U-M’s executive director of research administration told a House Government Reform subcommittee last week that as the federal government moves to an electronic system of filing grant applications and administering them, there needs to be consistency between agencies in how such a system operates.

Marvin Parnes told the panel that while the goal of having paperless federal grant management is good, the implementation should be through a single system used by all granting agencies. He also suggested that there be standardization of data requested, thus allowing much of the grant application work to be done by administrative personnel, not researchers.

Parnes also urged the subcommittee to push the Office of Management and Budget to move forward to require that all agencies adhere to a faster timetable for moving to electronic grant administration and to seek input from users of the system.

U. S. Rep. Candice Miller (R-Harrison Township) helped introduce Parnes at the hearing and commended the University for its leadership in research.

For more information, contact the Washington office at (202) 554-0578, mburnham@umich.edu or mwaring@umich.edu.