Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who do I contact for assistance with the nomination Web site or if I have questions regarding my nomination materials?

A: For assistance with this Web site and submitting nominations, you may call (865) 576-7434 or e-mail fermi@orise.orau.gov. You will receive a response within 24 hours on weekdays (Monday 8 a.m. - Friday 4 p.m.). If you request assistance on the weekend (Friday p.m. - Sunday), we will respond as soon as possible on the following Monday.

Q: Are there any requirements I have to meet for my account password?

A: Yes, there are minimal requirements that must be met. Your password must be at least 8 characters and contain at least one special character ( & # % ! - . , @ ).

Q: How many letters of support can be submitted for an award nominee?

A: There is a minimum of three required; however, up to six letters of support per nominee may be submitted.

Q: Can I nominate an individual who is not a U.S. citizen?

A: Yes, U.S. citizenship is not required for this award.

Q: I have my user name and password, but they will not work. I keep getting an error that my login attempt was not successful. What do I do?

A: There are a few things you can try. If you think you know your user name and password, try them again. Please note that the user name is not case sensitive, but your password is case sensitive.

If you are still unsuccessful, but you know or think you know your correct user name, visit the link on the log-in screen that says 'Forgot Your Password?' You will be directed to a page to enter your user name. You will then be prompted with your security question, and if answered correctly, your password will be sent to you via e-mail within minutes.

If you forgot your user name, please e-mail fermi@orise.orau.gov and request your user name. This e-mail should originate from the e-mail account used on your original account setup and should include your full name in the text of the e-mail.

Q: Do I have to submit all my documents at once or can I return and submit the rest at a later date?

A: You can continue to submit nominations and/or add required documents for your nominee(s) using your unique user name and password up until the award deadline. If you have updates to a document you have already submitted, you will need to resubmit that document. The last document uploaded in each of the document types will be considered the final version.

Q: What does the 'type' column mean on the Nomination Submission Summary page?

A: The 'type' column indicates which type of nomination document you have uploaded to meet the nomination criteria. The type is abbreviated, but you can reference the legend below for guidance:

LOJ = Letter of Justification
Bib = Bibliography
CV = Curriculum Vitae
LOS = Letter of Support

Q: I don't have all of the letters of support for my nominee ready. Can I add them later?

A: Yes, using your unique user name and password, you can add letters of support and/or replace documents you have submitted up until the award deadline.

Q: How do I mark my nomination as 'complete' when I have submitted all of my required nomination documents?

A: The system does not have a way to mark a nomination as 'complete.' The nomination submission system will allow you to upload files to your nomination until the award deadline. At that time, all submissions will be considered 'complete.' If you have questions on your nomination and/or want to confirm that all of your documents have been received, you may contact the Fermi Award staff at (865) 576-7434 or e-mail fermi@orise.orau.gov.

Q: I have tried several times to upload a file and keep getting a message in the 'Upload Summary' area that says "Not PDF" and it does not show up as an uploaded file on the submission summary page. What is wrong?

A: The error you are receiving is due to the file format of the document you are trying to upload. The submission system can only accept PDF files. When you have a PDF file equivalent, return to the nomination file upload screen and upload your PDF file. You should receive an 'Upload Successful' message in the upload summary area and the file should now display under your nominee on the Nomination Submission Summary screen.

Q: I submitted incorrect information for my nominee and cannot go back to change it. How do I have his/her contact information updated?

A: To update a nominee's contact information, you will need to send your user name, the nominee's name, and the updated contact information to fermi@orise.orau.gov.