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Acronyms

Acronym Meaning
 
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A-110 OMB Circular A-110 - Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals or Other Nonprofit Organizations
A-122 OMB Circular A-122 - Cost Principles for Non-profit Organizations
A-133 OMB Circular A-133 - Audits of States, Local Governments & Non-Profit Organizations
A-21 OMB Circular A-21 - Cost Principles for Educational Institutions
A-87 OMB Circular A-87 - Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments
AAALAC American Association of Animal Laboratory Accreditation Council
AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science
AAMC Association of American Medical Colleges
AAU Association of American Universities
ABRF Association of Bimolecular Resource Facilities
ACO Administrative Contracting Officer
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
AFAA Air Force Audit Agency
AFARS Army Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement
AFOSR Air Force Office of Scientific Research
AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory
AHRQ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AIRI Association of Independent Research Institutes
ALO American Liason Office for University Cooperation in Development
AMIDEAST America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc.
ANPRM Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
AOR Authorized Organizational Representative
AREA Academic Research Enhancement Award
ARO Army Research Office
ARPA Advanced Research Projects Agency
ASAP Automated Standard Application for Payments
ATP Advance Technology Program
AUTM Association of University Technology Managers
AWWA American Water Works Association
 
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BAA Broad Agency Announcement
BARD United States-Israel Binational Agriculture Research and Development Agency
BECON Bioengineering Consortium
BML Biological Material License
BRDPI Biomedical Research and Development Price Index
BSC Board of Scientific Counselors
 
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CAS Cost Accounting Standards
CASB Cost Accounting Standards Board
CBD Commerce Business Daily
CBO Congressional Budget Office
CC Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center
CCH Commerce Clearing House
CCR Central Contractor Registration
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CEL Commercial Evaluation License
CEO Chief Executive Officer
CFDA Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
CFO Chief Financial Officer
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CFS Committee on Fundamental Science
CICA Competition in Contracting Act
CIT Center for Information Technology
CLIN Contract Line Item Number
CMIA Cash Management Improvement Act
CNO Chief of Naval Operations
CO Contracting Officer
COGR Council On Governmental Relations www.cogr.edu
COO Chief Operating Officer
COS Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council
COSEPUP Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy
CPBR Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research
CPSR Contractor Procurement/Property System Review
CRADA Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
CRC Cooperative Research Center
CRIS Current Research Information System
CRISP Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Programs
CSR Center for Scientific Review
CSREES Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
 
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DA Department Administration Costs
DA Department of the Army
DC Direct Costs
DCA Division of Cost Allocation
DCAA Defense Contract Audit Agency
DCASR's Defense Contract Administration Services Regions
DCE Direct Cost Equivalent
DEAR Department of Energy Acquisition Regulations
DEC Determination of Exceptional Circumstances
DED Department of Education
DFAR Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation
DFARS Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement
DHEW Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services
DIA Defense Intelligence Agency
DIALOG A computer based search system using key words
DIPEC Defense Industrial Plant Equipment Council
DIS Defense Investigative Service
DNA Defense Nuclear Agency
DOA Department of Administration
DOC Department of Commerce
DOD Department of Defense
DODGARS DOD Grant and Agreement Regulations
DOE Department of Energy
DOI Department of the Interior
DOL Department of Labor
DOT Department of Transportation
DS-2 Disclosure Statement
 
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EA Expanded Authorities
EARS Electronic Approval and Routing Systems
EC Electronic Commerce
EDA Economic Development Administration
EDGAR Education Department General Administration Regulations
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EFT Electronic Funds Transfer
EIR Employee Invention Report
EO Executive Order
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ERA Economic Regulatory Administration
ERA Electronic Research Administration
ESA Extramural Scientist Administrator
ETA Employment and Training Administration
EVS Equipment Visibility System
 
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F&A Facilities and Administrative
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FACA Federal Advisory Committee Act
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation
FARS Financial Accounting and Reporting System
FASA Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act
FASAB Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board
FASEB Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
FCC Federal Communications Commission
FCST Federal Council for Science and Technology
FCTR Federal Cash Transaction Report (SF-272)
FDA Food and Drug Administration
FDP I Florida Demonstration Project
FDP II Federal Demonstration Project
FDP III Federal Demonstration Partnership
FECAI Federal Electronic Commerce Acquisition Instructions
FEDIX An on-line federal data base serving most federal agencies for on-line searches
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FFMIA Federal Financial Management Improvement Act
FHWA Federal Highway Administration
FIC John E. Fogarty International Center
FICC Federal Interagency Coordinating Council
FICE Federal Interagency Committee on Education (Code)
FIMA Financial Management System
FIPSE Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education
FIRST First Independent Research Support and Transition Award
FISAP Fiscal Operations Report & Application to Participate
FMC Federal Management Circular
FOB Free-on-board
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
FPR Final Proposal Revision
FR Federal Register
FS&T Federal Science and Technology Budget
FSR Financial Status Report (SF-269 or 269A)
FTC Federal Trade Commission
FTE Full-Time Equivalent
FTS Federal Telecommunications System
FTTA Federal Technology Transfer Act
FTTP Full-Time Training Position
FWA Federal-wide Assurance
FY Fiscal Year
 
