The eRA Steering Committee has approved plans to retire the IMPAC I system in October 2002. The retirement plans provide dates and a summary of the impact of each transition event on IC management, as well as on program, review and technical staff. Although the IMPAC I database will continue to be updated with IMPAC II data for the foreseeable future, the IMPAC I system will not be modified as new fields are added to IMPAC II.

The impending retirement of the IMPAC I system has been discussed throughout the NIH extramural community for many years now. The sooner ICs move to the IMPAC II environment, the better. It is important that each IC transition smoothly to IMPAC II to ensure that key functions in the award and oversight process continue uninterrupted. The eRA project cannot sustain a campus-wide rush to make these critical transitions at the very last moment.

Comments regarding retirement plans should be directed to Dr. John J. McGowan, at 301-496-7291 or by email at jmcgowan@niaid.nih.gov.