'S' Acronyms

Staff Assistant SA  
A staff member who assists Scientific Review Officers (SROs) in peer-review related work. Formerly called Grants Technical Assistant (GTA) or Extramural Support Assistant (ESA).
Small Animal Imaging Resource Projects SAIRP  
Small Animal Imaging Resource Program (SAIRP) grants support shared imaging research resources to be used by cancer investigators and support research related to small animal imaging technology. SAIRs will enhance capabilities for conducting basic, clinical, and translational cancer research relevant to the mission of the NCI. Major goals of these resources are to increase efficiency, synergy, and innovation of such research and to foster research interactions that cross disciplines, approaches, and levels of analysis. Building and strengthening such links holds great potential for better understanding cancer, and ultimately, for better treatment and prevention.

For additional information, visit the NCI DCTD CIP Small Animal Imaging Resource Program (SAIRP) webpage.

System for Award Management SAM  
As of July 2012, the System for Award Management (SAM) replaced the Central Contractor Registry (CCR).

The System for Award Management (SAM) is a website that consolidates Federal procurement systems and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). Currently CCR, FedReg, ORCA and EPLS have been migrated to SAM. You must be registered on SAM (within the Entity Management section), Grants.gov and eRA Commons to successfully submit an application to NIH.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA  
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
Statistical Analysis Plan SAP  
ClinicalTrials.gov defines a Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) as "The written description of the statistical considerations and methods for analyzing the data collected in the clinical study."

If the proposed research includes a NIH-Defined Phase III Clinical Trial, applicants are required to address plans for how sex/gender, race and ethnicity will be taken into consideration in the design and valid analysis of the trial.

The "Plan to Test for Differences in Effect among Sex/gender, Racial, and/or Ethnic Groups" must include selection and discussion of one of the following analysis plans:

  • Plans to conduct analyses to detect significant differences in intervention effect among sex/gender, racial, and/or ethnic subgroups when prior studies strongly support these significant differences among one or more subgroups, or
  • Plans to include and analyze sex/gender, racial, and/or ethnic subgroups when prior studies strongly support no significant differences in intervention effect between subgroups. (Representation of sex/gender, racial, and ethnic groups is not required as subject selection criteria, but inclusion is encouraged.), or
  • Plans to conduct valid analyses of the intervention effect in sex/gender, racial, and/or ethnic subgroups (without requiring high statistical power for each subgroup) when the prior studies neither support nor negate significant differences in intervention effect among subgroups.
For additional information, see the NIH Policy and Guidelines on The Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research and the SF424 (R&R) - Version E General Instructions.
See Also: Valid Analysis
Simplified Acquisition Threshold SAT  
"Simplified acquisition threshold" means $150,000 (41 U.S.C. 134), except for—
  • (1) Acquisitions of supplies or services that, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used to support a contingency operation or to facilitate defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack (41 U.S.C. 1903), the term means—
    • (i) $750,000 for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, inside the United States; and
    • (ii) $1.5 million for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, outside the United States; and
  • (2) Acquisitions of supplies or services that, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used to support a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation (10 U.S.C. 2302), the term means $300,000 for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, outside the United States.

Quoted from §2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Small Business Administration SBA  
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
Small Business Administration Procurement Center Representative SBA/PCR  
SBA's Procurement Center Representatives (PCRs) assist small businesses in obtaining federal contracts through six Area Offices across the US and its territories.

For additional information, visit the SBA's Procurement Center Representatives webpage.

Small Business Innovation Research SBIR  
A program designed to support small business concerns conducting innovative research/research & development with potential for commercialization. For the computation of success rates, SBIR awards are not included in the count of RPGs. Go to Small Business Funding Opportunities.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

SBIR Development Center SBIR & STTR  
NCI's SBIR Development Center (SBIR & STTR) seeks to increase small business and private sector participation to develop and commercialize novel technologies and products to help advance cancer research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Small Business Innovative Research Contract SBIR Contract  
A research and development contract awarded under the Small Business Innovative Research Program.

For additional information, visit the NCI SBIR Development Center's Contracts webpage.

Small Business Innovation Research Program SBIR Program  
The Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.

For additional information, visit the Small Business Administration's SBIR•STTR webpage.

Small Disadvantaged Business Concern SDB  
Small disadvantaged business concern, consistent with 13 CFR 124.1002, means a small business concern under the size standard applicable to the acquisition, that
  • (1) Is at least 51 percent unconditionally and directly owned (as defined at 13 CFR 124.105) by—

    • (i) One or more socially disadvantaged (as defined at 13 CFR 124.103) and economically disadvantaged (as defined at 13 CFR 124.104) individuals who are citizens of the United States; and
    • (ii) Each individual claiming economic disadvantage has a net worth not exceeding $750,000 after taking into account the applicable exclusions set forth at 13 CFR 124.104(c)(2); and

  • (2) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled (as defined at 13 CFR 124.106) by individuals who meet the criteria in paragraphs (1)(i) and (ii) of this definition.

