Training and Reference Materials


Training Courses

eRPM Proposal Approval Form (PAF) - eLearning Course
Online course that demonstrates how to create a Proposal Approval Form (PAF) in the eResearch Proposal Management system (eRPM). The PAF records the U-M review of and approvals for a project proposal. This course is a pre-requisite for the eRPM instructor-led course. Click here to access the course in My LINC. In My LINC click Register, then click Submit, then click Start.

eRPM Proposal Preparation and Unit Review - Instructor-led Class
Hands-on session that covers the process of preparing and submitting proposals using the eRPM, including Grants.gov. In this course, you will:

  • Review the steps to create and edit a PAF (proposal approval form) in eRPM.
  • Obtain system/process knowledge to finalize, validate, and route a proposal for approval; including PAF workflow, review processes, and submission methods.
  • Learn how to use eRPM functionality to facilitate the proposal process.
Register via Training Workshops on the University of Michigan Research home page.

Reference Materials

Procedure Documents and Demonstrations

Click on the blue arrow next to the role title to display reference materials

Expand/Collapse UM PI - Sign PAF and Sign SUBK
Procedure More info

UM PI Sign PAF/Conflict of Interest Statement

The signing of the PAF by the UM PI is separate from the Unit review & approval of the PAF.

eRPM does not send the PI an email notification when he/she needs to sign the PAF.

Many units will not approve a PAF unless the UM PI has signed the PAF/Conflict of Interest statement.
PI Sign SUBK pdf Steps for the UM PI to review and approve a draft subcontract agreement associated with a parent PAF.
Expand/Collapse PI & Project Team (Proposal and Subcontract Preparation)
Procedure Description
Principal Investigator/ Project Team
Quick Reference Card pdf
Job Aid to keep at your desk that covers all Proposal Preparation topics through Route for Approval.

Rest of the documents below include more detail and screen shots.
All Procedures from Complete PI & Project Team Guide - Listed in Alphabetical Order

Accounts:
Use if cannot find person in eResearch, e.g., for people who have never logged into eRPM before.
Step required for non-UM personnel to obtain access to eResearch.
Basics - Create a PAF pdf Steps to create a PAF (i.e., first page), navigation, find errors, and route for approval.

All detail to answer individual questions of the PAF included in onscreen & additional help.
Cancel PAF pdf Primary Research Administrator & UM PI may Cancel a PAF.
Changes: Changes are made and tracked after a PAF is routed for approval.
  • Primary Research Administrator & UM PI can make & submit changes to a PAF Worksheet.
  • All changes made are tracked in a Change Log.
Clone PAF pdf Steps to make a copy of an existing PAF.
Email Notifications sent from eRPM pdf Email notifications are mainly sent to the UM PI & Primary Research Administrator, PAF Email Notification Contact or the PAN/PAC Email Notification Contact.

Reviewer Access to eRPM is set up separately from email notifications.
Find PAFs (All PAFs) pdf View all PAFs you have access to in eRPM. Steps to search for PAFs.

Finalize Sponsor Proposal Documents pdf

 Process to prepare proposal for ORSP submission or Log Project Team submission to sponsor.

Grants.gov in eRPM pdf
  1. PAF worksheet – Grants.gov submissions
    • Complete the Grants.gov specific questions
    • Determine if your FOA is supported (all required forms are supported)
    • Give Project Team & Research Administrators access to Read and/or Edit Grants.gov forms.
  2. Copy PAF Info to Grants.gov form set.
  3. Complete Grants.gov forms.
  4. Validate (Required fields validation)
  5. Submission Pre‐Check (Grants.gov validation)
  6. Generate PDF Version for review.
  7. Finalize Grants.gov for DRDA Submission
Hardship Requests pdf Describes the steps needed to request a hardship.
Home Workspace for PI & Project Team pdf Describes the PI & Project Home Workspace (i.e., allows you to create PAFs, view and track proposals and award information).

Login to eResearch Proposal Management pdf
Sign in to use eResearch Proposal Management.
Log Project Team Submission to Sponsor pdf Steps to record project team submission in eResearch. Requires proposal finalization first. Allows you to upload final copy of proposal in eResearch.
Manage Data pdf
- Change Primary Research Administrator
- Manage Administrative Personnel
- Submission Instructions

Steps to change some PAF information without editing the PAF worksheet after PAF is routed for approval.

This data can be managed by:
- Anyone with edit rights to the PAF Worksheet

PAF Summary - View and Print PAF
(Display PAF Summary) pdf

Steps to view & print all information and documents from PAF Worksheet in one place.
From the PAF Summary:
- UM PI can sign PAF/Conflict of Interest
- Reviewers can review & request changes
- Reviewers Who Can Sign can approve
PAF Workspace pdf View information regarding the PAF; current State of PAF/proposal; complete activities related to the PAF/proposal.

PANs/PACs (Award Notification Overview/Updates)

PAN Sample pdf
PAC Sample pdf

 Learn more about PANs/PACs.

Post a Comment for the Entire Project Team pdf

Steps for any project team member to permanently post a comment to PAF Workspace & if desired send via e-mail.

If used to request action, remember to select an email recipient.

Related PAFs pdf

Steps to relate two PAFs together. PAF relationships used for reporting purposes.

