From NIH NOT-OD-14-055 (issued 2/10/14):

This Notice provides guidance about the NIH Fiscal Operations for FY 2014 and implements the  Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (H.R. 3547/Public Law 113-76), signed by President Obama on January 17, 2014.   The Act provides NIH with $30.15 billion, an increase of $1 billion (program level) over FY 2013.  The NIH will continue to manage its portfolio in biomedical research investments in a manner that includes recognizing applications from and providing special incentives for new investigators.

The following NIH fiscal policies are instituted in FY 2014:

FY 2014 Funding Levels:Non-competing continuation awards that have already been made in FY 2014 were generally funded at levels below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90% of the previously committed level) as described in NOT-OD-14-012, and in NOT-OD-14-043. Such reductions may be fully or partially restored, depending on the Institute or Center.  Non-competing continuation grants (research and non-research) including those that remain to be issued in FY 2014 likely will be made within the range between the commitment level indicated on the Notice of Award and 3 percent below that level. Out-year commitments for continuation awards in FY 2015 and beyond will remain unchanged.  The number of competing awards will likely exceed the number of competing awards in FY 2013.  The NIH awarding Institutes/Centers (IC) will develop and post their fiscal policies consistent with overall NIH goals and available FY 2014 funds.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA):  Consistent with the  Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, and with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee to the Director regarding the Biomedical Research Workforce, the NIH will increase undergraduate and graduate student stipends by 2 percent.   Entry level postdoctoral stipends will be increased to $42,000 with 4 percent increases between the individual levels of experience.   The full range of stipend adjustments for FY 2014 is described at NOT-OD-14-046.    

New Investigators: NIH will continue to support new investigators on R01 equivalent awards at success rates comparable to that of established investigators submitting new (Type 1) R01 equivalent applications.  Achievement of comparable success rates should permit the NIH to support new investigators in accordance with the policies established in FY 2009 and subsequent years as described at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-013.html and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm.

Salary Limits: Section 203 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2014 prohibits payments for salaries under grants and other extramural mechanisms in excess of Executive Level II.  It should be noted, that Executive Level II was increased by 1 percent from $179,700 to $181,500 by Executive Order 13655 that became effective January 12, 2014.  See NOT-OD-14-052 for additional information. 

Other Legislative Mandates: Other statutory requirements are described in NOT-OD-14-053. 

Additional Information:   Additional details on Fiscal Operations, including specific funding strategies for ICs will be posted at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/financial/index.htm.