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CURRENT GRANTEES OR THOSE FAMILIAR WITH THE GTSC

The following FAQs are for agencies that have had grants from the GTSC before and want information on how to apply using eGrants.

• How will I or other members of my agency get eGrants training?
• What is eGrants?
• How do I sign up?
• Is there any new information I need to put on my grant application?
• How do I apply using eGrants?
• How do I get my local application endorsed?
• Will the grant applications need to have signatures?
• How do I get to eGrants?
• When will I use eGrants?
• How do I add a fiscal agent to organizations and proposals?
• I was working on my proposal, when I clicked SAVE I was brought to the Log In screen and my work is gone.
• I did work on my proposal, saved it, but when I opened it again the work was gone.
• How do I cancel my unnecessary proposal application?
• How can I complete a CPS schedule that is not showing up in my proposals task list?
• I added a person to My Organization, but they do not show up, or they cannot access any proposals. How can I fix this?
• Why can't I submit my proposal?

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE GTSC GRANT PROGRAM

• What is purpose of this grant program?
• Who may apply for these grants?
• What do I need to know to apply?
• What requirements do I need to meet to apply?
• How do I contact my Traffic Safety Board to have my application signed?
• What is the criteria for grant review?
• Why are the STEP and BUNY grants not being offered in 2014?

If you have a question about applying for a grant that is not covered here, contact your GTSC Representative.

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If you are not familiar with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee's grant program please read this information at the end of this document first.

eGrants
CURRENT GRANTEES OR THOSE FAMILIAR WITH THE GTSC

The following FAQs are for agencies that have had grants from the GTSC before and want information on how to apply using eGrants.

How will I or other members of my agency get eGrants training?

Directions are posted on www.SafeNY.ny.gov/egrants. Training materials are available though eGrants. On the eGrants login page, you will be directed to register with the system. Once you have completed the registration, you will have access to the system Help files which include an onscreen users' manual and a training video. If you need further assistance you may contact your GTSC representative. Printed information GTSC distributes about eGrants will also be available online.

What is eGrants?

eGrants is the electronic grant management system that the GTSC implemented with the 2010 Federal Fiscal Year. It is a web-based system, so users will need internet access and will need to be able to use Adobe Acrobat files. No other software installation is necessary.

How do I sign up?

One person from each agency will register with eGrants as the Project Director and a one person will register as Fiscal Agent. Both roles are required. Before access is granted, one of these persons must call the GTSC and speak with a manager to have the agency verified. Once the agency and the two users are activated, the Project Director will be able to add additional users. To register, go to the eGrants login page and click on the New User link. After a Project Director and Fiscal Agent have registered, call the GTSC at (518) 474-5111 press 1 to speak to a manager.

Is there any new information I need to put on my grant application?

Requirements for grant applications are listed below.

How do I apply using eGrants?

A representative of your agency will need to create an account in eGrants and complete the grant proposal in the system.

All applications MUST be submitted through the eGrants system by May 15. Local applications, including grant applications from local nonprofit agencies, must be endorsed by the Chair of the County Traffic Safety Board (TSB). The signed endorsement must be returned to the GTSC. The endorsement page is printed from the eGrants system. Contact your County Traffic Safety Board as to the process for having your application endorsed. Statewide agencies do not require TSB endorsement.

How do I get my local application endorsed?

Contact your County Traffic Safety Board as to the process used in your county to endorse grants. If you do not know who your TSB Chair is, contact the GTSC. The GTSC will accept signed endorsements via the US mail or as an upload via eGrants.

Statewide agencies do not require TSB endorsement.

Will the grant applications need to have signatures?

Local agencies will print out an endorsement page and submit it to their County Traffic Safety Board (TSB) for endorsement by signature. Local applicants need to contact their County Traffic Safety Board as to the process for having applications endorsed.

Once you have a signed endorsement for your application, submit it to the GTSC. You may send it via traditional mail to the GTSC or use the eGrants upload feature.

Statewide agencies do not require TSB endorsement.

How do I get to eGrants?

Go to SafeNY.ny.gov and click on eGrants, or type http://www.SafeNY.ny.gov/egrants in your address bar. Follow the link to the eGrants login page. We recommend that you visit SafeNY.ny.gov frequently for information about what's going on in highway safety.

When will I use eGrants?

In March 2009, the GTSC began using the eGrants system. Approved grants are administered through eGrants. Your reporting and vouchering is also done through eGrants.

How do I add a fiscal agent or other user to organizations and proposals?

Access to eGrants must be given by a Project Director in your agency if your agency is already enrolled in eGrants or by the GTSC System Administrator if your agency has never had a GTSC grant.

Each new user added to your Organization must be added to each of your agency's existing proposals (step 9) otherwise they will not have access to them.

New User Access to eGrants:

1. You, the new user, go to the eGrants login page and click on the link for New User, then enter the required information on the new user page and save it. If your agency has never been in eGrants, after this step, contact GTSC.
2. Then one of your agency's eGrants Project Directors will log into eGrants to add you, the new user, to the Organization. (Complete below).
3. New users must also be added to any proposals the agency already has, the Project Director opens each grant proposal and uses Access Management Tools to Add/Edit people. They add the new person to each grant, otherwise the person cannot do work on the grant forms.

