NSF FastLane and Integration with Grants.gov SRA Southern Section Tampa, Fla April 1720, 2005 Evelyn

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NSF FastLane and Integration with Grants.gov
SRA Southern SectionTampa, Fla
April 17-20,
2005 Evelyn F. Baisey-Thomas
ebaisey_at_nsf.gov 703/292-4204
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NSF FastLane

• FastLane (www.fastlane.nsf.gov) is over 40
  externally facing interactive web-based systems
  used by scientists, engineers, educators,
  research and financial administrators to conduct
  business with NSF electronically.
• Began ten years ago as experimental project with
  first modules released in 1995.
• Electronic Proposal Submission through FastLane
  became required in October 2000.
• In 2003, NSF won the Presidents Award for
  Management Excellence for FastLane and other
  initiatives.

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FastLane An eGovernment Success StoryFY 04
Stats

• Over 43,500 Electronic Proposals
• (over 99.9 of all proposals submitted)
• 195,000 Electronic Reviews
• 9,000 Electronic Graduate Research Fellowships
• 25,000 Electronic Grantee Progress Reports
• 14,000 Electronic Cash Requests

Electronic Proposal PercentBy Fiscal Year (FY
97-02)
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Who Uses FastLane?

• 7,000 registered FastLane organizations
• Universities and Colleges including
  Minority-Serving Institutions
• Large and Small Businesses
• Non-profits
• State and Local Governments
• 270,000 registered FastLane users
• Principal Investigators (PIs) Co-PIs
• Reviewers
• Sponsored Project Offices (SRO)
• Financial Offices

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Recent Enhancements to FastLane

• Enhanced Proposal File Update Module (PFU)
• Created Letter of Intent Module (LOI)
• Created modules to support National Science Board
  Office (NSBO) Honorary Awards
• Created modules to better support Graduate
  Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
• Research Administration InBox is back!

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Planned Enhancements to FastLane

• Integrate with Government-wide Grants.gov so that
  proposals submitted to NSF via Grants.gov can be
  processed electronically by NSF.
• Reporting period for Project Reporting will be
  set by NSF.
• E-Mail reminders to AORs who have proposals not
  signed within 5 working days of submission.
• Port new look and feel to rest of FastLane.
• Redesign Project Reports System.

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The Grants.gov Program

• Is a cross-agency initiative spanning 900 grant
  programs from the 26 grant-making agencies, and
  over 350 billion in annual awards
• Is a simple, unified storefront for all
  customers of Federal grants to electronically
  find Grant Opportunities or apply for Grants
• Is one of 24 Federal cross-agency E-Government
  initiatives to improve access to services via the
  Internet
• Is managed by the Department of Health and Human
  Services, the largest provider of Federal grants

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The Grants.gov Initiative

• Developed in response to the FY 2002 Presidents
  Management Agenda and the Federal Financial
  Assistance Management Improvement Act (PL
  106-107).
• 11 Partner Agencies HHS, DOD, ED, HUD, DOJ,
  DOT, USDA, DOC, DOL, DHS, and NSF.
• 2 main features
• FIND A unified way to Find grant opportunities
  a single place to search all competitive grant
  opportunities. OMB policy required agencies to
  post opportunities starting Nov. 7, 2003.
• APPLY A unified way to electronically submit
  grant applications. Implemented in October 2003.

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The Grants.gov Program

• Grants.gov provides a single source to find
  Federal government-wide competitive grant
  opportunities helping the grant community learn
  about available opportunities in a standardized
  manner, saving time and money
• It provides a secure and reliable source to apply
  for Federal grants, simplifying the grant
  application process,reducing paperwork and
  avoiding the need to learn multiple agency or
  program-specific application processes/systems

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The Grants.gov Program contd

• Find Grant Opportunities allows users to
• Search for available grant opportunities
• Register to receive notification of grant
  opportunities
• Apply for Grants allows users to
• Search for and download application packages
• Complete application packages offline
• Submit completed application packages
• Track the status of submitted applications

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Grants.gov Active Grant Postings as of
January, 2005

• 434 Application Packages Posted on Grants.gov
• 2,116 Grants.gov Registered Users (AORs)
• 1,637 Applications Received

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Apply for Grants features

• Direct link to grant application packages from
  online grant opportunity notices
• Flexible search on numerous data elements
• Email subscription service to receive email
  notification of all or select funding
  opportunities (e.g., CFDA , agency, activity
  category)

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Apply for Grants features(continued)

• Submit applications electronically
• "Submit" button on application cover page
  activates after all required forms are completed
  and saved
• Application summary provided to allow
  confirmation that the completed application will
  be submitted to the intended program
• Application packages automatically upload to
  Grants.gov
• Application confirmation and tracking number
  provided online and via email

