Dear eSRA Users,

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

eSRA System updates implemented June 25, 2021:

System Upgrades

• The SF424 environment updated to accommodate the upcoming change from using DUNS# to using Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)  [Actual use of the UEI scheduled for spring 2022

Proposal Enhancements 

• View 8.7 (for CRADAs) changed to move some of the language about the Annex A to CRADA document from the field label to the help text.

• View 8.5 (for SPP only) updated to include a separate field for the Statement of Work including a naming convention requested by BASO.

• Proposal activity: Create Document for Manual Submission discontinued

• Updated the SPO request to DOE for Foreign Review to automatically include the Statement of Work document from View 8.7 or 8.5

If you have questions about the system changes, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov 

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates: (since the last announcement, May 21, 2021)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

• Alternate PI Approval Process - QR5101 (Updated)
  Option #1: clarification that VPN is now an option not a requirement.
  Option #4: clarification about who can be a delegate to approve on behalf of the PI.

• BASO Desk Guide for eSRA (New) 

• To provide BASO staff with a comprehensive single Desk Guide for their roles, responsibilities, and activities in eSRA.

• We are moving the BASO review and approval details from the individual desk guides into this Desk Guide (with links provided to the new Desk Guide) so there is a single location to update whenever changes are made to the BASO review and approval processes.

• CRADA Desk Guide (Updated) 

• Removed Proposal RA from CRADA COI Disclosure requirement

• Added alphabetical list of activities for proposals and awards

• Added hyperlinks within the Desk Guide and to outside documents for better reference.

• Incorporated full guidance for Non-Standard Financial Terms

• Updated statement about LBNL Firewall and VPN

• Updated label and guidance for SOW question on View 8.7 (for this month’s enhancement)

• Request for Foreign Review by BASO automatically sends the SOW from View 8.7

• Clarified the final report deliverables are set-up by the SPO Administrator, not the CO 

• Moved BASO approval details to separate BASO Desk Guide

• Frequently Needed Proposal Information (Updated for the UEI) This document is also available on the SPO website.

• Grants.gov Proposal Desk Guide (Updated)

• Information about UEI

• Added section related to Generating the PDF version of the Grants.gov application

• Updated statement about LBNL Firewall options and VPN

• Added references to the BASO Desk Guide for eSRA

• Grants.gov Zoom Q&A - June 2021 (New)  PowerPoint slides from Zoom presentation

• National and Homeland Security Burden Agencies QR2031 (Updated)

• SPP Federal Proposal Desk Guide (Updated)

• New Field on View 8.5 for Statement of Work (SOW)

• Updated statement about LBNL Firewall options and VPN.

• Moved BASO review & approval details to separate BASO Desk Guide for eSRA

• Removed Create Document for Manual Submission – this activity will no longer work now that the SOW is uploaded in a separate field

• SPP Flow-Thru Proposal Desk Guide (Updated)

• New Field on View 8.5 for Statement of Work (SOW)

• Updated statement about LBNL Firewall options and VPN.

• Removed Create Document for Manual Submission – this activity will no longer work now that the SOW is uploaded in a separate field

• Added special note about SBIR/STTR proposals for View 9.3.C

• SPP Non-Federal Proposal Desk Guide (Updated)

• New Field on View 8.5 for Statement of Work (SOW)

• Updated statement about LBNL Firewall options and VPN.

• Moved BASO review & approval details to separate BASO Desk Guide for eSRA

• Removed Create Document for Manual Submission – this activity will no longer work now that the SOW is uploaded in a separate field

• SPP Supplements, Amendments, & Non-Competing Continuations (Updated)

• New Field on View 8.5 for Statement of Work (SOW)

• Updated statement about LBNL Firewall options and VPN.

• Moved BASO review & approval details to separate BASO Desk Guide for eSRA

• Removed Create Document for Manual Submission – this activity will no longer work now that the SOW is uploaded in a separate field

Forms Page

• Proposal Word Merge Master List (Updated) - added more fields 

If you have questions or concerns about documentation, please contact clsylvester@lbl.gov 

The eSRA Team

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

eSRA System updates implemented May 21, 2021:

Grants.gov Improvements

• DOE ‘Proposal for Additional Funding’ correctly identifies ‘Renewal’ in the Grants.gov application.   Grants.gov Proposal Desk Guide updated to reflect this change.

