eRA will scan all NIH grant applications received by the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) beginning in January 2002. Over the next few months, authorized NIH users will be able to view competitive applications in the IMPAC II Grant Folder (accessed through Grants Management, QuickView, Review, Receipt and Referral, or ICO) approximately 72 hours after receipt and processing by CSR and to order CD-ROMs through IMPAC II. This conversion of paper documents to electronic images is an interim step in eRA's federally mandated goal of accepting electronic grant applications by FY2003.

Dr. Steven J. Hausman, Scanning Advocate, estimates that in FY2003, NIH can expect to scan 75 percent of all applications, with the remaining 25 percent received electronically via the NIH Commons. As demonstrated by the pilot projects conducted during the past two years, scanning dramatically reduces the costs of reproduction, labor, mailing, and storage space.