Research.gov is the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) grants management system that provides easy access to research-related information and grants management services in one location. Research.gov is the modernization of FastLane, providing the next generation of grants management capabilities for the research community.
Please contact the Research.gov team by e-mail at feedback@research.gov or use the online Research.gov feedback form.
FastLane is NSF's web-based grants management system used by over 250,000 scientists, educators, technology experts, and administrators, including the nation's top researchers. NSF has been recognized for FastLane's exemplary performance, and while NSF has achieved success with FastLane, the system was built starting in 1994 and is in need of modernization.
Research.gov is an opportunity to modernize and evolve NSF's grants management systems to increase the quality and scope of services for the research community. The modernization includes moving legacy FastLane capabilities to a new, modern portal platform.
Since FastLane’s launch in 1994, it has faithfully followed the principle that user feedback and overall benefit to the research community should drive any change made to the system. Resulting in a site that handily processes more than 50,000 grant proposals every year, and supports many other tasks on behalf of NSF and the projects it funds. Why the move then to Research.gov, the multipurpose website NSF established in 2008? The reasons are numerous including the fact that FastLane was developed in 1994, in an age when the features and functionality that we take for granted today did not exist. FastLane itself was a ground breaking site, and it worked hard to stay ahead of its users’ needs. Many of the modifications made over the years grew from users’ changing expectations as to how the site should function and appear. FastLane has kept up with these expectations, but its system architecture is outdated, expensive, and difficult to update.
NSF needed a new “house” for its modernized grants processing system, one that has flexible system architecture, with the ability to meet users’ changing needs, while handling emerging government requirements. NSF is gradually moving its FastLane functions to Research.gov, allowing time to incorporate user feedback and lessons learned. Eventually, Research.gov will replace FastLane as NSF’s end-to-end award management system.
Research.gov provides integrated access to information and services in one location. Currently, the following services are available on Research.gov:
Public Services: The following services are available to members of the public and grantees
Reporting Services: The following reporting services are available to grantees
Application Services: The following application services are available to grantees
Access Services: The following access services are available to grantees
For technical questions or immediate assistance, please contact the NSF Help Desk:
7 AM - 9 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except for federal holidays):
Yes. To login to Research.gov, choose the Log In menu item on the home page. Use your last name and the same NSF ID and password that you use for FastLane. If you already had access to financial services on FastLane, there is no need to register or request permission to access the financial services from Research.gov.
Your NSF ID will be the same nine-digit ID you used on FastLane. Click on “Forgot My NSF ID” and complete the NSF ID Lookup form.
Your password will be the same one you use on FastLane. If you have forgotten your password, use the Forgot Password link on the Log In page.
Once you login, you can seamlessly access FastLane from the left navigation bar in Research.gov. For more information about Single Sign On, click here.
There are four types of Research.gov accounts which provide role-based access to specific Research.gov services and features. This role-based access allows applicants, grantees, NSF staff and members of the general public to personalize their Research.gov experience:
A free NSF Visitor Account allows you to:
If you already have a FastLane account you do not need to sign up for a Visitor Account. You have access to all the same features as a Visitor Account.
NSF Staff can log in using their NSF ID and password to access the NSF Research.gov Desktop. Note: you must either be on the NSF internal network or connected remotely via Access NSF to log in.
Research.gov provides a comprehensive menu of services focused on the needs of research organizations, from proposal status to project and financial reporting. Research.gov provides grantees with greater access to federal research agencies' grants management services and streamlined functionality. Grants.gov will continue to offer “Find and Apply” services.
For technical questions or immediate assistance, please contact the NSF Help Desk:
7 AM - 9 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except for federal holidays):