Adding New Users: There are two ways for a Project Director to add a user.

In the first method, the person to be added clicks on the New User link on the eGrants login page and enters the required information and clicks Save.

Then the agency's Project Director completes the process by adding the new user to the organization. These steps are:

1. The Project Director must login to eGrants.
2. From the Main Menu click the My Organization(s) link on the dark blue menu bar.
3. Click the name the your agency.
4. You are now on the Organization page. Click the Organization Members link.
5. This will display a page showing all the members of the Organization.
6. Click the Add Members link.
7. Enter the last name of the new user in the box and click search.
8. When the new user's name comes up, put a check mark in the box, use the drop down box to give them the correct role and give them an active date (today's date). When complete, click SAVE.
9. IMPORTANT: If your agency has proposals already created, the new person must also be added to them so they may access them. Open the existing proposal and use Access Management Tools to Add/Edit people to add that person.

The second method:

In the second method, the person to be added does not have to be involved, the Project Director will enters the required information for them.

1. The Project Director must login to eGrants.
2. From the Main Menu click the My Organization(s) link on the dark blue menu bar.
3. Click the name of your agency.
4. You are now on the Organization page. Click the Organization Members link.
5. This will display a page showing all the members of the Organization.
6. Click the Add Members link.
7. Click the "New Member" button.
8. The Project Director will enter basic information for the new user and will create a username and password (the password can be changed later by the user). When the information has been entered, click the "Save & Add To Organization" button.
9. IMPORTANT: If your agency has proposals already created, the new person must also be added to them so they may access them. Open the existing proposal and use Management Tools to Add/Edit people to add that person.

I thought I added the person, what do I do?

If you thought you already added a person to your organization but can't find them listed on your Organization Members page, Go to My Organization | Organization Members, click Add Member, then on the next screen enter the last name of the person in the box and click search. If their name shows up in a listing, put a check mark in the box next to the Person's name, assign the correct Role with the drop down box and put today's date in the first box under Active Dates and SAVE. If their name did not show up, try searching with fewer letters, ex. search for Joh instead of Johnson. The system will try to match exactly so if you enter fewer letters in your search request, you will be shown all names with matching letter combinations. Also, remember to add the person to any proposal you have created, to do so open the proposal and Access Management Tools to Add/Edit people.

Below is an example of the Organization Members Listing. Access this Organization section by clicking on the My Organization(s) link found at the top of the eGrants page.

Example of screen to add new member or search for a person to your Organization.

I was working on my proposal, when I clicked SAVE I was brought to the Log In screen and my work is gone.

You timed out. The system will time out if you do not SAVE after 20 minutes or so. Click SAVE often.

I did work on my proposal, saved it, but when I opened it again the work was gone.

You probably have more than one version of the proposal in progress. To check: From My Home, click on My Organization(s). At My Organizations, click on your organization. On the Organization page, click on Organization Documents. You will see a list of all the Proposals that have been created by your Organization. Find which one is the most complete and cancel the duplicate version. To cancel them, click on the proposal you wish to cancel. Then, on the Proposal page, click on change status. Apply the status change to Cancel.

How do I cancel my unnecessary proposal application?

Why do this? Because you created more than one proposal application for the same proposal and you want the duplicate version(s) canceled.

Log onto eGrants.

1. Click on the My Proposals tab found on the upper left hand side of screen as seen below:
   
   
   
2. Select the type of proposal you have the issue with:
   
   
   
3. Click on the duplicate version of the proposal that you want to Cancel. (Be sure to retain the most current version and cancel the other one.)
   
   
   
4. At the Proposal Menu, click on View Status Options button.
   
   
   
5. If you are sure you want to cancel your duplicate version of the proposal application, click on the button to Apply Status under Proposal Cancelled. (You can also change the status from the View Edit and Complete Forms menu.)
   
   
   

How can I complete a CPS schedule that is not showing up in my proposals task list?

You must to go to the Proposal Menu and open CPS Schedule Selection. You have to check each of the schedules you wish to apply for. The schedule worksheets will only appear when you have checked them in your Proposal's schedule selection.

I added a person to My Organization, but they do not show up, or they cannot access any proposals. How can I fix this?

It is possible that you have added the person but did not give them an active date. To verify the members of your organization, go to My Organization(s), click on the link of your Organization. Then click on Organization Members. This will show who is assigned to your organization. If you do not see the persons' name(s) there, click on Add Members. Then, in the search box, enter the last name of the person and click search. Their name should appear. Next to their name, put a check in box, assign them a role using the drop down box, and enter an Active Date using the format mm/dd/yyyy. Then click SAVE.

If you need to assign this person to a proposal, follow this information.

If the person's name does not show up when you search, then you have to add them as a new member.

Why can't I submit my proposal?

Proposals are submitted under the Proposal Menu/Change the Status.

If your only choice under Change the Status is Cancel, it is because you do not have the correct eGrants role to allow you to submit the proposal. Only Project Directors or Fiscal Agents can Submit proposals. Have someone with the correct role submit the proposal.

