RESEARCH NEWS Volume 1 01.02.06

NATIONAL NEWS

NIH Announces Initial Plans to Transition to the SF424(R&R) Application and Electronic Submission through Grants.gov

NIH has announced initial plans to: 1) transition from the PHS398 application to the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) application; and, 2) simultaneously transition to electronic submission via Grants.gov by the end of 2007.

In an effort to simplify Federal financial assistance application requirements and create a single website to apply for Federal assistance, Grants.gov has been designated the single access point for all grant programs offered by 26 Federal grant-making agencies.

Further, Federal Agencies involved in research and research-related grant funding have developed a common application form – the SF424 (R&R).

NIH has developed a transition plan from the PHS 398 application form to the SF424 (R&R); the transition will occur in conjunction with the electronic receipt of competing applications through Grants.gov.

Initial plans/milestones for submission dates and mechanisms are as follows:

• December 1, 2005 —Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (STTR) (R41, R42, R43, R44)
• December 15, 2005 —Support for Conferences & Scientific Meetings (R13 & U13)
• January 25, 2006* —Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) (R15) (*Changed to February 25, 2006 per NOT-OD-05-080)
• June 1, 2006 —Small Grant Programs (R03) & Exploratory/Development Research Grant Awards (R21)
• October 1, 2006 —Research Project Grant Program (R01)

NIH will continue to communicate transition plans for other programs/mechanisms as they evolve and will provide the community with ample notice of impending events. In general, announcements will be made in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts at least 4-6 months before the transition of a particular funding mechanism/research program.

Reference: NIH Announcement Number NOT-OD-05-067