AOR - See Authorized Organizational Representative.

Authorized Organizational Representative - The administrative official who on behalf of the proposing organization is empowered to make certifications and assurances and can commit the organization to the conduct of a project that NSF is being asked to support as well as and to adhere to various NSF policies and grant requirements.

Co-PI - Co-Principal Investigator. One of the individuals designated by the grantee and approved by NSF who will be responsible for the scientific or technical direction of the project. (GPG, NSF 01-2, Appendix B, Section A) It is NSF Policy that a proposal can have at most four Co-PIs. Other Senior Personnel can be added to the proposal as non Co-PI Senior Personnel.

DUNS Number - Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The DUNS number is a nine digit number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information Services. If the proposer does not have a DUNS number, one may be obtained calling Dun and Bradstreet at (800) 333-0505.

EDI - Electronic Data Interchange. An alternative format used to submit proposals to NSF. You must have permission from NSF to submit proposals using this format. For further EDI information see: www.fastlane.nsf.gov/d2/nsf_edi_home.htm

EFT - Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT/banking information). When the EFT information is submitted, it is transferred securely to the NSF financial management system for use in making payments to the panelists.

Financial Administrator - This is a FastLane user who has been given authority to grant Financial Functions permissions. Thus someone in the Sponsored Research Office who has authority to grant FastLane Research Administration permissions grants someone the authority to be Financial Administrator, and the Financial Administrator in turn grants authority to others to access Cash Request, FTCR, etc.

FCTR - Federal Cash Transaction Report - Business offices use the FCTR to submit their quarterly reports to NSF. The report may be downloaded as a spreadsheet so that it can be worked on "off-line." When complete, the report is uploaded back to FastLane and then submitted to NSF. Institutions interested in accessing this function should contact Richard Noll of the Divisional of Financial Management. Phone 703-292-4458

GPG - Grant Proposal Guide. The Grant Proposal Guide provides guidance for the preparation and submission of proposals
to NSF. Some NSF programs have program announcements or solicitations that modify the general provisions of this Guide, and, in such cases, the guidelines provided in the announcement or solicitation must be followed. Contact with NSF program personnel prior to proposal preparation is encouraged. Available electronically at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg

GPM - Grant Policy Manual. The Grant Policy Manual is a compendium of basic NSF policies and procedures for use by the grantee community and NSF staff. Its coverage includes the NSF award process, from issuance and administration of an award through closeout. Guidance regarding other grant requirements or considerations which either are not universally applicable or which do not follow the award cycle is also provided. Available electronically at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpm

Password - (1) Password is a 6-20 character authentication and access code used to log into PI/Co-PI Functions. Passwords replaced the four digit character PINs previously used to access these functions. PIs/Co-PIs at registered FastLane organizations can get their Password from their organization's Sponsored Research Office (SRO) or equivalent (the people that have the authority to submit proposals to NSF). (2) Authentication and access code provided by NSF Staff used to access Panel Review Functions.

PIN - (1) Personal Identification Number. A six character alpha-numeric used to access FastLane Proposal Review. NSF assigns these PINs to each proposal-reviewer combination. For reviewers receiving a paper Proposal Evaluation Form (NSF Form 1), the PIN appears in the lower right box below the reviewer's name and address. Some programs e-mail the reviewer his/her PIN for reviewing. (2) Four digit character previously used to access PI/Co-PI Functions. PINs have been replaced by 6-20 character Passwords. If you have not received a new password, when you log into a PI/Co-PI function using your PIN, you will be asked to change your PIN to a Password.

PDF - PDF Portable Document Format. NSF requires that a PDF file be submitted for the Project Description of a proposal and allows PDF file(s) for each of the proposal sections except the cover sheet and budget forms. PDF files allow users on different platforms (e.g. Windows, Mac and UNIX) to view files as originally intended by the author, if created properly. Proposals often contain images, graphics, equations and various character sets (e.g. Greek letters). At least one quarter of NSF proposal writers work in each of the following platforms: Windows, Macs and UNIX. PDF offers reproducible results and multi-platform support for viewing and printing by reviewers and NSF staff (again, if the original files contain the proper format). No other mature document type permits easy viewing by reviewers and allows authors to retain margins, keep pagination and line breaks, generate files in various word processors on PCs, Macs and UNIX systems, include and display equations, and maintain control of the position and compression of images. For further PDF Creation Instructions see: PDF Instructions

PI - Principal Investigator (PI). The individual designated by the grantee and approved by NSF who will be responsible for the scientific or technical direction of the project. (GPG, NSF 01-2, Appendix B, Section A)

SRO - Sponsored Research (Projects) Office. Or the individual/group at your organization responsible for management of FastLane functions.

Last Modified: January 3, 2001