The field of Research Administration is rife with acronyms. Here is a list of some of the most common and their definitions.
| Acronym | Definition |
| CFDA | Code of Federal Domestic Assistance |
| COGR | Council of Governmental Relations – a professional organization supporting university business officers |
| COI | Conflict of Interest |
| COLA | Cost of Living Adjustment |
| DC | Direct Cost |
| DOD | Department of Defense |
| DOE | Department of Energy |
| DoEd | Department of Education |
| F&A | Facilities and Administrative costs - also referred to as indirect cost and overhead – the cost of doing business |
| FAR | Federal Acquisition Regulations – Contract Terms |
| FBI | Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| FCOI | Financial Conflict of Interest |
| FEA | Fully executed agreement – both signatures are now on the agreement and it is fully approved |
| First Ex | An agreement issued to the University unsigned. The University must sign first, return to the sponsor, a fully executed agreement will be issued at which time an account can be set up |
| GAID | (Used for a SmartGrant legacy data identifier in Kuali) Gams Award ID – The number in SmartGrant (previously GAMS) for identifying your award - usually ends in 'a#' |
| GAO | Government Accountability Office |
| GPID | (Used for a SmartGrant legacy data identifier in Kuali) GAMS Proposal ID – The number in SmartGrant (previously GAMS) associated with a proposal |
| IACUC | Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee – Committee responsible for oversight of protocols for research that involved animals |
| IDC | Indirect cost – also referred to as F&A |
| IPA | Inter Personnel Assignment – an agreement that is issued when an individual is appointed on an assignment at another agency for a period of time |
| IRB | Institutional Review Board – Committee responsible for oversight of protocols for research that involves human subjects |
| ISA | Interdepartmental Service Agreement – An award from a Commonwealth institution to the University |
| JIT | Just In Time – materials some sponsors request just before making an award rather than requiring at proposal stage |
| JOL | Jordan on line – Research Administration’s data warehouse of sponsored activities |
| MOU | Memorandum of understanding. Normally associated with an award action for projects that have Co-PI’s |
| MTDC | Modified Total Direct Cost - the basis for calculating F&A where some costs are exempted from the base |
| NASA | National Aero and Space Administration |
| NCURA | National Council of University Research Administrators – a professional organization for Research Administrators |
| NEA | National Endowment for the Arts |
| NEH | National Endowment for the Humanities |
| NIH | National Institutes of Health |
| NOAA | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| NSF | National Science Foundation |
| OGCA # | (Used for a SmartGrant legacy data identifier in Kuali) |
| OIG | Office of Inspector General – Federal government offices who are charged with deterring, detecting waste, fraud and abuse |
| OPAM | Office of Post-Award Management |
| OPAS | Office of Pre-Award Services |
| OMB | Office of Management and Budget – agency that provides directives regarding management of federal funding |
| PEA | Pre-establishment account – an account that may be requested prior to an award arriving to allow projects to start if purchases or appointments need to be made |
| PI | Principal Investigator – the lead person carrying out and overseeing a sponsored project |
| PIAA | Principal Investigator Award Agreement – a form OPAM sends to the faculty with a copy of their award informing them of the terms and making sure that the PI agrees to the terms and the requirements of accepting the award |
| RBML | Research Business Manager Liaison |
| RFP | Request for Proposal |
| SBA | Small Business Administration |
| SRA | Society of Research Administrators – a professional organization for research administrators |
| SRO | Sponsored Research Office – OPAS and OPAM (formerly OGCA) |
| ST | Speed Type – A Controller’s Office Peoplesoft number associated with your award |
| TCP | Technology control plan – related to export controls |
| TDC | Total Direct Cost - used by some sponsors or programs as the basis for calculating F&A where only Tuition Charge is exempt |
| UG | Uniform Guidance – Federal regulations for management of grants and cooperative agreements. Formerly OMB A-21, A-110 and A-133 |
| UMA | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| UMII | University of Massachusetts Innovation Institute |
| USDA | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
