Replacing the Research Accreditation Service

The Research Accreditation Service (RAS) has now closed.

You may have been redirected to this page from an existing link to RAS because the service no longer exists and is being replaced.

The RAS provided the researcher and project accreditation service for users of both the Secure Research Service (SRS), and the Integrated Data Service (IDS).

The RAS was provided to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) by a third-party organisation, with the current contract ending soon.

Two new systems have been designed to support the different user requirements:

• Project Accreditation Service for SRS (PASS)
• People and Projects Service (PPS)

The RAS is now closed to migrate data to the PASS and the PPS. The new systems will be available from Tuesday 29 April.

Until then, researchers are unable to start accredited researcher applications, new project applications, or request changes to live projects.

Users with in-progress accredited researcher applications that have not been completed are being contacted directly to complete their applications.

From Tuesday 29 April, this will be managed by the new People and Projects Service (PPS).

The PPS is a part of the Integrated Data Service (IDS) infrastructure and will service accreditations for researchers looking to become accredited for the first time, and those looking to re-accredit once existing accreditation has lapsed. The PPS will provide researcher accreditation for all accredited researchers, not just users of the IDS.

This page will be updated on Tuesday 29 April when the PPS is available.

Researchers who have live projects with change requests, and project applications in-progress, may also be contacted by email during this period to complete their applications.

If the timescales set out will have an impact to a critical Secure Research Service (SRS) research project application or researcher accreditation, please email srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk to discuss the specific circumstances in more detail.

For any concerns related to an Integrated Data Service (IDS) project application, please email ids.customer.support@ons.gov.uk.

From Tuesday 29 April, accredited researchers looking to use the SRS or the IDS will take different routes to obtain project accreditation.

Users of the IDS will continue to use the People and Projects Service (PPS) for project accreditation.

Users of the SRS will use the Project Accreditation Service for SRS (PASS). The PASS will provide the equivalent functionality of the existing RAS system, however, will be tailored towards users of the SRS.

This page will be updated on Tuesday 29 April when PPS and PASS are available.

If you have any questions about the replacement of the Research Accreditation Service (RAS), or about researcher or project accreditation for the Secure Research Service (SRS), please email srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk.

If you have any questions about researcher or project accreditation for the Integrated Data Service (IDS), please contact ids.customer.support@ons.gov.uk.