Managing allocations: overview

Once a project has received its allocation, the PI has a number of options to ensure the flexibility needed to complete their research objectives.

In all cases, management actions are subject to resource availability on the target resource and Resource Provider concurrence. A Resource Provider may decline requests for reasons including resource-specific eligibility requirements, lack of alignment with a resource's posted recommended use, the resource not being able to support the planned applications, and so on.

Additional users

A PI may share their allocation by adding collaborators' user accounts to their project. Collaborators may be graduate or undergraduate students as well as colleagues based outside of the U.S., with the exception of researchers based in countries on the U.S. State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism. Some Resource Providers may have additional restrictions on international collaborators.

How to Add a User:

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Manage Allocations”

  3. Click “Manage Users”

  4. Click on the specific Request number (allocation) you’d like to add to 

  5. Click “Add users to resources” 

  6. Search for their username

  7. By default, users are added to every resource. Please de-select resources if you’d like to only add them to select resources

  8. Click “save changes”

  9. Note that this process is not instantaneous and varies by resource provider

    1. When an account is active an email from the resource provider is sent

    2. When the account is available a login will be listed at the bottom of the “Edit Profile” screen 

Note: please be aware that you cannot add users to a resource until after you submit an exchange request. Users can only be added to specific resources – not ACCESS Credits

Exchanges and transfers

Exchanges are the mechanism by which PIs convert their ACCESS Credits to specific resource allocations. Within any opportunity, PIs can also request that specific resource units on one platform be transferred to another. All exchanges and transfers are subject to conversion of units according to established exchange rates.

Exchanges and transfers can only be made within a project; credits or resource units cannot be moved from one project to another.

How to submit an Exchange request: 

Once an Explore, Discover, or Accelerate project type is approved, ACCESS Credits will be allocated. An Exchange request must then be submitted to gain access to specific resources to carry out the proposed initiatives.  

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Manage Allocations” 

  3. Click on “Manage My Projects”

  4. You will then see your allocations listed 

  5. The option for “New Action” will be available with the option for “Exchange”

  6. You will then need to select specific resources from the drop-down menu and enter a desired amount of resource units (CPU hours, GPU hours, GBs, etc.) 

  7. Note that the ACCESS Credit balance will update as resource numbers are entered

  8. If you don’t have enough ACCESS Credits you may need to request a Supplement, or upgrade to another project type

  9. Contact the Allocations Team if you need an upgraded allocation

  10. After the request has been submitted and reviewed you will receive email notification of the decision

How to submit a Transfer request:

A transfer request moves resource units (CPU hours, GPU hours) from one resource directly to another. Please utilize the Exchange Calculator during this process since resource units may not be equal across platforms. 

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Manage Allocations” 

  3. Click on “Manage My Projects”

  4. You will then see your allocations listed 

  5. The option for “New Action” will be available with the option for “Transfer”

  6. Enter a reason for the need of a Transfer request 

  7. You will then need to request at least two resources

    1. One to transfer away from:

      1. Indicate this with a negative number

    2. One to transfer to:

      1. Indicate this resource with a positive number

  8. After the request has been submitted and reviewed you will receive email notification of the decision

Note: please be aware of the difference between and exchange and transfer request.

Supplements

During an allocation award period for an Explore, Discover, or Accelerate ACCESS project, a PI may request a one-time increase to their ACCESS Credits via a supplement request. The ACCESS Credits for the Explore, Discover, and Accelerate opportunities are awarded in two phases. The first half of the Credits are available to you upon approval of your initial request. You can request the second half when needed by submitting a supplement request accompanied by a brief Progress Report. The Progress Report should describe how the PI's current allocation was used and summarize the findings or results. Projects that need more ACCESS Credits after using the available limit for the specific ACCESS opportunity should submit a request for the next larger opportunity (see Project Upgrades). Supplement requests for these opportunities are accepted at any time and are generally decided within two weeks of submission.

For Maximize ACCESS projects, supplement requests have no limit, although Resource Providers may limit supplemental awards based on resource availability. The Progress Report for the supplement request should describe why more resources are needed to complete the work in progress and justify those additional resources according to the review criteria. During periods of high resource demand, supplement requests may be declined or held for review during the next AARC opportunity.

