Why am I unable to log on?

First, make sure that you are entering your last name in the first empty box.

Next, if you are a participant in the project and this is your first time logging in to the NFQA database then you will need to get your password from your Water Science Center Water Quality Specialist.

If you have logged on before but can not remember your password please contact RoseAnn Martin at ramartin@usgs.gov.

Why did I receive these samples?

An email is sent out to the Water Science Center Water Quality (QW) Specialist and/or Field Office Water Quality Specialist to update the participant list for the project before samples are sent out for analysis. They also make the request at this time for the ranges and bottle sizes that are to be sent to each participant. Samples are sent out based on what the Water Science Center and/or Field Office QW Specialist select for each participant.

What if I miss the deadline to enter my sample results?

There are about 2 months from the time the samples are shipped until the results are due. If you cannot submit your results by the deadline then you will receive no ranking for your samples which is reflected in the results tables.

I try to enter my results and I keep getting an error; can I try some other way?

A common issue with not getting results to submit successfully is the completion of the three required fields: Result, Meter, and Probe. If you do not see all three fields, scroll over.

What do I do if I can't enter my data via the web site?

If you cannot enter your data via the web, contact your office Water Quality Specialist and ask them to enter it for you. If the deadline is approaching and your Office QW Specialist is unavailable then you can email your results to RoseAnn Martin at ramartin@usgs.gov.

How do I exclude a sample that will not be tested?

Following the pattern of a single point-of-contact, the relevant Water-Quality Specialist has also been designated as the authorized individual for any exclusion of samples or results. The QW Specialist may exclude samples assigned to participants by implementing the following:

After logging into http://internalbqs.cr.usgs.gov/NFQA/NFQA.php (as usual, as yourself).
There are two things to do:
1) Go to NFQA Tab -> Add/Modify Results
    a) choose office
    b) click on participant's name
    c) select sample row
    d) click the pencil icon in the lower left corner to open the dialog box for entering data
    e) enter a zero for the result and choose a meter and a probe
    f) click on the "Exclude Result" check box
    g) select a reason for exclusion from the drop-down box
    h) click on the "Submit" button
    i) repeat for each sample that needs to be excluded for that participant
    j) repeat these steps for each participant who is unable to analyze their assigned samples (Add/Modify results, choose office, etc.)

Additionally, if the participant has left the office permanently:
2) Contact RoseAnn Martin at ramartin@usgs.gov to have the participant moved to the Inactive Office; they will no longer be displayed on the active participant list for that office

How do I add a new participant to the database?

Following the pattern of a single point-of-contact, the relevant Water-Quality Specialist has also been designated as the authorized individual for the addition of new participants.

1) Log in to http://internalbqs.cr.usgs.gov/NFQA/NFQA.php (as usual, as yourself).
2) Enter in new participants (if these people have moved from another office or area, please call the NFQA administrator to verify if they
    have a profile that exists in the system)
    a) Go to "Add/Modify Participant"
    b) Add Participant information in the form provided
        *required fields include: office name from the drop down list, First name, Last name, Password, Repeat Password
        (these can be temporary ones for the new participant), email address, Staff Category, Participant Role, Reports To,
        verify USGS Staff check box (if not coop) and Active check box
    c) Click on button "Insert Participant Information" after assigning the Staff Category,
3) Log out and log back in

How do I re-assign a sample from one participant to another?

Following the pattern of a single point-of-contact, the relevant Water-Quality Specialist has also been designated as the authorized individual for any re-assignment of samples among personnel. The QW Specialist may reassign samples to participants by implementing the following:

1) Log in to http://internalbqs.cr.usgs.gov/NFQA/NFQA.php (as usual, as yourself).
2) Go to "Assign Orders" which is a drop-down on the NFQA tab after you log in
    a) Choose the office of interest
    b) Click on the participant whose sample is to be reassigned
    c) The table shows all the samples assigned to the participant chosen. The following steps must be followed row by row
    d) In the last column there is a drop down list of names; choose the participant you want to reassign the sample to
    e) Click on "Assign Order" button in the first column
    f) Repeat for each sample you want to reassign

How do I edit my results?

As a participant, you are able to edit data in the NFQA system.

1) Log in to http://internalbqs.cr.usgs.gov/NFQA/NFQA.php (as usual, as yourself).
2) Click on the drop-down "Add/Edit Results" under the NFQA tab
3) Choose office
4) Choose partipicant
5) Click on a sample row and click the pencil icon in the lower left to enter the Data Entry dialog box
6) Modify the result value as desired
    A Note for Water Quality Specialists: this dialog box is also used when excludinig data for samples that will not be analyzed;
    the result will be excluded from ranking; leave the "Exclude Sample" check box unchecked for valid data result entry

When and how can I get my results?

Approximately 2 weeks after all the data has been collected and entered into the database the results will be available to your Water Science Center and/or Field Office QW Specialist.

What happens when I receive an unsatisfactory rating?

After the results are made available, your Water Science Center and/or Field Office Water Quality Specialist will determine what course of action to take. They may order rerun (Round 2) samples for retesting purposes. The results from Round 2 samples are for your office record keeping. They are not to be resubmitted to the NFQA project database. The extra samples can be ordered by contacting RoseAnn Martin via email or call 303-236-1874. There is a shipping charge for Round 2 samples.