1. I submitted my report, but it contains erroneous information. I need to make corrections. What can I do?
The system allows you to unsubmit your report, make corrections and resubmit as many times as you like until it has been approved by your program officer. From the Project System Control Screen, click on "Unsubmit Pending Reports", select the appropriate report and click "Unsubmit".
2. I have an assistant who will be doing work on this report. How can I give my assistant access to my award report?
To provide other individuals (e.g., administrative support or proposal personnel not listed as PI or Co-PI) with access to the preparer's report, a report PIN must be created. A FastLane user who has the award number and report PIN may access and modify the report within FastLane by entering the project award number, his or her SSN, and the award PIN. To assign a PIN to the award, select "Assign or Change PIN", from the control screen. Enter the PIN twice and click on CONTINUE . The "assistant" can then access the reporting system. To revoke access, change the award PIN.
3. How do I get my Principal Investigator (PI) Password, so I can access the Reporting System application to complete my report?
If you are a PI at a registered FastLane institution, you can get your Password from your institution's Sponsored Research Office (SRO) or equivalent (the people that have the authority to submit proposals to NSF). NSF does not issue Passwords to PIs. A "List of RegisteredFastLane Institutions" is on the FastLane Home Page at Organization Search.
4. I have completed my report and would like to print a copy. How do I print one?
To print your report, log into the Project Reports System and go to the Control Screen. Click on Review and Submit. When the screen loads containing your report information, print the screen by clicking the print button on your web browser.
After you submit your report to NSF, you will receive an e-mail acknowledging the receipt of your report. Also, once you have submitted your report, the report will appear under "Review Past Submissions" as pending until your Program Officer has approved your report. You can access the "Review Past Submissions" link from the "Project System Control" screen.
7. How can I change my e-mail, phone and fax numbers?
The PI can change his/her information by accessing the Principal Investigator(PI)/Co-Principal Investigator(Co-PI) Management screen and clicking on "Change PI Information" link. Click the "Edit PI Information" button and make any necessary changes.
8. Many students have worked on my project. Who should be included on my report?
We ask PIs to provide basic information about each person who worked on the project, such as name, role on project, extent of time put in,and what the person has done on the project. Anyone who contributed more than 160 hours and received NSF funding should be included in your report.
9. Are the Participants and Publications sections cumulative?
The reporting system is meant to be cumulative. You do not have to start a new report every reporting period, nor do you have to delete information from a previously submitted report. You may provide information on the current reporting period and leave the previous text untouched, or you may revise previous text and add to it to create a cumulative report.
12. There does not seem to be a place in the reporting system to report on presentations I have given. Where can I record these events?
Regularly published proceedings from a conference go in Journals; one-time published proceedings from a conference or report go in Books and Other One-time Publications; otherwise, talks and presentations should be reported under Activities.
13. I want to look at the format and prepare my report in draft form before I enter the data in FastLane. Is there a downloadable template?
There is no downloadable template for project reporting. You can however access the FastLane development server and move through the screens yourself with the required information from the FastLane demonstration site.
14. My program requires several forms that the Project Reports System does not support, i.e. evaluation report and datasheets. How can I include them in my report?
If you have prepared them in an electronic form you may attach them as a PDF file from the "Project System Control" screen. Click "Attach PDF file."