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GA General Administration (Costs)
GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GAO General Accounting Office
GASB Governmental Accounting Standards Board
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GMO Grants Management Officer
GMRA Government Management Reform Act
GPG Grant Proposal Guide (NSF)
GPO Government Printing Office
GPRA Government Performance and Results Act
GSA General Services Administration
GUIRR Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable
 
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HBCU Historically Black College and University
HCFA Health Care Financing Administration
HHS Department of Health and Human Services
HIPPA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
HOPE Health Omnibus Programs Extension Legislation
HR/HI High Risk/High Impact
HRSA Health Resources and Services Administration
HSA Health Scientist Administrator
HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development
 
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IACUC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
IBC Institutional Biosafety Committee
IBRP Introduction to Biomedical Research Program
ICC Interstate Commerce Commission
IDC Indirect Costs
IG Inspector General
IMPAC Information for Management, Planning, Analysis, and Coordination
IND Investigational New Drug Application
IPA Intergovernmental Personnel Act
IPM Integrated Pest Management
IPR Intellectual Property Rights
IR&D Independent Research and Development
IRB Institutional Review Board
IRG Initial Review Group
IRIS An on-line search system for research opportunities developed by the University of Illinois
ITMRA Information Technology Management Reform Act
 
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JAG Judge Advocate General
JCS Joint Chiefs of Staff
 
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LSA Labor Surplus Area
 
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MARC Minority Access to Research Careers Program
MBDA Minority Business Development Agency
MBE Minority Business Enterprise
MBRS Minority Biomedical Research Support Program
MERIT Method to Extend Research in Time Award
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MTA Material Transfer Agreement
MTDC Modified Total Direct Costs
MWFPA Midwest Food Processors Association
 
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NAAB National Association of Animal Breeders
NAAEE North American Association for Environmental Education
NACUBO National Association of College and University Business Officers
NARSAD National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
NAS National Academy of Sciences
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASULGC National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NCBA National Cattlemen's Beef Association
NCC National Coordinating Committee
NCCAM National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
NCI National Cancer Institute
NCMHD National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities
NCRR National Center for Research Resources
NCST National Council of Science and Technology
NCURA National Council of University Research Administrators ( www.ncura.edu )
NEH National Endowment for the Humanities
NEI National Eye Institute
NFIPME National Foundation for Integrated Pest Management Education
NGA Notice of Grant Award
NHGRI National Human Genome Research Institute
NHLBI National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
NIA National Institute on Aging
NIAAA National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
NIAID National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
NIAMS National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
NIBIB National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
NICHD National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse
NIDCD National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
NIDCR National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
NIDDK National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
NIE National Institute of Education
NIEHS National Institute of Environmental Health Services
NIGEC National Institute for Global Environmental Change
NIGMS National Institute of General Medical Sciences
NIH National Institutes of Health
NIHGPS NIH Grants Policy Statement
NIJ National Institute of Justice
NIMH National Institute of Mental Health
NINDS National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
NINR National Institute for Nursing Research
NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology
NLM National Library of Medicine
NLRB National Labor Relations Board
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPR National Performance Review
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
NPS National Park Service
NRA National Rifle Association
NRC National Research Council
NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory
NRL Naval Research Laboratory
NRSA National Research Service Award
NS No Score (lower 50% of grants in study section)
NSA National Security Agency
NSB National Science Board
NSC National Security Council
NSF National Science Foundation
NSF/STIS An on-line search system of the National Science Foundation
NSP Not Separately Priced
NSTC National Science Technology Council
NTIS National Technical Information Service
NTSB National Transportation Safety Board
 
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O&M Operations and Maintenance Costs
OCR Office of Civil Rights
OD Office of the Director
OEP Office of Extramural Programs
OER Office of Extramural Research
OES Office of Employment Security
OET Office of Employment Training
OFCC Office of Federal Contract Compliance
OFM Office of Financial Management
OFR Office of the Federal Register
OHRP Office for Human Research Protections
OIG Office of Inspector General
OLAW Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
OMB The Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget
ONR Office of Naval Research
OPERA Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
OPM Office of Personnel Management
OPRR Office for Protection from Research Risks
ORA Office of Research Administration
ORDA Office of Recombinant DNA Activities
ORI Office of Research Integrity
ORMH Office of Research on Minority Health, NIH
ORMWH Office of Research on Minority and Women's Health, NIAID
ORWH Office of Research on Women's Health, NIH
OSA Office of Scientific Affairs
OSEP Office of Special Education Programs
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSP Office of Sponsored Projects
OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy
OT Office of Transportation
OTMIR Office of Tropical Medicine and International Research
 
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PA Program Announcement
PACA Program Approval of Competing Application
PAR Program Announcement Reviewed in an Institute
PAS Program Announcement with Set-aside funds
PCAST President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology
PCC Policy Coordination Council
PCO Procuring Contracting Officer
PDF Portable Document Format
PETA People for the Ethnical Treatment of Animals
PHS Public Health Service
PI Principal Investigator
PLA Patent License Agreement
PMS Payment Management System
PO Program Officer
PRD Presidential Review Directive
PROG Peer Review Oversight Group
PRRR Program Review Report Record
PTO Patent and Trademark Office
 
