e-Systems are designed for quick access to key online systems that help support faculty and staff in meeting the research mission of the university. The major e-Systems used in support of campus research are described and linked below, along with related online tools for effort reporting and accessing account data.

SmartGrant

SmartGrant is the software tool used to assist faculty and staff in creating proposal budgets, preparing and routing the Internal Processing Form (IPF) and the attached proposal, and submitting proposals electronically to the sponsor agency through Grants.gov as applicable. A UMass NetID and password is required to access the SmartGrant system.

Learn more about SmartGrant

OGCA Data Warehouse (JOL)

The OGCA Data Warehouse (formerly known as Jordan Online - JOL) is the UMass Amherst online database of proposals and awards information. With the Data Warehouse system, users can create customized reports based on specific criteria. A UMass NetID and password is required to access the Data Warehouse, please see SmartGrant section above regarding the process for obtaining a User Logon ID.

Learn more about the OGCA Data Warehouse (JOL)

e-Protocol

e-Protocol is an electronic system for submitting and monitoring the status of Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) protocols.  New users should review the process for establishing a login and gaining access to e-Protocol for either human subject research, animal use, or institutional biosafety.

e-Protocol / COI for conflict of interest supports online submission of conflict of interest disclosures.  Soon, all conflict of interest disclosures will have to be entered into the e-Protocol / COI system.

e-Protocol / IRB for human subjects research supports online submission, review, and management of human subject protocol information submitted to the IRB. All requests for approval of human subject research must be submitted electronically through the e-Protocol system.

e-Protocol / IACUC for animal use research supports online submission, review, and management of animal protocol information submitted to the IACUC. All requests for approval of animal use research must be submitted electronically through the e-Protocol system.

e-Protocol / IBC for institutional biosafety supports online submission, review, and management of institutional biosafety information submitted to the IBC.  All requests for approval of institutional biosafety must be submitted electronically through the e-Protocol system.

eShip Global

To ensure the proper shipment of regulated and export controlled materials the campus has adopted the shipping software tool, eShip Global.

This web-based application ensures that research material shipments are prepared in accordance with the most current dangerous goods regulations from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Learn more about eShip Global.

Sponsor-specific Systems

Sponsor-specific systems include electronic interface systems created and maintained by external sponsors. They may be federal, state, or private and include, for example, Grants.gov, Research.gov, eCommons, Fastlane and nSpires.

Grants.gov includes all discretionary grants offered by the 26 federal grant-making agencies.

NSF Fastlane UMASS Amherst is a registered NSF Fastlane user. Fastlane enables institutions to electronically submit proposals, rebudget requests, time extensions, final reports, and do other administrative grant activities.

To submit through Fastlane, the PI must have a Fastlane account. Additionally, all Co-PI’s and other senior personnel must be registered in Fastlane.

To become registered in Fastlane, please provide the following information:
• First & Last Name of PI
• UMass email address
• UMass department phone number
• UMass department fax number
• Highest conferred degree
• Discipline of highest conferred degree
• Year highest degree conferred

All employees in the College of Natural Sciences should send the Fastlane information to Mary Santos at mary.santos@umass.edu

All other colleges should send the Fastlane information to Kim Lowney at lowney@research.umass.edu

The NSF ID, user name and temporary password will be sent to the UMass email address provided.
You may contact your OGCA administrator (Mary or Kim) for general instructions applicable to UMass procedures.

For more information on how to use the system and process your proposal see Fastlane at UMass.

Online Tools for Effort Reporting and Account Data 

ECRT (Effort Reporting) is a way of certifying effort on federal grants that is tied to the UMass payroll system. It is a certification process designed to help faculty and staff comply with University's effort reporting policies, federal policies and other relevant agency policies which govern the need to provide certification of an individual's effort on funded projects. 

Summit is a web-based tool used by UMass that delivers PeopleSoft financial data in user friendly customized graphs and tables, allowing access to financial data for accounts at both summary and detail levels.