Using the National Information Management Support System (NIMSS)

NIMSS Log In Screen | NIMSS User's Manual
Contents:
This document is a work in progress. As additional Southern Region activities (DCs, IEGs, SERAs, etc.) are added to the NIMSS database, instructions will be added to this site. [Updated Wednesday, 01-Dec-2004 10:07:35 EST]

For existing MRF projects:


Each Chief Operating Officer (COO) and MRF Administrative Advisor (AA) must begin using the NIMSS effective Feb. 8 for actions associated with existing MRF activities. Begin by logging on and creating an authorization code:

  1. Log on to NIMSS (http://www.lgu.umd.edu/login.cfm) - Each director/administrator in the southern region has already been registered and assigned the appropriate access. The ED office will provide the login ID and password to members individually. After logging in, members may change their password to something easier to remember.

  2. Create an authorization code - In effect, the authorization code becomes the COO's or AA's signature in the system. Select "Create/Change Authorization Code." Input a code word of your choice.

  3. Use NIMSS to accomplish the following MRF activities:

For Administrative Advisors of Development Committees:

The following instructions are for the use of NIMSS from the point AFTER a Development Committee is approved through final project approval. For instructions to request a Development Committee, see the SAAESD Operational Guidelines: Method to Request New or Modified SAES Activity.
  1. Login to the NIMSS system using your login ID and password.

  2. Contact the writing committee chair or technical committee member who is composing the outline and who will enter the outline into NIMSS. (This person will be referred to as the "Project Coordinator.") Refer him/her to the instructions below. Send the name and e-mail of the person to the Regional System Administrator so that he/she can be given access as a Project Coordinator after they register in NIMSS.

  3. Invite participation on the project from all 1862 Experiment Station Directors, 1890 Research Directors, 1862 Extension Directors, 1890 Extension Directors, ARS and ERS. This is accomplished through the link on the NIMSS menu, "Invite Participation."

  4. While the writing committee is drafting the proposal, collect the names and e-mail addresses of 3-5 people willing to be peer reviewers for the proposal. Send the Regional System Administrator these names and e-mail addresses.

  5. Develop full project proposal by editing DC proposal in NIMSS using "Edit a Proposal" function.

  6. Notify ED Office when proposal is ready for peer review and submit names and email addresses of three reviewers who have agreed to review proposal.

  7. Respond to peer reviewers' comments by editing proposal in NIMSS or entering "Tech Committee Comments" in NIMSS.

  8. Notify ED Office that final proposal is ready for Multistate Research Committee review.

  9. The proposal is then sent to the Multistate Research Committee (MRC) for review. If the project needs additional changes, the AA will be notified. The MRC chair can then elect to have the proposal reevaluated by the MRC or to send the proposal directly to CSREES for approval.

For Project Coordinators (PC) of Development Committees:

  1. Register in NIMSS at http://www.lgu.umd.edu/login.cfm. (The AA should have already notified the Regional System Administrator [Southern Region: Donna Pearce] that you are the project coordinator, so that appropriate access will be assigned after you register.)

  2. Refer to the NIMSS user manual on the main menu screen, particularly regarding Appendix A, Multistate Research Proposals.

  3. At any point along the drafting process, you may enter the outline into Appendix A, paying attention to instructions about size limitations and the need for using a few basic html codes to format certain types of text (bold, italics, etc.) - see Users Manual.

  4. During any stage of entering text into the outline (Appendix A), "Save as Working Copy" and when requested, assign a project password. The system will issue a temporary project number. You should inform the Administrative Advisor of the assigned number and the project password. Also inform the committee members of the assigned number so that they may view the draft and respond with suggestions for improvement. (Other committee members can edit the proposal directly in NIMSS, IF: 1) they are registered in NIMSS; 2) have been given access by the System Administrator; and 3) have the project password.)

  5. When at least the "Justification and Statement of Issues" section of the proposal has been saved in NIMSS, notify the AA so that he/she can invite participation in the project. This is the process that builds the "Appendix E" portion of the proposal.

  6. When you deem the proposal ready for peer review, notify the AA. He/she then will "Submit as Final," using their AA authorization code.

  7. After receiving peer review comments, incorporate appropriate suggestions into the proposal and notify the AA. Also inform the AA how peer reviewer comments were addressed and/or why some suggestions may have NOT been incorporated into the proposal. The AA will then 1) "Submit Technical Committee Comments" and 2) again "Submit as Final" which forwards the proposal to the Multistate Research Committee for their review and ultimate regional approval.

For Multistate Research Committee (MRC):