Current Issues at NIH presented at the SRP Annual Meeting 2015 by Michelle Victalino Grants Management Specialist Lisa A. Edwards Lead, Grants Management Specialist George Tucker Chief, Grants Management Officer San Juan, PR November 19, 2015 1 National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Continuing Resolution • NIH is currently funded under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 (H.R. 719 ) signed by President Obama on September 30, 2015 which funds the government until 12/11/15. • Funding is continued at 99.79 percent of the FY2015 level. All legislative mandates associated with FY2015 remain in effect. • Stay tuned for additional guidance See NOT-OD-16-002 2 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Continuing Resolution Fiscal Policy • Salary Cap – Limited to Executive Level II – set at $183,300. See NOT-OD-15-049 • NRSA awards - – Stipends, tuition, fees, and training related expenses will remain at FY 2015 levels for undergraduate, graduate students and post-doctorals. See NOT-OD-15-048 3 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Policy Updates 4 National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NIH Grants Policy Statement • In keeping with NIH’s annual update of the NIH Grants Policy Statement, the next revision is scheduled to be issued late October. • An out of cycle revision was issued on 3/31/2015 to reflect NIH’s implementation of HHS regulations implementing Uniform Guidance. • The October 2015 NIH Grants Policy Statement incorporates new and modified requirements, clarifies policies, and implements changes in statutes, regulations and policies that have taken place since 3/31/2015. • The October 2015 will supersede, in its entirety, the 3/31/2015 version as a standard term of award. 5 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services PMS Subaccounts –Implementation Timeline FY2016 • October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016 – Competing Awards • NIH will continue to award all new funding to subaccounts – Type 3 Awards • Beginning October 1, 2015, supplements will be awarded to subaccounts. – Type 5 Awards • Beginning October 1, 2015, NIH will use an administrative process to transition all non-competing awards to P subaccounts • September 30, 2016 – All awards transitioned to subaccounts. 6 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services PMS Subaccounts – Implementation Requirements • There will be no change to the due dates, submission, or review of progress reports for domestic awards for FY 2016. • NIH will award type 4s to transition funding to subaccounts • Subaccount Transitional Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) •Due no later than 90 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the budget period ended •Non-SNAP awards - Equivalent to annual FFR •SNAP awards – report expenditure data that covers the project period from the original start date of the competitive segment through the new project period end date. •May include unliquidated obligations •See NOT-OD-15-105 7 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Research Training Data Table Formats • NIH anticipates adopting new research training data table formats in FY 2016 for use with: – Institutional training grant applications and; – Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) • NIH anticipates releasing the new training table formats by the end of September 2015, for inclusion in RPPRs submitted December 1, 2015, or later and applications submitted for the May 25, 2016, due date and after. • See NOT-OD-15-112 for more details. 8 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Deadline for Final Reports Required for Grant Closeout • HHS policy requires NIH to initiate unilateral closeout procedures—i.e., closeout without receipt of acceptable reports—within 180 days of the period of performance end date if the grantee has not submitted an acceptable report for each required final report. – Final Progress Report (FPR) – Final Invention Statement and Certification (FIS) – Final Federal Financial Report (FFR) – must ensure that there are no discrepancies between the final FFR expenditure data (in eRA Commons) and the FCTR in the PMS. • For any grants with a period of performance end date on or after October 1, 2014, recipients must submit the following documents within 120 calendar days of the end of the period of performance; 9 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Deadline for Final Reports Required for Grant Closeout • For any grants with a period of performance (project period) end date prior to October 1, 2014, the reporting deadline will be 90 days of the end of the period of performance. **Grantees are strongly encouraged to submit other closeout reports through the Commons** See NOT-OD-15-111 and NOT-OD-15-136 for more details. 10 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OMB Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) Requirement • FAPIIS is a database for performance data on grantees and contractors • FAPIIS is effective: – For grant awards issued on or after January 1, 2016 – For grant awards that are terminated on or after January 1, 2016 • Applicants and recipients must disclose information. • Federal awarding agencies must report performance information and must review FAPIIS before making an award. • HHS will provide details to NIH. • Stay tuned for guidance. 