Annual Reporting and Auditing

Annual Reporting Requirements

Below is a list of the most common reports required, but it is not all-inclusive. Recipients must review their individual award requirements and the NIH Grants Policy Statement to ensure compliance.

Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)

A (RPPR) is required at least annually as part of the non-competing continuation (Type 5) award process and it must be submitted through the eRA Commons. Only the PI or their delegate may initiate an RPPR in the eRA Commons. If there are multiple PIs, only the Contact PI (or their delegate) may initiate the report. The report must be submitted and approved by NCI Program and Grants Management staff prior to receiving funding for each subsequent budget period within a previously approved competing project period. The Notice of Award (NoA) will specify if a progress report is due following a different schedule.

Learn more about RPPR

Invention Reports

Regulations require that recipient organizations report all inventions to the awarding agency (see NIH Grants Policy Statement), as well as include an acknowledgement of federal support in all patents. Recipients are expected to use the Interagency Edison system (iEdison).

Federal Financial Report (FFR)

Reports of expenditures are required as documentation of the financial status of grants according to the official accounting records of the recipient organization. NIH requires all financial expenditure reports to be submitted using the FFR system in the eRA Commons.

• Both cash transaction data and expenditure data are required to be submitted.
• Cash transactions are reported on a quarterly basis and expenditure data is primarily reported on an annual basis.
• Except for awards under SNAP and awards that require more frequent reporting, annual reports must be submitted for each budget period no later than 90 days after the end of the calendar quarter when the budget period ended.
• If more frequent reporting is required, the frequency and due date will be specified on the NoA.

Other factors related to a specific grant may add additional reporting requirements. These requirements will be specified in the NOA. Grants management staff review and monitor the submission of these requirements.

Auditing

In general, recipients who expend $750,000 or more in federal awards are required to have an annual audit performed by a public accountant or a federal, state, or local government audit organization that meets generally accepted government auditing standards. Organizations expending less than $750,000 during the fiscal year are not required to have an annual audit.

Educational institutions and nonprofit organizations including hospitals are subject to the requirements of the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.

For-profit organizations, including for-profit hospitals and foreign organizations, can satisfy audit requirements with either of two types according to the 45 CFR 75.501(i).

• A financial related audit as defined in and in accordance with, the Government Auditing Standards, GPO Stock #020-000-00-265-4 the “Yellow Book.”
• An audit that meets the requirements of 45 CFR Part 75.

This audit should include review of the internal controls that are maintained to provide reasonable assurance that:

• Financial operations are properly conducted
• Financial reports are presented fairly and accurately
• Applicable laws, regulations, and other grant terms have been complied with
• Resources are managed and used in an economical and efficient manner

Desired results and objectives are being achieved in an effective manner

The federal government may, at its discretion, review the internal accounting and other control systems during or after NIH support of the grant activity.

See Audit Requirements for specifics related to submitting the annual audit.