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RCMI Research Centers in Minority Institutions
RDNA Recombinant DNA Research
RFA Request for Applications
RFP Request for Proposal
RFQ Request for Quotation
RML Rocky Mountain Laboratory
RO1 NIH Award Type
RPG Research Project Grant
RSUM Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities
 
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S&W Salaries and Wages
S&W + B Salaries and Wages plus Benefits
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration
SBA Small Business Administration
SBIR Small Business Innovation Research Program
SEOG Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants
SEP Special Emphasis Panel
SF Standard Form
SNAP Streamlined Noncompeting Award Process
SOW Statement of Work
SPA Sponsored Project Administration
SPAS Sponsored Project Administration System
SPIN An on-line search system for research opportunities developed by the University of New York (SUNY) System
SRA Society of Research Administrators SRA website
SRG Scientific Review Group
SSS Special Study Section
STEP Science, Technology and Economic Policy Board
STP Science and Technology Policy
STTR Small Business Technology Transfer Program
 
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T&A Time and Attendance
TBSR Total Business Systems Review
TDC Total Direct Costs
 
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U.S.C. United States Code
UBIT Unrelated Business Income Tax
UCA Utility Cost Adjustment
UIR University-Industry Relations
UK-DFID United Kingdom-Department of International Development
UNCF United Negro College Fund
USA United States Army
USAF United States Air Force
USAID United States Agency for International Development
USCG United States Coast Guard
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USDA/AMS USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA/ARS USDA Agricultural Research Service
USDA/CSREES USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
USDA/CSRS USDA Cooperative State Research Service
USDA/ERS USDA Economic Research Service
USDA/FS USDA Forest Service
USDA/FSIS USDA Food Safety Inspection Service
USDA/IFAFS USDA Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems
USDA/IREE USDA Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program
USDA/NRCS USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA/NRICGP USDA/CSREES National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program
USGS United States Geological Survey
USHBC United States Highbush Blueberry Council
USIA United States Information Agency
USN United States Navy
UWEX University of Wisconsin Extension
UWF University of Wisconsin Foundation
 
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VA Department of Veterans Affairs
 
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WAGA Wisconsin Apple Growers Association
WCPB Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board
WDATCP Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection
WDNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WDOA Wisconsin Department of Administration
WDOE Wisconsin Department of Energy
WDOJ Wisconsin Department of Justice
WDOT Wisconsin Department of Transportation
WHO World Health Organization
WISELI Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute
WMMB Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board
WPVGA Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
WSMB Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board
 
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YCC Youth Conservation Corps
 
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Definitions

Term Definition
 
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A-110 Uniform administrative requirements for grants and agreements with institutions of higher education, hospitals and other non-profit organizations. (OMB)
A-21 Cost principles for educational institutions. (OMB)
Accrued Expenditures The charges incurred by the recipient during a given period requiring the provision of funds for (1) goods and other tangible property received; (2) services performed by employees, contractors, subrecipients, and other payees; and, (3) other amounts becoming owed under programs for which no current services or performance is required. OMB A-110
Acquisition Cost of Equipment The net invoice price of the equipment, including the cost of modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make the property usable for the purpose for which it was acquired. Other charges, such as the cost of installation, transportation, taxes, duty or protective in-transit insurance, shall be included or excluded from the unit acquisition cost in accordance with the recipient's regular accounting practices. (OMB A-110)
Allowable Compensation Allowable compensation for graduate research assistants on NIH awards is tied to the zero level postdoctoral stipend established for NIH's National Research Service Award program. As such, compensation should be interpreted to include stipend + fringe benefits + tuition remission. The total of these three components may not exceed the zero level postdoctoral stipend. NIH
Applied Research Within the Federal, university, and nonprofit sectors, applied research is defined as research directed toward gaining 'knowledge or understanding necessary for determining the means by which a recognized and specific need may be met.' The applied research definition for the industry sector is modified to include 'research projects which represent investigations directed to discovery of new scientific knowledge and which have specific commercial objectives with respect to either products or processes.'
Approved Budget The financial expenditure plan for the grant-supported project or activity, including revisions approved by NIH as well as permissible revisions made by the grantee. The approved budget consists of Federal (grant) funds and, if required by the terms and conditions of the award, non-Federal participation in the form of matching or cost sharing. The approved budget specified in the Notice of Grant Award may be shown in detailed budget categories or as total costs without a categorical breakout. Expenditures charged to an approved budget that consists of both Federal and non-Federal shares are deemed to be borne by the grantee in the same proportion as the percentage of Federal/non-Federal participation in the overall budget. (NIH)
Authorized Organizational Official The individual, named by the applicant organization, who is authorized to act for the applicant and to assume the obligations imposed by the Federal laws, regulations, requirements, and conditions that apply to grant applications or grant awards. (NIH)
Authorized Organizational Representative The individual who is authorized to commit the awardee's time and other resources to the project, to commit the awardee to comply with the terms and conditions of the award instrument including those set out herein, and to otherwise act for or on behalf of the awardee institution or organization. (USDA)
Award Financial assistance that provides support or stimulation to accomplish a public purpose. Awards include grants and other agreements in the form of money or property in lieu of money, by the Federal Government to an eligible recipient. The term does not include technical assistance, which provides services instead of money; other assistance in the form of loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies, or insurance; direct payments of any kind to individuals; and, contracts which are required to be entered into and administered under procurement laws and regulations. (OMB A-110)
Award types For descriptions of, and the differences between, grants, cooperative agreements and contracts, click here .
Awardee An organization receiving financial assistance directly from Federal awarding agencies to carry out a project or program. (USDA)
 