11 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Clinicaltrials.gov Requirements • Title VIII of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) requires mandatory registration and reporting for NIH-funded clinical trials classified as “applicable clinical trials” ACT. • NIH is drafting policy to promote broad and responsible dissemination of information on all clinical trials funded by the NIH through registration and submission of summary results information to ClinicalTrials.gov. This Policy is intended to complement the statutory mandate under (FDAAA). – See NOT-OD-15-018 and NOT-OD-15-019 for more information. 12 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIH and NSF Concerning Laboratory Animal Welfare • NIH and NSF operate under a MOU in an effort to: • ensures consistent and effective oversight of the welfare of animals used in activities funded by the NSF; • provides a framework to enhance communication and harmonize the agencies' efforts; • reduces regulatory burden to supported institutions • OLAW will: • Negotiate new Assurances for institutions with pending NSF awards; • Review and evaluate noncompliance reports and the actions taken involving NSFsupported activities; and • Report findings to NSF. • See NOT-OD-15-139 for more information. 13 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Guidance on Qualifications of IACUC Nonscientific and Nonaffiliated Members • PHS Policy requires diverse perspectives in the membership of the IACUC committee. The no fewer than 5 member committee should include: – one Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; – one practicing scientist experienced in research involving animals; – one member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area; and – one individual who is not affiliated with the institution in any way • An individual can meet the requirement for both a nonaffiliated and a nonscientific member as long as they meet the requirements for each position. 14 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Guidance on Qualifications of IACUC Nonscientific and Nonaffiliated Members • To meet the intent of this Policy, the: – nonscientific member - a person without scientific training. • (e.g., ethicist, lawyer, and member of the clergy) – nonaffiliated member must not be: • a laboratory animal user or former user; • affiliated with the institution, or; • an immediate family member of an individual affiliated with the institution. See NOT-OD-15-109 for more details. 15 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Simplifying/Reinventing NIH’s Grant Application Instructions • NIH gathered input from our stakeholders on restructuring of NIH grant application instructions. RFI closed on September 25, 2015. • NIH requested comments on streamlined ways for communicating NIH grant application instructions to applicants in a more concise, helpful way. • The goal is reduce administrative burden. • Stay tuned on details derived from RFI. 16 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Enhancing Reproducibility through Rigor and Transparency • Scientific rigor - strict application of the scientific method to ensure robust and unbiased experimental design, methodology, analysis, interpretation and reporting of results that others may reproduce and extend the findings. • To ensure that NIH is funding the best science and to enhance reproducibility of research findings through increased scientific rigor and transparency, NIH plans to: – clarify and revise application instructions and review criteria; • the scientific premise of the proposed research, • rigorous experimental design for robust and unbiased results, • consideration of relevant biological variables, • authentication of key biological and/or chemical resources (not a scored criteria). – highlight the need for applicants to describe these previously overlooked details; – highlight the need for reviewers to consider these details during the review process; – minimize additional burden. • Updates pending OMB approval will take effect for applications submitted for the January 25, 2016, due date and beyond. See NOT-OD-15-103. 17 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Informed Consent for Research on Dried Blood Spots Obtained Through Newborn Screening • NIH funded research (competing and continuing) using newborn dried blood spots collected on or after March 18, 2015: – Will be considered non-exempt human subjects research and must follow the HHS protection of human subjects regulations at 45 CFR part 46. – Will have a specific term and condition added to ensure compliance with the new legislation. – Must obtain Parental permission. Waiver of parental permission is not permitted. • This Legislation does not apply to: – Non-identifiable newborn dried blood spots collected prior to March 18, 2015. – Research funded solely by state or private entities. • The HHS Office for Human Research Protections will be issuing additional guidance on this law in the near future. • See NOT-OD-15-127 18 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Updates to iEdison Regarding Reporting Requirements and Compliance Messages • This update to iEdison is intended to alleviate confusion and to assist the user by ensuring that inventions and patents are not mistakenly understood to be waived prior to the resolution of outstanding notification messages. • iEdison will no longer permit a user to waive title to an invention or patent until all outstanding compliance issues and notification messages are resolved. • Examples of actions that need to be taken and Compliance Notification Messages that an iEdison user may encounter: • No written description of this invention (Disclosure) has been uploaded into iEdison; • A Government Support Clause is missing (or not accepted) for a non-provisional patent filing; • The submitted Confirmatory License is missing (or not accepted) for a nonprovisional patent filing; • Grantees must report inventions electronically through iEdison • See NOT-OD-15-080 and NOT-OD-15-119 for more details. 