The Financial Status Report (FSR) Web interface is open to all grantees who have enrolled in the NIH eRA Commons 2. eRA representatives have been contacting former users of the now defunct mainframe FSR system to register and orient them to the Web version. The following list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will acquaint other interested grantees with the new FSR system.
Where do I access the FSR system?
Log on to https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/index.jsp. Once NIH eRA Commons access is granted, FSR appears as a menu item on the NIH eRA Commons home page.
Why can’t I see the FSR tab?
You must have the FSR role assigned to your NIH eRA Commons account to use the FSR system. You will not see the FSR tab if you do not have this role. Contact your institution’s SO or AA to request the FSR role.
Who is the SO?
The grantee organization Signing Official (SO) has the institutional authority to execute legally binding grants administration actions, such as submitting grant applications to the NIH. Within the organization, the individual(s) filling this role is generally known as the “Business Official.” The NIH eRA Commons designation is "Signing Official." The SO can create and modify user accounts and Institutional Profiles (IPFs).
Who is the AA?
An SO designates an Accounts Administrator (AA) to facilitate the administration of NIH eRA Commons accounts. Although the AA will be able to create, modify and remove accounts, he/she will not be able to modify the IPF information. It is the responsibility of the primary AA to inform all account holders of any NIH eRA Commons messages sent through the NIH eRA Commons distribution list.
What is the format for the Grant Number on the FSR Search screen?
| Type | Activity Code | IC | Serial assigned by CSR | Support Year | Suffix |
Sample | 1 | R01 | AI | 123456 | 01 | A1 |
Can I use wildcards in the Grant Number?
Wildcards can be used in the IC and Activity Code fields. For example, enter R% to search for Activity Codes from R01 to R44.
How do I retrieve details about the grants on the query results list?
Click on each grant number link to display the FSR Details screen.
How do I display an existing FSR?
Select “View” from the FSR Details screen to open the download dialog box.
How do I create or update an FSR?
Once you have performed a query and selected a grant, click on the “Paper Entry” link to access the FSR Edit screen. All data stored in the database will appear in a format that resembles the paper report.
Why do I see only the FSR long form?
At this time, only the long form is available because everyone can use it. The short form will be added as a future enhancement.
Where do I find specific instructions for completing/submitting the form?
Instructions are included in the FSR User’s Guide for External Users located at http://era.nih.gov/Docs/FSR_EX_User_Guide_02-05-03.pdf.