Microsoft Sharepoint-based Solution to Streamline the Management of Ohio EPA Funded Grants
RESTON, VIRGINIA (PRWEB) OCTOBER 13, 2005
Bamboo Solutions Corporation, a technology provider specializing in collaborative information management solutions for government and industry, today announced it has been awarded a contract with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), Office of Environmental Education to deploy and host their grants management solution. Built using Microsoft Sharepoint technology, Grant.trak™ – a web-based solution developed by Bamboo Solutions – will automate and centralize all grant-related tasks and information generated by the Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF).
The Ohio General Assembly created the OEEF in 1990 to enhance Ohioan’s awareness and understanding of environmental issues. Tasked with managing approximately $1 million in grants through this fund, the Office of Environmental Education works to support Ohio EPA’s mission to “protect the environment and public health by ensuring compliance with environmental laws and demonstrating leadership in environmental stewardship”. Over 100 grants, each with a life span of 12 to 30 months, are administered by OEEF staff. Grantees must submit and receive approval for detailed fiscal and activity reports, upon which their payment is dependent. Utilizing a variety of applications, grant information has been stored in paper-based and non-centralized sources, making it difficult to report on the disposition of grants, across grants and programs.
Grant.trak, developed by Bamboo Solutions, is a centralized, web-based solution that will provide accessibility and visibility to OEEF grant programs. The turnkey system provides a familiar user interface that is seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Office 2003. Grant applications will be submitted, reviewed, and administered online via a secure and password-based Internet connection. With grant data stored in a centralized location, grantees and OEEF staff will be able to track and access the progress of grants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Grant.trak features search and reporting capabilities, enabling users to instantly locate and report on the status of stored information across grants and programs. It features a workflow tool, enabling staff to automate the grant application and approval process, which currently can take as long as 4 months. Assignments to over 300 peer reviewers, as well as summary reviews, comments, and scores, will be conducted electronically, significantly condensing the manual process. Email notifications and alerts facilitate meeting deadlines for submissions, reviews, and fiscal/activity reporting requirements.
“Grant.trak software will significantly enhance efficiency in Ohio EPA’s Environmental Education grant program, enabling us to provide better service and gather more detailed information,” says Carolyn Watkins, Chief of Ohio EPA Environmental Education.
The Ohio EPA OEEF system is currently scheduled for first quarter 2006 delivery.
About Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA)
Since 1972, Ohio EPA has protected human health and the environment by establishing and enforcing regulations for air quality, drinking water and stream water quality, wastewater treatment, and solid and hazardous waste disposal. Since 1990, Ohio Environmental Education Fund has awarded nearly $16 million to more than 600 education projects aimed at students, the general public, and facilities regulated by environmental law. Funding comes from civil penalties paid by facilities that violate air and water pollution control laws. For more information, visit http://www.epa.state.oh.us/oeef/
About Grant.trak™
Grant.trak™ simplifies and streamlines the full life-cycle administration of grants. Regardless of whether you are a funding or receiving organization (or both), Grant.trak, a grants management software solution, will reduce the time spent tracking and managing grant activities and eliminate the hidden costs of traditional, paper-based processes. Fully integrated with Microsoft Office 2003, Grant.trak capitalizes on the rich and user-friendly collaborative elements of Microsoft Sharepoint technology, providing end-users with a powerful tool for managing grants.
About Bamboo Solutions
Bamboo Solutions Corporation is a technology provider specializing in web-based, collaborative management solutions for government and industry for over 8 years. Bamboo Solutions is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, USA. For more information, visit http://bamboosolutions.com.
SOURCE: PRWeb