How to submit a Supplement request:

A Supplemental request is for an increase in ACCESS Credits or resource-specific units.

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Manage Allocations” 

  3. Click on “Manage My Projects”

  4. You will then see your allocations listed 

  5. The option for “New Action” will be available with the option for “Supplement”

  6. A reason and a Progress Report document will be required to request a Supplement 

  7. If you have an Explore, Discover, or Accelerate project type, your supplement request will be for additional ACCESS Credits

    1. If you have a Maximize project type, you will need to request resource-specific units (e.g. CPU hours, GPU hours, GBs) 

  8. After the request has been submitted and reviewed you will receive email notification of the decision

Note: please be aware that the Explore, Discover, and Accelerate opportunities deal with ACCESS credits when wanting a supplement. The Maximize opportunity deals with service units when wanting a supplement.

Extensions

For projects supported by a funding award, extensions can be requested for Explore, Discover, or Accelerate ACCESS projects if the end date of the funding award changes through a no-cost extension or other means. A single extension of up to six months past the end of the funding award may be requested to wrap up the project.

For projects not supported by a funding award, Explore, Discover, or Accelerate ACCESS projects can be extended in 12-month increments for up to five years. Projects associated with an educational opportunity (university course or training event) are typically not extended, so that ACCESS and RPs can close unused accounts to reduce any latent cybersecurity risk.

Maximize ACCESS projects that encounter problems in consuming their allocations, such as unexpected staffing changes, can request a one-time extension to their allocation end date of a maximum of six months.

Note that extensions apply to all current resource allocations on the same project; PIs cannot extend some allocations and submit overlapping renewal requests for other resources. If a project still has unused allocation units at the end of the extended allocation period, the PI must submit a renewal request to continue their ACCESS project. The renewal request should explain the reasons for the unused allocation as part of the accompanying progress report.

How to submit an Extension request: 

An extension request modifies the end date of a current allocation to allow for continued access to resources that were previously allocated. 

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Manage Allocations” 

  3. Click on “Manage My Projects”

  4. You will then see your allocations listed 

  5. The option for “New Action” will be available with the option for “Extension”

  6. Enter a short reason for the need of a time Extension and a requested end date

After the request has been submitted and reviewed you will receive email notification of the decision

Project renewals

Note: Existing XSEDE projects, such as “Startup”, “Educational” and “Campus Champion” allocations, may renew their allocation early in order to get into one of the opportunities.

When an Explore, Discover, or Accelerate ACCESS project reaches the end of its associated funding award, a PI may choose to renew their ACCESS project to pursue work supported by a subsequent funding award. With a renewal, the project is entitled to the full ACCESS Credit limit for that opportunity; however, unused Credits and resource units associated with the prior allocation will be forfeited. (For overlapping funding awards, a PI may submit a separate project request if additional resources are needed.)

To continue a Maximize ACCESS project beyond its initial allocation period (including any extension applied), the PI should submit a renewal request to the AARC for consideration. In most cases, this request should be submitted approximately one year after the initial request submission, so that it can be reviewed and awarded to avoid any interruption. In general, the appropriate submission period is approximately three months prior to the expiration of their allocation. Maximize ACCESS awards may support efforts spanning more than one funding award. However, a PI with an active Maximize ACCESS award may choose to request a separate allocated project at an appropriate opportunity to encompass the work of a separate funding award.

How to submit a Renewal request: 

When an allocation is nearing its end (the end date approaching) and the resource balances have been nearly depleted, a Renewal allows to refresh resource balances and extend the end date.

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Manage Allocations” 

  3. Click on “Manage My Projects”

  4. You will then see your allocations listed 

  5. The option for “New Action” will be available with the option for “Renewal” 

    1. Note that a renewal can only be submitted when 90 days or less remain on the active allocation

  6. You should see the option: Renewal for (EXPLORE, DISCOVER, ACCELERATE, MAXIMIZE) ACCESS. Click on “Renewal for (ACCESS OPPORTUNITY TYPE) ACCESS”

    1. If you’re unsure of which to choose, reference the Overview page of the various allocation opportunities

  7. After the request has been submitted and reviewed you will receive email notification of the decision

Project upgrades

If a PI exhausts the maximum amount of ACCESS Credits available at a given opportunity and determines that more resources are needed to complete the project, they may submit a request to a larger opportunity. The Progress Report document for the larger-scale opportunity should describe any progress made at the smaller-scale opportunity. The initial allocation of ACCESS Credits will be half of the total amount for the new opportunity minus the amount consumed at the smaller-scale opportunity. When moving to the Maximize ACCESS opportunity, projects will be awarded according to the AARC process. The PI will be entitled to proceed according to the rules governing the new project opportunity.

