Commonly-Used Acronyms and Abbreviations

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Acronym Meaning
A
3Rs Recruitment and Relocation Bonuses and Retention Allowances
AAALAC American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
AAP American Academy of Pediatrics
AAPHP American Association of Public Health Physicians
ACD Advisory Committee to the Director
ACEP American College of Emergency Physicians
ACGME Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
ACPM American College of Preventive Medicine
ACSI American Customer Satisfaction Index
ACWA Administrative Careers with America
AD&D Accidental Death and Dismemberment
ADP Automated Data Processing
AFGE American Federation of Government Employees
AI/ANO American Indian/Alaskan Native Organization
AID Agency for International Development
AIRIO Agency Intramural Research Integrity Officer
AL Annual Leave
AMA American Medical Association
AMHPS Association of Minority Health Professionals Schools
AO Administrative Office/Officer
APAO Asian Pacific Islander American Organization
APHA American Public Health Association
ARAC Administrative Restructuring Advisory Committee
ASAP As Soon As Possible
ASBTF Assistant Secretary for Budget, Technology and Finance
ASDC Administrative Skills Development Curriculum
ASH Assistant Secretary for Health, PHS
ASPER Assistant Secretary for Personnel Administration, DHHS
ASPH Association of Schools of Public Health
ASTHO Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
ATM Above The Minimum
ATPM Association of Teachers and Preventive Medicine
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, PHS
AWOL Absence Without Official Leave
AWS Alternate Work Schedule
AREA Academic Research Enhancement Award
B
BC/BS Blue Cross and Blue Shield
BDR Budget Data Request
BECON Bioengineering Consortium (NIH OD)
BIB Bibliography
BIG Blacks in Government
BISTIC Bioinformatics Consortium (NIH OD)
BMBL Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories
BRM Business Reply Mail (ORS)
BTP Biotechnology Training Program
BTRIS Biomedical Translational Research Information System
C
CA(SF) Clinical Associate (Staff Fellow)
CAN Common Accounting Number
CAO Change of Appointing Office
CBT Computer-Based Training
C/CC Career/Career-Conditional
CC Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center
CC Commercial Core
CC Commercial Competitive
CC: Carbon or Courtesy Copy
CC: Carbon or Courtesy Copy
CCR Center for Cooperative Resolution (NIH OD)
CDC Communicable Disease Center, PHS
CDP Candidate Development Program (SES)
CDP Career Development Plan
CE Continuing Education for Psychologists
CFC Combined Federal Campaign
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CIT Center for Information Technology
CMAB Complaints Management and Adjudication Branch, OEO
CME Continuing Medical Education
CMP/ HMO Comprehensive Medical Plans/Health Maintenance Organizations
CO Commissioned Officer
COB Close Of Business
COI Conflict of Interest
COLA Cost Of Living Allowance
COP Continuation Of Pay
COOG Continuity of Operations Group
COPR Council of Public Representatives (NIH OD)
COTA Career Opportunities Training Agreement (HHS)
CPDF Central Personnel Data File
CPE Continuing Professional Education
CPFP Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program
CRIS Clinical Research Information System
CRISP Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects
CRTP Clinical Research Training Program
CRM Customer Relations Manager
CS Civil Service
CSD Client Services Division
CSR Center for Scientific Review
CSRS Civil Service Retirement System
CT Credit Time
CTC Central Tenure Committee
CV Curriculum Vitae
CY Calendar Year
D
DCPS Defense Civilian Pay System
DCMS Division of Mail and Courier Services (ORS)
DCR Division of Career Resources, OHRM, NIH
DDIR Deputy Director for Intramural Research
DEA Division of Extramural Activities
DES Division of Engineering Services
DFAS Defense Finance and Accounting Service
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services
DHRS Division of Human Resource Systems, OHRM, NIH
DRG Division of Research Grants
DIS Division of International Services
DLS Division of Logistics Services
DS Division of Safety
DSEIS Division of Scientific Equipment & Instrumentation Services (ORS)
DSFM Division of Space and Facility Management
DSO Division of Security Operations
DSS Division of Support Services
DTM Department of Transfusion Medicine (ORS)
DVAAP Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program
DWD Division of Workforce Development
E
EAP Employee Assistance Program
EC Executive Committee (NCI)
ECFMG Educational Commission for Foreign Medical School Graduates
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
Edison Extramural Invention Information Management System
EEO Equal Employment Opportunity
EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EES Enterprise E-Mail System
ELS Earnings and Leave Statement
EOD Entrance on Duty
EPSS Electronic Performance Support Systems
ERA Electronic Research Administration
ES Executive Secretariat (NIH OD)
ES Executive Schedule
ESG Executive Staffing Group, REPS, PMB, NCI
