xTrain Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Links
- Initiating Appointments & Reappointments
- Initiating Termination Notices
- eRA Commons Accounts & Roles
- Postdoctoral Trainees & Signature Requirements
Initiating Appointments & Reappointments
Why does the 2271 form displayed when I initiate a reappointment or amend a previous appointment look different than the one originally submitted to the agency in paper?
When the agency received the original paper forms, the form information was entered into the eRA databases for further agency processing and the original paper documents were placed in the official agency grant file. The xTrain system uses the most recent version of the 2271 appointment form. The original submitted information is pulled from the eRA databases and displayed in the new form. There may be some fields in the newer form that are not populated because the information was not collected during the original submission. You will want to update those fields to have a complete record going forward.
“Snapshots” of electronic appointments, reappointments, amendments and terminations are saved in the eRA system. When working with records originally submitted electronically, you will be able to view the actual submission. Once fully electronic, the issue will no longer exist.
If appointments are not routed through the Business Official (BO), how can BOs keep track of the training grants for their institution?
BOs can log into the system at any time to see the status of all the appointments and terminations at their institution.
Initiating Termination Notices
Who can initiate a termination Notice?
xTrain users with the following eRA Commons roles can initiate a termination notice: PI, ASST with a PI xTrain delegated role, or BO. The xTrain system itself also can initiate a termination notice and place it in the BOs queue if, after 180 days from the Appointment End date, the appointment is not yet terminated, no re-appointment process has started and the grant has an activity code that starts with T (except T34). System initiation of termination notices will not be available during the xTrain pilot.
Why doesn’t the Termination Notice screen reflect my modifications to the Termination Date field?
If you terminate an appointment early, the date change is reflected after the agency processes the termination. Don’t be alarmed that you can’t see the change on the screen.
Is an amendment necessary if a trainee terminates early?
The system will auto-amend the last appointment to the date of the termination.
Why can’t I see a full list of my other previous NIH support?
xTrain will only populate the list with grants associated with your eRA Commons account. If you have had multiple eRA Commons accounts, you may need to merge the historical information associated with your accounts. Contact the eRA Commons Help Desk for assistance.
If a PD/PI delegates authority to an assistant (ASST), can that assistant perform all the same functions and receive the same notifications as the PD/PI?
Only the PD/PI can submit an appointment or reappointment to the agency. ASSTs with xTrain delegation can perform all other PD/PI functions. ASSTs will receive the same email notifications as the PD/PI.
If a PI wants to delegate xTrain Authority to an individual and that individual is not listed with the Current Institution Users, how does he/she have them added to the list?
The institutions eRA Commons Signing Official (SO) must add the ASST role to the individuals existing eRA Commons account or create an eRA Commons account with the ASST role for the individual if he/she does not already have an account.
What personal profile fields are checked by the xTrain system?
The xTrain system relies on having current and complete information in a trainee’s personal profile in eRA Commons. If xTrain identifies an issue with invalid or missing trainee profile information, an error will be generated and it must be corrected before completing the xTrain function. Trainees must keep their profiles up-to-date, paying special attention to the following fields that are checked within xTrain:
- Personal Profile, Personal Information screen: gender, citizenship, disabilities, SSN (requested but not required), and date of birth.
- Personal Profile, Race/Ethnicity screen: ethnicity and race(s).
- Personal Profile, Degrees screen: enter all relevant degrees earned or in process.
- Personal Profile, Trainee-Specific Information screen: answer all the required questions and provide an explanation, if necessary.
The Trainee Specific Information screen within a Trainee's Personal Profile includes the question “Are you from a disadvantaged background?” What does “disadvantaged background” mean in this context?
Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are defined as:
1. Individuals who come from a family with an annual income below established low-income thresholds. These thresholds are based on family size, published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census; adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index; and adjusted by the Secretary for use in all health professions programs. The Secretary periodically publishes these income levels at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml. For individuals from low income backgrounds, the institution must be able to demonstrate that such candidates have qualified for Federal disadvantaged assistance or they have received any of the following student loans: Health Professional Student Loans (HPSL), Loans for Disadvantaged Student Program, or they have received scholarships from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Scholarship for Individuals with Exceptional Financial Need.
2. Individuals who come from a social, cultural, or educational environment such as that found in certain rural or inner-city environments that have demonstrably and recently directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career. Recruitment and retention plans related to a disadvantaged background are most applicable to high school and perhaps undergraduate candidates, but would be more difficult to justify for individuals beyond that level of achievement.
Postdoctoral Trainees & Signature Requirements
Why is it still necessary to send signed hard copies of Appointment, Payback Service Agreement, and Termination forms for postdoctoral trainees?
NRSA Postdoctoral Trainees will be obligated to financial or service payback. NIH is legally required to keep original signatures for these agreements in the grant file due to this payback obligation.
For the pilot, can old versions of appointment forms with postdoctoral signatures be submitted even though the forms are slightly different from the ones on-line?
It is fine to send the forms you already have signed. When NIH implements new OMB-approved forms, a transition period is typically provided when NIH accepts either the old or new versions of the form.
At what point should the institution print off the form, sign and submit it?
The form can be changed until the point it is submitted to the agency. The form should be printed at the time it is submitted to the agency. The form can be changed until it is submitted.
