Title:  Important Notice: Working Toward a Paperless Proposal and Award System
Date:   September 3, 1998




                   National Science Foundation
                     Office of the Director
                       Arlington, VA 22230

Notice No. 123                                          September  3, 1998

                       IMPORTANT NOTICE TO
             PRESIDENTS OF UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
         AND HEADS OF OTHER NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
                      GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS

Subject:                     Working Toward a Paperless Proposal
and Award System

NSF has been exploring ways to redesign and streamline the way we
do business with our customer communities.  The NSF FastLane
system, initiated in 1994, is helping to fulfill our vision of a
fully-integrated electronic proposal and award system that will
provide a quick, secure, paperless record and transaction
mechanism for all NSF awards, from program announcement to award
closeout, by October 2000.

This is a challenging goal, and we ask you to join us in
achieving it.  We believe that there are significant benefits
associated with implementation of a paperless proposal and award
process, by NSF and our customer communities.  NSF will be able
to respond more promptly and accurately to grantee requests, and
our grantee community will be able to initiate and better manage
their NSF business transactions.

Various components of the FastLane system already have been
incorporated into routine NSF operations.  It is important that
your organization be prepared to operate in this changing
environment.  We strongly encourage your organization to take
advantage of NSF electronic capabilities, where they currently
exist.  We will continue to support a paper process during this
transition period.

Our upcoming revision of the NSF Grant Proposal Guide will
include important guidance on use of FastLane in the proposal and
award process.  To assist in your planning, the listing on the
reverse side identifies dates when use of specific components of
the NSF FastLane system will be required.  We also encourage your
organization to visit the FastLane Web site
<https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/> for supplemental information on
specific NSF supported activities.

NSF also is a collaborating partner on the interagency
development of a “common face” for Federal grants known as the
“Federal Commons.”  The “Federal Commons” is an Internet-based
point of entry for grant proposers and recipients to conduct
business electronically with Federal grant making agencies.  NSF
has also made the commitment that FastLane will integrate
transparently with this “common face” approach.

To encourage the broadest possible comment and discussion, NSF
has created a response box to provide the Foundation with your
views and specific suggestions regarding our electronic vision
and implementation strategy.  You may access this box on the NSF
Web site at <http://www.nsf.gov/oirm/dis/flnotice/start.htm>.

                                                  Rita R. Colwell
                                                         Director

FastLane Implementation Dates

“Working Toward a Paperless NSF Proposal and Award System”

NSF has been exploring ways to redesign and streamline the way we
do business with our customer communities.  The NSF FastLane
system, initiated in 1994, is helping to fulfill our vision of a
fully-integrated electronic NSF proposal and award system that
will provide a quick, secure, paperless record and transaction
mechanism for all NSF awards, from program announcement to award
closeout, by October 2000.

To assist in your planning, the following identifies dates when
use of specific components of the NSF FastLane system will be
required.  We also encourage your organization to visit the
FastLane Web site at <https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/> for
supplemental information on specific NSF supported activities.


NSF FastLane Component
Required Use:
Annual & Final Project Reporting
October 1999
Postaward Notifications & Requests
January 2000
Business Transactions (Payment and Financial Reporting)
October 2000
Submission of Peer Reviews
October 2000
Proposal Preparation & Submission
October 2000