ETSO Employee Transportation Services Office
F
FAES Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences
FAI Fair Act Inventory
FAIR Federal Activities Inventory Reform
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation
FCRDC Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center
FDA Food and Drug Administration, PHS
FECA Federal Employees' Compensation Act
FEGLI Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance
FEHBP Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program
FEORP Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program
FEPCA Federal Employees' Pay Comparability Act
FERS Federal Employees' Retirement System
FES Factor Evaluation System
FFS Fee-for-service
FIC John E. Fogarty International Center
FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act (Social Security)
FIP Federal Information Processing
FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act
FMG Foreign Medical Graduate
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
FPM Federal Personnel Manual
FR Federal Register
FS Feasibility Study
FTE Full-Time Equivalent
FTS Federal Telecommunications System
FWP Federal Women's Program
FY Fiscal Year
FYI For Your Information
G
GAO General Accounting Office, Congress
GFP General Fellowship Program
GME Graduate Medical Education
GOV Government-owned Vehicle
GPA Grade Point Average
GPP Graduate Partnerships Program (NIH OD)
GPRA Government Performance and Results Act
GR Guest Researcher
GRC Gerontology Research Center
GS General Schedule
GSA General Services Administration
H
HCFA Health Care Financing Administration, DHHS
HHMI Howard Hughes Medical Institute
HHS Health and Human Services, Department of
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HQ Headquarters
HRSA Health Resources and Services Administration, PHS
HSA Health Scientist Administrator
HSRB Human Subjects Review Board
HTML Hypertext Markup Language
I
IAG Interagency Agreement
ICD Institutes/Centers/Divisions
ID Identification
IHS Indian Health Service, PHS
ILO International Labor Organization
IMPACT Integrated Management of Personnel Administration through Computer Technology
IMS/ADB Information Management System/Administrative Data Base System (DELPRO)
INS Immigration and Naturalization Service
IO Information Officer
IOM Institute of Medicine, NAS
IPA Interagency Personnel Act
IPA Intergovernmental Personnel Act
IPC Incidental Patient Contact
IRA Individual Retirement Account
IRB Institutional Review Board
IRTA Intramural Research Training Award
ISB International Services Branch
ISSO Information Systems Security Office
ITAS Integrated Time and Attendance System
ITMC Information Technology Management Council
K
KSA Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Form
KSASF Knowledges, Skills and Abilities Supplemental Form (NIH-2252-3)
L
LABS Laboratory Automated Bibliographic System
LAN Local Area Network
LIUNA Laborers International Union of North America
LSPRP Laboratory Specialist Promotion Review Panel
LRP NIH Loan Repayment Program (NIH OD)
LWOP Leave Without Pay
M
MAPB Medical Arts and Photography Branch
MCP Management Cadre Program
MEO Most Efficient Organization
MHPF Minority Health Professionals Foundation
ML Military Leave
MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MPP NIH Merit Program Plan
MPW Medical Pathological Waste
MRA Minimum Retirement Age
MSPB Merit Systems Protection Board
N
N/A Not Applicable/Not Available
NACHO National Association of County Health Officials
NAS National Academy of Sciences
NCCAM National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
NCMHD National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities
NHGRI National Human Genome Research Institute
NCI National Cancer Institute
NCRR National Center for Research Resources
NEI National Eye 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 on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
NIDDK National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
NIDCR National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
NIEHS National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIGMS National Institute of General Medical Sciences
NIH National Institutes of Health
NIHTC National Institutes of Health Training Center
NIMH National Institute of Mental Health
NINDS National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
NINR National Institute of Nursing Research
NLM National Library of Medicine
NLT Not Later Than
NMA National Medical Association
NOA Nature of Action
NRC National Research Council
NRSA National Research Service Award
NSF National Science Foundation
NTE Not To Exceed
NTIS National Technical Information Service
O
OA Office Automation
OA Office of Administration (NIH OD)
OACU Office of Animal Care and Use (NIH OD)
OAD HIV Office of the Associate Director for HIV/AIDS
OAMP Office of Acquisition Management and Policy (NIH OD)
OAR Office of AIDS Research (NIH OD)
OASDI Old Age Survivor Disability Insurance
OASH Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, PHS
OB Office of Budget (NIH OD)
OBA Office of Biotechnology Activities (NIH OD)
OBSSR Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (NIH OD)