Quoted from §2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns SDVOSBC  
The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program.

Joining the disabled veterans' business program makes your business eligible to compete for the program's set-aside contracts. You can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs you qualify for.

For additional information, visit the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA's) Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses webpage.

Student Educational Employment Program SEEP  
See: Pathways for Students and Recent Graduates
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program SEER  
The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute provides information on cancer statistics in an effort to reduce the cancer burden among the U.S. population. SEER is supported by the Surveillance Research Program, which provides national leadership in the science of cancer surveillance as well as analytical tools and methodological expertise in collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating reliable population-based statistics.
Special Emphasis Panel SEP  
A Scientific Review Group formed on an ad hoc basis to review applications requiring special expertise or when a conflict of interest situation occurs.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

See Also: Scientific Review Group Subcommittee
Standard Form 424 (Research & Related) [SF424 (R&R)] SF424  
The application data set used by NIH for the electronic submission of grant applications through Grants.gov to NIH. The data set is owned and maintained by Grants.gov and includes both federal-wide and agency-specific forms.

The SF424 (R&R) forms used to submit a grant application to NIH are posted with the specific funding opportunity announcement to which you want to apply. Application guides and format pages used in conjunction with the SF424 (R&R) forms can be found at: NIH OER's "Format Pages".

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Special Government Employee SGE  
An officer or employee in the executive branch of the Federal Government who is appointed to perform temporary duties, with or without compensation, for a period not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days.

Quoted from 18 U.S.C. §202(a).

Special Interest Category SIC  
Special Interest Category (SIC) Codes are meant to describe in a consistent way the major scientific disciplines that are of stated or growing interest to the NIH, HHS, Congress, and the public. A critical characteristic of these data is comparability from one fiscal year to the next.

For additional information, see the "Portfolio Tracking and Analysis" section of the 2015 DEA Annual Report "The RAS Initiaitive".

Scientific Initiative Management System SIMS  
NCI uses the Concept to Award Tracking System (CATS) for FOA development.
See: Concept to Award Tracking System
Streamlined Non-competing Award Process SNAP  
Streamlined process that includes a number of provisions that modify annual progress reports, NoAs, and financial reports. Funds are automatically carried over and are available for expenditure during the entire project period. All NIH award notices identify whether the grant is subject to or excluded from SNAP.

Routinely applied to:

  • all 'K' awards and 'R; awards, except R35s. Awards excluded from SNAP are those that do not having the authority to automatically carry over un-obligated balances (centers, cooperative agreements, Kirschstein-NRSA institutional training grants, non-Fast Track Phase I SBIR and STTR awards, clinical trials (regardless of activity code),
  • Program Project Grants (P01s), R35s and awards to individuals. See section 8.4.1.2 Streamlined Non-Competing Award Process in the NIHGPS for additional information.
SNAP instructions for submitting the progress report appear in the PHS 2590 Non-Competing Continuation Progress Report. When SNAP applies, the progress report must be submitted electronically using the eSNAP module in eRA Commons.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List

Signing Official SO  
The Signing Official (SO) is an eRA Commons Account Role.

A Signing Official (SO) has institutional authority to legally bind the institution in grants administration matters. The individual fulfilling this role may have any number of titles in the grantee organization. The label, "Signing Official," is used in conjunction with the NIH eRA Commons. The SO can register the institution, and create and modify the institutional profile and user accounts. The SO also can view all grants within the institution, including status and award information. An SO can create additional SO accounts as well as accounts with any other role or combination of roles. For most institutions, the Signing Official (SO) is located in its Office of Sponsored Research or equivalent.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Statement of Objectives SOO  
"Statement of Objectives (SOO)" means a Government-prepared document incorporated into the solicitation that states the overall performance objectives. It is used in solicitations when the Government intends to provide the maximum flexibility to each offeror to propose an innovative approach..

Quoted from the §2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Standard Operating Procedure SOP  
Written instructions for doing a specific task in a certain way. In clinical trials, Standard Operating Procedures are set up to store records, collect data, screen and enroll subjects, and submit Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and renewals.

Quoted from the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

Statement of Work SOW  
The statement of work describes work to be performed rather than the end result to be obtained. It describes precisely and in sufficient detail the work expected in achieving the end objective.

Quoted from the NIH OAMP Acquisition Process Mapping Glossary

Scientific Program Leadership, NCI SPL  
Internal Committee of the National Cancer Institute which includes the Director, Deputy Directors, Division Directors, and other senior scientific staff. The Scientific Program Leadership (SPL) meets on a regular basis to discuss various matters of NCI policy, including but not limited to review and approval of RFA and research and development contract concepts before review by the Board of Scientific Advisors (BSA); review of program announcements; development of funding plans; grant payment by exceptions, etc.

For additional information, visit the NCI Funding Determinations webpage.

