Click to see Proposal Deadline Updates

Don’t Forget to Use FORMS-F

July 1, 2020

Message from NIH Staff

At this point, nearly all grant applications should be using our updated application forms (FORMS-F; NOT-OD-20-026 and NOT-OD-20-077). If you aren’t sure how to tell the form version you are using, check out Do I Have the Right Forms for My Application?

Resources related to form updates:

• How to Apply – Application Guide
• Grants Administration Take 10: NIH FORMS-F Application Forms Update video
• Annotated Form Set for NIH Grant Applications
• Do I Have the Right Form Version For My Application?
• Application Forms, Form Updates, and Choosing the Correct Forms FAQs

There are a few notable exceptions:

• NIH will accept FORMS-E application form packages for the following FOAs until they are reissued on or around June 25, 2020 (NOT-OD-20-110)
  • PA-18-589 Successor-in-Interest (Type 6 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PA-18-590 Change of Grantee Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PA-18-591 Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp – Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PA-18-592 Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (Admin Supp – Clinical Trial Not Allowed
  • PA-18-935 Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement – Clinical Trial Optional)
  • PA-20-135 Emergency Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Awards (Emergency Supplement – Clinical Trial Optional)
     
• Applicants have until June 25, 2020 to complete submission of their in progress administrative supplements to promote diversity using FORMS-E application packages and parent FOAs PA-18-906 or PA-20-166.
  • New applications should use FORMS-F application packages and reissued FOA PA-20-222: Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp – Clinical Trial Not Allowed).

• A few institutes have issued notices in the NIH Guide extending late application windows for specific opportunities due to COVID-19 impacts (see Late Application Policy Notices section of this page.) Applicants should use FORMS-E application form packages If submitting late applications for due dates on or before May 24, 2020.

Direct questions regarding our form update to:

NIH Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA)
Systems Policy Branch
Email: OPERAsystemspolicy@nih.gov

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NSF Guidance OMB Memo

Refer to the guidance on NSF’s implementation of OMB M-20-26 which extends two of the short-term administrative relief from specific requirements contained in 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. These extensions go beyond what was previously outlined in the OMB M-20-17.

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RFI: Rigor of Animal Research

NIH issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding rigor, transparency, and translatability to improve biomedical and behavioral research involving animal models. Read NOT-OD-20-130 and submit feedback by July 31, 2020.

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Submission of the FFR

According to NOT-OD-20-127, as of January 1, 2021, NIH grant recipients will be required to submit the SF-425 Federal Financial Report (FFR) in the Payment Management System (PMS) instead of eRA Commons. 

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Impact Scores & Summary Statements

June 18, 2020

Message from NIH Staff

Effective June 24, 2020, summary statements and overall impact scores for grant applications will be available on the eRA Commons Status Information screen to users with the signing official (SO) role. Currently, only principal investigators can view the scores and summary statements.

This change came about following the update to the  System of Records Notice (SORN) for eRA records, allowing NIH to disclose information to applicant organizations for the purpose of communicating about matters related to agency award programs.

This means that the NIH will make the overall impact score and all current and previously issued summary statements available to the applicant organization through the NIH eRA Commons.  The user must have the signing official (SO) role in the eRA Commons in order to view the impact score and the summary statement.

For help accessing the Status Information screen, please see the online help for the Status Module. Once the system is released on June 24, there will be a help page with specific instructions for how SOs can access review outcomes.

For information regarding this change, please refer to Guide Notice NOT-OD-20-126.

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New “All About Grants” Podcast

Message from NIH Staff

Yes, we are talking about contracts in this next installment of the
NIH’s All About Grants podcast series. Our guests will be George Kennedy and Brian O’Laughlin, who are acquisition staff from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and National Institute on Drug Abuse, respectively. The conversation (MP3 / Transcript) will introduce you to the world of contracts at NIH, what they are, how they differ from grants, where to find them, what types of research are solicited, tidbits to focus on when developing a proposal, and more.

Check out the System for Awards Management (SAM)  to find more information on contract solicitations.

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Change in Status Including Absence of Key Personnel 

NOT-OD-20-124 clarifies expectations regarding change in status, including absence of Program Directors, Principal Investigators, and other key personnel named in the Notice of Award. NIH expects that funded research occurs within an environment that is safe, healthful, and conducive to high-quality work. Refer to modified guidance,"Change in PD/PI and Other Senior/Key Personnel," NIH GPS Section 8.1.2.6. For more information read this week's post, New Steps to Help Ensure Safe Work Environments for NIH-Supported. Research.

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NIH Reissue of Parent Announcements

According to NOT-OD-20-110, the reissue of Parent Announcements and the urgent/emergency competitive revision of Funding Opportunity Announcements is in progress. Applicants should continue using the Current Announcements/Forms Packages until NIH reissues, which is expected by June 25, 2020. Changes apply to NIH grant application forms/instructions due on or after May 25, 2020 (FORMS-F).

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A Walk-Through of the PHS Human Subjects & Clinical Trials Information Form

June 2, 2020

Message from NIH Staff

We’ve updated the Walk-through of the PHS Human Subjects & Clinical Trials Information Form video to align with our latest application form update (FORMS-F). In just six minutes, you’ll learn how to use the form and how to complete both delayed onset and full study records. The video describes each of the five sections of a study record and points out which fields are required for human subjects and clinical trial studies. You might even discover a handy tip or two along the way.

For a summary of significant form changes and detailed guidance for completing the form, check out our FORMS-F application instructions.