|
A New SAP Portal is Coming!
 |
|
Welcome to the Spring 2026 SAP newsletter. We are excited to share that the SAP will be transitioning to a new, enhanced portal in June of this year. This newsletter describes key aspects of the transition, including a timeline of important dates. The new portal will offer significant improvements, including: |
- Upgraded usability
- Enhanced system performance
- Integrated support features
The new portal is designed to further streamline the application process for users and support innovation. This change reflects our commitment to providing a more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly application system for both agency staff and the public.
How the Transition Will Work: Phases and Timeline
The transition will take place in phases to ensure a smooth and secure shift to the new portal.
-
Phase 1: March 1 – May 26: Prepare to transition– Users of the current SAP Portal (ResearchDataGov.org) will receive advance notices of the upcoming transition.
-
Phase 2 – May 26 at 3PM EST: Transition– ResearchDataGov.org will “freeze” for about three weeks (May 26-June15). The site will be read-only during this time, as developers migrate existing applications, accounts, and other data to the new portal. During this period, users will be able to view data and applications, download applications, and submit tickets. However, users will not be able to create a new application, edit an application, render a decision or edit metadata.
-
Phase 3 – June 15: New portal launches – The new SAP Portal will go live, users will be notified of the new URL and they will be able to resume all application activities.
During the transition, users will receive clear instructions and support for any required actions such as new account setup and updated login steps. Communication will be ongoing throughout the transition, with detailed timelines, FAQs, and training materials available on the SAP Transition Information webpage. Support teams will be ready to assist with troubleshooting and to address any questions.
When It’s Happening
The technical transition will occur over the coming months, with key milestones communicated in advance. The timeline for the transition is summarized in the SAP Transition Plan 2025-2026 figure below. The transition is currently in the early testing phase and later this spring, all historical data will be transferred to the new SAP Portal. The completion date for the portal transition is June 15, 2026. Once the transition is complete, all application activity will occur on the new portal. Users will be notified well ahead of any important dates to ensure adequate preparation time and minimal disruption to normal operations. See the Agency Announcements section below for information about upcoming webinars that will provide information about the SAP Portal transition and a demonstration of the new SAP Portal.
|
|
|
Each issue of the SAP newsletter highlights a statistical agency/unit or SAP partner. This special transition edition of the newsletter introduces our new SAP Portal contractor, Mathematica.
Mathematica is collaborating with the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP) to develop and support the next generation of the Standard Application Process (SAP) Portal. The new portal will provide a single, coordinated entry point where researchers can discover and request access to restricted-use federal data and track their requests, while agencies can review applications more consistently and efficiently.
Drawing on its experience supporting complex federal data initiatives, Mathematica is building the SAP Portal in a secure, Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program-approved cloud environment designed to scale as participation grows and the federal government’s data and technology ecosystem continues to evolve. Mathematica’s multidisciplinary team is working closely with the SAP participating agencies throughout development to strengthen data governance, refine requirements, conduct usability testing, maintain comprehensive documentation, and support full security authorization.
In addition to system development, Mathematica is supporting structured transition planning, help desk operations, and ongoing performance reporting to ensure the portal remains reliable, responsive, and continuously improving.
Through this partnership, Mathematica is helping ICSP strengthen coordination across agencies, reduce administrative burden for researchers, and advance secure, efficient access to federal data in support of high-quality research and evidence-based policymaking.
We want to acknowledge our current SAP Portal contractor, the Interagency Consortium on Political and Social Research (ICPSR), part of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, for their work to help launch and implement the first SAP Portal.
|
|
|
Learning resources for SAP applicants and reviewers can be found on the SAP website’s Learning Resources page.
For more information and updates about the SAP Portal transition, please visit the SAP Transition Information page or email us at singleportal-admin@nsf.gov
|
|
 |
|
In order to successfully transfer all the data from the current SAP Portal to the new portal, there will be an approximately two-week period when the current SAP Portal (www.ResearchDataGov.org) is frozen, and you will not be able to do the following activities:
- Create a new application or edit an existing application
- Add new datasets to your basket
Additionally, agencies will not be able to render application decisions or edit metadata listings in the data catalog.
You will still be able to do the following activities:
- Browse the data catalog
- Download applications
- Submit a help desk ticket
|
|
|
|
The 2026 Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) Annual Research Conference will be hosted by the Florida FSRDC at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on September 18, 2026. Details regarding registration and the call for papers will be forthcoming. More information about the conference as it becomes available can be found HERE.
The SAP Program Management Office (PMO) will host a series of informational webinars and office hours related to the SAP transition.
Upcoming Events
Informational Webinar - June 3 & June 10
SAP Portal Live Demo - June 23
Information about how to join these events will be available on the SAP Transition Information page.
|
|
ABOUT THE STANDARD APPLICATION PROCESS
The Standard Application Process (SAP) is a common application for applying for access to confidential data from across federal statistical agencies and units. The SAP is an important part of federal efforts to promote the use of data for evidence-building purposes and is governed by policies established by the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy.
Participating Agencies
|
|
|
|
|
