ePAF To Be Retired at End of June 2009

06/10/09

Over the last three months, most University units have adopted the use of the web-based eResearch Proposal Managment (eRPM) system for creating Proposal Approvals Forms, or PAFs, and subsequent routing for approvals. The time has come to retire the paper process for proposal approvals at the University of Michigan.

eRPM REQUIRED 7/1/2009

At the end of the day on June 30, 2009, the ePAF will no longer be available. From that time forward, new proposal approvals and routing will need to be completed in the eRPM system.

TIMELINE

1) The current ePAF option to create paper PAFs, will be retired at the end of the day on June 30. Access to the site will be eliminated by DRDA, as will access to that cache of old ePAFs.
2) All PAFs initiated on or after July 1, must be created in eRPM.
3) PAFs initiated in paper form before June 30, 2009 will be honored and processed by DRDA through the end of July.
4) No paper PAFs will be accepted by DRDA, effective Monday, August 3, 2009.

ELIMINATION OF DRDA DROP BOX

A related change will be the concurrent elimination of the DRDA Drop Box to upload final, completed Grants.gov packages to DRDA for submission.

The new eRPM PAF includes the capability of attaching thta final proposal or completing it within the system.

RESEARCH UNIT LIAISON & UNIT INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION

We have conferred with the Research Unit Liaisons on this timeline and they agree that the University is ready for this step. Many units already require eRPM use. Others are using the system, though its use has not been prescribed. Still others plan to retire use by July 1.

If you have general questions or comments about the transition, feel free to contact Cathy Handyside or me.

Jim Randolph

HELPFUL RESOURCES TO ASSIST WITH THE TRANSITION:
-- eRPM Training
<http://www.umich.edu/~eresinfo/erpm/training.html>
Job Aids we recommend that you print out to keep by your side when first starting to use the system:
-- PAF Creation/Completion
<http://www.umich.edu/~eresinfo/erpm/docs/Reference_Card_PropPrep.pdf>
-- Proposal Review Basics
<http://www.umich.edu/~eresinfo/erpm/docs/Reference%20Card_REV.pdf>

CONTACTS FOR QUESTIONS AND ASSISTANCE
For technical support (e.g., navigation, connectivity, and system
errors), contact the MAIS Help Desk:
-- Phone: 734-936-7000, option 6
-- E-mail: maishelpdesk@umich.edu
For questions about Unit Business Policy/Requirements, contact your
Research Unit Liaison.

For sponsor-specific or submission questions, contact your
-- DRDA Project Representative.
-- DRDA Information line: (734) 764-5500

From: James Randolph
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 10:43 AM
To: eRPM Info; Research ULs; Research ULs Alt