If I may, let me add to the gripes about the agencies who are dragging their feet and perpetuating the dual process of paper and electronic submissions. It has not been uncommon for those same agencies to direct applicants to the "electronic" versions of the required application forms, which in reality, are not fillable forms but scanned digital images saved in a PDF format. This forces us to print the forms and -- do what?? Use a typewriter? or to go searching the internet for the true fillable version of the form. These agencies could at the very least, make the electronic versions of their forms available in a format that allows applicants to enter text electronically, even while they insist on getting the paper copies. I won't name any names, but it has been my experience that agencies relying on the PHS-5191 forms are woefully out of step in this regard. After a couple days of searching, I finally located a fillable PDF form for the PHS-5191, only to learn that not all the forms in it are fillable and many fields use a font size too large to allow entry of information that exceeds a certain length. Of course, if I try to edit the form, I find that it has a security feature that requires a password. Yes, I tried emailing the agency (several times, to different contact persons) to request a non-passworded version and never received a reply. ------------------------------- Molly Daniel Grants Specialist Planning Department Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center 1000 Health Center Drive Mattoon, IL 61938 xxxxxx@sblhs.org tel. 217-258-2195 fax 217-258-4135 -----Original Message----- From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org]On Behalf Of Robert Beattie Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 9:22 AM To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org Subject: [RESADM-L] Any minds changed? Robert Bloomberg asks a good question below. Without question, I am still happy with "where we are going." We are not there yet. It's been only a year. The prior paper system evolved over 40 years. For me, at least, since I helped a professor prepare a proposal: typing, copying on a ditto machine, and hand carrying from Chicago to DC. I look forward to getting to the new place. The great situation is not that a few of us are having a few problems, but that all of us are actually getting many proposals to sponsors with not much effort. Just last year we had stacks of copies of paper proposals, piled high around the office, boxes to pack, fedex labels to make, PI's and staff coming and going, picking up and delivering at the last minute. The goal of Grants.gov must be valued and worth a couple years of hassle to get it right. One Form, One System, One Portal It's not the agencies like NIH that we need to be critical of, or even DOJ and DoEd and DOD (who are trying) but those who are dragging their bureaucratic feet -- not making it mandatory or allowing their old systems or still asking for paper. Bob xxxxxx@umich.edu On Mar 1, 2007, at 4:17 PM, Bloomberg, Robert wrote: There was a discussion on this list a few days or so ago about whether grants.gov was a positive or a negative. After reading all the emails today about errors, fixes, warnings, re-submissions, etc, I wonder what people think about that prior discussion. Any minds changed either way? -----Original Message----- From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org]On Behalf Of Bonnie Kwit Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 4:09 PM To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] do errors self-correct? My EIN was a warning not an error once, and the other time it was an error. I found that in both cases I needed to eliminate the A1 at the end. Also, you shouldn't use the "-" 38-XXXXXXX. That was something else that hadn't been affected before but now seems to be causing warnings. Bonnie Bonnie Kwit Grants & Contracts Officer Oakland University 544 O'Dowd Hall (248) 370-4116 -----Original Message----- From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Robert Beattie Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 3:52 PM To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org Subject: [RESADM-L] do errors self-correct? I do not think the system is self-correcting. If something is an error the first time, if you make no change, it will be an error every other time. I may be wrong. Does anyone have an example of a error not being fixed but resubmitted and then not being an error? My experience is such that I recommend errors be fixed. Angela, what happened the 4th time you submitted? That is how did you get the EIN to be accepted Bob xxxxxx@umich.edu On Mar 1, 2007, at 3:35 PM, Angela Willis wrote: I will put my two cents in for complaints. The problem that we experienced is our EIN #. Even though it was 9 digits, Commons saw it as not being long enough. We submitted it three times and still the same thing error came up, among other things. ====================================================================== 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") ====================================================================== ====================================================================== 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") ======================================================================
