Announcements

eSRA posts updates to the system here and maintains them on this site for about six months.  If you need access to prior announcements, contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov and the eSRA Functional Lead will retrieve them for you.

03/30/2018 Update

posted Mar 30, 2018, 6:58 AM by Cynthia Sylvester

Please remember to clear the cache on your browser to obtain the best operations for system updates.

eSRA System updates implemented March 30, 2018:

System Updates

  • Fixed branching problem for Master Agreements on CRADA awards


Streamlining Optimizations: Details are available on the eSRA website

  • Proposals

    • View 2 – LBNL Standard General Information

    • View 9.1.G – Upload Subaward Budgets

    • View 9.2 – Proposal Data Entry (for Grants.gov only)

    • View 9.3 – LBNL Budget Summary Info

    • View 9.3.C – Budget Summary Info – Direct Data Entry

    • 9.3.G – LBNL Gift Budget Summary

    • 9.3.GE – LBNL Equipment Gift Budget Summary

    • 9.3.R – CRADA Budget Summary

    • 9.3.U – Unfunded CRADA Reporting Information

  • Proposal Activities

    • Contract Accounting Activities

      • Accept Over Salary Cap (

      • Issue CO Approval

      • Reopen Negotiations

      • Submitted to Grants.gov

    • Resource Analyst Activities

      • Request Over Salary Cap Approval

    • Indirect Budget Group Activities

      • Approve Fellowship IDC Waiver

  • Awards

    • View 1.0 – Award

    • View 2.0 – Funding Proposals

  • Award Activities

    • Related to Deliverables

      • Add Deliverables Template

      • Complete Deliverable

      • Update Individual Deliverable

    • Contract Officer Activities

      • Set Award Relationships

      • Award Preparation Complete

      • Reassign CO

    • Contract Accounting Activities

      • CA Closeout

      • Contract Accounting Requesting Changes

    • Other Miscellaneous Activities

      • Send to Archive

  • Modifications (Individual Views)

    • View 1.2 Award Modification (for Contract Accounting)

    • Advance Type Changes (for COs only)

    • Carryover Award

    • Completed

    • Modification Complete (for COs only)

    • Other CO Administrative Changes (for COs only)

    • PoP Request New Start Date (for COs only)

    • Request to End Early

    • Transfer Out, Relinquishment

    • Carryover Budget Period

    • Other Administrative Changes

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates:(since the last announcement, February 28, 2018)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

  • Application Types QR2009 (new)

  • Award Types QR2024 (new)

  • CRADA Desk Guide for eSRA (updated to reflect name change for tGr8fu!!sprIThe CRADA SOW document)

  • Grants.gov to DOE QR6910 (updated)

Forms page

  • CRADA_SOW_Template_Annex_A  (replaces CRADA SOW Template - minor changed in the heading)

  • SPP_SOW_Template_Appendix_A  (newly posted on eSRA website)

If you have questions or concerns, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov

02/28/2018 Update

posted Mar 1, 2018, 7:55 AM by Cynthia Sylvester

eSRA System updates implemented February 28, 2018:

Enhancements & System Design Fixes

  • CRADA Amendment Processes added in eSRA:  (CRADA Desk Guide reflects the changes.)

    • Updated View 8.7 to include uploading CRADA Amendment documents

    • New activity for Contracts Officers to Upload the Amendment Document instead of a signed JWS.

    • New activity for Contracts Officers to Submit CRADA Amendment to BSO.

  • Added three new options to the NSFT process:

    • Spend in California requirements

    • California Based Entity requirements

    • Maximum Billing Rates restrictions

  • Updated Word Merge Letter documents

    • DOE Eligibility Letter (to correctly include the FOA references)

    • Homeland Security (removed obsolete URL)

    • NIH Late Submission Transmittal Letter (minor changes)

    • CEC Direct Word Merge (minor changes)


Streamlining Optimizations: Details are available on the eSRA website

  • Modification changes:

    • CO now has full list of modifications types available and no longer needs to use ‘Create Modification Request’ to use the division’s set of modification types.

