NIFA is embarking on a Grants Modernization Initiative (GMI) to transform our grants management systems, processes, and policies. This multi-year plan will result in NIFA adopting a new grants management system, eRA.
Vision and Alignment with Federal Goals
NIFA will adopt the eRA grants management system to simplify and streamline grants and financial management processes. eRA offers an end-to-end, centralized system. A single system will improve the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of NIFA’s grants management processes. This digital transformation will fundamentally improve the way NIFA does business and how the Agency’s mission is accomplished for the benefit of staff, stakeholders, and customers. GMI aligns with federal goals, specifically the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance for using shared service providers across federal agencies.
Take Our GMI Survey
NIFA invites you to take part in the GMI survey. Your contributions are crucial to ensuring we are successful in improving your experience with our grants management systems. We want this to work for you!
Take the SurveyCurrent System and Future Plans
Our long-term objective is to integrate all award management and reporting activities within the eRA system. NIFA is currently onboarding with eRA in preparation for pilot programs beginning in the first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
Timeline Expectations
The tentative plan is for competitive pilot programs to start in FY 2026, while the capacity pilot programs are intended to begin in eRA in FY 2028.
Our target timeline is to execute all competitive and capacity grant programs in eRA by FY 2029, depending on initial pilot outcomes and system readiness.
Questions
NIFA’s goal is to collect all required reports using eRA’s integrated functionality. At the same time, NIFA aims to streamline the reporting process for grantees where possible. NIFA does not yet have a specific timeline for the integration of the NIFA Reporting System (NRS) into eRA. NIFA intends to conduct pilot programs for capacity grant funding in FY 2028. NIFA hopes to execute all capacity grant activities in eRA beginning FY 2029.
Until the eRA system is fully ready for capacity reporting, stakeholders will continue using the NRS for managing capacity-funded research projects and Extension programs. This includes using NRS for financial reporting, as well as for submitting reports related to the 1998 Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act (AREERA), such as Plans of Work and Annual Reports of Accomplishments.
We appreciate stakeholder patience and engagement as we work toward this important integration and assure continued support for all current reporting activities in NRS.
NIFA anticipates plans to integrate REEport’s functionality into the new eRA system. As part of this integration, NIFA aims to streamline the reporting process for grantees where possible. Integration will allow for the direct submission of reports via the eRA interface.
Pilot programs for competitive grant funding are intended to begin in FY 2026. As the system proves successful, there will be a phased transition of competitive programs to eRA. NIFA expects to execute all competitive grants in eRA beginning in FY 2028.