19 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NIH Requirement for Federal Recognition of Same-Sex Spouses/Marriages by Grant and Research and Development Contract Recipients • In light of the United States v. Windsor (June 26, 2013) ruling, all NIH grant programs and research and development (R&D) contract programs now interpret the terms “spouse” and “marriage” to include same-sex spouses/marriages. • Under this policy, a same-sex relationship between two individuals is recognized as a marriage if: – (1) the state or other jurisdiction, whether foreign or domestic, where the couple was married recognizes the marriage under its laws or; – (2) the state or other jurisdiction where the couple currently resides recognizes the relationship as a legally valid marriage. See NOT-OD-15-051. 20 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Policy Reminders 21 National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Progress Reports • Progress report due dates: Failure to submit complete and timely progress reports may affect future funding to the organization – Non-SNAP annual progress reports are due the 1st of the month preceding the month in which the budget period ends – SNAP progress reports are due the 15th of the month preceding the month in which the budget ends – Multi-year funded progress reports due on the anniversary of the budget/project period start date of the award (electronic submission RPPR only) • Annual progress reports submitted in any format other than the RPPR will not be processed by the NIH and will require resubmission through the RPPR • Searchable list to determine which progress reports are due: https://public.era.nih.gov/chl/public/search/progressReportByIpf.era • More informaiton at NOT-OD-15-014 22 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NIH/AHRQ Policy for Application Submission • NIH and AHRQ announced a change in policy on application submissions. • Following an unsuccessful resubmission (A1) application, applicants may submit the same idea as a new (A0) application for the next appropriate due date. • The NIH and AHRQ will not assess the similarity of the science in the new (A0) application to any previously reviewed submission when accepting an application for review. • Although a new (A0) application does not allow an introduction or responses to the previous reviews, the NIH and AHRQ encourage applicants to refine and strengthen all application submissions. • A New Application that does not conform to the rules for a New Application will not be reviewed and will not be considered for funding. More at NOT-OD-15-059 23 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Biographical Sketch • NIH, in collaboration with AHRQ, requires the use of the new format for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2015. • The revised forms and instructions are available and adjustments have been made to improve their usability. The following are some of the features of the new format; • Extends the page limit from four to five pages • Investigators can outline the central findings of prior work and the influence of those findings on the investigator’s field work • Investigators involved in Team Science are provided the opportunity to describe their specific role(s) in the work See NOT-OD-15-085 for additional information 24 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Publication Reporting Instructions for RPPRs and Renewal Applications • In order to reduce the burden of unnecessary reporting, NIH has clarified that trainee, scholar, and participant publications must be reported in section C.1 of the RPPR if: – the publication was accepted for publication or published during the reporting period; and – the publication resulted from work conducted while the individual was supported by the award (i.e., receiving a stipend or salary from the award). • Publications resulting from work conducted while not actively supported by the institutional training, career development, or related award should not be reported in section C.1. See NOT-OD-15-091 for details 25 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NIH Implementation of Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) • Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern issued on September 24, 2014 – Applied to all New and Renewal awards issued on applications submitted on or after January 25, 2015, and to all non-competing continuation awards issued on or after January 25, 2015. – Institutions had one year (until September 24, 2015) to establish the necessary infrastructure to come into full compliance with this policy. • See NOT-OD-15-017 for more information. 26 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Genomic Data Sharing Policy • Reminder that the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy became effective with NIH grant applications submitted for January 25, 2015, due dates and thereafter. • The new GDS Policy promotes sharing of large scale genomic data generated by NIH research. – Includes human, non-human, and model organism data See NOT-OD-15-027 for reminder. 