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Basic Research Within the Federal, university, and nonprofit sectors, basic research is defined as research directed toward increases in knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific application toward processes or products in mind. For the industry sector, basic research projects are defined as 'original investigations for the advancement of scientific knowledge which do not have specific commercial objectives, although they may be in fields of present or potential interest to the reporting company.'
Beginning Investigator Individuals who have not been a principal investigator (PI) or co-principal investigator (co-PI) on a Federally funded award with the exception of doctoral dissertation, postdoctoral fellowship or research planning grants. (NSF)
Budget Period The intervals of time (usually 12 months each) into which a project period is divided for budgetary and funding purposes. (NIH)
 
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Cash Contributions The recipient's cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the recipient by third parties. (OMB A-110)
CFDA Number The number assigned to a Federal program in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). (OMB A-133)
Closeout The process by which a Federal awarding agency determines that all applicable administrative actions and all required work of the award have been completed by the recipient and Federal awarding agency. (OMB A-110)
Co-Investigator An individual involved with the principal investigator in the scientific development or execution of a project. The co-investigator may be employed by, or be affiliated with, the applicant/grantee organization or another organization participating in the project under a consortium agreement. A co-investigator typically devotes a specified percentage of time to the project and is considered 'key personnel.' The designation of a co-investigator, if applicable, does not affect the principal investigator's roles and responsibilities as specified in this policy statement. (NIH)
Competitive Segment The initial project period recommended for support (up to 5 years) or each extension of a project period resulting from a competing continuation award that establishes a new competitive segment for the project. (NIH)
Consortium Agreement A collaborative arrangement in support of a research project in which some portion of the programmatic activity is carried out through a formalized agreement between the grantee and one or more other organizations that are separate legal entities administratively independent of the grantee. (NIH)
Consultant An individual that provides professional advice or services on the basis of a written agreement for a fee. These individuals are not normally employees of the organization receiving the services. Consultants also include firms that provide professional advice or services. (NIH)
Continuation Proposal A request for funds previously committed by sponsor.
Contract A procurement contract under an award or subaward, and a procurement subcontract under a recipient's or subrecipient's contract.
Contract Under a Grant A written agreement between a grantee and a third party to acquire routine goods or services. (NIH)
Cooperative Agreement A financial assistance mechanism used when substantial Federal programmatic involvement with the recipient during performance is anticipated by the NIH Institute or Center. (NIH)
Cost sharing or matching A portion of project or program costs are not borne by the Federal Government. (OMB A-110)
Cost Transfer an after-the-fact reallocation of costs, either salary or non-salary costs, to a sponsored project within a 90-calendar day period from the accounting date. For the purposes of the UW cost transfer policy, the accounting date is the end of the month of the journal date as shown in WISDM.
 
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Development The systematic use of knowledge and understanding gained from research directed toward the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods, including design and development of prototypes and processes. (OMB A-110)
Direct Costs Costs that can be specifically identified with a particular project(s) or activity. (NIH)
Domestic Organization A public or private non-profit institution (including Federal, State, and other agencies) or for-profit organization that is located in the United States or its territories, is subject to U.S. laws, and assumes legal and financial accountability for awarded funds and for the performance of the grant-supported activities. (NIH)
 
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Equipment Tangible nonexpendable personal property including exempt property charged directly to the award having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5000 or more per unit. (OMB A-110)
Exempt Property Tangible personal property acquired in whole or in part with Federal funds, where the Federal awarding agency has statutory authority to vest title in the recipient without further obligation to the Federal Government. An example of exempt property authority is contained in the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act (31 U.S.C. 6306), for property acquired under an award to conduct basic or applied research by a non-profit institution of higher education or non-profit organization whose principal purpose is conducting scientific research.
 
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Facilities and Administrative Costs Costs that are incurred by a grantee for common or joint objectives and that, therefore, cannot be identified specifically with a particular project or program. These costs were previously known as 'indirect costs,' and, in most instances, will be referred to in this document as 'F&A costs.' (NIH)
Federal Awarding Agency The Federal agency that provides an award to the recipient. (OMB A-110)
Federal Demonstration Partnership A cooperative initiative among some Federal agencies, including NIH, select organizations that receive Federal funding for research, and certain professional associations. Its efforts include a variety of demonstration projects intended to simplify and standardize Federal requirements in order to increase research productivity and reduce administrative costs. (NIH)
Federal Funds Authorized The total amount of Federal funds obligated by the Federal Government for use by the recipient. This amount may include any authorized carryover of unobligated funds from prior funding periods when permitted by agency regulations or agency implementing instructions. (OMB A-110)
Federal Share The Federal share of real property, equipment, or supplies means that percentage of the property's acquisition costs and any improvement expenditures paid with Federal funds. (OMB A-110)
Foreign Component Under a grant to a domestic organization, the performance of any significant element or segment of the project outside of the United States, either by the grantee or by a researcher employed by a foreign organization, with or without grant funds. (NIH)
Foreign Organization An organization located in a country other than the United States and its territories that is subject to the laws of that country, regardless of the citizenship of the proposed principal investigator. (NIH)
Full-Time Appointment The number of days per week and/or months per year representing full-time effort at the applicant/grantee organization, as specified in organizational policy. The organization's policy must be applied consistently regardless of the source of support. (NIH)
Funding Period The period of time when Federal funding is available for obligation by the recipient. (OMB A-110)
 
