NIH Implementation and Guidance
Syracuse University
Office of Sponsored Programs
Stuart Taub
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RPPR: Research Performance Progress Report is an
initiative among federal agencies to introduce greater
consistency for interim progress reporting, and to
reduce administrative burden.
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NIH RPPR process replaces eSNAP: electronic
Streamlined Non-Competing Award Process.
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NIH RPPR is required for all awards issued under the
SNAP process, and all fellowship awards, with budget
start dates on or after July 1, 2013. Non-SNAP
awards targeted for October 2014, but final guidance
not yet issued.
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RPPR contain the following categories of
information:
◦ Standard Cover Page
◦ Mandatory Component (Accomplishments)
◦ Optional Components (Agency Specific)
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Each Agency will utilize standard instructions
developed for each category, but may also provide
additional program-specific instructions necessary to
clarify requirement for a particular program
Follow agency specific guidance closely (one size does not fit all !)
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Describe progress, study results, the significance
of the findings, and any significant changes.
Information is pre-populated from NIH Systems:
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PD/PI Information
Grant Number
Project title and period
Performance Sites
Personnel
Due 45 days prior to budget start date for SNAP,
and 60 days prior for Fellowships
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MyNCBI publications list displayed
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Detailed budget not required
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NIH policy requirements requested
(agency specific components)
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Separate screens for reporting components
Uses checkbox, text box, PDF, or selecting “Nothing to
Report”
Required information for all foreign collaborations
Effort rounded to nearest whole person month
 Key Personnel: 0.0 - 0.4 months, enter 0 month effort
 Key Personnel: 0.5 - 0.9 months, enter 1 month effort
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Required section for competitive revisions/ admin.
supplements associated with the award
Public Access compliance status displayed
Other support required only if changed from prior reports
Link to Notice of Award
Streamlined ClinicalTrials.gov reporting information
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The RPPR has separate screens for each of the
following reporting components:
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Cover Page
Accomplishments
Products
Participants
Impact
Changes
Special NIH Reporting Requirements
Budget – Not Required for SNAP awards, but will be
required for non-SNAP
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RPPR text boxes do not support special characters or
symbols
PDF format must be used for uploads and cannot
‘bundle’ various sections; must be separate uploads
RPPR is only for interim progress reports, not the final
Remember to click SAVE button prior to leaving any
screen, system does not autosave
Publications must be entered through MyNCBI, which
will then filter to the RPPR
Progress Report Additional Materials (PRAM) is required
if non-complaint publications are contained in the RPPR.
Progress Report Additional Materials (PRAM):
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Electronic mechanism for NIH to request more information in
connection with a progress report. Currently being utilized to
correct for “non-compliant” publications.
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Allows SU to respond to such requests (PI, SO).
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All investigators should be aware of the NIH Public Access
Policy to avoid PRAM requests and/or delays to funding
because of “non-compliant” publications:
http://publicaccess.nih.gov/
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PIs/PDs need to prompt their graduate students
and undergraduate students to create eRA
Commons Logins now.
Phased in implementation - RPPR warnings
effective beginning 10/18/2013; Required with
RPPR submissions October 2014.
…additional information NOT-OD-13-097.
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Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for all Graduate
Students and Postdoc Researchers supported by NIH.
IDPs will help these individuals achieve career goals
within the biomedical research workforce.
Institutions will be strongly encouraged to develop IDPs
and report on these for such individuals reported as
“Participants” on the RPPR beginning October 2014.
See NOT-OD-13-093
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Please look for OSP’s newly created RPPR
Summary Guidance tool, Coming Soon!
NIH RPPR Page
• http://grants.nih.gov/grants/rppr/index.htm
NIH RPPR Instruction Guide
 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/rppr/rppr_instruction_guide.pdf
NIH RPPR Webinar
• https://grants.nih.gov/grants/webinar_docs/webinar_20121017.mp4