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Acronyms in Research Administration

Acronyms are used often in research administration.  Below is a list of more commonly used acronyms in the industry at MSU.  If there are suggestions to add to this list, please contact Erin Schlicher (schlic11@osp.msu.edu).

  • AN = Annual appointment (12 months)
  • AY = Academic Year appointment (9 months)
  • CGA = Contract and Grant Administration (Post-Award)
  • COI = Conflict of Interest
  • Co-I = Co-Investigator
  • Co-PI = Co-Principal Investigator
  • DHHS = Department of Health & Human Services
  • DUNS = Data Universal Numbering System
  • F&A = Facilities & Administrative cost/rate
  • FOA = Funding Opportunity Announcement
  • FO = Funding Opportunity
  • IDC = Indirect Cost
  • KC = Kuali Coeus (reference to the old version of Kuali Research)
  • KR = Kuali Research (Research Administration System)
  • MTDC = Modified Total Direct Costs
  • NICRA = Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement
  • OGC = Office of the General Counsel
  • ORA = Office of Regulatory Affairs, former name for the Office of Research Regulatory Support (ORRS)
  • ORRS = Office of Research Regulatory Support (formerly Office of Regulatory Affairs [ORA])
  • OR&I = Office of Research and Innovation (formerly OSVPRI and OVPRGS)
  • OSP = Office of Sponsored Programs (Pre-Award)
  • OSVPRI: Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation (formerly OVPRGS), former name for the Office of Research and Innovation
  • OVPRGS = Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies (also VPRGS), former name for the Office of Research and Innovation
  • PI = Principal Investigator
  • PD = Proposal Development document (in KR)
  • RFA = Request for Applications
  • RFP = Request for Proposal
  • SI = Specific Identification Method (for calculating fringe benefits)
  • SPA = Sponsored Programs Administration (oversees and supports OSP and CGA)
  • SU = Summer Salary
  • TDC = Total Direct Costs
  • TFFA = Total Federal Funds Awarded
  • UG = Federal Uniform Guidance

Synonyms

  • F&A = IDC = Overhead
  • FOA = FO = RFA = RFP = Solicitation

Common Agency Acronyms

  • DOD = Department of Defense
  • DOE = Department of Energy
  • DOJ = Department of Justice
  • NIH = National Institutes of Health (has 27 Institutes & Centers)
    • NCI = National Cancer Institute
    • NIAID = National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
    • NICHD = Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  • NSF = National Science Foundation
  • SOM = State of Michigan
  • USAID = U.S. Agency for International Development
  • USDA = U.S. Department of Agriculture
    • NIFA = National Institute of Food and Agriculture
    • ARS = Agricultural Research Service

Other Acronym Lists at MSU

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