If you have questions about the system changes, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov 

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates: (since the last announcement, April 9, 2021)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

• Grants.gov Proposal Desk Guide (Updated to incorporate DOE renewal proposals)

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

• PI Change Desk Guide (Updated) to provide additional clarification regarding the new PI’s approval.

• SPP Supplements, Amendments, and Non-Competing Continuations Desk Guide (New)

• VPN Access - QR2017 (Updated) to provide alternate ways to access eSRA including VPN

The following documents have been removed from the website after incorporating the content into Desk Guides or because they have become obsolete:

• Branching Questions

• Copying Proposals - QR2012

• Division Budgets - QR6020

• ECRP Proposals - QR6914

• Email for Help - QR2022

• Email from eSRA to Central Office - QR2023

• Email team and individuals in eSRA - QR2021

• Ergonomic Tips - QR2005

• Getting Started - QR2018

• How to Find Documents in eSRA (PowerPoint)

• LBNL Subaward on Grants.gov Application - QR5013

• Managing email from eSRA - QR2016

• NIH 2nd NCE - QR5103

• Navigation Tips - Printing History (PowerPoint)

• Non-Competing Continuations, Supplements, and Amendments (PowerPoint)

• Portal 9 Look and Feel QR2019

• Project Purpose - QR2027

• Submission Methods - QR2026

• Types and Targets - QR2008

• Updating RAs in eSRA - QR5280

• Uploading Documents - QR2014

• Validation Messages (PowerPoint)

The following form was removed from the website because it is obsolete and eSRA is not the official source for this document:

• 700-U

If you have questions or concerns about documentation, please contact clsylvester@lbl.gov 

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

eSRA System updates implemented April 9, 2021:

Grants.gov Improvements

• For DOE Grants.gov Proposals:

• Total Costs from View 9.3.F will display on the proposal’s summary page

• Total Costs from View 9.3.F will be moved to the Grants.gov Application on the SF424 (R&R) page, in the Estimated Project Funding section. 

• For DOD Grants.gov Proposals:

• View 6.1 updated to replace references to the CDMRP system with eBRAP 

General Proposal Improvements

• Several automated email notifications during proposal preparation and routing have been updated to remove the Post Award RAs.  Being copied on these notifications was a design miss we corrected with input from RAs.  Post Award RAs will still receive notifications for NSFTs and moving forward in negotiations.

Award Modification Improvements

• ‘CO Modification Approved’ activity will not be available if NSFTs requests are still in progress.

If you have questions about the system changes, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov 

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates: (since the last announcement, March 30, 2021)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

• Grants.gov Desk Guide (Updated section related to Change/Corrected Applications)

• SPP Flow-Thru Proposal Desk Guide (New)

• DOE Proposals When Berkeley Lab is a Subaward (Updated)

If you have questions or concerns about documentation, please contact clsylvester@lbl.gov 

Dear eSRA Users,

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

eSRA System updates implemented March 30, 2021:

Division Reviewer Changes

• All proposal Division Approval activities are updated to add instructions related to Countries of Risk.  One of the statements below is included just above the ‘Comment’s section:

• For non-DOE Proposals:  Is the direct sponsor or prime sponsor from a Country of Risk?  If the answer is ‘yes,’ add an assertion statement in the ‘Comments’ boxt that the work has been reviewed against the S&T Matrix.  These is no need to provide any additional information beyond the assertion statement and do not upload the S&T Matrix into eSRA.  If the answer is ‘no,’ no lead organization, no action is required.

• For DOE Direct: Is the lead organization, if any, from a Country of Risk?  If the answer is ‘yes,’ add an assertion statement in the ‘Comments’ box that the work has been reviewed against the S&T Matrix.  These is no need to provide any additional information beyond the assertion statement and do not upload the S&T Matrix into eSRA.  If the answer is ‘no’ or there is no lead organization, no action is required.

If you have questions about the system changes, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov 

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates: (since the last announcement, February 26, 2021)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

• Grants.gov Proposal Desk Guide (new) for SPP and DOE Grants.gov proposals

• CRADA Desk Guide (Updated to include change in the Close-out Process, and to add Division Requirement re: County of Risk)

• DOE Direct Proposal Desk Guide (Updated to add Division Requirement re: County of Risk)

• NNSA Proposal Desk Guide (Updated to add Division Requirement re: County of Risk)

• SPP Federal Proposal Desk Guide (Updated to add Division Requirement re: County of Risk)

• SPP Non-Federal Proposal Desk Guide (Updated to add Division Requirement re: County of Risk)

• Re-posted all Desk Guides to better enable hyperlinks within the PDF documents.

