Closeout—Final Progress Report Additional Materials (FRAM)

The Final Progress Report Additional Materials (FRAM) link provides a means for awardees to enter, review, route, and submit information in response to specific request(s) by the Program Official (PO) for additional information related to the Final RPPR.

NOTE: Only a user with the Commons SO role can submit the report; the PD/PI can upload, preview, delete and save the closeout report submission package, but cannot complete the final step to submit.

While reviewing a submitted Final RPPR, the PO might determine that additional materials related to the submitted report are required. In this case, the PO submits a request for this information referred to as a FRAM request. When a FRAM request is made, the PI is notified via email; Final RPPR status on Closeout Status is updated to FRAM Requested; and a FRAM Update link appears in the Closeout Status screen. The link is located as an action on the Final RPPR Report line for Closeout Submission Requirement.

Revised Project Outcomes

For Revised Project Outcomes, please review this information.

IMPORTANT: To submit revised Project Outcomes, SOs should follow the IRAM process for outcomes for Interim RPPRs and the FRAM process for outcomes for Final RPPRs with the exception that a text box will be provided to enter the new Outcomes text and then you click an Upload button instead of an Add Attachment button as with other RAM requests.


FRAM screen for Revised Outcomes

Project Outcomes provide information regarding the cumulative outcomes or findings of the project.

Note that outcomes will be made publicly available, allowing recipients to provide the general public with a concise summary of the cumulative outcomes or findings of the project at the end of a competitive segment. The name of the principal investigator/program director will be attached to the public posting in RePORTER.

For NIH awards the length of the Outcome statement should not exceed half a page. In addition, the summary of outcomes or findings of the award must be written in the following format:

  • Is written for the general public in clear, concise, and comprehensible language

  • Is suitable for dissemination to the general public, as the information may be available electronically

  • Does not include proprietary, confidential information or trade secrets

Please refer to the following link for samples of acceptable project outcomes: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/rppr/sample_project_outcomes_RPPR.htm
See NIH notices NOT-OD-17-022 and NOT-OD-17-037 for additional details on this requirement.

Uploading Final Report Additional Materials

When FRAM is requested by the reviewing PO, an email notification will be sent to the PI (and SO) describing the additional information being requested. A signing official (SO) or PI can upload this requested FRAM via the Closeout module in Commons. Only the SO or a PI with delegated authority can submit the FRAM, however.

To upload FRAM:

  1. Log in to eRA Commons as an SO or a PI and access the Closeout Status screen. To access the Closeout Status screen, see Accessing the Closeout Screen (SO and PI).

  2. If a PO has requested additional material related to the Final RPPR, the Status column shows FRAM Requested, the Result of Action column shows FRAM Requested By PO, and the FRAM Update link appears in the Action column of this line item. If this information is not there, the request was not made.

  3. Click the FRAM Update link.

    FRAM Update link

    The Final Progress Report Additional Materials (FRAM) screen appears. From this screen, the PI or SO can upload an attachment meeting the requirements of the requested information or, for Revised Outcomes (Section I of the RPPR), enter or paste the Revised Outcomes text into a text field.

    TIP: You can view the original request for information from the Status Information screen. The Closeout Final Report Additional Materials (FRAM) Request link located in Other Relevant Documents section of Status Information shows the original request.

  4. Use the Upload button to search for and select the appropriate document from your local computer. The attached document must be in PDF format and no larger than 6MB.

    FRAM screen, Upload and Submit buttons

After passing system validations, the uploaded files appear in a list under Document Upload. You can view or delete the file by clicking the View or Delete buttons, and you can continue to upload files by clicking the Upload button.

FRAM Document Upload section showing two uploaded files with View and Delete buttons

  • You can Preview the submission, which will open a PDF with a header and each PDF file appended.

  • You can Save the FRAM. Updates can still be made later by the PI or SO.

  • If you are sure all FRAM is attached or entered and is correct, you can Submit to the agency. See below. Only an SO or a PI with appropriate delegated authority can submit.

When FRAM is saved, the Closeout Status screen updates to show FRAM Updated in the Status column and FRAM Updated By <User Name> in the Result of Action column. The FRAM Update link remains available and you can upload additional PDFs. Subsequent uploads will be appended to the stored PDF document viewable in Status Information.

To submit, an SO or PI with delegated authority accesses the FRAM screen as described in the previous section and clicks the Submit button. If you are a PI, a certification screen may appear upon clicking the Submit button, which you must agree to before submitting the data.

After a user submits FRAM, a View link appears on Closeout Status, which you can click to view the submission. The FRAM Update link remains, enabling you to upload more files; however, you cannot make changes to files already submitted. The Closeout Status screen will show FRAM Submitted By <User Name>.

Additionally, email notification is sent to both the SO who submitted the FRAM and to the PI of the grant. A separate notification is sent to the PO of the grant. A PDF document containing all documents adding for the FRAM request is generated, and it can be viewed on the Status Information screen under Other Relevant Documents.

NOTE: The PO may rescind the approval of the Final RPPR submission at any time. If this event occurs, the FRAM Update link will be made available for submitting FRAM.

IMPORTANT: SOs can continue to add additional attachments even after submission to Agency (before acceptance of the Final RPPR). Any subsequent documents will be added to the PDF generated by Commons.

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