Notice Number: NOT-HS-13-002

Key Dates
Release Date: November 27, 2012

Issued by
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Purpose

AHRQ will require all Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) (annual and final) due on or after December 20, 2012 to be submitted using the electronic FFR system in the eRA Commons. This includes all initial FFRs being prepared for submission and any revisions being submitted or re-submitted to AHRQ.  Any FFRs that are submitted to AHRQ through GFFR@ahrq.hhs.gov or by mail will NOT be acknowledged or reviewed.  The eRA Commons web-based FFR system allows recipients to view information on currently due and late FFRs and to submit FFRs electronically to the AHRQ.

For those institutions/organizations not already registered in the Commons, registering in the eRA Commons allows your faculty and staff to take advantage of the electronic submission and retrieval of grant information. Only an individual with signatory authority for the institution or organization in grant-related matters can register an institution.  This individual is known as a Signing Official (SO). To register in the eRA Commons, open the  eRA Commons homepage and click on the Grantee Organization Registration link. Follow the step-by-step instructions.

Once an institution/organization is registered, the SO can log into eRA Commons, create individual user accounts and designate the roles associated with each account.  Roles provide the authority within eRA Commons to perform specific tasks.   The FFR role allows institutional or organizational staff to process FFRs for submission to AHRQ electronically through the eRA Commons. An account for an individual can include multiple roles, including the FFR role; however, an account with only the FFR role assigned can only perform FFR tasks.

Additional resources concerning the FFR system including a User Guide can be found on the eRA home page:  http://era.nih.gov/ and
User guide:  http://era.nih.gov/files/ffr_user_guide.pdf.
For a list of the scheduled annual FFR due dates please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/postawrd.htm#FinancialRep.  Please note, however, that Final FFRs are due within 90 days of the end of the grant project period.

Inquiries

General questions concerning using the eRA Commons should be directed to the eRA Commons Helpdesk at:

eRA Commons Help Desk
Web: http://ithelpdesk.nih.gov/eRA/ (Preferred method of contact)
Toll-free: 1-866-504-9552
Phone: 301-402-7469
TTY: 301-451-5939
Hours: Mon-Fri, 7a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

Questions concerning specific financial matters in the eRA Commons electronic FFR system should be directed to the AHRQ FFR Coordinator at: GFFR@ahrq.hhs.gov

General inquires about this change may be directed to:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Grants Management Office
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD  20850
Phone: 301-427-1447
Email:  GrantsManagementInbox@ahrq.hhs.gov

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