eFSAP Update: 2019 Archive

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) is pleased to announce the deployment of an update to the electronic Federal Select Agent Program (eFSAP) Information System.

Beginning November 22, 2019, authorized SAMS account holders at all registered entities will notice the following system updates:

1. APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 7 A/C Load Time Improvements
   Upon navigation to Form 1 Section 7A/C, work objectives now load substantially faster.
2. System-wide Data Table Enhancements
   Based on feedback from the regulated community, users now have the option of configuring data tables to show up to 500 rows of information at a time.
3. Amendment Flagging and Archiving
   User-requested enhancements previously added to the entity notification table have now been applied to the amendment table.  Users are now able to flag and archive amendments.
4. Final Inspection Findings
   Also at the request of the regulated community, the eFSAP inspection module now allows the FSAP inspection team to indicate when all inspection findings have been released to an entity.  Activation of this feature prompts a notification to the entity’s home page.  It also generates a message on the inspection resolution page as well as on the printed version of the report indicating that the findings displayed represent the final inspection findings.
5. Inspection Histories
   Each entity inspection now contains an inspection history displaying the date upon which changes in inspection status occurred and by whom the change was executed.

FSAP would like to thank the regulated community for your continued feedback regarding system functionality. We look forward to delivering continued improvements based upon your suggestions.

Please note: as with every eFSAP system update, users must clear their internet browser cache/cookies in order for the system to function properly. Instructions can be found on the eFSAP Resource Center page.  

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) has posted several new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to its website to clarify information about the steps required in order to obtain a CDC SAMS account to access eFSAP. The new FAQs can be found here.

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) has developed a resource to assist entities with uploading documents in eFSAP. The new tool, posted in the eFSAP Resource Center and available directly herepdf icon, is titled Document Upload Categories and Locations in eFSAP and provides an overview of locations within eFSAP (e.g., forms, entity home page, inspection) where each type of document may be uploaded.  Additionally, the tool describes categories and subcategories for document classifications to assist users during the uploading process. We hope this resource is helpful to users.

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) recently completed a system update to the electronic Federal Select Agent Program (eFSAP) information system. Entities are encouraged to sign up for our upcoming webinars covering the new “super-admin” user role and the new “Principal Investigator Replacement” amendment type. Several additional minor system updates will also be covered.

Sessions will be held at the following dates/times:

• Thursday, September 19: 10:00-11:30 am EDT
• Thursday, September 19: 1:00-2:30 pm EDT
• Friday, September 20: 10:00-11:30am EDT

To register for a session, please visit the Training Registration Page.

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) is pleased to announce the deployment of the 10th major update to the electronic Federal Select Agent Program (eFSAP) Information System.

Beginning September 6, 2019, authorized SAMS account holders at all registered entities will notice the following significant updates:

• • Super-admin Users
    Registered entities now have the ability to designate one or multiple “super-admin” users.  These individuals are able to log into eFSAP and draft, but not submit, the following:
    • APHIS/CDC Form 1 technical amendments
    • APHIS/CDC Form 2
    • APHIS/CDC Form 3
    • APHIS/CDC Form 4
    • Responses to inspection findings

• • Simple Principal Investigator (PI) Replacement
    eFSAP now includes a new type of administrative amendment, simple PI replacement. If a PI needs to be removed, eFSAP is able to automatically assign the following to another
    unrestricted PI:
    • all of their approved work objectives
    • all of their personnel
    • all of their strains and serotypes

This new feature negates the need to submit APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 7A/C technical amendments, as well as Section 4 and 7B administrative changes, if the removed PI’s work objectives, personnel, and strains/serotypes need to be retained.

In addition to the major features listed above, eFSAP users will also notice the following enhancements:

• Work Objective Histories – Changes to work objectives over time are able to be tracked in APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 7A/C.
• APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 4 Enhancements – 1) APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 4 now defaults to show an entity’s unrestricted personnel when the page is initially loaded or upon page refresh.  2) APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 4 now also displays the “BRAG-received” date (the date that FBI/CJIS began the individual’s background check).
• Amendment Numbers – Unique amendment numbers are assigned to each technical amendment in the amendment grid table for easier reference, search, and retrieval.
• APHIS/CDC Form 3 Case Identifiers and Agents – 1) Unique case identifiers are assigned to APHIS/CDC Form 3s for easier reference, search, and retrieval. 2) APHIS/CDC Form 3 data tables show the agent or toxin involved.

For more information, please review the tutorial pdf icon[PDF – 1,006 KB].

Please note: as with every eFSAP system update, users must clear their internet browser cache in order for the system to function properly. Instructions can be found on the eFSAP Resource Center page.

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) recently announced the deployment of a major system update to the electronic Federal Select Agent Program (eFSAP) information system. Entities are encouraged to sign up for our upcoming webinars covering: APHIS/CDC Forms 2, 3, and 4 printing; APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 4 and Section 7B data export; notification table enhancements; and file archiving.
Sessions will be held at the following dates/time:

• May 20: 10-11 am ET
• May 22: 1-2 pm ET
• May 30: 3-4 pm ET

To register for a session, please visit the Training Registration Page.