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G & A (General and Administrative) any management, financial, and other expense which is incurred by or allocated to a business unit as a whole. G&A expense does not include those management expenses whose beneficial or causal relationship to cost objectives can be more directly measured by a base other than a cost input base representing the total activity of a business unit during a cost accounting period.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) GAAP has the meaning specified in generally accepted auditing standards issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The common set of accounting principles, standards, and procedures. GAAP is a combination of authoritative standards (set by policy boards) and the accepted ways of doing accounting. (OMB A-133)
Grant A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. A grant is used whenever the NIH Institute or Center anticipates no substantial programmatic involvement with the recipient during performance of the financially assisted activities. (NIH)
Grant-Supported Project/Activities Those programmatic activities specified or described in a grant application or in a subsequent submission(s) that are approved by an NIH Institute or Center for funding, regardless of whether Federal funding constitutes all or only a portionof the financial support necessary to carry them out. (NIH)
Grantee The organization or individual awarded a grant or cooperative agreement by NIH that is responsible and accountable for the use of the funds provided and for the performance of the grant-supported project or activities. The grantee is the entire legal entity even if a particular component is designated in the award document. The grantee is legally responsible and accountable to NIH for the performance and financial aspects of the grant-supported project or activity. (NIH)
Grants Management Officer (GMO) An NIH official responsible for the business management aspects of grants and cooperative agreements, including review, negotiation, award, and administration, and for the interpretation of grants administration policies and provisions. Only GMOs are authorized to obligate NIH to the expenditure of funds and permit changes to approved projects on behalf of NIH. Each NIH Institute and Center that awards grants has one or more GMOs with responsibility for particular programs or awards. (NIH)
 
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Institutional Base Salary The annual compensation paid by an applicant/grantee organization for an employee's appointment, whether that individual's time is spent on research, teaching, patient care, or other activities. The base salary excludes any income that an individual is permitted to earn outside of duties for the applicant/grantee organization. Base salary may not be increased as a result of replacing organizational salary funds with NIH grant funds. (NIH)
Intangible Property and Debt Instruments Intangible property and debt instruments means, but is not limited to, trademarks, copyrights, patents and patent applications and such property as loans, notes and other debt instruments, lease agreements, stock and other instruments of property ownership, whether considered tangible or intangible. (OMB A-110)
International Organization An organization that identifies itself as international or intergovernmental, and has membership from, and represents the interests of, more than one country, without regard to whether the headquarters of the organization and location of the activity are inside or outside of the United States. (NIH)
 
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Key Personnel Individuals who contribute in a substantive way to the scientific development or execution of a project, whether or not they receive compensation from the grant supporting that project. The principal investigator and collaborators are included in this category. (NIH)
 
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Matching A portion of project or program costs are not borne by the Federal Government. (OMB A-110)
Modular Application A type of grant application in which support is requested in specified increments without the need for detailed supporting information related to separate budget categories. When modular procedures apply, they affect not only application preparation but also review, award, and administration of the application/award. (NIH)
Monitoring A process whereby the programmatic and business management performance aspects of a grant are reviewed by assessing information gathered from various required reports, audits, site visits, and other sources. (NIH)
MTDC (Modified Total Direct Costs) consists of all salaries and wages, fringe benefits, materials, supplies, services, travel, and subgrants and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subgrant or subcontract (regardless of the period covered by the subgrant or subcontract). MTDC shall exclude equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, tuition remission, rental costs of off-site facilities, scholarships, and fellowships, as well as the portion of each subgrant and subcontract in excess of $25,000.
 
