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Systems Access

Grants Management Application Suite (GMAS):

The Sponsored Research Administrator (SRA) uses GMAS to be able to submit applications and other request types (see Award Setup and Project Changes) for approval. 

All Investigators are automatically given access to GMAS to sign off on their own proposals (see Review and Submission).  The Department's Authorized Requestor requests GMAS access for the SRA from Financial Systems Solutions (FSS).  Once access is confirmed, users log in to GMAS using their Harvard ID and PIN.

When creating the project record in GMAS, the SRA is asked a series of questions that generates a list of the internal approvals required  for the project. Many of these approvals are required before the application is submitted. Therefore, it is recommended that the SRA create the GMAS record as early as possible in the application process.

Sponsor Systems

In order to register in any of the systems below, the SRA should first contact the Department's Pre-Award Contact in the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).  OSP is the primary point of contact for systems access (unless the application portal permits the individual to create his or her own profile).

NSF
Fastlane and Research.gov: All NSF proposals can currently be submitted through Fastlane. The NSF is piloting the use of Research.gov for some proposal types.  Both of these systems require a NSF ID for the PI. In order to request a NSF ID, the individual user

  • Registers at Research.gov.
  • Upon completing registration, the Individual receives a temporary password and a link to update.
  • After updating, the user must log in again and "Add New Role" to register as PI.
  • OSP approves the PI role and the individual is notified by Research.gov.

Be sure and use the University Area DUNS to locate the Harvard record when registering: 082359691


NIH
RAS recommends using ASSIST for NIH applications. The application may be initiated by searching for the Funding Opportunity Announcement in ASSIST.  The SRA may use his or her own login to submit through ASSIST. The eRA Commons IDs for Senior/Key Personnel are is entered in order to populate forms; but the PI does not otherwise need to enter ASSIST unless he or she wishes to view the application in the system.

eRA Commons:  The eRA Commons is not used for NIH proposal submission.  NIH proposals are submitted by OSP using grants.gov and can be created in GMAS by the SRA using either System to System or the grants.gov application forms. However, an eRA Commons ID is required for application submission. Applicants use the Commons to track application status, submit Just-In-Time information (such as IRB status) and submit reports.

Grants.gov / Workspace
Most other Federal proposals are submitted using Workspace, an application available through Grants.gov.  In order to access Workspace, register with Grants.gov as  an Organizational Applicant. Once you register, your Workspace role will be assigned and approved by OSP and you will receive an email indicating that this is complete.   The PI does not need a role in Workspace or Grants.gov in order to submit.   

In order to find and apply for an opportunity on Grants.gov, log in to Grants.gov and search for the opportunity.  Select the appropriate opportunity and click on the "Apply" button in the top right corner to begin compiling the Workspace application.