What is purpose of this grant program?

The purpose of this grant program is to provide funds to local, state and nonprofit agencies for projects to improve highway safety and reduce deaths and serious injuries due to crashes. The types of efforts funded are: enforcement, public education and information, research, traffic records, child passenger safety and community awareness.

Who may apply for these grants?

Eligible organizations include state and local government agencies, educational institutions and registered nonprofit agencies.

Requirements for grant applications are listed below.

For profit agencies and individuals are not eligible, nor are applications to develop a product or provide a service for profit.

What do I need to know to apply?

Your application must address one of the program areas outlined in our Highway Safety Strategic Plan, or your application must be for one of the structured programs - Child Passenger Safety, Buckle Up New York or Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (for enforcement agencies only).

Local agencies must receive traffic safety board endorsement.

What requirements does my organization need to meet to apply?

1. Proof of Workers' Compensation and Disability Insurance required.
   
   The NYS Comptroller requires that organizations that were awarded a grant in 2011 from the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) must submit proof of workers compensation and disability benefits insurance coverage in order for grant related contracts to be processed. Workers Compensation Law §57 and §220[8] requires the heads of all State entities, such as the GTSC, to ensure that businesses entering into contracts have appropriate workers' compensation and disability benefits insurance coverage.
   
   In order for the us to ensure compliance with these provisions, grantees must submit proof of coverage or the certificate of attestation of exemption to the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. The agency name listed on the proof must match exactly the agency name that is on file in GTSC's eGrants and must match the NYS Vendor ID file. Below are links that explain the appropriate forms to provide:
   
   Workers' Compensation http://www.wcb.state.ny.us/content/main/Employers/busPermits.jsp
   
   Disability Benefits http://www.wcb.state.ny.us/content/main/DisabilityBenefits/Employer/busPermits.jsp
   
   If you have any questions regarding Workers Compensation Law §57 and §220[8] of the Disability Benefits Law, part of the Worker's Compensation Law, please call the Bureau of Compliance at (518) 486-6307.
   
   
2. DUNS Number Required
   
   The federal government is requiring that New York report grant fund awards by using the DUNS number of the award recipient. The DUNS number is a unique nine-character number that identifies your organization. Your fiscal agent should know your agency's DUNS number. If they do not, information is available from the federal grants website, http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform
   
   When you have your DUNS number, you must enter it onto your Organization Information page on eGrants. Log onto eGrants. Click on My Organization, then your agency name, then Organization Information. Enter your agency DUNS number in the field provided.
   
   
3. All nonprofit organizations must be enrolled with NYS Attorney General's Charity Registration Bureau before submitting an application.
   
   
4. Enrollment in the state's Electronic Payment system.
   
   
5. GTSC will request non-profits who have not yet enrolled in eGrants complete and submit a NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9: REQUEST FOR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER & CERTIFICATION. The information in this form is required to verify your agency's legal name and will facilitate interaction with the NYS State Financial System. The form can be obtained at http://www.osc.state.ny.us/vendors/forms/ac3237s_fe.pdf.
   
   
6. Your agency must have a New York State Vendor ID for GTSC Grant Payments.
   
   What is a Vendor ID? Why does my agency need one? This info can be found at the NYS Comptroller's site: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/vendors/vendorguide/guide.htm Please check with your agency's fiscal officers to find out what your agency state vendor ID number is, or check with the http://www.osc.state.ny.us/vendors/vendorguide/guide.htm#howid.
   
   We will need to have your NYS Vendor ID on file to reimburse you for your GTSC grants.
   
   Your Vendor ID must be entered into eGrants. To do this:
   
   
   1. Log onto eGrants.
   2. Click on My Organization.
   3. On the Organization page, enter your NYS Vendor ID in the correct field.
   4. Click SAVE.
   
   
   Please confirm with your agency's fiscal officers that the Vendor ID you enter is correct. It will be used to route your electronic payments from the state for your reimbursement. The agency name listed on the NYS Vendor ID file must exactly match the one on file with GTSC's eGrants.
   
   
   
   Example of where to enter your agency's NYS Vendor ID.
   
   

How do I contact my Traffic Safety Board to have my application signed?

If you do not have the contact information for your local County Traffic Safety Board, please contact the GTSC for this information. Remember all local agency applications must be signed by the county traffic safety board.

What is the criteria for grant review?

Applications must be complete for the GTSC to review them. Each grant application contains information about the review process that pertains to that program.

Why are the STEP and BUNY grants not being offered in 2014?

Due to the enactment of federal legislation which has resulted in the reduction of federal funding, there are changes to the 2014 grant program. The Buckle Up New York (BUNY) seat belt enforcement program and the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) of previous years have now been integrated into a new Police Traffic Services (PTS) grant program. By consolidating these two police enforcement grants, we feel that we can maximize our safety efforts, effectively leverage federal highway safety grant funding and reduce the administrative burden of the program. It will now be easier for police agencies to apply for and manage their grants, allowing them to focus on conducting effective traffic enforcement. Police agencies must have a conforming seat belt use policy to participate in the PTS grant program.

If you have a question about applying for a grant that is not covered here, contact your GTSC Representative.

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