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National Science Foundation FastLane: An eGovernment Success Story

Discover how the National Science Foundation uses FastLane, an eGovernment system, to efficiently process research proposals, fund awards, and manage grants. This success story highlights the benefits of FastLane, including low overhead, discipline-based structure, and cross-disciplinary mechanisms.

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National Science Foundation FastLane: An eGovernment Success Story

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  1. National Science FoundationFastLane: An eGovernment Success Story BS072406

  2. Independent Agency Supporter of Basic Research & Education User of Grant Mechanism Low Overhead Discipline-based Structure Cross-disciplinary Mechanisms User of Rotators/IPAs National Science Board Highly Automated National Science Foundation

  3. NSF Proposal Submission Eligibility* • U.S. Universities and Colleges • U.S. Nonprofit, Nonacademic Organizations • U.S. For-Profit Organizations • State/Local Educational Organizations • Unaffiliated U.S. Scientists, Engineers, Educators & Citizens • NSF Rarely Supports Foreign Organizations or Other Federal Agencies *Program Solicitations May Establish More Restrictive Eligibility

  4. FY2005 Statistics • 42,000 Proposals Evaluated • 9800 Awards Funded • 254,000 Reviews Submitted • 10,000 Graduate Research Fellowship Submissions • 25,000 Grantee Progress Reports Received • 15,000 Cash Requests Processed • $4.22B Funds Distributed

  5. Percent of Proposals Submitted Electronically

  6. Reasons for Return Without Review and Declination • Review Criteria Not Identified and Addressed • Broader Aspects • Intellectual Merit • Solicitation Not Read • Special Requirements/Documents Missing • Documents Not Checked for Spelling and Grammar Errors

  7. Types of Proposal Submission • Deadline Date • Target Date • No Deadline • Submission Window • Preliminary Proposal • Letter of Intent

  8. FastLane • Begun in 1994 • Uses the World Wide Web and a Browser • Interactive with Servers at Arlington VA • Became Mandatory in 2000 • Used for All Business with NSF—Pre-Submission, Post-Submission, and Post-Award • Received Green Lights from Present Administration for Both Electronic Business and Financial Functions

  9. e-Business at NSF • FastLane Must Be Used for All Business with NSF • Proposal Preparation • Proposal Submission • Proposal Modification • Proposal/Panel Review • Award Modification • Cash Requests/Reports • Annual/Final Reports

  10. Planned FastLane Enhancements • Redesign Project Reports System • Combine Activities and Findings Categories • Provide New Method for Adding Journal/Book Entries • Add Nugget Category

  11. Planned FastLane Enhancements • Enhance Research Administration • Implement New Project Report Tracking System in Fall 2006 • Enhance Guest Travel and Reimbursement System • Implement Sophisticated Help Functionality and Training Materials • Continue Converting All Screens to the Look of the FastLane Home Screen

  12. Grants.gov • Receiving and Processing Applications for Selected Funding Opportunities through Grants.gov • During FY2006, 7 Programs Must Be Submitted through Grants.gov • Application Received through Grants.gov using 424 (R&R) Forms • Both Data Elements and Documents Populate FastLane Tables during the Day of Submission • All Post-Submission and Post-Award Activities Continue to Take Place Using FastLane • Possibility of Application Being Received through Grants.gov from an Organization as an xml Data Stream

  13. Grants.gov Challenges • Applications with Subawards • Can Now Be Submitted through Grants.gov • Will Accept 10 Subawards • About 20% of NSF Proposals Contain Subawards • Separately Submitted Collaborative Applications • Cannot Be Submitted Through Grants.gov • No Plans for the Capability • About 10% of NSF Proposals Are Separately Submitted Collaborative Proposals

  14. No Plans for Using Grants.gov • Special Programs, Such As Postdoctoral Fellowships • Supplemental Requests • Preliminary Proposals • Letters of Intent

  15. Attachments Must Be in PDFConvert PC Files to PDF Using FastLane 

  16. FastLane Pre-Submission Activities • Principal Investigator (PI) Actions • Find Program Solicitation • Read Program Solicitation • Prepare Documents and Budget • Access FastLane Proposal Preparation • Prepare Cover Sheet • Upload Documents • Prepare Budget • Forward Proposal to Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) • SPO Actions • Read • Review • Submit before Deadline/Target Date • AOR Action • Electronically Sign within 5 Business Days

  17. Grants.gov Pre-Submission Activities • Principal Investigator (PI) Actions • Find Program Solicitation • Read Program Solicitation • Prepare Documents and Budget • Access Grants.gov • Download PureEdge Viewer to PI’s PC • Find/Download Grant Package to PI’s PC • Complete/Save Application on PI’s PC • Upload All Documents as PDFs. • Type in All Other Information • Attach Application to Email/Send to SPO • SPO Actions • Read • Review • AOR Actions • Sign and Submit to Grants.gov before Deadline/Target Date

  18. Post-Submission Activities • Proposal Modifications • Proposal File Update • PI Prepares • Everything but Organization Can Be Changed • Needs Program Officer Approval if Submitted after Deadline • SPO Submits • Revised Budget • Requested by Program Officer • PI Prepares • Scope of Work and Budget Downsized • SPO Submits • Proposal Review • Panel • Ad Hoc • Combination

  19. Post-Award Activities • Modify Award • Notifications • Requests • Prepared by Either PI or SPO • Submitted by SPO • Project Reports • Annual • Final • Prepared and Submitted by PI/Co-PI • Financial • Draw Down Award Money • Submit Federal Cash Transaction Report (FCTR) Quarterly • Actions Taken by Financial Officer/Staff

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