Big Grant Applications

Questions and Answers Table of Contents

Can I request more than $500,000 in direct costs in any year?

You may, though you must get NIAID approval before applying. In deciding whether to fund a big grant, NIAID weighs the effect on its budget as well as the priority of the research. For details, see Big Grants SOP.

What are the basic requirements for a big grant?

NIH policy for applications with budgets of $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year requires that you submit documentation with your application stating you have discussed it with an NIAID program officer, and NIAID has agreed to accept it. You must get this approval from the program officer at least six weeks before applying. Your program officer will send you a big grant acceptance letter that is signed by the NIAID program division director. You must include this letter with your application. Read more in the October 16, 2001, Guide notice.

Does the $500,000 limit include consortium facilities and administrative costs?

No. The $500,000 limit excludes any consortium F&A costs.

What is the best approach to planning a big-dollar application?

Work with your program officer -- submitting a big grant application is best approached as a team effort. Requesting that NIAID accept your application at least six weeks before applying is a minimum requirement. It's much better to call or write while still planning your application because we fund a limited number of big grant applications each year.

Your program officer can advise you on the feasibility of gaining an award so you don't waste time writing an application we may reject. To find a program officer, visit Contact Staff for Help. Read Big Grants SOP for more information.

What happens if I don't get program staff approval before applying?

Always get pre-approval and contact us while planning a large application because:

• If you don't include a big grant acceptance letter, NIH will return your application without a review.
• We may not have the money to fund your application.

• Program staff who are not in the loop can't be your advocate, so you don't benefit from their advice.

Do I need permission if I ask for $499,900?

Yes. If you ask for $499,900 in direct costs in the first year, the outyears could be more than $500,000, even if you don't request an annual increase. You must get approval if any year is over $500,000.

Will the Center for Scientific Review return my large-grant application if NIAID has not approved it?

Yes. Approval is required. Read the October 16, 2001, Guide notice for details.

Can I bypass the requirement by putting a program officer's name in my cover letter and saying he or she approved?

No. You must include a big grant acceptance letter from your program officer with your cover letter. For details, see the Big Grants SOP.

Should I contact NIAID staff if my application is part of a large multiproject application?

Only the PI of a multiproject application must contact NIAID staff; project and core leaders who submit components of a multiproject application but are not the main PI do not contact NIAID staff.

Am I just as likely to get a big award as a smaller one?

No. NIAID funds a limited number of big grant applications each year because they strain the budget and compromise grant numbers. In deciding which applications to fund, we weigh the effect on our budget as well as the priority of your proposed research.

Do large awards always get annual budget increases?

No. Getting an annual budget increase depends on our annual financial management plan, which is on Paylines and Budget. You should start checking this site at the beginning of a new fiscal year, keeping in mind that we often don't have this information until later in the year when our budget is final.

Do big grants use a modular budget?

No. Any grant requesting more than $250,000 uses the detailed budget pages in either the PHS 398 or FOA depending whether the grant type you are applying for has made the transition to electronic applications.

Why does NIAID convert some big grants to cooperative agreements?

We usually convert large clinical research grants to cooperative agreements when NIAID staff need to participate substantially in the research. Like all clinical awards, cooperative agreements are subject to our clinical terms of award and to additional requirements for NIAID staff participation. Also see Conversion of Grants to Cooperative Agreements SOP.

Among institutes, is NIAID particularly strict about large grants?

No. All institutes follow the same NIH policy.

What if my question wasn't answered here, or I'd like to suggest a question?

Email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. We answer questions by email and post them here. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.