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Apply for Grants features

• APPLY Feature
• 1,637 applications to 201 federal programs from
  19 agencies have been accepted via Grants.gov
  (02/05)
• NSF-led effort to develop SF424 (Research
  Related) forms.
• Agency System to System Interface Successfully
  tested with several agencies, including NSF
• Applicant System to System Interface Gathering
  requirements, Draft Implementation Guide

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Preparing to Apply on Grants.gov

• Note Before using Grants.gov for the first
  time, each organization must register with the
  website to create an institutional profile.
• Once registered, your organization can then apply
  for any government grant on the Grants.gov
  website.
• If your organization has already registered, you
  may skip this step. If not, please refer to the
  checklist under Getting Started on the
  Grants.gov homepage to guide you through the
  registration process.
• We recommend you get your registration completed
  at least two weeks before the application
  deadline, as it takes time for your registration
  to be processed.

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Preparing to Apply via Grants.gov Overview

• Preparing to Apply for grants via Grants.gov
  opportunities is a 3-step process
• Register organization with Central Contractor
  Registry (CCR) (one time)
• Become individually authenticated through the
  Grants.gov Credential Provider (one time)
• Log into Grants.gov as a verified member

Start preparing to apply today! Grants.gov
registration/authentication processesallow 7-14
days!
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Preparing to Apply via Grants.gov Step 1 of 3

• Register the organization with the Central
  Contractor Registry (CCR), the Federal database
  for conducting business with the U.S. Government
• Obtain an organizational DUNS to register
  with CCR
• Create a unique M-PIN ID while registering in CCR
• Identify an E-business Point of Contact for the
  organization, who will authorize users to apply
  for grants via Grants.gov on behalf of the
  organization

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Preparing to Apply via Grants.gov Step 2 of 3

• Register with the Grants.gov Credential Provider
• Authenticate user credentials (confirms
  individuals are who they claim to be)
• Upon verification of credentials
• Users receive a unique username/password for use
  on Grants.gov as Authorized Organizational
  Representative (AOR). AORs submit applications
  via Grants.gov on behalf of their organization
• The organizations E-Business Point of Contact is
  informed of the verification and assigns
  Grants.gov rights to the AOR

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Preparing to Apply via Grants.gov Step 3 of 3

• Register as a Grants.gov verified member
• Click on the Applicant link on Grants.gov
• Enter the unique username and password obtained
  from the Credential Provider
• Follow steps to Apply For Grants

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Grants.gov provides reference tools to support
the Preparing to Apply process

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Context-sensitive help
• Registration Checklist Provides step-by-step
  guidance for the Prepare to Apply process
• Other online Customer Support services
• Tutorial
• User Guide
• Quick Reference

Program Overview 7/29/2009 PAGE 21
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Homepage
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Get Started
Download the PureEdge Viewer
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The Apply process(continued)
Grants.gov provides PureEdge Viewer, a small,
free software program to access, complete and
submit applications electronically and securely
Program Overview 7/29/2009 PAGE 24
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Get Started
Start Here NOW!
Steps 3 6 are one time steps that you must
complete before Steps 1 and 2.
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Registration Checklists
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Find Grant Opportunities features

• Flexibility to search on numerous criteria
• Active and archived documents
• Funding opportunity number
• Dates and time frames
• CFDA number
• Funding activity category
• Funding instrument type
• Agency
• Email subscription service to receive email
  notification of select funding opportunities

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Find Grant Opportunities
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Search for Opportunities
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Search Results
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Example Grant Opportunity
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Example Grant Opportunity (Contd)
Click here to go directly to Apply. Not all Grant
Opportunities have corresponding applications on
Apply.
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Grants.gov streamlines the process for applying
for grants

• Click on Apply For Grants tab on Grants.gov
• Download application viewer
• Download selected application package
• Complete the application package offline
• AOR submits the application package to Grants.gov
• Grants.gov tracking number assigned
• Grants.gov notifies applicant when the
  application has been validated and downloaded by
  the agency

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Homepage
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Apply for Grants
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List of Grant Applications
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The Apply process
Easy access from every page
Access to step-by-step instructions and support
available on every page
Program Overview 7/29/2009 PAGE 37
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Download Application Package
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Download Application Package
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The Application package (contd)
Register to receive notification of changes to
application package before downloading it
Program Overview 7/29/2009 PAGE 40
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Application Package
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Application Package (Bottom Half of page)
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The Application package (contd)
Select a form from the application package to
complete and click open form
Program Overview 7/29/2009 PAGE 43
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The Application package (contd)
Mandatory fields are highlighted.
Program Overview 7/29/2009 PAGE 44
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The Application package (contd)
Complete mandatory forms and documents and
move to Submission List to enable ability to
submit the application package
Program Overview 7/29/2009 PAGE 45
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The Application package (contd)
Save and print in-process applications. Submit
completed applications.
Program Overview 7/29/2009 PAGE 46
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Application Package
Once you have completed and saved the
application, the Submit button will become active
and you will be able to upload your application
to Grants.gov.
All the forms have to be moved to the Submission
List before Submit button will become active
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Summary Screen
Press Yes to Submit
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Login Screen Authorized Official
Representatives Only!
Enter the username and password used with
Credential Provider and with Grants.gov
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Confirmation Screen