    • First page of modifications (for all roles) has additional help text

  • For Gifts:

    • View 8.6 – Upload Gift Documents

    • View 7.1.M – Gifts DOE Info

    • View 7.1.ME – Equipment Gift Info

    • Enter Basic Equipment Info

    • Enter Basic Gift Info

    • Notified UCOP

  • General Activities (used in Proposals, Awards, and Modifications)

    • Email Proposal/Award Team

    • Log General or CO Comment

    • Edit RAs or TAs

    • Merge Word Documents

    • Re-assign CO or CO Reviewer

  • Proposal Activities:

    • New: Upload Additional Internal Documents

    • Submit to PI

    • Approve Fabrication Rate

    • For Fellowships:

      • Approvals by the Fellow and Mentor

      • Request Fellowship IDC Waiver

    • Proposal Processing by the CO

      • Enter Negotiations

      • Negotiations Complete

    • Processing Proposals not Awarded:

      • Discontinue Proposal

      • Submission Rejected

      • Withdrawn

      • Reinstate Proposal

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates:(since the last announcement, November 17, 2017)

  • Special Announcement: 1/16/18 SF424 System Upgrade for NIH Adobe Forms E

  • Special Announcement: 1/16/18 System Upgrade

Supplemental Info by Topics page

  • CRADA Desk Guide: (updated)

    • new information about CRADA Amendments

    • updated Table of Contents removing blank pages

  • DOE Eligibility Letter V4 (updated from V3) explaining the importance and reason for these required letters.

  • PI Change Desk Guide for eSRA (updated page 4)

    • Added information about PI Changes on Gifts

  • Upload Subaward Budgets for Grants.gov Application QR5014 (updated)

    • Revised based on new functionality included in the January SF424 system upgrade.

  • Various Sponsors QR2053 (updated)

    • Added info: What do I do if the proposal has been submitted to the sponsor and is no longer editable?

Forms page

  • 700_U_2017_2018_Form.pdf (replaces the 2016-2017 Word Merge form that was removed)

  • eSRA_Equipment_Gift_Approval_Form_for_co-PIs (updated)

  • eSRA_Gift_Approval_Form_for_co-PIs (updated)

  • Request for Shared Cost Support form (new)

FAQ page

  • Updated the Grants.gov section

    • New section for Grants.gov Changes – November 2017 including several FAQs related to the changes implemented by Grants.gov

    • New section for collaborating with agencies submitting using Grants.gov Workspace

    • Reviewed all FAQs based on the recent updates to Grants.gov and NIH Adobe E forms, and updated where needed.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov

01/16/2018 SF424 System Upgrade for NIH Adobe Forms E

posted Jan 15, 2018, 7:08 AM by Cynthia Sylvester

The January 2018 eSRA upgrade to the underlying software application incorporates an upgrade to the SF424 module supporting the new NIH Adobe Forms E and customizations for the NIH Grants.gov upload Views 8.0 (for R01, R21, and other NIH Grants.gov proposals) and 8.3 (for fellowships).   

The attached document highlights the changes to the look and feel you will experience for the NIH Grants.gov proposals now using Adobe Forms E.  See the announcement eSRA Upgrade January 2018 for changes to the general eSRA software.

If you experience any problems, or receive unexpected error messages related to Adobe Forms E funding opportunities, contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov immediately so we can assist you and minimize your time and frustration.

| Attachments: eSRA SF424 Upgrade January 2018.pdf

01/16/2018 System Upgrade

posted Jan 15, 2018, 7:04 AM by Cynthia Sylvester   [ updated Jan 15, 2018, 7:10 AM ]

The January 2018 eSRA upgrade is to the underlying software application, not the LBNL customizations.  This is required to keep current with the software and vendor support.  We also upgraded the SF424 module to accommodate the new NIH Forms E for Grants.gov submissions.

The attached document highlights the changes to the look and feel you will experience.  Basic functionality for most of eSRA remains the same.  See the announcement eSRA SF424 Upgrade January 2018 for changes you can expect for the NIH Grants.gov Forms E functionality.

| Attachments: eSRA Upgrade January 2018.pdf

11/17/2017 Update

posted Nov 17, 2017, 7:34 AM by Cynthia Sylvester

Please remember to clear the cache on your browser to obtain the best operations for system updates.

eSRA System updates implemented November 17, 2017:

Streamlining Optimizations: Details are available on the eSRA website

  • Views 6.0 – 6.4 – sponsor details for Grants.gov proposals
  • View 7.2 – NEPA-CEQA
  • View 9.A – PoP & Budgets
  • View 9.3.N – Non-Compete Single Year
  • PI Approval activities
  • Request Changes from Proposal Team activities

eSRA.lbl.gov Website Updates: (since the last announcement, October 16, 2017)