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New Definition new definition (NSF)
New Investigator An individual that has not previously served as a principal investigator on any Public Health Service-supported research project other than a small grant (R03), and Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15), and exploratory development grant (R21), or certain research career awards directed principally to physicians, dentists, or veterinarians at the beginning of their research careers (K01, K08, and K12). Current or past recipients of Independent Scientist and other non-mentored career awards (K02 and K04) are not considered 'new investigators.' (NIH)
New Investigator A new investigator is one who is beginning his/her research career, does not have an extensive research publication record, and has less than five years postgraduate, career-track research experience. The new investigator may not have received competitively awarded Federal research funds beyond pre- or postdoctoral research awards. The applications must contain documentation that lists all prior Federal research support. The project director and all co-project directors must meet all of the New Investigator eligibility requirements as described within this section. Research colleagues who do not meet eligibility requirements should be designated only as collaborators and should not be listed on the Proposal Cover Page (Form CSREES-2002). Applications may be submitted by any State agricultural experiment station, college, university, other research institution or organization, Federal agency, national laboratory, private organization, corporation, or individual. Applications submitted by non-United States organizations will not be considered for support. The research proposed shall be appropriate to a program described under Part II.C., Research Opportunities, and the application must be submitted directly to that program by the designated deadline date. A separate peer review panel will not be assembled to review these applications. (USDA/NRI)
New Proposal Original submission of this project to this sponsor.
NIH Continuations An NIH continuation grant (Type 5) is the next incremental year of the current grant period (e.g., years 2-4 of a 4 year grant). Progress reports to continue support of a PHS grant must be submitted to the awarding component's grants management office two months before the beginning date of the next budget period. (NIH)
NIH Proposals A new grant proposal (Type 1) to NIH is the initial support for a project that has not previously received any funding support. It is awarded competitively after review by an IRG and NIDA Council at NIH. (NIH)
NIH Renewals A competitive renewal, renewal, or competitive continuation (Type 2) provides funding to continue a grant that is otherwise scheduled to terminate. It requires the submission by the applicant of a full grant application, and must compete for funding through the IRG and Council processes. (For example, a renewal grant may involve an application to provide support for years 5-9 of a previously funded 4-year grant.) (NIH)
Notice of Grant Award The legally binding document that notifies the grantee and others that an award has been made, contains or references all terms and conditions of the award, and documents the obligation of Federal funds. The award notice may be in letter format and may be issued electronically. (NIH)
 
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Obligations The amounts of orders placed, contracts and grants awarded, services received and similar transactions during a given period that require payment by the recipient during the same or a future period. (OMB A-110)
Off-campus Indirect Costs These costs apply to all activities performed in facilities not owned by the institution and to which rent is directly allocated to the project(s). Grants or contracts will not be subject to more than one facilities and administration cost rate. If more than 50% of a project is performed off-campus, the off-campus rate will apply to the entire project.
Organization A generic term used to refer to an educational institution or other entity, including an individual, which receives and/or applies for an NIH grant or cooperative agreement. (NIH)
Outlays or Expenditures Charges made to the project or program. They may be reported on a cash or accrual basis. For reports prepared on a cash basis, outlays are the sum of cash disbursements for direct charges for goods and services, the amount of indirect expense charged, the value of third party in-kind contributions applied and the amount of cash advances and payments made to subrecipients. For reports prepared on an accrual basis, outlays are the sum of cash disbursements for direct charges for goods and services, the amount of indirect expense incurred, the value of in-kind contributions applied, and the net increase (or decrease) in the amounts owed by the recipient for goods and other property received, for services performed by employees, contractors, subrecipients and other payees and other amounts becoming owed under programs for which no current services or performance are required. (OMB A-110)
 
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Pass-through entity A non-Federal entity that provides a Federal award to a subrecipient to carry out a Federal program. (OMB A-133)
Personal Property Property of any kind except real property. It may be tangible, having physical existence, or intangible, having no physical existence, such as copyrights, patents, or securities. (OMB A-110)
Principal Investigator (a.k.a. Program Director or Project Director)An individual designated by the grantee to direct the project or activity being supported by the grant. He or she is responsible and accountable to the grantee for the proper conduct of the project or activity. (NIH)
Prior Approval Written approval by an authorized official evidencing prior consent. (OMB A-110)
Program A coherent assembly of plans, project activities, and supporting resources contained within an administrative framework, the purpose of which is to implement an organization's mission or some specific program-related aspect of that mission. For purposes of this policy statement, 'program' refers to those NIH programs that carry out their mission through the award of grants or cooperative agreements to other organizations. (NIH)
Program Income Gross income earned by the recipient that is directly generated by a supported activity or earned as a result of the award (see exclusions in paragraphs ___.24 (e) and (h)). Program income includes, but is not limited to, income from fees for services performed, the use or rental of real or personal property acquired under federally-funded projects, the sale of commodities or items fabricated under an award, license fees and royalties on patents and copyrights, and interest on loans made with award funds. Interest earned on advances of Federal funds is not program income. Except as otherwise provided in Federal awarding agency regulations or the terms and conditions of the award, program income does not include the receipt of principal on loans, rebates, credits, discounts, etc., or interest earned on any of them. (OMB A-110)
Project Costs All allowable costs, as set forth in the applicable Federal cost principles, incurred by a recipient and the value of the contributions made by third parties in accomplishing the objectives of the award during the project period. (OMB A-110)
Project Period The period established in the award document during which Federal sponsorship begins and ends. (OMB A-110)
Property Unless otherwise stated, real property, equipment, intangible property and debt instruments. (OMB A-110)
 