Please note: as with every eFSAP system update, users must clear their internet browser cache in order for the system to function properly.  Instructions can be found on the eFSAP Resource Center page.  

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) is pleased to announce the deployment of another major system update to the electronic Federal Select Agent Program (eFSAP) Information System.  Based on feedback from the regulated community, we believe these new features will provide a better user experience.

Beginning May 16, 2019, authorized SAMS account holders at all registered entities will notice the following significant updates:

• • APHIS/CDC Forms 2, 3, and 4 printing
    Responsible Officials (ROs), Alternate Responsible Officials (AROs), and entity “read-only” users now have the ability to print all sections of Forms 2, 3, and 4.

• • APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 4 and Section 7B data export
    ROs and AROs now have the ability to export Section 4 data.  In addition, read-only users as well as ROs and AROs have the ability to export Section 7B data.  The data is exported into a .csv file that is compatible with common spreadsheet applications.

• • Notification table enhancements
    Numerous enhancements have been made to the notification tables found at the top of the entity home page and inspection details page.  Entities now get the following notifications:
    • When a person is approved by FSAP for access to select agents and toxins
    • When a person’s FSAP approval for access to select agents and toxins is 45 and 90 days from approval expiration
    • When a person’s FSAP approval for access to select agents and toxin has expired

    In addition, ROs, AROs, and read-only users now have the ability to flag notifications for follow up and to archive notifications.

• File archiving
  ROs and AROs now have the ability to archive previously uploaded files.  The archiving feature is available system-wide from the grid tables at the bottom of the entity landing page, inspection details page, and at the bottom of each section of Forms 1-4.

In addition to the major features listed above, eFSAP users will also notice the following minor enhancements:

• APHIS/CDC Form 1 Section 7A/C now includes a keyword search feature that filters information down to the requested search term.
• The Inspection Module has been updated to allow additional response time when FSAP requests subsequent information related to an inspection finding.
• The APHIS/CDC Form 1 interface has been optimized, making all sections landscape-oriented.

For more information, please review the tutorial pdf icon[PDF – 1 MB] with screenshots of the new features.

The Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) is pleased to announce the deployment of a major system update to the electronic Federal Select Agent Program (eFSAP) information system.  With this release, APHIS/CDC Form 1 now joins APHIS/CDC Forms 2-4 in providing registered entities the ability to complete all sections of the form 100% electronically in eFSAP.  We have also made enhancements to the eFSAP inspection module based on feedback from FSAP and entity users during the late 2018 pilot period.

Beginning January 31, 2019, authorized SAMS account holders at all registered entities will notice the following updates:

Additional APHIS/CDC Form 1 Amendment Types

Responsible Officials (ROs) and Alternate Responsible Officials (AROs) have the ability to perform the following Form 1 amendments directly in eFSAP:

• Section 3: Add, Remove, or Reactive select agents and toxins
• Section 4: Request Change of Responsible Official
• Section 6: Add, Remove, or Modify Buildings
• Section 6: Add, Remove, or Modify Laboratory Rooms and Suites
• Section 7: Add, Remove, or Modify work objectives

In preparation for these new amendment types, in November 2018 FSAP staff began migrating entities’ Form 1 Sections 7a and 7c data to a new format.  Entities were asked to verify that the data was migrated correctly by the end of December 2018.  FSAP would like to thank the majority of entities who completed this verification and encourage those few entities that have not yet verified their data to do so as soon as possible.  To make use of the new electronic amendment types listed above, verification of the new Form 1 section 7a and 7c is required.

Inspection Module version 1.1

In late August 2018, FSAP released the first version of a new, interactive, electronic inspection module in eFSAP.  From September – December, 2018, FSAP employed limited use of the inspection module during an initial pilot phase.  Based on feedback from FSAP inspectors and entities participating in the pilot, additional features and refinements have been implemented.  The following is the full list of features entities will now experience:

• Entities have awareness regarding the inspection team and inspection focus as soon as FSAP staffs the inspection and generates checklists for the inspection.
• Entities have the ability to respond to inspection findings on an individual basis as time and resources permit.
• The inspection resolution page (inspection report) contains toggle filters allowing quick navigation to inspection findings based on their status (open vs. closed) and type (departure, general concern, request for information, etc.)
• Directly through the inspection module, FSAP has the ability to close inspection findings or ask for additional information.
• Entities have the ability to print their inspection findings with or without all correspondence with FSAP regarding the inspection findings.
• eFSAP generates automated entity notifications regarding the following inspection-related events: when inspections are scheduled, as inspection findings are released for entity review, any time there is correspondence to or from FSAP regarding resolution of inspection findings, and upon closeout of each finding.

In addition to the major features listed above, eFSAP users will also notice the following minor enhancements:

• Users will be notified when trying to upload a file with a title containing special characters incompatible with eFSAP (e.g., ~, #, &, ?, +)
• The Help and Support Section at the bottom of every page of eFSAP now contains a direct link to the eFSAP resource center.
• Entities are able to request a change of their lead regulatory agency (HHS vs. USDA) in a manner similar to how they currently request a renewal of their registration

For more information, please review the tutorial pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB] with screenshots of the new features.