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.

07/27/2018 Update

posted Jul 26, 2018, 2:12 PM by Cynthia Sylvester

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

eSRA System updates implemented July 27, 2018:

Streamlining Optimizations: Details are available on the eSRA website

  • Global Navigation Lists: standardized terms on label, added or removed fields, added explanations about the contents of each tab, updated (if necessary) the states displayed on specific tabs

    • Awards

    • Proposals

    • Researcher Profile

    • Company Profile

  • Dashboard Templates for roles that do not have an Inbox list: added explanation and removed the icon for the empty inbox

    • RCO (Reports Coordination Office)

    • Security Administrator

    • SF424 Administrator

    • SF424 Grants Specialist

    • SF424 Reader

    • TCA (Technology Commercialization Associate)

  • Dashboard Templates for roles missing an Inbox:

    • Salary Cap

  • Activities for Contracts Officers

    • (proposal) Submit FAC Waiver

    • (proposal) Submit Proposal Package to DOE

    • (proposal) Submit Requested Changes to DOE

    • (modification) OCO Approve Modification

  • Modifications Relevant to RAs and PIs

    • No Cost Extenstion (modification View)

    • New PI approval activity specific to NIH (or NIH flow-thru) NCE Requests

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates:(since the last announcement, June 29, 2018)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

  • States in eSRA QR2006 (revised)

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

The eSRA Team


06/29/2018 Update

posted Jun 29, 2018, 7:04 AM by Cynthia Sylvester   [ updated Jun 29, 2018, 7:05 AM ]

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

eSRA System updates implemented June 29, 2018:

System Updates

  • New Functionality: When award is closed in eSRA, the proposal state will change to ‘Proposal Award Closed’ for all proposals linked to the award.

  • Updated the modification activity, ‘Request Approval for Non-Std Financial Terms’ so it is only available in the ‘CO Review Modification’ state.

  • Updated processes to bring the 737 Report in-synch with eSRA.

  • Updated proposal branching on fellowships and federal non-competing continuations.

  • Removed ‘Non Std Financial Terms Bridge (FasTrak)’ from the RA modification options.


CRADA Post Go-Live Improvements

  • Updated the notification on the ‘Request CRADA Final Report’ activity.


Streamlining Optimizations: Details are available on the eSRA website

  • Company Profiles

    • Updated the Workspace Tabs

    • Company Profile Activities

      • OCO Notes

      • Log Sponsor Administrator Comments

      • Cancel Request New Sponsor

      • Update Sponsor Data by CA

  • Proposal Activities

    • Approve Non-Compete for CO Review

    • Approve Non-Compete Fellowship for CO Review

    • Request Fellowship Changes from Proposal Team

    • Approve Tech Transfer

    • Request DOE Approval of Non-standard Negotiated Terms

    • Create Document for Manual Submission

  • Modifications Activities

    • Approve Modification (PI)

    • Request Changes (PI)

    • Request Changes (CO)

    • Reject Modification

    • Submit COI Approval

    • Submit Award Modification (NSFT Bridge Requests Only)

    • Take Ownership

    • Division Requests Changes

    • Submit Changes to Division

    • Discontinue Modification

    • Request DOE Approval of Non-Standard Negotiated Terms

    • DOE Request Changes

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

Supplemental Info by Topics page

  • NIH 2nd NCS QR5103 (new)

  • Type and Target QR2008 (revised document)

Curriculum for Contract Officers page

  • Hands-on Awards and Mods for COs updated for NSFT changes eSR5805 (replaces previous version)

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

The eSRA Team

05/28/2018 Update

posted May 29, 2018, 6:51 AM by Cynthia Sylvester

eSRA System updates implemented May 28, 2018:

System Updates

  • ‘Copy Proposal’ activity will no longer copy attachments.  

  • Calendar pop-up displays the full year.

  • Branching and workflow for DOE Office of Science proposals that are not submitted to the Office of Science Electronic System have been updated:

    • Branches to View 8.5 instead of 8.14

    • ‘Approve for DOE Submission - Not Office of Science Electronic System’ activity is available to the Division Reviewer.

    • ‘DOE Proposal Submitted’ activity is available to the RA.

  • The award type options in proposal View 9 will display the sub-set of options based on the proposal type.


CRADA Post Go-Live Improvements

  • Updated the language of the notification to the PI when the final report is requested to better reflect the URL links and processes at the Report Coordination Office (RCO).