Progress reports

Progress reports are required in order to receive the second half of the available ACCESS Credits for Explore, Discover, and Accelerate opportunities. In no more than three pages, a progress report should summarize the work accomplished to date, describe how the ACCESS resources were used to support the work, identify any publications in progress, and summarize how the project will be completed with the remaining ACCESS Credits (or plans to move the work to another opportunity). Published citable works should be entered separately via the supplement submission interface.

Progress reports are also essential to successful renewal requests at the Maximize opportunity. The progress report should summarize the work accomplished to date, describe any deviations from the originally proposed work, identify any publications in progress, and explain why any resource allocations were substantially underused (if applicable). For resources without accounting charges, a PI must describe how the resources were used effectively and justify any continued need for resources in subsequent years. Failure to discuss the resource utilization may result in a reduced or declined allocation. Published citable works resulting from the prior allocation should be entered via the renewal submission form.

Final reports

Upon the completion of any project, the PI must submit a final report that summarizes the work accomplished with the awarded allocations and describe how the ACCESS resources were used to support the work. Significant deviations from the originally planned work or reasons for being unable to accomplish the work should also be briefly described. Publications or citable works resulting from the allocations should be added separately via the renewal submission interface.

How to submit a Final Report:

Upon the completion of any project, the PI must submit a final report that summarizes the work accomplished with the awarded allocations and describe how the ACCESS resources were used to support the work.

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Manage Allocations” 

  3. Click on “Manage My Projects”

  4. You will then see your allocations listed 

  5. The option for “New Action” will be available with the option for “Final Report”

Acknowledging support

An acknowledgement of support from the appropriate Resource Providers and ACCESS should appear in any publication of material, whether copyrighted or not, that describes work that benefited from access to ACCESS cyberinfrastructure resources. For suggested language, see How to Acknowledge ACCESS.

PIs should report all articles or other citable works that benefited from support by ACCESS-allocated resources. These research products can be reported via the ACCESS allocations interface as part of a PI's allocation requests, progress reports, or final reports.

For more information, please refer to the ACCESS Allocations Policies.

Additional How-To Instructions

How to create an ACCESS ID: 

  1. Navigate to http://access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Register” under the “Login” button at the top-right of the screen

How to Edit Profile information: 

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Under “My ACCESS” the top right corner, click on “Edit Profile” 

  3. Now in your Profile click on “Edit your Name, Email, and Organization at the ACCESS Registry.” Follow the direction listed here: https://identity.access-ci.org/profile-update

How to edit an allocation request submission or related action: 

Note that once any allocation submission, or associated action (Extension, Supplement, Transfer, etc.) is “Under Review” it cannot be edited. Please submit a ticket and ask for an update, if needed. 

  1. Login to ACCESS: https://allocations.access-ci.org

  2. Click on “Manage Allocations” 

  3. Click on “Manage My Projects”

  4. You will then see your allocations listed 

  5. Click on the word “Edit” 

Add Publications

The Publications tool allows you to add details about publications to your ACCESS profile. These publications can be associated with your projects and used for future justifications for ACCESS Allocations resources. The tool is separated into sections to allow for easier entry; Publication Information, Authors, Tags, and Associated Projects.

Publication Information

To access the Publication Tool, log in: https://allocations.access-ci.org/login . Once logged in, under, “My ACCESS” click, “My Publications.”

The Publication Information section collects all of the basic metadata for a publication. The fields that you can fill out will vary depending on the type of publication you’re adding. All fields are optional with the exception of the Title.

If you have a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), much of this information may be automatically obtainable. Enter your DOI into the DOI field and click the “Lookup Publication” button. If the tool is able to locate the publication via CrossRef, it will automatically fill in the remaining fields where available. If the information is unavailable or incorrect, you can still manually fill out the fields with the correct information. 

If you have questions, please use the ACCESS Help Request Form