27 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services SBIR/STTR Due Dates • NIH’s standard due dates for SBIR and STTR programs changed in response to small business community feedback, congressional mandates, and recommendations from the NIH Scientific Management Review Board to decrease delays between submission and award funding. • Standard due dates: September 5, January 5, and April 5. See NOT-OD-15-038 for additional information. 28 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Audit Requirements • NIH Recipients (excluding For-Profit) that expend $750,000 or more within a year in Federal awards are subject to an audit requirement. • Applicable to Non-Federal Entity Fiscal Years Beginning on or after 12/26/2014 • For-profit organizations that expend $750,000 or more within a year in HHS awards (as a direct recipient and/or under a consortium participant) are subject to an audit requirement. • Audits are due within the earlier of 30 days after receipt of the auditor’s report(s) or 9 months after the end of the grantee’s audit period. • Grantees delinquent in submitting audits risk the imposition of sanctions and potential loss of Federal funds 29 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Summary of Uniform Guidance Audit Requirement Changes . Recipient Type Summary of Audit Requirements Source of Audit Source of Audit Requirement (NonRequirement (NonFederal Entity Fiscal Years Federal Entity Fiscal Years Beginning Prior to Beginning On/After 12/26/2014) 12/26/2014) Where to Submit Audit Reports State & Local Governments OMB Circular A-133 45 CFR 75.501 Federal Audit Clearinghouse (See contact information in NIH GPS Part III) Institutions of Higher Education OMB Circular A-133 45 CFR 75.501 Federal Audit Clearinghouse (See contact information in NIH GPS Part III) Non-Profits, including non-profit hospitals OMB Circular A-133 45 CFR 75.501 Federal Audit Clearinghouse (See contact information in NIH GPS Part III) For-Profits, including for-profit hospitals 45 CFR 74.26(d) 45 CFR 75.501(h) through 75.501(k) and 45 CFR 75.215 National External Audit Review Center (See contact information in NIH GPS Part III) Foreign Organizations NIH Grants Policy Statement (same as For-Profits) NIH Grants Policy Statement (same as For-Profits) National External Audit Review Center (same as For-Profits, see contact National Institutes of Health information in NIH GPS Part III) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 30 Delays in Grant Application Submission due to Severe Weather and Natural Disasters • NIH will consider accepting late applications, on a case-by-case basis, under the following circumstances: – Applications must be submitted as soon as possible after the applicant organization/institution re-opens, not to exceed the number of days the applicant organization was officially closed. – A cover letter must be submitted with the application, with enough detail about the delay so that NIH staff can make a determination whether circumstances justify accepting the application late. • See NOT-OD-15-108 for additional information. 31 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Requirements and Compliance Assistance for OHRP and OLAW 32 National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services News from the Office for Human Research Protections • International Compilation of Human Research Standards – Office for Human Research Protections International Activities: • Ensure that human subjects outside of the United States who participate in research projects conducted or funded by DHHS receive the same level of protections as research participants inside the United States. • Offer consultation services • Disseminate pertinent reports • Provide research ethics training Now Available at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/international/index.html More at: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/newsroom/index.html 33 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) http:// • OLAW’s mission is to ensure the humane care and use of animals in PHS-supported research, testing, and training, thereby contributing to the quality of research OLAW provides • Guidance & interpretation of the PHS Policy • Support of educational programs • Monitoring of compliance with the PHS Policy by Assured institutions and PHS funding components • 34 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Update to the PHS Policy • The FY 15 Revised PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals has been updated to reflect: • Implementation of the 2013 Edition of the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals • Adoption of the 8th Edition of the Guide • Modification to footnotes requiring compliance with USDA regulations as applicable • Minor editorial changes • Changes in OLAW’s contact information • See NOT-OD-15-079 35 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OLAW Educational Outreach • • 36 OLAW free quarterly webinars series http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/e-seminars.htm • Recordings of past webinars http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/educational_resources .htm Disaster planning resources http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/disaster_planning.htm • Disaster planning webinar & FAQ National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OLAW-supported Workshops, Conferences and Educational Outreach • IACUC 101 Series Workshops • March 30, 2016 – Bellevue, WA • SCAW Workshops & Conferences • December 7-8, 2015 – San Antonio, TX • December 5-6, 2016 – San Antonio, TX • USDA AWIC Workshops • October 28-29, 2015 – Beltsville, MD • March 9-10, 2016 – Beltsville, MD http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/workshop.htm 37 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Electronic Post Award Administration 38 National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services My NCBI • My NCBI ensures compliance with NIH Public Access Policy – On-line portal linked to Commons account – Maintains list of all authored papers 39 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Electronic Submission & eRA Commons 40 National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking (ASSIST) • NIH’s solution to submitting multi-project grants electronically. • NIH’s ASSIST available as a submission option – Available for all multi-project programs – Support has expanded to single-project programs and will be available for all single-project programs by the end of December 2015 • Use of ASSIST -- optional – Grants.gov downloadable forms and institutional system-to-system solutions remain viable options for application preparation and submission to NIH See NOT-OD-15-156 for more information. 41 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Tips for E-submission Success • Register Early! – Registration with both Grants.gov (organizations only) and eRA Commons (organizations & PD/PIs); must be completed before the submission deadline – Allow at least 6 weeks to complete new registrations (Foreign organizations at least 8 weeks) 42 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Tips for E-submission Success • Update Update Update – System for Award Management (SAM) information must be updated at least every 12 months to remain active. https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM 43 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Tips for e-Submission Success • Remember to use the latest forms and application guide available for your Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). – Identify form version by Competition ID – Revised Forms-C Application Guide posted 11/25/2014 – Forms-C+ Application Guide will be posted 11/2015 for use with January 25th, 2016 deadlines. – Instructions in the FOA supersede those in the Application Guide – March 2016 NIH plans to transition to FORMS D. • Learn more about choosing the correct forms packages at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/right_forms.pdf 44 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Tips for E-submission Success • Check the application for common errors before submitting – http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/avoiding_erro rs.htm • Correct any errors before the application due date – If errors are found, a changed/corrected application must be submitted before the due date • Submit early! – Think days, not hours or minutes before deadline 45 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Tips for E-submission Success • View your application in Commons – Verify that the error-free application is viewable in the eRA Commons and correctly reflects the intended submission – If you can’t VIEW it, NIH can’t REVIEW it! 46 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Helpful NIH Resources 47 National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services RPPR Resources RPPR Webpage: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/rppr/ Includes links to RPPR Application Guide RPPR Guide Notices Frequently Asked Questions Training Contacts 48 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Webinars for New Applicants and Grant Administrators: What you need to know about NIH Application Submission and Review Webinar Focus Date University Research Administrators November 5, 2015 Research Project Grants (R01) November 6, 2016 Viewers Will See Presentations by Five CSR/NIH Experts • The Review of Your NIH Grant Application Begins Here • What You Need to Know about Application Receipt and Referral • How Your Application Is Reviewed • Key Things to Know About the NIH Grants Program • Jumpstart Your Career with CSR’s Early Career Reviewer Program (R01 webinar only) See NOT-OD-15-154 49 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services eRA Training: Video Tutorials • The following categories of video tutorials are offered by eRA: – eRA Commons: Features and Functions You Need to Know – Institution Registration and Account Creation – Understanding Status – For Reviewers: Navigating Internet Assisted Review (IAR) http://era.nih.gov/era_training/era_videos.cfm 50 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Frequently Asked Questions • FAQs –searchable websites for: •Application/progress report preparation, funding initiatives, policies, human subjects, animals, disaster response, PMS Subaccounts, Core Facilities, etc… •http://grants.nih.gov/grants/frequent_questions.htm 51 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Search NIH Funding • Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT) http://report.nih.gov •Access to reports, data and analysis of NIH research activities •Quick links to “Frequently Requested Reports,” FAQs. • RePORT EXPENDITURES & RESULTS (RePORTER) http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm •Search information from NIH project databases and funding records, PubMed abstracts and full-text articles, and invention reporting (iEdison, Interagency Edison); 52 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Summary of Helpful NIH Web Pages • Office of Extramural Research (OER) Web Page http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm • NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. 