Grant Application Management System (GAMS) Implementation

ADMINISTRATIVE MEMORANDUM

Date:             February 6, 2007

TO:                Faculty and Staff

FROM:            Bill Covington

                     Associate Vice President for Research and Federal Relations

SUBJECT:       Grant Application Management System (GAMS) Implementation

At the conclusion of a lengthy review and analysis of enterprise proposal management information systems by the Pre-Award Management System (PAMS) Committee, the University recently selected the ERA product, Grant Application Management System.  The formal structured evaluation of the competing products, in which numerous individuals from a number of University offices and constituencies participated, resulted in a unanimous conclusion that ERA offered a superior product well suited to our needs.  This implementation is the final phase in a process that began about two years ago.

The implementation of the system, under the direction of W. Scott Erwin, Sr., Director, Office of Sponsored Programs, is beginning now and will be completed by June 2007.  Included in the new proposal management system are modules for vitas, executive summaries, project narratives, budget, and other sponsor-required information.  All units of the University working with sponsored programs will benefit from the significantly enhanced capabilities that this web-based system will provide, and the quality and variety of our services to faculty and staff will be greatly enhanced.  The new system will immeasurably increase the amount and quality of information about our sponsored programs.

As we implement the new system, many concerns and questions will inevitably arise, and I ask you to participate constructively in addressing them.  It is critical to the long-term success of the system that it be implemented in a comprehensive manner.

I have full confidence in the team that has been put in place to successfully implement this new system.  Please extend to them your full cooperation.  I invite you to follow the course of the implementation through future e-mails that will be forthcoming.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in ensuring the success of this vital new capability.