Special Population Networks SPN  
The Special Population Networks (SPN) evolved from NCI leadership in the 1990s to address the disproportionate burden of cancer among certain population groups in the U.S., specifically African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Appalachians. SPN was launched by CRCHD in 2000 with a goal of building robust and sustainable infrastructures within minority and medically underserved communities to promote cancer awareness, conduct cancer control research, initiate cancer control activities, and promote the career development of minority junior biomedical and behavioral researchers.

For additional information, visit the NCI Special Populations Networks (SPN) webpage.

Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) Grants SPORE  
SPORE grants involve both basic and clinical/applied scientists working together and support projects that will result in new and diverse approaches to the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of human cancers.

For additional information on NCI SPORE grants, visit the NCI Translational Research Program (TRP) website.

Scientific Review Administrator SRA  
Title has changed to Scientific Review Officer (SRO)
See: Scientific Review Officer
Scientific Review and Evaluation Award SREA  
Scientific Review and Evaluation Award (SREA) is a payment made to a Scientific Review Group (SRG) reviewer. SREA funds are used to reimburse travel, lodging, per diem and honoraria for review group members. Also refers to the process by which the award is generated.

A reviewer must be registered in the Secure Payee Registration System (SPRS) in order to receive payment. For additional information, visit the NIH eRA For Reviewers - Fill Out Personal Profile; Honoraria Info webpage.

Scientific Review Group SRG  
Per 42 CFR §52h.2(u), Scientific Review Group (SRG) has the same meaning as Peer Review Group.
See: Peer Review Group
See Also: Subcommittee
Special Review and Logistics Branch SRLB  
In 2002, Special Review and Logistics Branch of the Office of Referral, Review, and Program Coordination in the NCI Division of Extramural Activities was renamed from its previous name, the Scientific Review and Resources Branch. Among other review-related activities, the staff members of this branch plan, manage, and assist in the scientific merit review of special grant and cooperative agreement applications (which are generally received from applicants in response to Requests for Applications and Program Announcements from the NCI).

In 2014, the Special Review and Logistics Branch was split into two branches, the Special Review Branch (SRB) and the Research Technology and Contract Review Branch (RTCRB).

Scientific Review Officer SRO  
The Scientific Review Officer (SRO) {formerly Scientific Review Administrator (SRA)} is the NIH official who serves as the Designated Federal Official having legal responsibility for managing the peer review meeting, the procedures for evaluating the applications assigned to the Scientific Review Group (SRG) and the determinations of conflicts of interest, as noted in 42 CFR 52(h).

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Scientific Review and Resources Branch SRRB  
This title is no longer used.
Scientific Review Specialist SRS  
The contractor equivalent of a Scientific Review Administrator (SRA) at one company that is under contract to the NCI.
Summary Statement SS  
A combination of the reviewers' written comments and the SRO's summary of the members' discussion during the study section meeting. It includes the recommendations of the study section, a recommended budget, and administrative notes of special considerations.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Sources Sought SS  
A published synopsis for the purpose of determining interest in a given acquisition. It requests interested parties to submit capability statements which may be evaluated to determine the ability to perform
Summary Statement Top SS Top  
All of the administrative information contained in the summary statement "top."
Source Selection Panel SSP  
A generic term for an IC panel that evaluates the Final Proposal Revisions and recommends to the Contracting Officer (CO) who should receive an award. The SSP may comprise, at a minimum, the project and contracting officers, and may be supplemented by other persons with appropriate technical expertise.

Quoted from NIH Policy Manual Chapter 6315-1.

Small Business Technology Transfer Program STTR  
The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is another program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development (R&D) arena. Central to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The unique feature of the STTR program is the requirement for the small business to formally collaborate with a research institution in Phase I and Phase II. STTR's most important role is to bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations.

For additional information, visit the Small Business Administration's SBIR•STTR webpage.

Small Business Technology Transfer STTR  
A program designed to support cooperative research/research & development with potential for commercialization, through a formal cooperative effort between a small business and a U.S. research institution. For the computation of success rates, STTR awards are not included in the count of RPGs. Go to Small Business Funding Opportunities.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Site Visit, Grant Applications SV  
A site visit is made to obtain sufficient information to review an application when such information cannot be obtained in any other way.

Site visits may be carried out by a standing SRG, a subcommittee (or working group) of a standing SRG, or a SEP. Site visits, reverse site visits, or applicant interviews related to evaluation of an application must be conducted with the DFO in attendance. The principles for selecting reviewers, managing COI or appearances of COI, maintaining confidentiality and non-disclosure, and conducting the site visit or applicant interview are the same as those used for other SRG meetings.

The review panel evaluates, through direct interaction with the principal investigator and associates:

  1. their experience, knowledge of the field, exact responsibilities on the project, and interrelationships;
  2. budgets and possible scientific and fiscal overlaps;
  3. the physical facilities, laboratories, and equipment;
  4. experimental procedures that may be vital to the success of the proposed research; and/or
  5. research materials and raw data essential to the conduct of the proposed research.

See Also: Applicant Interview