  • Updated question 8.7.b ‘CRADA SOW (Appendix A to CRADA)’ by changing ‘Appendix’ to ‘Annex’ to differentiate it from the SPP proposal documents.


Streamlining Optimizations: Details are available on the eSRA website

  • Proposal Workspace

    • Updates to the tabs across the top of the proposal workspace.

    • Major re-organization of documents on the ‘Attachments’ tab

  • Proposal Activities

    • Supplement or Amendment Awarded

  • Award Activities

    • Submit Final CRADA Report to IPO

  • Modifications Activities

    • Submit to PI

    • All Bridge Request activities

  • Request New Sponsor button

  • Company Profiles

    • View 1.0 – Sponsor Identification

    • View 2.0 – Sponsor Location

    • View 3.0 – Sponsor Details

    • View 3.1 – DOE Details

    • View 4.0 – External Details

    • View 5.0 – Terms & Conditions

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates:(since the last announcement, April 30, 2018)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

  • Grant-Contract Closeout Process QR5492 (revised document)

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

04/30/2018 Update

posted May 1, 2018, 7:13 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 April 30, 2018:

System Updates

  • Fixed problems with ‘Copy Proposal’ activity incorrectly copying attachments and the related award reference.


Streamlining Optimizations: Details are available on the eSRA website

  • Proposals

    • Updated proposal type options:

      • SPP replaces Work for Others/Strategic Partnership Program

      • DOE National Labs replaces DOE National Laboratories (Integrated Contractors)

    • Updated help text on the final National & Homeland Security Question

    • View 7.0-PIN - Non-Federal Sponsors

    • View 7.0-PIN-F - Foreign Sponsors

  • Proposal Activities

    • ‘Proposal’ replaces  ‘Science’

      • ‘Confirm Science is Final’ is now ‘Confirm Proposal is Final’

      • ‘Set Science to Draft’ is now ‘Set Proposal to Draft’

      • ‘CO Set Science to Draft’ is now ‘CO Set Proposal to Draft’

    • Workflow Activities

      • ‘Submit to PI’ adds an informational notification

      • ‘Approve for CO Review’ is now ‘Division Approve for CO Review’

    • ‘Request DOE Eligibility Letter’

    • ‘Submit CRF to IACUC’ is now ‘Submit CRF to AWRC’

    • Request Info for Sponsor

    • Upload Sponsor Requested Information

    • Request NIH Other Support

    • Upload NIH OS As Requested

    • Requst Review by Proposal Team

    • Request NIH Upated F and A

    • Upload NIH Updated F and A

    • Validate Other Support

  • Awards

    • View 3.0 - Terms & Conditions

    • View 3.1 - Funding Cap

    • View 4.0 - Funding Allocations (and individual funding lines)

    • View 4.1 - Equipment Valuation

    • View 4.2 0 CRADA Funding and In-Kind (and individual funding lines)

  • Award Activities

    • Award Creation Activities

      • Contact Accounting Award Setup Review

    • Closeout Activities

      • Costs are Final

      • Request Close Out Checklist

      • Submit Close Out Checklist

      • Closeout Award

  • Modifications (Individual Views)

    • Approved Terms & Conditions (similar to the changes on the Award T&C View)

    • Funding Allocations (similar to the changes on the Award funding allocation View)

  • Workspaces

    • Proposal Workspace

    • Award Workspace

    • Modifiation Workspace

    • Company Profile Workspace

    • Researcher Profile Workspace

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates:(since the last announcement, March 30, 2018)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

  • National and Homeland Security Burden Agencies - QR2031 (new)

Forms page

  • PI_Closeout_Checklist_and_Delegation_of_Authority_Form (new)

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

The eSRA Team


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

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: 01-Streamlining Optimizations July 2017.pdf 02-Streamlining Optimizations August 7, 2017.pdf 03-Streamlining Optimizations August 22, 2017.pdf 04-Streamlining Optimizations October 2017.pdf 05-Streamlining Optimizations November 2017.pdf 06-Streamlining Optimizations February 2018.pdf 07-Streamlining Optimizations March 2018.pdf 08 - Streamlining Optimizations April 2018.pdf 09 - Streamlining Optimizations May 2018.pdf 10-Streamlining Optimizations June 2018.pdf 11-Streamlining Optimizations July 2018.pdf

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