Announcement of Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellows

Notice Number: NOT-OD-21-074

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-074.html

NIH recognizes that the high cost of childcare impacts graduate students and post-doctorates funded through NRSA fellowships, and their ability to successfully complete their training and fully participate in the extramural research workforce. Therefore, as part of our ongoing efforts to support family-friendly work environments for the NIH-supported workforce, NIH will begin providing childcare support to recipients of NRSA fellowships, on or after April 8, 2021.

Each NRSA fellow may request $2,500 per budget period to defray childcare costs. Childcare must be provided by a licensed childcare provider. Recipients must maintain all supporting documentation (e.g., proof provider is licensed) and make it available to NIH officials upon request. NIH does not require recipients to submit this supporting documentation with each request.

Applicants and recipients may request the NRSA childcare costs as part of new applications, continuation applications (Type 5), or as an administrative supplement request (Type 3).

Please refer to full Notice details linked here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-074.html

Should you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs.

Upcoming Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page for Due Dates on or after May 25, 2021

Notice Number: NOT-OD-21-073

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-073.html

Purpose

In an effort to support strong collaboration between Federal research agencies, NIH has made every effort to align the Biographical Sketch (Biosketch), Other Support format page and Application Form Instructions with the guidance issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy Joint Committee on the Research Environment.

As a result, this Guide Notice informs the extramural community that NIH has updated its application forms and instructions to support the need for applicants and recipients to provide full transparency and disclosure of all research activities, foreign and domestic.

The updated forms and instructions will be required for use for applications and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2021.

The revisions serve as updates to the Biosketch and Other Support format page templates used as attachments in our current Forms-F application packages and RPPRs. The forms updates do not change the policies for Biosketch or Other Support.

The changes are as follows:

Full details are provided in the Notice linked here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-073.html

Should you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs.

Reminders of NIH Policies Related to Closeout

Notice Number:  NOT-OD-21-102

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-102.html

Purpose

The intent of this Notice is to remind recipients of the deadlines for drawing funds from the Payment Management System (PMS) and the process for reconciling errors. Recipients may request payments from PMS up to 120 days past the period of performance end date, to liquidate obligations incurred during the period of performance.

Liquidation Period

A recipient may draw funds up to the date that its Final Federal Financial Report (FFR) is due to NIH or up to 120 days past the period of performance end date (see NOT-OD-15-135); PMS will automatically reject any request made after 120 days past the period of performance end date.

Additional Time Required for Orderly Closeout

Recipients must submit a final FFR, Final Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR), and Final Invention Statement and Certification within 120 calendar days of the end of the period of performance (see NIHGPS Section 8.6).

Reconciling Errors

In rare cases, a recipient may need to revise or amend previously submitted expenditures more than 120 days past the period of performance end date in order to revise a previously submitted FFR. In these cases, the AOR must notify the IC Grants Management Specialist listed in the NoA for additional guidance (see NIHGPS Section 8.4.1.5.3).

Please refer to the full notice linked here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-102.html

Should you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs.

NSF has announced 3 more proposal types that are available in research.gov per Jean Feldmans' letter below:

Dear Collegues:

Effective March 22, the National Science Foundation (NSF) enabled three new proposal types in the Research.gov Proposal Submission System and in the recently launched Research.gov Proposal Preparation Demo Site. These are the Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED), Equipment, and Travel proposal types. New automated compliance checks and associated error and warning messages for these proposal types were also implemented. In addition, proposal withdrawal functionality was added for both single submission (with or without subawards) and separately submitted collaborative proposals from multiple organizations. New training resources have also been added to the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page.

 

FASED, Equipment, and Travel Proposals

• Proposers can now select a FASED, Equipment, or Travel proposal type in the Research.gov Proposal Submission System proposal setup wizard, in addition to the existing Research.gov proposal type options:

• Research
• Rapid Response Research (RAPID)
• EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)
• Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)

• All supported proposal types are available in the Research.gov Proposal Preparation Demo Site.
• New automated compliance checks for FASED, Equipment, and Travel proposal types have been added to Research.gov and are listed on the Research.gov Automated Proposal Compliance Checks for Proposals dated March 22, 2021 on the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals page.

• A reminder: Error messages prohibit proposal submission to NSF, whereas warning messages still permit proposal submission.  

• Refer to the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) for FASED, Equipment, and Travel proposal requirements.

