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.
RED PD’s phased implementation consisted of four rollout cycles to help ensure each unit — and every user — had the help and support needed to transition smoothly from PINS to PD. The ERA project team is committed to ensuring that affected users receive adequate training, guidance and resources throughout the transition, including after PINS has been fully retired.
PD Champions
Each unit on campus has its own PD 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.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
CALS RED PD Users should email cals-pd-support@ncsu.edu to seek help, ask questions, or offer feedback.
College of Education
- Deneshia Anderson (dlanders@ncsu.edu)
- Jane Casteline (jmcastel@ncsu.edu)
- Joyce Christian (jjjones3@ncsu.edu)
College of Engineering
COE RED PD Users should email COE-PD-Support@ncsu.edu to seek help, ask questions, or offer feedback.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Emily Davis (eadavi22@ncsu.edu)
- Missy Thomas (mgseate@ncsu.edu)
College of Sciences
- Connor Dorsch (cmdorsch@ncsu.edu)
- Morgan Hubach (emhubach@ncsu.edu)
- Joanna Jones (jmjones4@ncsu.edu)
- Betty Morgan (bamorga5@ncsu.edu)
Integrated Support Services Center (ISSC)
- Gail Britt (gail_platt@ncsu.edu)
- Ann Hunt (aehunt@ncsu.edu)
- Amy Nonino (amy_nonino@ncsu.edu)
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) |
FAQs
When will I have to switch from PINS to PD?
PD’s phased implementation consisted of four rollout cycles, which roughly corresponded with each quarter of FY26. Unless there are special circumstances, all new proposals should now be submitted in RED PD.
The ability to create new proposals in PINS will be deactivated on Aug. 25, 2026.
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?
Non-ORI Centers and Institutes were included in the same rollout cycle as their administrative unit. Centers and Institutes that are administratively managed by ORI were included in rollout Cycle 2. Contact era-project@ncsu.edu if you’re unsure which rollout cycle you fall into.
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 implementation — but the ability to create new proposals in PINS will be deactivated on Aug. 25, 2026.
PINS users will be notified when a final retirement date for PINS has been set.
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Check our RED Training FAQs or contact era-project@ncsu.edu.