• ARPA-e Applications QR6911 (temporary update with notice that new guidance is being written)

The following documents have been removed from the website after incorporating the content into a Desk Guide:

Incorporated into the Grants.gov Proposal Desk Guide:

• Direct Access to Grants.gov Applications QR5012

• Upload Subaward Budgets for Grants.gov Application QR2014

Incorporated into the SPP Federal and Non-Federal Desk Guides

• Change Institutional Approvals when Not Required QR5601

• Revised Budgets - QR5201

If you have questions or concerns about documentation, please contact clsylvester@lbl.gov 

The eSRA Team

eSRA System updates implemented February 26, 2021:

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

General SPP and CRADA Improvements

• In response to new DOE mandate, updated the CRADA Closeout process: 

• Enabling Yeen to utilizing Deliverables to request the Final CRADA Report before the award expiration date. 

• Enabling a variety of CRADA closeout activities in additional states to complete the Final CRADA Report processes.

• Added notifications to Yeen for new CRADA awards and modifications to assist with creating and updating the CRADA Closeout Deliverables.

• Updated the notifications requesting the PI complete and submit a CRF to link to the Human Subjects and Animal Use Desk Guide for detailed information.

• Updated the notifications when Export Control is approved to only send email to BASO if Export Control was required because of a foreign sponsor.

If you have questions about the system changes, please contact eSRAHelp@lbl.gov 

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates: (since the last announcement, January 29, 2021)

Forms page

• Non-DOE Fellowship Indirect Rate Exemption (updated with Indirect Group email address)

Supplemental Info by Topics page

• Export Control - Guidance for PIs - Update to include updated Questionnaire provide by the Export Control Office and link to the Export Control Desk Guide

• Export Control Desk Guide (New) Entire Export Control Process

• Human Subjects and Animal Use Desk Guide - Update to include recommendation from SPO Managers to include a deliverable when IRB or AWRC protocol has a delayed start

• PI role in eSRA - QR2029 - updated with new screen shots

• Researcher Profile - QR2021 - updated with new screen shots and info about DOE Grants.gov requirements

• SPP Federal Proposal Desk Guide (New) 

• SPP Non-Federal Proposal Desk Guide - Updated to add the following:

• Info about Animal form when CO sends proposal to BASO

• Update to include all activities that might be used plus alphabetical listing in the Reference section.  

• Special proposal type section for fellowship proposals

• Links to the Human Subjects and Animal Use Desk Guide, Export Control Desk Guide, and Export Control - Guidance for PIs.

• Links to the eLearning modules posted January 1st.

• Added information about how to email help desk.

Curriculum for Principal Investigators page

• Added link to the Human Subjects and Animal Use Desk Guide 

• Added link to the Export Control Desk Guide 

• Added link to the Export Control - Guidance for PIs 

The following documents have been removed from the website after incorporating the content into a Desk Guide or other training process:

Incorporated into Export Control - Guidance for PIs:

• Export Controls Questionnaire - QR5106

• Export Controls PI Acknowledgement - QR5105

If you have questions or concerns about documentation, please contact clsylvester@lbl.gov 

eSRA System updates implemented January 29, 2021:

There were no system updates this month, but we’ve made substantial updates to the eLearning system and the eSRA informational Website.

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eLearning Modules published Jan 1, 2021 on the Lab’s Training Website

eSRA 2001 Navigation Basics~ 20 minutes (update for the Portal 9 look & feel and navigation changes)

eSRA 6900 DOE Funding and eSRA ~ 20 minutes (incorporates DOE Project Creation)

eSRA 9000 Proposal Development Overview ~ 30 minutes (new)

eSRA 9300 Overview of Awards ~ 15minutes (new)

eSRA 9390 Bridge Funding Overview ~ 10 minutes (new)

eSRA 9400 Award Modification ~ 15 minutes (new)

All prior eLearning modules have been discontinued.  If you have questions about any of the discontinued courses, please contact Cynthia Sylvester at clsylvester@lbl.gov or by phone at 510-486-5938

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Informational Website (eSRA.lbl.gov) Updates: (since the last announcement, December 11, 2020)

