Foreign and International Grants and Components

Purpose

To make awards to foreign institutions, international organizations, and domestic institutions with foreign components.

Procedure

General Considerations for Foreign Grants

• NIAID makes awards to institutions in foreign countries if the proposed research meets the following criteria:
  • It includes talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions not in the U.S. or that augment U.S. resources.
  • It is relevant to NIAID's mission.
  • It is not being done in the U.S.

• Only institutions or organizations in a foreign country -- not investigators -- can serve as grantees.
• People defined as "restricted" by the Patriot Act cannot work with pathogens or toxins that are potential bioterrorism agents. See the Foreign Workers on NIH Awards SOP.
• Applicants using select agents must follow all NIAID's select agent procedures. See the Select Agent Awards SOP.
• Awards are paid in U.S. dollars. NIH does not adjust for currency exchange fluctuations after award.
• NIAID may use additional guidelines for bilateral agreements. Staff can refer to the Country-Specific Solicitations SOP.
• Staff present foreign applications to NIAID's advisory Council as a special issue. Council must also approve the transfer of a grant to or between foreign institutions or international organizations as well as from a domestic to a foreign institution.
• Staff review foreign applications for required assurances, approvals, requirements.
  • They also remove unallowable costs such as full facilities and administrative (F and A) costs and custom and import duties. See the list at Allowable and Unallowable Costs in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
  • Foreign applicants can request up to eight percent F and A costs of the total direct costs amount minus equipment to meet NIH compliance requirements.

In general, NIH does not award program projects, centers, training awards, SBIR, STTR, or construction grants to foreign institutions. However, in exceptional circumstances NIH has allowed NIAID to award foreign P01 program projects and U19 cooperative agreements.

General Considerations for Domestic Grants with Foreign Components

• Applications require Council approval but are not presented as a special issue.
• A foreign component cannot be added to a grant without NIH's prior approval.
• People defined as "restricted" by the Patriot Act cannot work with pathogens or toxins that are potential bioterrorism agents. See the Foreign Workers on NIH Awards SOP.
• Staff review foreign applications for required assurances, approvals, requirements.
  • They also remove unallowable costs such as full facilities and administrative (F and A) costs and custom and import duties. See the list at Allowable and Unallowable Costs in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
  • Foreign applicants can request up to eight percent F and A costs of the total direct costs amount minus equipment to meet NIH compliance requirements.

Investigators

• See whether the grant type you are applying for has made the transition to electronic application.
  • Go to the Transition Timeline on the Electronic Submission page.
  • NIH requires an additional step for you to register for electronic application. Read Grants.gov Registration Instructions for Domestic and Foreign Institutions.
• For electronic applications, use Section 5 of the Research and Related Other Project Information form to indicate whether your project involves activities outside the U.S. or partnerships with international collaborators.
• For paper applications, mark the checkbox for "foreign application" or "domestic grant with foreign involvement" on the Checklist Form Page of the PHS 398 Grant Application.
• Provide a detailed budget. For more information, read the August 23, 2006, Guide notice.

Program Officers

• For foreign grants, prepare a special issue table in the NIAID Planning and Reporting System (NPARS). For details, see Council guidance and the CAAP and NPARS SOP.
• For both foreign grants and domestic grants with foreign components, obtain administrative approvals. SeeForeign Tracking System -- Guidance for Program Officers.
• For research in Brazil or India, forward appropriate guidance to U.S. and foreign PIs to ensure they comply with the country's government requirements before beginning research.
• Note select agent involvement on the Program Officer Checklist. See the Program Officer Checklist and Foreign Workers on NIH Awards SOPs.

Scientific Review Officers

• Identify grant applications from foreign institutions and domestic applications with a foreign component and ask peer reviewers to evaluate the need for conducting the research at a foreign site. 
• Identify grant applications proposing work with select agents at foreign sites to facilitate appropriate follow-up by program officers and grants management staff.
• Flag “foreign institution” as a header in summary statements to guide program officers as they prepare for Council approval of the applications.
• Record if peer reviewers consider the foreign site justified. Include in the summary statement under the “foreign institution" heading.

Grants Management Staff

• Ensure that foreign applications appearing on a release list for funding have received Council review and approval.
• Obtain administrative approvals for both foreign grants and domestic grants with foreign components.
• Ensure that additional administrative requirements are met for India or Brazil. See GMP’s Brazilian Requirements for Foreign Clearance SOP.
• Do not issue a Notice of Award without Council approval, even at the end of the fiscal year.

For more of your responsibilities, read GMP's Foreign and International Grants, Components SOP.

Contacts

Applicants with questions should Contact Staff for Help.

If you have knowledge to share or want more information on this topic, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.

Links

Common Questions and Answers for International Applicants

NIAID's Application portal

Foreign Applications Have an Extra Review Step in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal

International Awards questions and answers

NIAID International Grants and Contracts Web site

NIAID Select Agent Policy for Foreign Institutions questions and answers

NIH eSubmission Tips for International Applicants

Quick Contact Support for International Applicants

Special Issues Requiring Council Review SOP