 

Proposal Withdrawal Functionality

• Proposing organizations can now withdraw both single submission (with or without subawards) and separately submitted collaborative proposals from multiple organizations in Research.gov.
• Organizations no longer need to contact the NSF Help Desk to initiate Research.gov proposal withdrawal actions.
• A new Proposal Withdrawal section has been added to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page left navigation menu.
• Refer to PAPPG Chapter IV.A. for proposal withdrawal requirements.

 

Training Resources

• New and updated system-related FAQs by topic are available on the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page left navigation menu.
• A new 16-minute Research.gov proposal demo video has been added to the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page Video Tutorials section.
• The video highlights key proposal preparation steps including:

• Setting up a proposal
• Uploading a document and compliance messaging
• Preparing Proposal File Update/Budget Revisions

• A new How-to Guides section has been added to the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page left navigation menu. The initial topic-specific guide is posted, and new guides will be added to this section going forward.

 

What's Ahead?

Research.gov is being developed incrementally, and features are expanding to support the transition of all proposal preparation and submission functionality from FastLane to Research.gov in accordance with NSF Important Notice 147: Research.gov Implementation Update issued September 22, 2020. Please refer to the Research.gov Proposal Submission Capabilities to see what is in development.

Questions? If you have IT system-related questions, please contact the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or via rgov@nsf.gov. Policy-related questions should be directed to policy@nsf.gov.

We look forward to receiving your Research.gov FASED, Equipment, and Travel proposals and seeing you on the demo site.

 

Regards,

Jean

 

Jean Feldman

Head, Policy Office

Division of Institution and Award Support

Office of Budget, Finance & Award Management

email: policy@nsf.gov

For your reading and listening leisure, please find these useful NIH Podcasts to assist you in your proposal development;   

n  “Considerations for Developing a Research Plan.”  Listen to experts in the research field on the topic of developing a strong research plan for grant applications.

https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/2021/02/22/all-about-grants-podcast-considerations-for-a-research-plan/

n  “Ever Wondered What Happens During the Scientific Review of an NIH Grant Application?” Listen to the NIH Peer Review “Mock” Study Section as scientist review three fictional applications.

https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/2021/02/23/ever-wondered-what-happens-during-the-scientific-review-of-an-nih-grant-application/

Should you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs.

Please review the following NIH Notices and Related Announcements for important updates to Fiscal Policies for FY 2021

Notice of Fiscal Policies in Effect for FY 2021

Notice Number: NOT-OD-21-058 

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-058.html

This Notice provides guidance about the NIH Fiscal Operations for Fiscal Year 2021 and implements the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), signed into law on December 27, 2020.

The agreement provides $42.93 billion for NIH, including $404 million from the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255), a three percent increase above FY 2020. The agreement provides a funding increase of no less than 1.5 percent above fiscal year 2020 to every Institute and Center (IC).

Related Announcements

Notice of Legislative Mandates in Effect for FY 2021

NOT-OD-21-056 

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-056.html

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), signed into law on December 27, 2020, provides funding to NIH for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2021. The intent of this notice is to provide current requirements outlined in the following statutory provision that limits or conditions the use of funds on NIH grant, cooperative agreement, and contract awards for FY 2021.

FY 2021 Legislative Mandates in effect are as follows:

Division H, Title II - Department of Health and Human Services

• Salary Limitation (Section 202)
• Gun Control (Section 210)

Division H, Title V - General Provisions, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education

• Anti-Lobbying (Section 503)
• Acknowledgment of Federal Funding (Section 505)
• Restriction on Abortions (Section 506)
• Exceptions to Restriction on Abortions (Section 507)
• Ban on Funding Human Embryo Research (Section 508)
• Limitation on Use of Funds for Promotion of Legalization of Controlled Substances (Section 509)
• Restriction on Disclosure of Political Affiliation for Federal Scientific Advisory Committee Candidates (Section 515(a))
• Dissemination of False or Misleading Information (Section (515(b))
• Restriction of Pornography on Computer Networks (Section 520)
• Restriction on Distribution of Sterile Needles (Section 527)

Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY 2021

NOT-OD-21-057

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-057.html

This Notice provides information regarding the salary limitation for NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards and extramural research and development contract awards.

Since 1990, Congress has legislatively mandated a limitation on direct salary for individuals under NIH awards. The mandate appears in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), signed into law on December 27, 2020, which provides authority for NIH to incur obligations for Fiscal Year 2021.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 restricts the amount of direct salary to Executive Level II of the Federal Executive pay scale. The Office of Personnel Management recently released new salary levels for the Executive Pay Scale. Effective January 3, 2021, the salary limitation for Executive Level II is $199,300.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2021

NOT-OD-21-049

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-049.html

This Notice supersedes NOT-OD-20-070 and establishes stipend levels for fiscal year (FY) 2021 Kirschstein-NRSA awards for undergraduate, predoctoral, and postdoctoral trainees and fellows, as shown in the tables below. The Training Related Expenses and Institutional Allowances for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and fellows and the Tuition and Fees for all educational levels remain unchanged from the prior budget year. This Notice reflects the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), signed into law on December 27, 2020.

