Moving From PINS to PD: What You Need to Know
RED's Proposal Development (PD) module will replace the legacy system PINS. This page covers what PINS users need to know in preparation for the transition.
PD is being rolled out to campus in four cycles. Our phased implementation approach aims to ensure each unit — and every PINS user — receives the help and support they need to smoothly transition into using PD.
Change is rarely easy or fun, especially when it comes to learning new software systems for work. While we can’t promise fun, the ERA project team is committed to ensuring that affected users receive adequate training, guidance and resources throughout the transition.
Rollout Schedule
Each unit will follow the same basic launch timeline, regardless of which rollout cycle you’ve been assigned. Roughly eight weeks, at a minimum, will be allotted for in-system training before users will begin working on proposals in PD. Step-by-step guides and other resources will be available on the Research Education and Training website, and users are also welcome to contact the RED Training Manager for further assistance.
- Champion Training: During this four-week period, unit Champions (see below) will be given the first opportunity to attend training sessions.
- Unit Training: During this six-week period, all users affected by the current rollout cycle will be invited to attend the RED U course(s) they need to learn how to use PD in training environment of the system.
- Initial PD Processing: Throughout this eight-week period, units in the current rollout cycle will gradually begin to create and submit proposals in the production (live) version of PD.
- Transitional Period: For several months after units begin to enter their first transactions in PD, the ERA project team and RED Training Manager will be available for ad hoc support.
Unit Assignments
Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 | Cycle 4 |
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NOTE: Non-ORI Centers and Institutes will be included in the same rollout cycle as their administrative unit. Contact era-project@ncsu.edu if you’re unsure which rollout cycle you fall into.
Cycle Start Dates
- Cycle 1: Aug. 19, 2025
- Cycle 2: Oct. 13, 2025
- Cycle 3: Jan. 5, 2026
- Cycle 4: March 9, 2026
NOTE: Start dates indicate when the first training sessions will open for registration. Dates and timeline subject to change; continue using PINS until instructed otherwise.
Video Introduction to PD
PINS vs. PD: Major Differences
PINS | Proposal Development (PD) | Why the difference? | |
User Profiles and Security Standards | User profiles allowed to be associated w/ non-NC State email addresses. | All user profiles must have an associated NC State email address (i.e., unityID@ncsu.edu). | NC State REG 08.00.02 – Use of IT Resources mandates this requirement for all enterprise-level systems. |
Roles and Editing Permissions | Permissions change at each level of approval (e.g., once approved at Dept. level, users w/ Dept.-level access can no longer edit proposals). | Role-based permissions remain the same throughout the entire routing/approval process. Once proposal has been routed, certain sections (i.e., tabs) of the form can no longer be edited. | In RED, users and permissions are defined together as a ‘role,’ and this combination cannot be changed once final routing has begun. |
Budgeting | Budgets are built in a separate spreadsheet tool, then uploaded to PINS. Budget data is not automatically carried forward throughout proposal and award lifecycle. | Budgets are built within PD, with the option to upload internal budget documents created in separate spreadsheet tools prior to routing. Budget data is carried forward into RED's Proposal Tracking (PT) module and, upon award, Post Award Management (PAM) module. | RED's PD module offers more robust built-in budgeting functionality and helps ensure consistency and continuity in budgets. Consistent budget formatting is also necessary to support seamless S2S submission. |
PI Eligibility Requirements | PIs and other Senior Personnel were allowed to be named on proposals as long eligibility requirements met prior to award. | PIs and other Senior Personnel (e.g., Co-PIs) must meet all eligibility requirements prior to proposal submission, including an up-to-date Financial Interest disclosure, etc. | As an enterprise system, RED's PD module will be connected with the COI/COC module, Animal Care and Use module, and, after its eventual implementation, the Human Subjects module. |
System-to-System (S2S) Submission Supported? | One major benefit of RED is its ability to directly interface with the proposal submission software federal sponsors use (e.g., Grants.gov) |
PD Champions
Each unit on campus will have its own Champion(s) — users who’ve volunteered to help support others in their unit, including serving as the initial point-of-contact for questions and feedback.
As each rollout cycle begins, Champions’ names will be listed below, along with their preferred method of contact.
Cycle 1 Units
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Emily Davis (eadavi22@ncsu.edu)
- Missy Thomas (mgseate@ncsu.edu)
- College of Natural Resources
- Christine Epps (hcepps@ncsu.edu)
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- Nina Wojtalewicz (CVMgrantsoffice@ncsu.edu)
Cycle 2 Units
- College of Sciences
- Connor Dorsch (cmdorsch@ncsu.edu)
- Morgan Hubach (emhubach@ncsu.edu)
- Joanna Jones (jmjones4@ncsu.edu)
- Betty Morgan (bamorga5@ncsu.edu)
- Graduate School
- Todd Marcks (Todd_Marcks@ncsu.edu)
- Integrated Support Services Center (ISSC)
- Gail Britt (gail_platt@ncsu.edu)
- Ann Hunt (aehunt@ncsu.edu)
- Amy Nonino (amy_nonino@ncsu.edu)
Cycle 3 Units
- College of Design
- Elizabeth Walker (eabaker5@ncsu.edu)
- College of Engineering
- Savannah Alberts (slalbert@ncsu.edu)
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Paige Doster-Grimes (pkdoster@ncsu.edu)
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Madison Elford (mkelford@ncsu.edu)
- CJ Gosnell (chgosnel@ncsu.edu)
- Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein
- Patrick Hayes (phayes@ncsu.edu)
- Laurinda Perez (llmarsh@ncsu.edu)
- Lenise Sellars (lenise_sellars@ncsu.edu)
- Industrial Extension
- Ashley Shepherd (lasheph3@ncsu.edu)
- Savannah Alberts (slalbert@ncsu.edu)
- College of Education
- Deneshia Anderson (dlanders@ncsu.edu)
- Jane Casteline (jmcastel@ncsu.edu)
- Joyce Christian (jjjones3@ncsu.edu)
- Wilson College of Textiles
- Jennifer Clark (jmclark9@ncsu.edu)
Cycle 4 Units
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- TBA
- Poole College of Management
- TBA
FAQs
When will I have to switch from PINS to PD?
It depends on which rollout cycle your unit has been assigned. PD’s phased implementation will consist of four rollout cycles, which should roughly correspond with each quarter of the current fiscal year. View the table above to see which rollout cycle your unit is in.
Why are we moving from PINS to PD?
The Proposal Development (PD) module rounds out the Research Enterprise Data (RED) system’s suite of Sponsored Programs modules. As an enterprise-level system, RED offers several important benefits over NC State’s legacy software applications.
When will Centers and Institutes switch to PD?
Centers and Institutes that are administratively managed by ORI will be included in rollout Cycle 2. All other Centers and Institutes will be included in the same rollout cycle as their administrative unit.
I’m working on a proposal with another college. How should the proposal be submitted?
Multi-college proposals should only be submitted via PD if all colleges included in the proposal have transitioned to RED. If a proposal includes a unit that has not yet transitioned, it should be submitted via PINS.
When will PINS be retired?
PINS will remain active throughout PD’s entire phased implementation. Near the end of the fourth and final rollout cycle, we’ll set a date for PINS to be officially decommissioned.
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Check our RED Training FAQs or contact era-project@ncsu.edu.