• Grants.gov recommends you print this Confirmation
  screen.
•  You will receive an application submission
  confirmation email after the application has been
  properly uploaded.
•  This email will give you a Grants.gov tracking
  number which you will need to check the
  applications status.

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All Steps in Getting Started Must be FINISHED
prior to submitting an initial application!!

• Register organization with the Central Contractor
  Registry (CCR) (1-888-227-2423)
• Organization needs to identify its DUNS Number
  before it can register for the CCR DUNS
  Assistance (1-866-705-5711)
• Designate an E-Biz Point of Contact (POC) and a
  MPIN in the organizations CCR profile
• Register with the Credential Provider to receive
  username and password.
• Register with Grants.gov as an AOR, Authorized
  Official Representative. The E-Biz POC will be
  notified by email and goes to Grants.gov to grant
  the AOR access.
• Download PureEdge Viewer to open application
  forms - This free program allows you to access,
  complete and submit applications electronically
  and securely.

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Grants.gov provides user support

• Online user support
• Context-Sensitive Help
• Online Tutorial
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• User Guide
• Quick Reference
• Contact Center support is available
  at1-800-518-4726. Hours of operation are
  Monday-Friday from 700 a.m. to 900 p.m. Eastern
  Standard Time

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Some useful links...

• Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
  (CFDA))http//12.46.245.173/cfda/cfda.html 
• Find current Grant opportunities in Apply
  http//www.grants.gov/assets/GrantsgovProgramsList
  .pdf
• Download the PureEdge viewer http//www.grants.go
  v/PEViewer/ICSViewer602_grants.exe 
• Register for notices of issuances of new grants
  in Find http//www.grants.gov/ReceiveGrantOpportu
  nityNotification 
• Access User Guide, FAQ and on-line Tutorial
  assistance http//www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport
  
• Worksheet located on the CCR website to aid you
  with the CCR registration (http//www.ccr.gov/CCR
  RegTemplate.pdf) 
• Obtain a credential from the Credential Provider
  at https//apply.grants.gov/OrcRegister
• Register with Grants.gov register at
  https//apply.grants.gov/GrantsgovRegister

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Grants.gov continues to evolve with more
enhancements

• Research Related Data Set
• Agreed upon data standards and standardized
  application forms across for research and related
  grant opportunities
• Print Feature for Individual Pages
• Enabling flexible use, distribution and
  management of application forms
• Ability to Import Export Data into PureEdge
  Forms
• Capturing information and leveraging it
  electronically across all grant application
  packages
• Acceptance of Applications from Individuals
• Leveling the playing field for access to Federal
  grant funds with one system for all potential
  grant applicants
• Applicant System-to-System Functionality
• Allowing automatic interface with Grants.gov,
  with limited development and maintenance
  requirements

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NSF FastLane and Grants.gov

• By late Spring 2005, NSF will be able to accept
  proposals through Grants.gov
• Will start with unsolicited proposals
• 15 application packages will be posted to
  Grants.gov for submission to NSF during the 4th
  quarter of FY 2005
• Packages will be from across the agency and
  include NSFs Grants.gov Application Guide
• Interface will be tested by institutions during
  Spring 2005.

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NSF Application Package on Grants.gov

• SF 424 Research Related Forms
• Cover, Pages 1 and 2 (Includes certification and
  assurance language
• Project/Performance Site Location(s)
• Other Project Information
• Senior/Key Person Profile(s)
• Personal Data (PD/PI and co-PD/PI only)
• Budget

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NSF Application Package on Grants.gov

• NSF Agency Specific Forms
• Mandatory Forms
• Cover Sheet NSF Unit Consideration
• Checklist
• Optional Forms
• List of Suggested Reviewers or Reviewers Not to
  Include (Optional)
• Deviation Authorization
• Organization and Individual Registration for
  NSFs Fastlane System

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Application Package
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Application Package (Bottom of page)
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Example of Application Form
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Application Package
Once you have completed and saved the
application, the Submit button will become active
and you will be able to upload your application
to Grants.gov.
All the forms have to be moved to the Submission
List before Submit button will become active
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Press Yes to Submit
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Login Screen Authorized Official
Representatives Only!
Enter the username and password provided by
Grants.govs Credential Provider.
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Questions