Forms page

• Add FP # to the following forms:

• PI Proposal Authorization and Delegation Form

• PI Proposal Authorization and Delegation Form NIH

Supplemental Info by Topics page

• CRADA Desk Guide - Updated to add BASO clarification about required institutional approvals on page 8; and information about Export Control review on several pages 

• Human Subjects and Animal Research Desk Guide - New

• Master Agreements and Task Order Desk Guide - Updated to fix page #s on Table of Contents

The following documents have been removed from the website after incorporating the content into a Desk Guide or other training process:

Incorporated into SPP Awards Desk Guide:

• Award Notifications QR 5301

• Change CO on Proposals & Awards QR5510

• Deliverables QR5325 

• eSRA High Level Workflow 

• Financial Closeout Process for CA QR5493 

• Financial Closeout for RA QR5491 

• Grant-Contract Closeout Process QR5492 

• Navigation tips - Linked Awards (PowerPoint)

Incorporated into SPP Award Modifications Desk Guide:

• Award Modifications - Overview for Divisions (PowerPoint course 5400)

• Bridge Requests QR5410

• Modifications Types

• Re-Budget Modification eSR5425

Incorporated in SPP Non-Federal Proposal Desk Guide:

• Change CO on Proposals & Awards QR5510

• Create Document for Manual Submission QR5005

• Merge Word Document QR2025

• PI Review and Approval QR5102

• Request New Sponsor QR2051 (and also in Sponsor Desk Guide)

Incorporated into CRADA Desk Guide:

• CRADA Proposals for RAs QR6710

Incorporated into Gifts Desk Guide:

• Gifts Overveiw eSRA 6802 Tutorial

• Gifts for the RA Role eSRA 6803 Tutorial

Incorporated into Human Subjects & Animal Research Desk Guide:

• Human and Animal Certifications for HARC Staff (PowerPoint course 5605)

• Human and Animal Certifications for RAs (PowerPoint course 5260) 

• PI IACUC CRF Approval QR5263

• PI IRB Approval QR5264

Incorporated into DOE Direct Annual Budget Formulation Desk Guide & the Annual Budget Kick-off meeting:

• DOE Project Creation 2019 

Incorporated into eLearning modules

• eSRA and COGNOS

• Report Section for Resource Analysts 

Curriculum for Contracts Officers page:  

• Removed obsolete eLearning Modules:

• 5300 - Overview of Awards in eSRA (replaced with 9300 - Overview of Awards)

• 5390 - Bridge Funding Request Process (replaced with 9390 - Bridge Funding Overview)

• 5730 - Non-Standard Financial Terms (incorporated into SPP Awards Desk Guide)

• 6300 - Basic Functionality for User Agreements (obsolete - will provide individual training as needed)

• 6600 - Basic Functionality for M&O Contractors (obsolete - will provide individual training as needed)

• Added new eLearning modules and included direct link to the training modules

• 2001 - eSRA Navigation Basics (course updated January 2021)

• 9000 - Proposal Development Overview

• 9300 - Overview of Awards

• 9390 - Bridge Funding Overview

• 9400 - Award Modifications

• Removed other Documents 

• 5670 - CO Humans and Animals (incorporated into Human Subjects and Animal Research Desk Guide)

• 5935 - CO Human & Animal Certifications on Mods (incorporated into Human Subjects and Animal Research Desk Guide)

• 5902 - Modification Types (incorporated in the SPP Award Modifications Desk Guide)

• 6307 - CRADA Closeouts for IPO (incorporated in the CRADA Desk Guide)

• 6702 - CRADAs for Contracts Officers

• Sponsor Reference Number Desk Guide (incorporated in the SPP Awards Desk Guide)

Curriculum for Principal Investigators page:

We did a complete update to include links to all the eLearning modules, information about the Desk Guides, how to get the PI role in eSRA, and instructions about how to get help.

Curriculum for Resource Analysts page:

We did a complete update to include links to all the eLearning modules, information about the eSRA Training Strategy, a link to the OCFO Intranet resources for Resource Analysts, and instructions about how to get help.  

• Removed the following Documents:

• 5260 - Human & Animal Certifications for Resource Analysts (incorporated into Human Subjects and Animal Research Desk Guide)

• 6701 - CRADAs for Resource Analysts (incorporated into the CRADA Desk Guide)

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