functions and > faculty profiles. > > Given that NIH is the sponsoring agency for Grants.gov it seems > doubtful that they can continue to avoid using the system. Might we > soon see a merging of the data on the 398 to fit into a Grants.gov > schema? Thus Grants.gov will have a substantial effect on those who > are heavy NIH grant seekers. Again, error checking is a stumbling block. > > The NIH Commons is good for many things besides eSNAPS even now. JIT > and NCTX for example. PI's can look up scores and other aspects of > the review process. The electronic Competing Grants Application > Program (eCGAP) is well under way already, allowing electronic > submission by anyone as of January. You can work through one of the > original 6 vendors who created submission programs or develop your > own. I believe some other venders are getting into the business too. > See here > http://era.nih.gov/Projectmgmt/SBIR/sbir_grants.htm > > You do not actually use the Commons to submit the applications but > they end up in the Commons for viewing and the PI and the Signing > Official must go to the Commons for final approval. > > > Bob > __________________________________ > Robert Beattie > Managing Senior Project Representative > for Electronic Research Administration > Division of Research Development and Administration > University of Michigan > 3003 S. State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1274 > office: 734 936-1283 mobile: 734 717-6281 > xxxxxx@umich.edu > > > On Mar 10, 2005, at 11:09 AM, John A Brown wrote: > > Great comment Robert. I too was at the webcast and did not learn much. > The Q&A was very short. NIH is about 80% of our funding so if the 398 > is not implemented via Grants.gov, then this has no substantial effect > on us. Also, I saw that NSF is participating. Does anyone know if they > are going to drop FastLane? > > Regarding the NIH eRA Commons, does anyone know if they is just going > to be a place to submit eSNAP's online, or will be soon submitting New > applications as well > > Regarding the Technical aspects, great point Robert regarding > different platforms. Also, there was no mention if it is compatible > with different browsers (i.e. netscape, windows, etc.) > > Thanks > > John Brown > > Robert Beattie wrote: > >> Strange, I just got the invitation TODAY! I noticed the dates after I >> sent my message. I did listen to the talking screen and downloaded >> the slides and transcript and did not learn anything except about NIH >> applications. >> >> I wanted to ask some questions. Nobody asked any tough questions. >> Why not Macs? >> What's up with the system to system version? >> and suggest that they explain better that individual grant seekers do >> not need to register if they are at an institution with central >> submission. Only the central office needs to register. >> >> The most important comment was that NIH is going to allow Form 424 >> submissions using the new 424 Research and Related form (424R&R) >> starting in June of 2005. This will present a very interesting >> situation as I do not think NIH is dropping the 398. So three ways to >> get applications to NIH: standard paper 398, electronic 398 via the >> eCGAP (electronic Competing Grant Application Program), and via >> Grants.gov with the 424R&R. >> >> The G.g people say they are going into the community to talk-up the >> system. A good chance for us to promote a better interface that uses >> more than just PCs. >> >> Bob >> xxxxxx@umich.edu >> >> >> >> On Mar 10, 2005, at 10:40 AM, Charlie Hathaway wrote: >> >> It was yesterday. If you like listening to someone read a PowerPoint >> presentation, slides not scrolling automatically, and find >> testimonials convincing (like a GWB "townhall" meeting), you'd have >> loved it. >> >> CH >> >> At 10:24 AM 3/10/2005, you wrote: >> >>> I forgot to mention there is a webcast about G.g today at 11am est >>> go here >>> http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=11256&s=1&k=C759A231D90C42F2939152CD48738CF >>> >>> live questions -- Why not Mac? for example >>> >>> Bob >>> xxxxxx@umich.edu >>> >>> >>> >>> On Mar 9, 2005, at 4:46 PM, Richard Magyar wrote: >>> >>> Hi, >>> >>> Has anyone come across a submission in which using the new grants.gov >>> process was MANDATORY? >>> >>> My understanding was that the grants.gov system would be phased in >>> gradually, with only voluntary participation for at least the next >>> year or >>> so. Imagine my surprise when we found out that our latest DOE grant >>> REQUIRES the grants.gov submission mechanism. >>> >>> The problem, for us, is in the software grants.gov requires us to use. >>> The >>> “PureEdge” viewer is incompatible with Macintoshes, and the company >>> developing that software (PureEdge Solutions) has no plans to ever >>> create a >>> Mac solution. >>> >>> They recommend using VirtualPC, which is awkward and unreliable >>> workaround. >>> >>> I’d originally hoped that grants.gov would mature as a service in >>> the next >>> year or so, and eventually expand it’s support to multiple platforms. >>> "Fastlane" is a good example of exactly that kind of success through >>> graduate service roll-out. >>> >>> But if we are all to be required to use this new service more-or-less >>> immediately, then waiting for the bugs to be worked out will NOT be an >>> option. >>> >>> >>> Anyone else in the same boat? >>> Anyone have any insight on grants.gov or solutions to these platform >>> issues? >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Thanks for your time, >>> >>> Rich Magyar >>> Systems Administrator >>> Eastern Michigan University >>> Graduate Studies & Research >>> 734-487-3090 >>> xxxxxx@emich.edu >>> >>> > > > ====================================================================== > Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including > subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available > via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") > ====================================================================== > -- Tom Drinane 8 Douglas Ridge Norwich, VT 05505 603-646-3008 (Office) 603-646-1941 (Fax) 802-356-7843 (Mobile) xxxxxx@direcway.com ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================
