Staff Training -- NIAID, ESA, Project Officer

This SOP has internal roles only.

Purpose

To familiarize NIAID extramural professional staff with their roles and responsibilities, NIAID, NIH, the federal government, and various aspects of their jobs.

Procedure

Many new extramural professional NIAID staff are required to take the NIAID staff training courses and NIH extramural scientist administrator (ESA) training. Staff overseeing contracts must also take NIH project officer training. See our Training Overview for more information.

NIAID Extramural Staff Training

• During your first year at the Institute, take NIAID's comprehensive Web- and classroom-based core training on the workings of the federal government, NIH, and NIAID; descriptions of staff roles and interactions; and guidance on how to perform your job.
• This training is required for NIAID program staff and is recommended for others. Fulfill this requirement by attending the classroom sessions or reading the Web versions of the core modules.
• NIAID staff can visit the NIAID Extramural Staff Training Web site for access to the modules.
• DEA's Scientific Resource Development Team (SRDT) also offers classroom training on scientific topics, policies, and automated systems and tools used to perform your job. Watch your email for class announcements or check SRDT's Upcoming Training page.
• Use SRDT's Registration System to sign up for training. For Mac users, if prompted to do so, enter NIH\username and your password in the dialog box to log on. If you register using SRDT's Registration System, the system automatically tracks credits earned for classes offered by SRDT.
• NIAID courses earn ESA training credits; see below.

NIH Extramural Scientist Administrator Training

• NIH's ESA training program provides core and ongoing information for staff who perform extramural scientist administrator responsibilities.
• You must earn credits annually in NIH's ESA training program if you qualify as an ESA: Ph.D.-level staff in program and review, grants and contracts staff at the GS-13 level and above, and management staff working closely with extramural programs. Lower-graded employees who perform these duties may participate.
• Confirm your status and training requirements with your supervisor; branch chiefs designate ESAs for their branches.
• Track your own ESA credits using the honor system.
• During their first two years at NIH, ESAs must:
  • View the "Orientation to NIH Extramural Programs" course, at Fundamentals of NIH Extramural Activities: for the NIH Extramural Staff or complete NIAID's Staff Training Session I by attending the classroom session or reading the module online.
  • Complete four core curriculum courses by doing either of the following:
    • Attend a live course. NIH offers these courses each winter. Go to the ESA Training page and check the schedule under Core Curriculum Training Documents.
    • Watch a videocast. Go to NIH CORE Training - Videocast and Agendas.
• ESAs with two or more years of experience must earn two ESA credits annually. Credits are earned by participating in approved training such as Staff Training in Extramural Programs (STEP) forums or modules or other complementary training.

Project Officers -- Initial Project Officer Training

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) requires new federal project officers to complete 40 hours of training in 24 competencies. The NIH Office of Acquisition Management and Policy (OAMP) provides information on initial project officer training on its Project Officer Training and Certification page.

• For details on training requirements for program staff serving as project officers on contracts see OAMP's Project Officer Training and Certification page.
• OFPP refresher training requirements for project officers take effect October 1, 2008. Consult OAMP's Project Officer Training and Certification page.
• DEA's SRDT offers courses that count toward the refresher training requirement. Check the Upcoming Training page on the NIAID Extramural Staff Training site for scheduled sessions.
• HHS uses the Acquisition Career Management Information System (ACMIS) to track training taken by project officers and acquisition staff. You must register in ACMIS and enter all training you've completed since January 1, 2006, to maintain your project officer certification. To simplify the registration process, use the ACMIS registration aid provided courtesy of NINDS. Quick Guide to ACMIS provides information for new users. For additional details, consult ACMIS Training Manual.

Contacts

Staff Only Contact

Send questions or comments on Web-based modules or the SRDT training intranet to Staff Only Contact.

Class registration questions, Staff Only Contact

Staff should keep records of their ESA credits.

If you have knowledge to share or want more information on this topic, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.

Links

Description of ESA Training Program

OER Training

Project Officer SOP

Research and Training Opportunities at NIH