The new tracking feature has some positive functions but lacks
important features.  It was done, as is true for almost all
Grants.gov  changes, with no user acceptance testing.  I assume GDIT
staff just know what people want and do it.

First, you get no response if an application is just in the first
status situation.  That is if there is just the first receipt
message.  If you check from that message you get:
"There is no status available for the tracking number(s) entered."

But this is, of course, not true, because the application has the
status of  "Your application has been received by Grants.gov, and is
currently being validated."
In most cases you know this because you get the first message.

You can click on a link in the Confirmation message, but almost by
definition, there will be no status to report at that time.

However, most AORs who submit through S2S do not get any messages
directly, as these go only to the EBiz Point of contact, because the
certificate is in that person's name.  One major drawback of S2S for
tracking an application, is that the submitter only knows if the
application was accepted, like getting a Confirmation message.  It
would be nice if those submitters could then click on the link and
find the first message, that the EBizPOC received.

We have first receipt messages for the 77 submissions we sent since
2:35pm yesterday.  For the ones submitted prior to 2:32 yesterday we
have either "validated" or "Agency Tracking Number Assigned" status.
When I log in as the EBizPOC is see that the last application
processed is 22-Apr-09 02:43:35 PM.

So we are still within the 48 hours limit of G.g processing.

The tracking function is not so helpful during such a huge deadline
but will be very nice for PI in normal times.  You can send a copy of
the Confirmation Message or the first status message to the PI and
allow that person to then check on future status. Grants Office Staff
can look up the status of other people's submissions, if the Grant
number is known.  The function is almost what we would like except
for the false information regarding the first tracking message.

The final problem I have found is that if the status is Rejected with
Errors there is no link to find those errors.  You must go to the
second message or look at the Check Application Status screen.

Do others have different problems to report.
Bob
------------------------------
Robert Beattie
UMich Grants.gov Liaison
Managing Senior Project Representative for Electronic Research
Administration
Division of Research Development and Administration
University of Michigan
xxxxxx@umich.edu   (734) 936-1283

On Apr 22, 2009, at 3:26 PM, Maryellen O'Brien wrote:

Hi all,

Like many of you, I too haven’t had updated confirmation since
yesterday.  I tried to use the new tracking function and I repeatedly
get no feedback.  I’m wondering if any of you have had success with
that tool.  Thanks,

Maryellen O'Brien
Assistant Director
Office of Research and
 Sponsored Programs
Rutgers, The State University
ASB III, 3 Rutgers Plaza
New Brunswick, NJ  08901

Voice:  732-932-0150 x2111
Fax:     732-932-0162

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