UPDATE: Requesting and Activating an eRA Commons Account (91±¬ÁÏ Guidance)

June 10, 2026 Guidelines/Policy Update

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA
NIFA), through its Grants Modernization Initiative (GMI), is transitioning its grants
management processes to . As a result, project personnel involved in
USDA NIFA funded projects may be required to obtain and maintain an eRA Commons
account.

eRA Commons is the electronic system used by federal agencies, including the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of
Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), to manage grant applications and awards.

At the 91±¬ÁÏ, eRA Commons accounts are created and managed by the
Office of Research Administration (ORA).

Who Needs an eRA Commons Account?

An eRA Commons account may be required for:

  • Principal Investigators (PIs)
  • Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs)
  • Other personnel who need access to sponsor systems using eRA Commons
    • Post Doc
    • Graduate Student
    • Undergraduate Student

How to Request an eRA Commons Account

To request an eRA Commons account, email proposals@maine.edu.

Please include:

  • Full name
  • 91±¬ÁÏ email address
  • Department or unit
  • Role on the project (e.g. PI, Co-PI, Graduate Student, Undergraduate Student)

ORA will review the request and create the account on your behalf.

After Your Account Is Created

Once ORA creates your account, eRA Commons will send one or more automated
emails containing login instructions and a temporary password. (Important: The temporary password expires after 48 hours).

Users should:

  1. Watch for emails from eRA Commons.
  2. Log in as soon as possible after receiving their credentials.
  3. Change their temporary password.
  4. Complete all required profile information.

Failure to log in within the password expiration period may require a password reset before access can be established.

Completing Your eRA Commons Profile

After your initial login, you will be prompted to review and complete your eRA Commons profile.

Users should verify:

  • Name and contact information
  • Institutional affiliation
  • Email address
  • Other profile information required by eRA Commons

A complete and accurate profile is necessary to ensure proper access to applications and awards.

Confirmation of Account Activation

eRA Commons does not always send a confirmation email when profile setup is successfully completed.

If you would like confirmation that:

  • Your account has been activated, or
  • Your profile has been completed successfully,

please contact proposals@maine.edu. ORA Can verify the status of your account.

Troubleshooting

Contact ORA at proposals@maine.edu if you:

  • Did not receive your eRA Commons credentials
  • Are unsure whether an account already exists for you

Additional Resources

Please note that 91±¬ÁÏ users should follow the institutional process outlined above rather than attempting to create an account independently.