Dear Folks: Thanks to all of you who have chimed in with information
about how to register for FastLane, and provided information on it's
benefits and uses. Here's some additional information about the
process and what you can expect.

As Pamela notes, the Registration Form can be accessed from the
FastLane Home page http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov. At the bottom left of
the page click on "Information about FastLane", and then on "Welcome
to FastLane". Registration involves designating a Primary FastLane
User who will be the focal point on campus for the administration of
FastLane, initialization of user PINS and permissions, etc. This
person should either be the Authorized Institutional Official or
his/her designee. Print the registration form, sign and mail to NSF.

Getting Started:

The registration confirmation will take a few days, and the primary
FastLane user will be issued a "master" PIN. NSF will also load into
FastLane all faculty currently on our database. In order for Faculty
to use the system to check proposal status, submit reports, etc. they
must have a PIN initialized by the primary FastLane user. Other
institutional users in the Sponsored Research Office, Departments, and
elsewhere will have to be entered in the system individually.

Getting started using FastLane will involve getting familiar and
oriented with the system, communicating with, orienting and/or
training faculty and administrators about the various functions, etc.
A good way to become familiar with FastLane is to visit the FastLane
development server (http://www.fldev.nsf.gov). It contains working
prototypes of the FastLane moduleas in production, as well as those
still in development. You can play with anything there.

Institutions have been using various approaches to implementing
FastLane, depending on their comfort level, pioneering spirit,
available resources, faculty interest, etc. You may want consult with
others who are using FastLane to get a sense for how to approach this.
A list of registered instituions can be accessed on the FastLane home
page. The folks in the California Users Group have been extremely
helpful, and have taken the initiative to author a "users guide" that
we hope to have incorporated into FastLane shortly. This list could
also provide a forum to discuss some of these issues. At the upcoming
NCURA ERA conference there will be a panel on the subject of
institutional implementation strategies and issues, as well as some
hands on demonstrations.

FastLane Usage:

There are about 250 institutions registered for FastLane nationwide.
By far the most popular functions involve information access to
proposal status information, institutional reports (status of Final
Project Reports, Continuing Grants, etc), and the NSF Award data base.

Usage of FastLane for information submissions has been slowly but
steadily increasing as folks become familiar with the system. Over 500
reviews were submitted to NSF last month using FastLane; 250 cash
drawdowns (roughly 20% of all cash drawdown); but only 25 Final
Project Reports and no proposals. In July we expect about 140 proposal
submissions in resonse to the NSF Recognition Awards for the
Integration of Research and Education solicitation.

In summary, the Registration for FastLane is easy and quick. There is
no cost beyond Internet access and a qualified "browser". There is no
obligation; signing up does not commit you to using FastLane beyond
what you find useful. Finally, hand holding is available.

Bill Kirby
NSF