You are correct.  My group also had to go on a field trip to obtain our Level II.  The bigger issue however, is that the system itself doesn’t work very well.  Since last week I’ve been trying to submit a grant and the system just won’t let me.  I put in a help ticket and got about six different replies, from various units/people.  Each one asked the same question….what program is this to and what is your DUNS?  Still no resolution on how to submit this one of many upcoming proposals.  It’s very frustrating for us, as well as faculty who just want to get started on their projects.  I know that the USDA doesn’t want to have to do the data entry themselves from a grants.gove submission, but at least submitting via grants.gov would keep the work moving forward as opposed to being at a standstill.

Cheers,

Maryellen O’Brien
Director of Grants and Contracts
College of Agricultural Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA  16801
814-865-3135
xxxxxx@psu.edu

If you plan on submitting a proposal please use the following link to provide our office with the information we need to get your plans on our calendar and in workflow.  Please try to provide at least 3 weeks notice.
http://agsci.psu.edu/grants/pre-award/proposal-university-park/submit-intent-to-prepare-a-proposal

On 5/2/17, 12:58 PM, "Research Administration List on behalf of Nicole Whetstine" <xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org on behalf of xxxxxx@ERAU.EDU> wrote:

 Four of our employees went through the process for level 2 access (including our AO and the grant accountant).  From what I understand, the system now allows you to at least get authorization online (we had to physically head to our local registration authority agency 30 minutes away to do this). However, we were told to do it online you would likely need to have a copy of your credit report--so yes, you'll need to use your actual personal information to gain authorization. I know the USDA is serious about compliance with the various information system security regulations so I can only assume that is why they have made it less than easy to gain access to this system.

 We only have one cooperative agreement currently from APHIS, and in the past this was submitted via email. We've yet to physically submit in the new system as our technical officer has to manually enter the funding opportunity in ez Fed Grants.

 Hope this helps,

 Nicole Whetstine, MNM, CRA
 Grant Administrator
 Office of Sponsored Research Administration
 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
 (386) 226-6451
 xxxxxx@erau.edu

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