I just returned from the Region VI & VII NCURA meeting where NSF again
urged University's to take advantage of electronic award letters.  There
are apparently still a considerable number of institutions that do not take
advantage of this service.  NSF will be asking soon what impediments still
remain that they need to deal with to help institutions take advantage of
this opportunity.  The attached is the May 1992 notice that was originally
distributed by NSF.  As far as I know, John Grzechowiak is still the
contact at NSF to initiate this service.  On a personal note, I have found
this to be one of the better things NSF (or any other agency) has done to
facilitate timely starts!

*******************************************************************************
"NSF To Send Awards Electronically

 NSF's Division of Grants and Contracts in conjunction with
 the Division of Information System has been conducting a
 demonstration project where the Foundation's award letters
 are forwarded to nine grantees via electronic mail.  Th ose
 universities involved are; University of Illinois, Urbana,
 Florida State University, University of Alabama, North
 Carolina A&T State University, University of Houston,
 Colorado State University Stanford University, University of
 California, Berkeley, and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
 We are now ready to expand the process to other grantees.
 We expect this method of award notification to become the
 standard agency practice.  Grantees are responsible for
 internal distribution of award documents (Budgets are also
 sent electronically when changed by NSF from the grantees
 proposed budget).  We recommend grantees establish a shared
 mailbox because there will be only one copy forwarded per
 grantee.  The PI's copy of the proposal reviews will
 continue to be sent through the mail system.  Interested
 grantees should submit their e mail addresses and any
 questions to John Grzechowiak at 'xxxxxx@nsf.gov.'"
*******************************************************************************

Terry A. May, Ph.D.                       Voice:    602-523-6788
  Director of Research Administration     FAX:      602-523-1075
  Office of Grant & Contract Services     INTERNET: xxxxxx@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu
  100 Babbitt Admin. Ctr., Box 4130
  Northern Arizona University
  Flagstaff, AZ  86011-4130