A Guide to Federal Terms and Acronyms

Book excerpt: Navigating government documents is a task that requires considerable knowledge of specialized terms and acronyms. This required knowledge nearly amounts to knowing a completely different language. To those who are not fluent, the task can be overwhelming, as federal departments fill their documents with acronyms, abbreviations, and terms that mean little or nothing to the outsider. Would you be able to make sense of a document that described how the COTR reports to the CO regarding compliance with FAR, GPRA, SARA, and FASA? (This is a common procedure in government contracting.) Would you have any clue what was being referred to if you came across MIL-STD-129P? (It is the new standard for Military Shipping Label Requirements.) The sheer number of such terms makes mastering them nearly impossible. But now, these terms and their definitions are within reach. This new edition of A Guide to Federal Terms and Acronyms presents a glossary of key definitions used by the federal government. It is updated to include new acronyms and terminology from various federal government departments. It covers the most common terms, acronyms, and abbreviations used by each major agency, presenting definitions and explanations in a user-friendly and accessible way. This is an essential tool for anyone who works with federal government information.