The FP6 Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS) Directorate D Information Day Brussels 17 th January 2005 EPSS in IST

Two ways to prepare your proposal Online preparation - on our server using your normal Internet access Online preparation - on our server using your normal Internet access Offline preparation- on your own PC using our EPTool Offline preparation- on your own PC using our EPTool But always online submission Proposals are prepared and submitted under password protection No signatures required No signatures required Confidentiality assured Confidentiality assured EPSS in IST

1. Coordinator registers for the correct call (FP IST-4) and instrument, and obtains coordinator and partner passwords by return 2. Consortium completes the Part A on our server, accessed from our Cordis website Coordinator completes the A1 and A3 form Coordinator completes the A1 and A3 form Each partner completes his own A2 Each partner completes his own A2 3. Coordinator prepares the Part B on his own PC using the (.rtf) template provided Finally saved as.pdf file Finally saved as.pdf file 4. The coordinator uploads his Part B to our server, joining the existing Part A, and signals his proposal is now complete by pressing the submit button 5. Coordinator receives an acknowledgement of receipt by Online preparation (recommended)

Submission is when you press the submit button, not when you commence uploading your Part B Submission is when you press the submit button, not when you commence uploading your Part B If you commence uploading only in the last moments of the call, you have greatly increased your chance of failure If you commence uploading only in the last moments of the call, you have greatly increased your chance of failure If you have not pressed the submit button, you have not submitted a proposal If you have not pressed the submit button, you have not submitted a proposal We make absolutely no allowances for the late arrival of a proposal for any reason ! Online preparation (recommended)

1. Coordinator registers for the correct call (FP IST-4) and instrument, and obtains a coordinator password by return 2. Coordinator downloads the EPTool and a package of the Part A forms and Part B template for this call and instrument 3. Coordinator prepares the Part A and B on his own PC using the EPTool there is a facility to import and export files to the other partners there is a facility to import and export files to the other partners 4. The coordinator, using the EPTool, packages the Part A and B together as a.zip file on his PC, then goes online and uses his password to submit this file by locating it then pressing the submit button. 5. Coordinator receives an acknowledgement of receipt by Offline preparation

Submission is when you press the submit button, not when the proposal package arrives on our server Theoretically you could press the submit button in the last moments before the deadline. The fact that the file arrives shortly after the deadline is of no consequence Theoretically you could press the submit button in the last moments before the deadline. The fact that the file arrives shortly after the deadline is of no consequence But if you have any technical problem which causes that submission to be unsuccessful, you will not have time for a second attempt But if you have any technical problem which causes that submission to be unsuccessful, you will not have time for a second attempt We make absolutely no allowances for the late arrival of a proposal for any reason ! Offline preparation

Each new submission of your proposal over-writes the previous one ! Make a trial submission several days in advance, so you practice the procedure and have plenty of time to correct any problems Make a trial submission several days in advance, so you practice the procedure and have plenty of time to correct any problems (You can make a trial submission of a partly-written proposal : error messages about missing fields or partners do not block submission!) Submit a refined version of your proposal each day in the last days of the call Submit a refined version of your proposal each day in the last days of the call Aim to submit your final version at mid-day on the last day Aim to submit your final version at mid-day on the last day Plan for a successful submission

Registering for the wrong instrument Registering for the wrong instrument Registering for the wrong call Registering for the wrong call Mixing online and offline preparation Mixing online and offline preparation If you make a registration error, just abandon these passwords and register again Not reading the manual, leaving it till the last day to read the manual Not reading the manual, leaving it till the last day to read the manual Waiting till too late to call for help Waiting till too late to call for help EPSS - Errors and problems

Virus infected files Virus infected files Excessively long files (> 10Mb) Excessively long files (> 10Mb) Providing a Part B as other than a.pdf file Providing a Part B as other than a.pdf file Submitting a Part A/Part B only Submitting a Part A/Part B only Your submission will be refused, you will be asked to correct the problem and try again (Online preparation) Failing to press the submit button (Online preparation) Failing to press the submit button Leaving submission till the last minute ! Leaving submission till the last minute ! EPSS - Errors and problems

Manualshttp:// EPSS Helpdesk tel EPSS help

Electronic submission is easy; writing a good proposal is hard ! writing a good proposal is hard ! 1. Make it easy for the evaluators to give you high marks. Dont make them work at it ! Dont write too little; cover what is requested Dont write too little; cover what is requested Leave nothing to the evaluators imagination Leave nothing to the evaluators imagination Dont write too much Dont write too much Dont leave them to figure out why its good, tell them why its good Dont leave them to figure out why its good, tell them why its good 2. Divide your effort over the evaluation criteria. Dont neglect any part of your proposal Last advice

3. Each evaluator sees many proposals: think of the finishing touches which signal quality work in content Part B sections directly reflect the evaluation criteria Part B sections directly reflect the evaluation criteria ethical issues ethical issues gender issues gender issues in presentation clear language clear language useful diagrams and summary tables useful diagrams and summary tables well-organised contents well-organised contents no typos, no inconsistencies, no obvious paste-ins, no numbers which dont add up, no missing pages …….. no typos, no inconsistencies, no obvious paste-ins, no numbers which dont add up, no missing pages …….. Last advice

Commission contact person for each objective open in call link from call page on Cordis A help desk for proposers´ questions tel A network of National Contact Points General help and advice