National Science Foundation Implementation of FastLane Reporting  

Beginning in October, 1998, the NSF requires Principal Investigators (PIs) to use the new reporting format for annual and final project reports. These reports should be submitted electronically using FastLane.

The National Science Foundation is under increasing requirements, most notably those of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993, to demonstrate what has resulted from NSF programs. As you may already know, the NSF has developed a system called FastLane that utilizes Web technology to receive and to process proposal and award material electronically. Information concerning this system is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov or click Fast Lane.

Access to the FastLane system is given by an authorized administrator in the Office of Research who assigns a 4-digit PIN number to the PI or Co-PI. No one other than the PI or Co-PI on a NSF-supported project may enter information into a project report unless authorized by the PI.

PIs must submit reports electronically via FastLane. This electronic submission procedure became mandatory in October, 1999. Please note that the annual progress report form (#1328) and final progress report form (#98A) have been eliminated and there have been several reported instances of an old form being returned.

For those who cannot access FastLane, paper copies of the new report formats can be obtained at no cost from the NSF Clearinghouse, PO Box 218, Jessup, Maryland 20794-0218. The telephone number there is (301) 947-2722 or via email.

Questions regarding the content or programmatic procedures of FastLane should be addressed to Mr. Joe Burt, the NSF coordinator responsible for design and implementation of this new NSF project reporting system. Simply email your questions and concerns to Joe here.

Participants:
• Who has been involved?
• What people have worked on the project?
• What other organizations have been involved as partners?
• Have you had other collaborators or contacts?

Activities and Findings:
• What have you done? What have you learned?
• What were your major research activities?
• What are your major research findings?
• What research training has the project helped provide?
• What other educational and outreach activities have you
   undertaken?

Products:
• What has the project produced?
• What have you published as a result of this work?
• Major Journal Publications
• Books and other one-time publications?
• What Web site(s) or other Internet site(s) reflect this project?
• What other specific products have you developed?

Contributions:
• How has the project contributed?
• To the development of your own discipline(s)
• To other disciplines of science or engineering?
• To education and development of human resources?
• To physical, institutional, and information resources for
   science and technology?
• To the public welfare beyond science and engineering?