Facility Online Manager

The NCFL uses the Facility Online Manager (FOM) system to track instrument usage. Users must use FOM to book time on an instrument both for training and collecting data. This guide provides a quick start for using FOM and touches on the following:

How to sign up for FOM as a first-time user
How to add a purchase order (PO) account number to your FOM account
How to sign up for training on an instrument
How to sign up for instrument time
How to contact NCFL staff

Signing Up for FOM

First-time users of FOM must create an account to access the system.

Go to the FOM website, and select “I am a new user”.
Fill in the fields in the “FOM New User Registration” window, then select “Submit”.
Check your email and follow the instructions there to continue registration. Contact one of the instrument managers if you never receive the email.

Adding a Purchase Order (PO) Account Number

To reserve time on an instrument, including for training, you must have an active PO in FOM. Note: POs close out at the end of every month. Contact your departmental financial office to obtain a PO. If you have further questions please contact the NCFL Administrative Assistant, Susette Sowers.

Log into FOM using your user credentials.
Select “My Profile”.
Fill in the fields in the “Add new PO Number…” section, then select “Submit”.
- To avoid confusion with multiple POs for a given project, add a month and year designation to the “Research description name”—e.g., Study of Bees Sept 2026.

Signing Up For Training

Prior to using an instrument on your own, you must train with the lab manager overseeing that instrument. Each instrument requires a different number of training sessions, which will depend on the data you are interested in collecting.

Note: Some lab managers may require you to consult their personal calendars within FOM and schedule training sessions accordingly when booking the instrument time.

On the Home page, find and select the instrument you want to be trained on in “Unauthorized Resources”.
Fill in the fields in the “New User Application Form” window, then select “Apply”.
Select “OK” in the “Application submitted” pop up window.
After reloading FOM, the instrument of interest will appear on your Home page in “Authorized Resources”. Select the instrument calendar by clicking on its name.
Click on the calendar to choose a date and time for your first training session.
Fill in the fields in the “New reservation” window, then select “Reserve”.

Signing Up For Instrument Time

Once you have been trained on an instrument, the lab manager will give you access to the instrument within FOM. This will allow you to sign up for time on your own.

On your Home page, select the instrument calendar by clicking on its name.
Click on the calendar to choose a date and time for your session(s).
Fill in the fields in the “New reservation” window, then select “Reserve”.

Contacting NCFL Staff

It is best to communicate with NCFL staff through FOM. This will ensure that you receive a prompt response. Please avoid sending individual emails to NCFL staff.

To send a message to NCFL staff, select “Contact Manager”.
- To see the roles of current staff, visit the NCFL website.
Select the resource of interest, enter your message, and select “Send”.