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Real Property Land, including land improvements, structures and appurtenances thereto, but excludes movable machinery and equipment. (OMB A-110)
Rebudgeting the reallocation of budgeted funds and not a transfer of expenditures.
Recipient An organization receiving financial assistance directly from Federal awarding agencies to carry out a project or program. The term includes public and private institutions of higher education, public and private hospitals, and other quasi-public and private non-profit organizations such as, but not limited to, community action agencies, research institutes, educational associations, and health centers. The term may include commercial organizations, foreign or international organizations (such as agencies of the United Nations) which are recipients, subrecipients, or contractors or subcontractors of recipients or subrecipients at the discretion of the Federal awarding agency. The term does not include government-owned contractor-operated facilities or research centers providing continued support for mission-oriented, large-scale programs that are government-owned or controlled, or are designated as federally-funded research and development centers. (OMB A-110)
Renewal Proposal Requested support beyond that previously committed by sponsor.
Research A systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the subject studied. The term research also includes activities involving the training of individuals in research techniques where such activities utilize the same facilities as other research and development activities and where such activities are not included in the instruction function. (OMB A-110)
Research and Development All research activities, both basic and applied, and all development activities that are supported at universities, colleges, and other non-profit institutions. 'Research' is defined as a systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the subject studied. 'Development' is the systematic use of knowledge and understanding gained from research directed toward the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods, including design and development of prototypes and processes. The term research also includes activities involving the training of individuals in research techniques where such activities utilize the same facilities as other research and development activities and where such activities are not included in the instruction function. (OMB A-110)
Research Misconduct Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reporting research, or in reporting research results. Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them. Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that research is not accurately represented in the research record. Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. The term does not include honest error or honest differences of opinion. (NIH)
Revision Proposal A modification of a previously submitted proposal.
 
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Select Agent Microbes and toxins regulated by CDC and USDA because of potential for bioterrorism. A list of Agricultural Select Agents can be found on the website of the USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service.
Significant Rebudgeting A threshold that is reached when expenditures in a single direct cost budget category deviate (increase or decrease) from the categorical commitment level established for the budget period by more than 25 percent of the total costs awarded. Significant rebudgeting is one indicator of change in scope. (NIH)
Small Business Concern A business that is independently owned and operated and not dominant in its field of operation; has its principal place of business in the United States and is organized for profit; is at least 51 percent owned, or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of its voting stock is owned by U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens; has, including its affiliates, not more than 500 employees; and meets other regulatory requirements established by the Small Business Administration at 13 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121. (NIH)
State Government The government of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any U.S. territory or possession, or any agency or instrumentality of a State exclusive of local governments. For purposes of NIH grants, federally recognized Indian tribal governments generally are considered State governments. State institutions of higher education and State hospitals are not considered State governments for purposes of the Department of Health and Human Services' general administrative requirements for grants and this policy statement. (NIH)
Stipend A payment made to an individual under a fellowship or training grant in accordance with pre-established levels to provide for the individual's living expenses during the period of training. A stipend is not considered compensation for the services expected of an employee. (NIH)
Subaward An award of financial assistance in the form of money, or property in lieu of money, made under an award by a recipient to an eligible subrecipient or by a subrecipient to a lower tier subrecipient. The term includes financial assistance when provided by any legal agreement, even if the agreement is called a contract, but does not include procurement of goods and services nor does it include any form of assistance which is excluded from the definition of 'award' in paragraph (e). (OMB A-110)
Subrecipient The legal entity to which a subaward is made and which is accountable to the recipient for the use of the funds provided. The term may include foreign or international organizations (such as agencies of the United Nations) at the discretion of the Federal awarding agency. (OMB A-110)
Supplement Proposal A request for additional funds for current budget/project period.
Supplies All personal property excluding equipment, intangible property, and debt instruments as defined in this section, and inventions of a contractor conceived or first actually reduced to practice in the performance of work under a funding agreement ('subject inventions'), as defined in 37 CFR part 401, 'Rights to Inventions Made by Nonprofit Organizations and Small Business Firms Under Government Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements.'
Suspension An action by a Federal awarding agency that temporarily withdraws Federal sponsorship under an award, pending corrective action by the recipient or pending a decision to terminate the award by the Federal awarding agency. Suspension of an award is a separate action from suspension under Federal agency regulations implementing E.O.s 12549 and 12689, 'Debarment and Suspension.' (OMB A-110)
 
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TC (Total Costs) Consists of total direct and indirect (F & A) costs.
TDC (Total Direct Costs) Consists of all direct costs of a project; no cost categories are excluded.
Termination The cancellation of Federal sponsorship, in whole or in part, under an agreement at any time prior to the date of completion. (OMB A-110)
Terms and Conditions of Award All legal requirements imposed on a grant by NIH, whether based on statute, regulation, policy, or other document referenced in the grant award, or specified by the grant award document itself. The Notice of Grant Award may include both standard and special conditions that are considered necessary to attain the grant's objectives, facilitate postaward administration of the grant, conserve grant funds, or otherwise protect the Federal Government's interests. (NIH)
Third Party In-kind Contributions The value of non-cash contributions provided by non-Federal third parties. Third party in-kind contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment, supplies and other expendable property, and the value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the project or program. (OMB A-110)
Total Federal Funds See total costs.
Total Project Costs The total allowable costs (both direct costs and facilities and administrative costs) incurred by the grantee to carry out a grant-supported project or activity. Total project costs include costs charged to the NIH grant and costs borne by the grantee to satisfy a matching or cost-sharing requirement. (NIH)
 
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Unliquidated Obligations For financial reports prepared on a cash basis, means the amount of obligations incurred by the recipient that have not been paid. For reports prepared on an accrued expenditure basis, they represent the amount of obligations incurred by the recipient for which an outlay has not been recorded. (OMB A-110)
Unobligated Balance The portion of the funds authorized by the Federal awarding agency that has not been obligated by the recipient and is determined by deducting the cumulative obligations from the cumulative funds authorized. (OMB A-110)
Unrecovered Indirect Cost The difference between the amount awarded and the amount which could have been awarded under the recipient's approved negotiated indirect cost rate. (OMB A-110)
 