10/15) • http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/ • NIH Extramural Nexus – newsletter for the extramural community http://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/nexus-by-date/ • Grant Application Basics http://grants.nih.gov/grants/grant_basics.htm 53 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Summary of Helpful NIH Web Pages • Applying Electronically http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/index.htm • Annotated SF424 (R&R) Application Forms (General and Small Business and Multi-project) • http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/communication.ht m#forms • Ten Checks to Help Avoid Common Application Errors http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/avoiding_errors.htm #10checks • Do I have the right electronic forms for my NIH application? http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/right_forms.pdf 54 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Summary of Helpful NIH Web Pages • NIH Extramural Response to Natural Disasters: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/natural_disasters.htm • eRA Commons Web pages: http://era.nih.gov/ • eRA Commons User Guides: http://era.nih.gov/commons/user_guide.cfm • Updated (7-15-2015) Commons User Guide: http://era.nih.gov/Docs/COM_UGV2630.pdf • Self Help Resources page: http://grants.nih.gov/support/index.html • Intellectual Property Policy: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/intellproperty.htm 55 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NIH OER Listservs • NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: – Official publication for NIH Grant Policies, Guidelines & Funding Opportunities – http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm • Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP): – Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) • Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW): – http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/list.htm • eSubmission: – Separate listservs available for scientists and administrators – http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/listserv.htm 56 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants Information: Who to Contact! • General Application Questions: • E-Mail: GrantsInfo@nih.gov • Phone: 301-435-0714 • Grants.gov Customer Support: • E-Mail: support@grants.gov • Webpage: http://grants.gov/ • Phone: 800-518-4726 • eRA Service Desk (formerly eRA Commons Helpdesk): • Web: http://era.nih.gov/help/ • Toll-free: 1-866-504-9552 • Phone: 301-402-7469 • Hours: Mon-Fri, 7a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time 57 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants Information: Who to Contact (cont’d) • Division of Grants Policy: • E-Mail: GrantsPolicy@mail.nih.gov • Phone: 301-435-0949 • Division of Grants Compliance & Oversight: • E-Mail: GrantsCompliance@mail.nih.gov • Phone: 301-435-0949 • Division of Extramural Inventions and Technology Resources • E-Mail: Edison@nih.gov • Phone: 301-435-0679 58 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Questions ?? 59 National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Carryover Requests National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services What is Carryover? Carryover is forwarding an unobligated balance of funds from the prior budget period to cover allowable costs in the current budget year. A carryover must be requested in support of activities aligned with a grantee’s existing project goals and objectives to cover costs not already incurred by the recipient. Unobligated Balance is the amount indicated on the Federal Financial Report (FFR) that represents funds the grantee institution was awarded but has not obligated (spent). – The amount listed as “unobligated funds” on the FFR should include any funds that remain restricted from use in prior years/budget periods. This is a cumulative amount and should never decrease unless there has been an authorized carryover or partial payment (offset). National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Due Dates for SRP Program • April 1 • BUDGET START DATE • June 30 • FFR Due - 90 days following the calendar quarter end of the previous budget end date • August 15 • Carryover Requests due – by August 15 to streamline our review of carryover submissions. • Oct. 1 • NIH next fiscal year begins • February 1 • RPPR Progress Report Due - 60 days prior to Budget End Date • March 31 • BUDGET END DATE National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Prior Approval for Carryover of Unobligated Balances The Superfund Research Program P42 grants do not have automatic carryover authority. Therefore, grantees are required to submit a written prior approval request for authorization to carryover unobligated funds. A Federal Financial Report must be received and approved by NIH (Office of Financial Management) prior to a request for Carryover of unobligated