Undergraduates: For institutional training grants supporting undergraduate trainees (T34, TL4), appointments for undergraduate candidates will continue to be made by distinct category (i.e., Freshmen/Sophomores and Juniors/Seniors), but the stipend levels for the categories will be the same:

Predoctoral Trainees and Fellows: For institutional training grants (T32, T35, T90, TL1) and individual fellowships (F30, F31), one stipend level is used for all predoctoral candidates, regardless of the level of experience.

Postdoctoral Trainees and Fellows: For institutional training grants, (T32, T90, TL1) and individual fellowships (F32), the stipend level for the entire first year of support is determined by the number of full years of relevant postdoctoral experience when the award is issued. Relevant experience may include research experience (including industrial), teaching assistantship, internship, residency, clinical duties, or other time spent in a health-related field beyond that of the qualifying doctoral degree. Once the appropriate stipend level has been determined, the trainee or fellow must be paid at that level for the entire grant year. The stipend for each additional year of Kirschstein-NRSA support is the next level in the stipend structure and does not change mid-year.

Senior Fellows (F33 only): The stipend level must be commensurate with the base salary or remuneration that would have been paid by the institution with which the individual is permanently affiliated when the award is issued but cannot exceed the current Kirschstein-NRSA stipend limit set by the NIH for those with 7 or more years of experience. The level of Kirschstein-NRSA support will take into account concurrent salary support provided by the institution and the policy of the sponsoring institution. NIH support does not provide fringe benefits for senior fellows.

For further details, please refer to individual Notices linked above. 

If you have any questions, contact the Office of Sponsored Programs.

NEW SALARY LEVEL FOR THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL II_ Effective January 2021

•     Salary Limitation on AHRQ FY2021 Grants, Cooperative Agreements,             and Contracts

•     Notice Number: NOT-HS-21-007

Effective January 3, 2021, the Executive Level II salary level is $199,300.

Though this Notice refers to AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), the Executive Level II salary level applies to all Federal agencies including NIH.

Please refer to the Notice linked below for implementation.

•    https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-21-007.html

Should you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).

Required Use of Two-Factor Authentication Using Login.Gov for eRA's External Modules in 2021

Notice Number: NOT-OD-21-040

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-040.html

This Guide Notice is regarding NIH’s implementation of the new two-factor authentication (2FA) login.  The new login method will affect users accessing eRA Commons, ASSIST, Internet Assisted Review (IAR) and Commons Mobile. This login method has a mandatory deadline of September 15, 2021; however, NIH encourages users to transition to the 2FA login now.  In addition, this “2FA login will allow users to log in to four different grants systems (eRA, Grants.gov, GrantsSolutions.gov and Payment Management System) using the same login.gov credentials.”

Please familiarize yourself with the new 2FA login requirement using the resources below:

Two-Factor Authentication: Access eRA Modules via login.gov

https://era.nih.gov/register-accounts/access-era-modules-via-login-gov.htm

 Two-Factor Authentication for eRA Systems

https://era.nih.gov/era-training/era-videos.htm#2FA

One-page flyer

https://era.nih.gov/files/2FA_flyer.pdf

·         Two-Factor Authentication FAQs

 https://era.nih.gov/faqs.htm#XXIV

·         eRA Commons Online Help

 https://era.nih.gov/erahelp/Commons/default.htm#cshid=12

·         ASSIST Online Help

https://era.nih.gov/erahelp/assist/default.htm#cshid=100

Should you have any questions, please contact OSP.

Purpose:

eRA Commons, an online interface where grant applicants, recipients, reviewers and federal staff at NIH and other eRA partner agencies can access and share administrative information related to applications and awards, will see two of its main screens redesigned and launched in January 2021.

The modernized home screen (log-in screen) and the landing screen (screen once logged in) will provide a simpler interface that reflects user feedback. The new look will also come with enhanced security and stability for the eRA Commons module.

Key information will be front and center – eRA Service Desk contact info, links to register an organization, create an account, submit a reference letter, and learn more about how to use eRA systems via information on the eRA website.

A significant change is that, once logged in, access to other eRA modules within eRA Commons will be through an apps menu at the top left of the screen.

Should you have any questions, please contact OSP.