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Withholding of Support A decision by NIH not to make a noncompeting continuation award within the current competitive segment. (NIH)
 
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How-To

Question & Answer
A-133 Audit State of Wisconsin 2004-05 (see page 59, UW System)
Acronyms What do these acronyms mean?
Annual Report Current UW-Madison Annual Report
Awards What are the differences between the basic types of awards?
Board of Directors List of UW Board of Regents (see page 3 of UW System Annual Financial Report)
Checks Timely processing of checks -- State of Wisconsin Statutes mandate that revenue must be deposited at least once a week. This statute applies to unrestricted gift checks provided by sponsors/donors to departments and centers throughout CALS. Please provide gift checks to your department business office immediately upon receipt so they can be routed to CALS Research Division with an extramural transmittal form - the form must be completed and signed by the Principal Investigator and Department Chair. Please put into place procedures which will meet this statutory requirement.
Compliance How do I check for compliance in my research?
Confidentiality clauses in research agreements The UW does allow confidentiality provisions in research agreements, though they must be carefully negotiated by Research and Sponsored Programs in order to adhere to state statutes and university rules. An example of a research agreement that includes confidentiality provisions might be where a company would like to have a proprietary product evaluated or tested, but does not want the formulation of the product to be disclosed publicly. Of course, the researchers would retain the right to publish their results, but the confidentiality of the formulation would be maintained for a certain period of time, as agreed to by the sponsor and the UW. The CALS Research Division can assist you with questions about proposed research agreements that contain confidentiality clauses or provisions. Please contact the Division for assistance by routing your proposed agreement or terms, along with a transmittal form signed by the PI and Department Chair. You may also want to contact the Division informally with questions before routing takes place. Ultimately, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will negotiate these clauses with the sponsor. If you have questions, please contact Irwin Goldman at ilgoldma@wisc.edu.
Data Digest UW-Madison Data Digest 2011-12
Financial Report Current UW-System Financial Report
Fixed Price Contracts and Agreements Where can I find information on fixed price contracts and agreements?
Historical Overview Where can I find a historical overview of the University of Wisconsin?
Jurisdiction Jurisdiction of Law
Lead Time on Proposals CALS Research Division remains committed to high standards in facilitating submission of proposals. To provide support to all faculty/staff, to be able to meet submission deadlines, and to better serve the CALS community, the Research Division has an established policy requiring proposal delivery one week prior to the agency deadline http://www.cals.wisc.edu/research/Policies/leadtimepolicy.pdf . Please plan ahead, keep us informed, and let us know how best we can assist you with your submissions.
Participant Support Information regarding Participant support / Scholarships / Support costs
Pay Plan Actions How do I handle pay plan actions?
Program Codes Information regarding program codes for 133 and 144 grants/gifts
Proposal Routing All proposals (i.e., intents to submit, pre-proposals, full-proposals, revisions, renewals, continuations, supplements, subcontracting proposals, and the like) must route from the PI to their Department to CALS Research Division to RSP for review and approval prior to submission. RSP is the institutional authority delegated by the Board of Regents to submit proposals on behalf of PIs for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Submissions without full campus approval are problematic and will not be supported.
Retroactive Salary Adjustments How do I make adjustments?
Revenue Producing Activities (128 accounts) Where is information regarding revenue producing activities?
Scholarship/Support Costs Information regarding Participant support / Scholarships / Support costs
Tax Status Is UW-Madison a 501(c)(3) organization?
Textbook Authorship Contracts Textbook authorship effort is deemed part of the academic opportunity and responsibility of faculty members - this would be a significant publication one could add to their respective lists of accomplishments. A textbook authorship contract is not one to which the Board of Regents, University of Wisconsin System would be party. As a legal contract, the document will often delineate manuscript deadline dates, right to secure copyright, publication rights and license, and manuscript submission details; a contract would be directly between author and publisher. In regard to guidelines for reportable income on Outside Activities Reports, income from book royalties is NOT reportable. Once a text has been published and royalty payments are received, the recipient will NOT need to disclose this income on their Outside Activities Reports. Options for receiving or allocating royalty income include the following: (1.) Assign all rights to the UW Foundation. If this option is to be considered, one would first need to check with the publisher to discern their policy regarding assigning royalties, whether such should be done at time of contract signature or later, prior to text publication. Electing this option would remove this income from the individual's personal income tax stream; BUT, it may create problems in managing future editions/revisions, or in publishing any portions of the work in other venues if desired. (2.) Accept royalties as agreed to under the publisher's contract, and in turn donate the royalties to the UW Foundation. An individual's taxed income may be offset by their deduction for charitable contribution. Individuals can work with the UW Foundation to establish a discretionary account with funds targeted to generally support their UW-Madison department or targeted specifically to a designated area of research; allocation of funds from such an account would need to be approved by an impartial party (CALS Dean-level review) or by a department chair. (3.) An individual may elect to retain royalties as personal income, which is absolutely acceptable.
UW Foundation Funds How do I transfer UW Foundation funds to UW-Madison?
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