The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has updated its policy on the acceptance of applications requesting direct costs of $500,000 or more for any one year. Effective with the January 1, 2002 receipt dates, applicants must seek agreement to accept assignment from Institute/Center staff at least 6 weeks prior to the anticipated submission of any application requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year.

If staff is contacted less than 6 weeks before submission, there may be insufficient time to make a determination about assignment prior to the intended submission date. If the requested dollars are significantly greater than $500,000, then approval should be sought even earlier.

This policy does not apply to applications submitted in response to RFAs or in response to other announcements that include specific budgetary limits. However, such applications must be responsive to any budgetary limits specified, or they will be returned to applicants without review.

An applicant planning to submit a grant application with $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year is required to contact program staff in writing or by telephone. This contact should be made during the development process of the application but no later than 6 weeks before the anticipated submission date. If the Institute or Center is willing to accept assignment of the application for consideration of funding, staff will notify the Center for Scientific Review before the application is submitted.

The Principal Investigator must include a cover letter with the application. That cover letter must identify the program staff member and Institute or Center that has agreed to accept assignment of the application.

An application received without indication of prior staff concurrence and identification of program staff contacted will be returned to the applicant without review. Therefore, NIH strongly encourages applicants to contact Institute or Center staff at the earliest possible time.

For additional information about this policy, the program staff at any Institute or Center may be contacted.

Reference:

NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-O5-004, November 2, 2004 "REVISED POLICY ON APPLICATIONS THAT INCLUDE CONSORTIUM/CONTRACTUAL FACILITIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS"

Last reviewed: December  2008