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Recent Updates and New Features Coming Soon!

Welcome to the September 2026 edition of the SAP Newsletter. On June 15th, the new SAP Portal was launched at sap.nsf.gov. The new portal is designed to improve usability, enhance system performance and security, and provide integrated support features.  

On June 10th and June 23rd, the SAP Program Management Office (PMO) hosted SAP demonstration webinars to provide an opportunity for portal users to preview the new portal’s functionality and ask questions about the application process and the portal’s functionality. Here are the questions attendees asked most and the answers we provided:

Q: Did applications from the old portal migrate to the new portal?

A: Yes, all applications from the legacy portal (www.ResearchDataGov.org) were migrated to the new portal. The legacy portal link will now automatically redirect you to the new portal (sap.nsf.gov). Please refer to the SAP Portal Transition webpage for instructions on how to access an existing application or create an account in the new portal.

Q: Can amendments be submitted on the new SAP Portal?

A: Not currently, but the amendments feature will be released in late 2026. This feature will allow users to request changes to approved applications.

Q: Where can the SAP Portal Demo webinar recording be accessed?

A: On the Learning Resources page of the SAP website.

Q: How can I request assistance with an application or report an SAP Portal technical issue?

A: For questions related to the application process, email the agency that owns the data. If you need contact information for an agency, refer to the “Who to Contact” resource on the SAP Learning Resources page. To report an SAP Portal technical issue, email SAPSupport@mathematica-mpr.com.

New SAP Portal Features Coming Soon

• Expanding the set of public metrics currently available on the SAP Portal (select an agency page to view their public metrics)
• Adding the in-application ability to appeal applications that were not approved
• Providing an application text editor to reduce the number of document uploads required from applicants
• Adding a “favorites” feature to save and easily revisit datasets in the catalog
• Launching the in-application “amendments” feature, where applicants can request changes for approved applications   

AGENCY SPOTLIGHT: EIA

On June 15, 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) began receiving Standard Application Process (SAP) applications when the new SAP Portal went live. EIA is the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. EIA’s mission is to collect, process, analyze, and publish energy data for the American people.

In the SAP Data Catalog, researchers who are U.S. citizens and are affiliated with a U.S. educational institution or nonprofit entity may select from EIA’s available nonpublic datasets for use in their proposed projects, which must have a statistical purpose. Currently, these datasets are based on confidential data that are collected in the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) and the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) and are protected from disclosure by the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA). In SAP applications, EIA requires that researchers demonstrate why the public-use microdata files that EIA publishes are not sufficient for their projects. EIA’s available nonpublic datasets are provisioned by the specific years and geographies that each researcher needs for their approved projects.

EIA’s headquarters in Washington, DC is currently the only location where researchers can access EIA’s nonpublic datasets. EIA cannot approve multi-agency SAP applications as nonpublic datasets from other U.S. agencies are not available for data linkage at EIA’s headquarters.

EIA is excited to participate in SAP and looks forward to working with researchers to provide a secure environment where they can access EIA’s available nonpublic datasets required for their approved projects. For more information on how to apply for access to these nonpublic datasets at EIA’s headquarters, please visit EIA’s website.

RESOURCES: New User Materials

In case you missed it, check out the recording from our June 23^rd SAP Portal Demonstration webinar available on the SAP learning resources page.

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 Transition Information page or email us at singleportal-admin@nsf.gov

HELPFUL HINTS FOR APPLICANTS

SAP Portal Login and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Visit the SAP Portal transition webpage and navigate to the bottom of the page for more detailed instructions on how to login to the new SAP Portal. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now required to login to the portal. Below are some of the most used MFA apps. MS Authenticator 2FAS Google Remember that if you previously used ResearchDataGov.org, you must use the same email address for your new SAP account to keep your account history. For questions or additional support, contact the Help Desk at SAPSupport@mathematica-mpr.com

SAP ANNOUNCEMENTS

The new SAP Portal went live on June 15, 2026, and can be accessed by visiting sap.nsf.gov.

Read the Data Foundation’s coverage of the new SAP Portal: One Front Door, Years in the Making: The New Standard Application Process Portal Arrives on .gov | ANALYSIS | Data Foundation

The Internal Revenue Service Statistics of Income Division will open the Joint Statistical Research Program application window for 2026 on September 1. Additional information, including application details and instructions, will be shared on the Joint Statistical Research Program website.

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. More information about the conference can be found here: https://www.census.gov/about/adrm/fsrdc/news/events/2026-federal-statistical-research-data-center-annual-conference.html

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

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