Route PAF for Approval -
Watch Demonstration adobeflashicon

UM PI or Primary Research Administrator can route a PAF for approval.

  • Moves from Proposal Preparation to Unit Review state.
  • Builds routing table
  • Sends email to:
    • UM PI & Primary Research Administrator to confirm routed for approval
    • PAF Email Notification Contact for Pending Department (Department whose turn it is to review PAF)

Subcontracts (SUBKs):

 Steps to associate a subcontract with a PAF, enter subcontract details, and upload documentation to submit to the Office of Contract Administration (OCA). Also, steps to closeout a SUBK.
Steps to reqeust a SUBK Amendment.
Steps to assign a different administrator and UM PI (other than the PAF Contact PI) and/or a different department (other than the PAF Administrative Home) to "manage"a SUBK (i.e., enter a SUBK, approve a draft agreement, etc.).
Job aid for entering and routing Unfunded Agreements (e.g., non-disclosure agreements) in Proposal Management. Currently for the Medical School non-federal clinical trial pilot group only, this job aid is not in the Complete PI & Project Team Guide.
Working with Documents pdf Steps to work with documents in PAF: attach, upload new version, view version history, delete, manage document security.

 

Expand/Collapse Reviewers (Unit Review)
Procedure (Click on title to open) More Info
Reviewer Quick Reference Card pdf
Job Aid to remind you how to complete PAF and SUBK review steps.

Note: The documents below include more detail and screen shots.
All Procedures from Complete Reviewer Guide - Listed in Alphabetical Order

Assign an Ad Hoc Reviewer pdf

Steps to send a PAF to a person for review and comment who is not part of the routing table for this PAF. (eRPM calculates routing table based on information entered on PAF).

Ad Hoc Reviewer can be anyone who has an eResearch Account.
Changes  
  • Steps to confirm awareness that a PAF has changed since submitting unit approval.
  • Steps to make and request changes to a PAF Worksheet.
  • All changes made are tracked in a Change Log.

Create an eResearch Account pdf
Use if cannot find person in eResearch, e.g., for people who have never logged into eRPM before.
  • Step required for non-UM personnel to obtain access to eResearch.
Email Notifications sent from eRPM pdf Email notifications are mainly sent to the UM PI & Primary Research Administrator, PAF Email Notification Contact or the PAN/PAC Email Notification Contact.

Reviewer Access to eRPM is set up separately from email notifications.

Hardship Requests pdf

Describes how to review and approve, cancel, or deny a hardship request.

Home Workspace for Reviewers pdf

Describes the Reviewer Home Workspace (i.e., allows you to view PAFs ready for your review, view and track proposals and award information).

Login to eResearch Proposal Management pdf
Sign in to use eResearch Proposal Management.
Manage Data pdf
- Change Primary Research Administrator
- Manage Administrative Personnel
- Submission Instructions

Steps to change some PAF information without editing the PAF worksheet after PAF is routed for approval.

This data can be managed by:
- Reviewers from the Administrative Home for the PAF/proposal

Manage Department Information pdf
Steps to change Reviewers, Approvers, Public Contacts, Email Notification Contacts
Manage Unit Data pdf

Only the Unit Data Manager can use the Manage Unit Data pages.

Departments define the information to capture for any project where the department is an approving department.

Contact your Research Unit Liaison with questions.
PAF Summary - View and Print PAF
(Display PAF Summary) pdf

Steps to view & print all information and documents from PAF Worksheet in one place.
From the PAF Summary:
- UM PI can sign PAF/Conflict of Interest
- Reviewers can review & request changes
- Reviewers Who Can Sign can approve

PANs/PACs (Award Notification Overview/Updates)

PAN Sample pdf
PAC Sample pdf

 Learn more about PANs/PACs.

Post a Comment for the Entire Project Team pdf

Steps for any project team member to permanently post a comment to PAF Workspace & if desired send via e-mail.

If used to request action, remember to select an email recipient.

Suspend Approval Prior to Submission to Sponsor pdf

Steps to "pull back" approval prior to submission to sponsor.

Unit Review and Approval pdf

To sign (approve) PAF, you must have Reviewer Who Can Sign access in eRPM. Contact your Research Unit Liaison with questions.

Pilot Reviewer Training Presentation pdf

Presentation used during eRPM Pilot to train reviewers.

Expand/Collapse Unit Liaisons
Procedure (Click on title to open) More Info

Create an eResearch Account pdf
Use if cannot find person in eResearch, e.g., for people who have never logged into eRPM before.
Login to eResearch Proposal Management pdf  
Manage Department Information pdf
Manage Reviewers, Reviewers Who Can Sign (approvers), contact for proposals questions, PAF email notification contact, and PAN/PAC email notification contact for assigned departments
Unit Liaison Home Workspace
Launchpad for eResearch Proposal Management. It allows you to manage department information.

Expand/Collapse ORSP
Procedure (Click on title to open) More Info
DRDA Reference Card pdf
Job Aid to keep at your desk to remind you how to complete DRDA Staff and PR processes and activities.
DRDA Hardship Reference Card pdf
Job Aid to keep at your desk to remind you how to complete DRDA Hardship processes and activities.