Electronic Streamlined Non-competing Award Process (eSNAP)
NOTE: The use of the eSNAP module will soon be discontinued. Progress reports for applications subject to SNAP and for Fellowships must be submitted electronically using the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for awards with start dates on or after July 1, 2013 (i.e., due dates on or after May 15, 2013, for SNAP awards and May 1, 2013, for Fellowships). The RPPR is a federal-wide progress report that is replacing eSNAP.
See the RPPR webpage and Guide Notice NOT-OD-13-035 for information.
What is the purpose?
One of the features of the Streamlined Non-Competing Award Process (SNAP) is the ability to submit a streamlined electronic annual progress report (eSNAP) through the eRA Commons.
All institutions are required to use eSNAP for awards with SNAP authorities (NIH Guide NOT-OD-10-093). NIH is the only agency that uses the eSNAP concept as currently designed in the Commons.
What are the features of eSNAP?
- eSNAP allows for electronic submission of a SNAP progress report
- Electronic routing of eSNAP information to authorizing officials at the applicant institution is possible for review and approval prior to submission to the agency
- The module offers the ability to save and route eSNAP in a work in progress (WIP) state
- Includes special provisions available only for SNAP progress reports:
- Eliminates routine annual reporting of IRB & IACUC review information. Approval data must be available upon request
- Signing Officials (SO) can delegate the authority to submit an eSNAP to the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI). When a PD/PI has been delegated this authority and submits an eSNAP to the grantor agency on behalf of the grantee, an email notification is still sent to the Signing Official (also called Authorized Organizational Representative). (Note, a PD/PI cannot re-delegate this authority to any other user.)
- eSNAP progress reports are due 45 days prior to the end of the budget period end date.
- Retains Key Personnel Report data from previous submission for easy update
- Citations are linked to information stored in the Person Profile of the PD/PI
- Once the data is submitted, a PDF is generated and stored in the electronic grant folder. This is then used by NIH staff to conduct required programmatic and administrative reviews.
- Includes the capture and retention of the PD/PI signature approval which can be used to satisfy the Institutional PD/PI Assurance requirement
Who can use the eSNAP module?
To access eSNAP via Commons, the grantee institution must be registered in Commons. At this time, within the Institutional Profile, eRA has automatically "enabled" all institutions making the eSNAP module available to all grantees. Do not check the "disable" button. In a future eRA release this feature will disappear.
- The Signing Official (SO) may submit the eSNAP report. Submit authority may also be delegated to the assigned PD/PI. Note this delegation is done on a PD/PI case-by-case basis, and Institutions can grant and revoke this delegation authority as necessary.
- The SO is the only individual who can delegate the PI permission to submit the eSNAP to the grantor agency
- The PD/PI can delegate authority to someone with an Assistant’s role in Commons to assist in completing the PD/PI’s eSNAP application. The PD/PI may also delegate authority to update the PD/PI’s Personal Profile File (PPF). An incomplete PPF can result in errors in the eSNAP report. However a PD/PI may not delegate eSNAP submit authority to any other user. The Assistant must route the eSNAP to a SO for submission to NIH if the PD/PI is away or unavailable.