OC Office of Communications
OCL Office of Community Liaison (NIH OD)
OCPL Office of Communications & Public Liaison
OD Office of the Director
ODEO Office of the Director Executive Office (NIH OD)
ODP Office of Disease Prevention (NIH OD)
ODS Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH OD)
OE Office of Education (NIH OD)
OE Office of Evaluation (NIH OD)
OEO Office of Equal Opportunity (NIH OD)
OEODM Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management (NIH OD)
OER Office of Extramural Research (NIH OD)
OF Optional Form
OFACP Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy (NIH OD)
OFM Office of Financial Management (NIH OD)
OGC Office of the General Counsel (NIH OD)
OHR Office of Human Resources (NIH OD)
OHRM Office of Human Resource Management (NIH OD)
OHRP Office for Human Research Protections (NIH OD)
OHSR Office of Human Subjects Research (NIH OD)
OIR Office of Intramural Research (NIH OD)
OIT Office of Information Technology (NIH OD)
OJT On-The-Job Training
OLAO Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (NIH OD)
OLAW Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (NIH OD)
OLPA Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (NIH OD)
OLRS Office of Loan Repayment and Scholarship (NIH OD)
OM Office of Management (NIH OD)
OMA Office of Management Assessment (NIH OD)
OMAR Office of Medical Applications of Research (NIH OD)
OMB Office of Management and Budget, White House
OMBS Office of Medical Board Services
OMS Occupational Medical Service
OPF Official Personnel File
OPL Offices of Public Liaison (NIH OD)
OPM Office of Personnel Management
ORD Office of Rare Diseases (NIH OD)
ORFDO Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations (NIH OD)
ORS Office of Research Services (NIH OD)
ORWH Office of Research on Women's Health (NIH OD)
OSE Office of Science Education (NIH OD)
OSP Office of Science Policy (NIH OD)
OSMP Office of Strategic Management and Planning (NIH OD)
OSPP Office of Science Policy & Planning (NIH OD)
OTT Office of Technology Transfer
P
P/TRP Promotion/Tenure Review Panel
PA Personnel Assistant
PAHO Pan American Health Organization
PCA Physicians Comparability Allowance
PCS Permanent change of station
PD Position Description
PEBS Policy, Employee Benefits, and Staffing Unit, PMB, NCI
PHS Public Health Service
PIN Personal Identification Number
PL Public Law
PMB Personnel Management Branch, NCI
PMI Presidential Management Intern
PMS Performance Management System
PMS Personnel Management Specialist
PP Pay Period
PPE Pay Period Ending
PR Public Relations
PRPL Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
PSP Physician Special Pay (In relation to Title 38)
PT Part Time
PVEV Post-Vietnam Era Veteran
PWS Performance Work Statement
Q
QSI Quality Step Increase
R
R&W Recreation and Welfare
RCDC Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization
REPS Recruitment and Employment Policy Section, PMB, NCI
RFC Request for Contract
RFP Request for Proposal
RIF Reduction In Force
ROI Report of Investigation
S
SBIR Small Business Innovation Research
SBRS Senior Biomedical Research Service
SCD Service Computation Date
SCEP Student Career Experience Program
SD Scientific Director
SEEP Student Educational Employment Program
SES Senior Executive Service
SF Staff Fellow
SF Standard Form
SGI Summer Genetics Institute
SIP Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research
SL Sick Leave
SRFP Summer Research Fellowship Program
SNAP Streamlined Non-competing Award Process
SNMA Student National Medical Association
SRFP Summer Research Fellowship Program
SRO Scientific Review Officer
SSF Senior Staff Fellow
SSN Social Security Number
SSS Senior Scientific Service (SES)
STEP Staff Training in Extramural Programs
STEP Student Temporary Employment Program
STTR Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications
SV Student or Special Volunteer
T
T&A Time and Attendance
TAB NIH Technical Advisory Board
TAIMS Time and Attendance Information Management System
TARGET Technology Accessible Resources Give Employment Today
TASC Technical Assistance and Support Center
TBR Training By Request
TCC Temporary Continuation of Coverage
TDY Temporary Duty
TIG Time In Grade
TK Timekeeper
TOD Tour Of Duty
TQM Total Quality Management
TSP Thrift Savings Plan
U
URC User Resource Center
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USET United South and Eastern Tribes
USIA United States Information Agency
USOPM United States Office of Personnel Management
V
VA Visiting Associate
VATS Vacancy Announcement Tracking System (PHS)
VEV Vietnam Era Veteran
VF Visiting Fellow
VRA Veterans Readjustment Appointment
VS Visiting Scientist
W
WAE When-Actually-Employed
WAO Washington Area Office, OPM
WEDA Workforce Equity and Diversity Action
WFCL Work and Family Life Center
WG Wage Grade
WGI Within-Grade Increase
WHO World Health Organization, United Nations
WWW World Wide Web
X
X-Train Trainee Activities System
Y
YTD Year To Date

Thanks to the creators of the NIH Fellows Handbook—Acronyms Used at the NIH.

This page was last reviewed on July 8, 2008 .
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