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
>>>
>>>
>
>
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--
Tom Drinane
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