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Awards Funding Policy
Fiscal Year 2021 Interim Awards Funding Policy
As referenced in NIH Guide Notice (NOT-OD-21-009), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including NIH, operates under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (Public Law 116-159) signed by President Trump on October 1, 2020. This Act (CR) continues government operations through December 11, 2020 at the FY 2020 enacted level, with no reduction.
Continuing the procedures identified under NOT-OD-20-068 and consistent with NIH practices during the CRs of FY 2006 - 2020 the NIH will issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90% of the previously committed level). Upward adjustments to awarded levels will be considered after FY 2021 appropriations are enacted, but NIH expects institutions to monitor their expenditures carefully during this period. All legislative mandates that were in effect in FY 2020 (see NOT-OD-20-066) remain in effect under this CR, as well as the salary limitation set at Executive Level II of the Federal Pay Scale (see NOT-OD-20-065) and the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award predoctoral and postdoctoral stipend levels and tuition/fees as described in NOT-OD-20-070.
New competing S10 and NRSA Training awards will be issued at IRG/Council recommended levels minus unallowable costs. All other competing applications selected for funding approval will be funded at 90% of the IRG/Council recommended levels during the CR. Non-competing SBIR/STTR and NRSA Training awards will be issued at 100% of the FY20 committed level. All other non-competing continuation applications will be funded at 90% of the previous committed level. Research supplements to promote diversity in health-related research will be issued at program recommended levels minus unallowable costs.
This funding strategy will be updated when FY 2021 appropriations are enacted, and final funding policies are determined. Upward adjustments to awarded levels will be considered after FY 2021 appropriations are enacted.