funds and before SRP Grants Management and Program Staff can begin to process your carryover request. A Federal Financial Report (FFR) is a statement of expenditures associated with a grant. Recipients of federal funds are required to report the status of funds for grants or assistance agreements to the sponsor of the grant using the Federal Financial Report expenditure data. Your Federal Financial Report (FFR) is due by your institutional business office to NIH (via eRA Commons) on or before June 30. NIH Grants Policy - 8.1.2.4 Carryover of Unobligated Balances http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/HTML5/section_8/8.1_changes_in_project_and National Institutes of Health _budget.htm#Carryove U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Carryover Requests should include: A Grant Number. The total amount of funds requested for carryover. The exact total of the Direct Costs requested. The exact total of the Indirect Costs requested. The F&A rate utilized is the rate that was in effect when we first awarded funds for the year to which you would like to carryover funds. For example, if we approve carryover from year 1 to year 2, the F&A rate we use to calculate the revised year 2 award is the one we used to initially calculate year 2 funds. Indicate base exclusions. The detailed budget should include personnel names and calendar month effort. Authorized Organization Representative name, title and email address. The carryover request should be submitted via the AOR. National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Carryover Requests should include: A cover letter including the reason that the funds requested for carryover were not expended in the year they were awarded and a plan for the use of the carryover funds, including a description of activities and materials to be supported, countersigned by the institutional business official. Submit the budget and budget justification in the following format: Table 1: “Unobligated Balance Analysis” and Table 2 “Proposed Budget for Carryover of Unobligated Balance”. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/dert/programs/srp/resou rces/index.cfm Or A detailed budget and budget justification pages in a format such as that found in the PHS398 or SF424. A separate budget and budget justification should be provided for any requested consortium expenses. Provide a Composite Budget page. National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Carryover Justification Grantees should answer the following questions when preparing a justification for a carryover request. Why were the funds not spent in the past year? Is the carryover request essential? Are costs reasonable, allowable, necessary and in line with the existing budget? How will the work be impacted if the funds are not carried over? What additional work will be done during the current grant year that is not possible with the budget currently allotted to this year? How will the work be accelerated? Will more staff be hired, effort increased? Did we provide detailed information in our request for carryover per project/core/category? National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Why are Carryover Requests Rejected? o The prior year Federal Financial Report (FFR) must be received and approved by NIH, to verify that funds are available to carryover. Any delay in the FFR may cause a delay in the carryover request. o The request was not signed by an Authorized Organization Representative. o The requested costs duplicate costs in the current year’s award (i.e. requesting salary for personnel already at 12 months effort in the current award). o Questionable costs and insufficient justification. o Requests that are submitted late in a budget period may be rejected if it is unreasonable to expect that you can expend those funds before the budget period ends (i.e. requests for travel to meetings that occur in a future budget period). o All carryover requests must be within the currently approved scope. For example, adding a project that includes animals for a grant that never had animal subjects previously is an unallowable use of carryover funds. National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Tips for a Successful Carryover Request Work with your business offices to get the FFR in and approved quickly. Write a thorough justification (e.g. – “travel for conferences”- who’s going where and how is this different from your current budget?) Any budget requests for items that were previously requested in the current year’s application will be considered unallowable. Check your request against the budget in your last progress report, to avoid duplication (e.g. – effort levels shouldn’t add up to 14 months in a year). Carryover requests should only reflect immediate needs. The justification should explain why this is an immediate need and why this cannot be rebudgeted out of your current year’s award. For example, requesting salary for a “TBN” position is typically seen as not addressing an immediate need because you have not identified who will be filling those slots. The justification should address how these positions will be filled. Carryover funds are intended to cover only prospective costs, not costs already incurred by the recipient. Send it in earlier! It’s harder to justify that you can spend funds in the current budget period when there’s only a month left. National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services