NSF FastLane

All Proposals and reports to the National Science foundation must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system.  

The following functions are currently available to investigators and their administrative staff via FastLane:

Electronic Proposal Preparation and Submission

Proposal Status Inquiry

Continuation Funding Status

Project Report System

Notifications & Requests - Progress Reports - no cost extensions

Go to NSF Fastlane

Goals and Purpose of FastLane

FastLane is an experimental program using advanced information technology to explore methods to re-design and streamline the way NSF does business with the research and education communities. Doing business with NSF will be simpler, faster, more accurate, and less expensive.

FastLane is currently being reviewed by other federal agencies to help design a common interface to the government. New systems being considered include a federal-wide proposal status inquiry system and a universal organizational profile system (eliminating the need to submit such data as campus address, tax ID's audit information, indirect cost rates, certifications, etc., with each proposal.)

Using FastLane
Obtaining a Password

Passwords are required to provide access to proposal preparation, submission and review status. Investigators who wish to use FastLane should contact the Research Office to be added to the FastLane user database and receive a preliminary password. Users will be prompted to change the password when they login.  Contact Linda Osterman to obtain access to Fastlane.  This process can, in most cases, be activated the same day and may be requested via phone call or via email, but the request must come directly from the investigator. For security reasons, requests via graduate students or administrative staff cannot be honored.  The investigator may request that departmental staff or others in their laboratory be added to the user database. This decision is at the discretion of the individual investigator.

If you forget your Password contact Linda Osterman at (307) 766-5320.

Electronic Proposal Preparation and Submission

You may prepare your entire proposal electronically, using FastLane. You and your staff may complete all the NSF forms online, save the forms for revision, and then submit the completed proposal electronically for the Research Office to review, approve and transmit to NSF. See FastLane instructions. Scientific text must be prepared in a program that can be converted to a PDF file.  See FastLane PDF instructions.

To eliminate redundant data entry, proposals may be saved as templates for future proposals.

Contact Linda Osterman in the Research Office at 766-5320 for further information on how to proceed with an electronic submission.

Proposal Status Inquiry

After a proposal is logged in at NSF the status of that proposal will be available through FastLane.

Information is updated nightly as the proposal is routed through the review process. The exception to this is declination of proposals; information about declined proposals is deferred to permit a PI to receive oral or written notification directly from NSF.

To Check The Status Of A Proposal

 

1.Access NSF's FastLane Web Page http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.htm

2.Click on the Proposal Status icon

3.Enter the following information: The NSF - assigned proposal number, minus the directorate designation (e.g., DCM 95-12345 becomes 9512345) PI (or any Co-PI) Last Name PI (or any Co- PI) Password

4.A screen will appear that includes the following information: Date Received by NSF Proposal Number, Title, PI and Institution NSF Division and Program NSF Program Officer Name, Phone and Email The Status of the Proposal Status Date (last update date) Provide information on overdue reports and other factors that might delay the proposal process

Additional Information on other FastLane features is available at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a0/about/features.htm