Forms page

  • eSRA Equipment Gift Approval From for Change of PI (updated)
  • eSRA Equipment Gift Approval From for co-PIs (new)
  • eSRA Gift Approval From for Change of PI (updated)
  • eSRA Gift Approval From for co-PIs (new)

If you have questions or concerns, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov

10/17/2017 Update

posted Oct 16, 2017, 6:52 AM by Cynthia Sylvester

Please remember to clear the cache on your browser to obtain the best operations for system updates.

eSRA System updates implemented October 16, 2017:

Streamlining Optimizations: Details are available on the eSRA website

  • View 3.0 – Funding Opportunity and Proposal Submission
  • View 3.1 – Grants.gov Proposal Forms
  • View 3.4 – Sponsor & Funding Opportunity
  • View 3.H – Sponsor & Funding Opportunity (not Grants.gov)
  • 3.K – Sponsor Only
  • 3.N – DOE Direct, not Grants.gov
  • 6.8 –Non-Federal Proposals
  • View 8.5 – Proposal Documents
  • View 9.3 – Budget Summary Information (all versions of 9.3)
  • User Facility-specific Optimizations
  • MLA/ILA-specific Optimizations

System Design and Bug Fixes

  • Related B&R Code 830404000 - Liabilities is only available for MLA/ILA proposals
  • Updating Post Award RA in eSRA will not update FMS
  • Fixed problem with Grants.gov subaward values clearing when using the activity 'Update SF424.'
  • Updated the Disclosure of Intellectual Property Form to correct the UCOP website reference for DOE-Direct proposals.
  • Related to Gifts
    • Updated the language on the Gift Approval Form in the following locations:
      • PI Approval activity
      • Gift Approval Form created by eSRA when the Division accepts the Gift
      • Gift Form posted on the eSRA website (for use with PI Change Modifications)
    • Updated the Directorate Word Merge Letters

eSRA.lbl.gov Website Updates: (since the last announcement, August 7, 2017)

Supplemental Topics page

  • Create Document for Manual Submission QR5005 (new)
  • Gifts Desk Guide - updated with page #s noted:
    • Clarification added about 700-U requirements for original signatures (page 6)
    • 700-U and UDev 100 Merge files now available (page 6)
    • Updated to reflect 'New' is acceptable answers to question 2.d (page 7)
    • Updates to the Interest Allocation Process (page 29)
    • Clarification added to Costs are Final for Gifts (page 30)
    • Updates to Gift Closeout Process (pages 31-32)
  • Sponsor Reference Number Desk Guide (moved to the Curriculum By Role - Contracts Office page)

Forms page

  • CRADA COI Form Word Merge Version (new)
  • 700-U 2016-2017 WordMerge (new)
  • LBNL UDEV100 WordMerge (new)
  • eSRA_Gift_Approval_Form used for PI Changes on Gifts (updated)

If you have questions or concerns, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov

eSRA Training Environment

posted Aug 9, 2017, 6:59 AM by Cynthia Sylvester

The eSRA Training environment access portal has changed which some of you use for practice or to capture and send screen shots to others that you work with.  If you need access, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov for the new URL.

Streamlining Updates

posted Jul 14, 2017, 7:27 AM by Cynthia Sylvester   [ updated Aug 4, 2017, 1:29 PM ]

The eSRA Streamlining Project is performing a thorough review of eSRA Views, Activities, and Workspaces to address problems resulting from the phased implementation of eSRA including:
• The terms RAPID, OSPIP, and LOB will be removed from questions and help text.
• New technology will utilize conditional display of questions to improve experiences between proposals types and lines of business.  This will result in questions being hidden that are not needed based on answers to questions on prior Views in the proposal.
• We will improve help text by including links to reference documents centralized on the eSRA Informational website where appropriate.
• We will clarify questions and help text for nuanced differences between proposal types and lines of business. 
• We will implement standardized use of terms, (e.g Direct and Prime Sponsor).
The attached documents itemize the optimizations included with each Production Release

| Attachments: 1-Streamlining Optimizations July 2017.pdf 2-Streamlining Optimizations August 7, 2017.pdf 3-Streamlining Optimizations August 22, 2017.pdf 4-Streamlining Optimizations October 2017.pdf 5-Streamlining Optimizations November 2017.pdf 6-Streamlining Optimizations February 2018.pdf 7-Streamlining Optimizations March 2018.pdf

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