PINS Document Upload Help

If you have a question that is not answered in this documentation, call 515-4267 or submit an online information request to: http://www.ncsu.edu/sparcs/inform_forms/help.html.

---

What, Why and How to Upload into PINS

In order to avoid you having to print and send several copies of your final proposal around campus to get a signature, NC State has implemented a paperless proposal processing system. Unfortunately, most sponsors still require some sort of physical signature so that means you may ultimately need a paper copy to send to the sponsor.

Follow these easy steps to uploading your proposal into PINS and if you run into trouble or have questions call your College Research Office or the PINS help line.

• Upload entire document at once (NSF Fastlane, or PI preference if entire proposal is one document)
  • If your entire proposal is packaged in one electronic document you can use the convenience of using the first option to upload the "entire proposal (one document)" feature. Use this for NSF Fastlane or other similar utilities or if you have the capability to combine all components of your proposal into one document.
  • Signature Pages - to the extent required - must be uploaded separately from above for efficiency in locating, printing and signing the pages in the central sponsored programs office.
  • Upload an original electronic version of the signature page (prefer MS Word document).
  • If required, do not sign the signature page before you upload it. Instead, upload the signature page complete but without signatures. A University officer will sign the signature page first and then if required, the PI should sign the form prior to sending to the sponsor.
  • The Request For Proposal (RFP) or similar document and any Representations and Certifications should be uploaded separately for all proposals. There may not be an RFP or Reps and Certs but in the vast majority of competitive proposal submissions there is some set of instructions on how to apply and those instructions should be uploaded.
  
  
  Or, (not And)
  
  
• Upload proposal in segements:
  • If you can not use the streamlined approach above or if you want to segregate components of your proposal for ease and clarity, you should use any combination of the following upload categories provided the result is that PINS contains a logical assembly of the entire proposal document containing the exact information that will be sent to your sponsor.
    • Abstract
    • Proposal - Technical
    • Budget
    • Budget Justification
    • Letters of Support
    • Collaborator Letters of Intent
    • Subcontractor Information (budgets, SOW, etc.)
    • F&A Cost Under-recovery Justification
    • RFP and Reps and Certs
    • Contracts and Agreements
    • Signature Pages
    • Upload an original electronic version of the signature page (prefer MS Word document).
    • If required, do not sign the signature page before you upload it. Instead, upload the signature page complete but without signatures. A University officer will sign the signature page first and then if required, the PI should sign the form prior to sending to the sponsor.
  • If for some reason you find that you need to make a change to a component of your proposal after you have routed it through PINS, you can ask the level at which the proposal is pending to add or replace a document.