NIH Extending Guidance for Preparing Applications During COVID-19

NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH recently extended the special exception that allows for post-submission material related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This only applies if:

• the FOA allowed preliminary data in the application;
• it is not for emergency and urgent competitive revisions.

This extends the guidance provided in (NOT-OD-23-008) for applicants preparing applications for the August/October 2023 Council rounds, beginning with the January 25, 2023, due date. Also see (NOT-OD-23-066) and (NOT-OD-23-067).  

While grant applications should not include COVID-19-related contingencies, recovery plans, effects on productivity, or other scorable issues, investigators may address them in a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials. T

As stated above, (1) this is only for applications in which the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) allowed preliminary data in the application, and (2) because applications for emergency competitive revisions and urgent competitive revisions undergo expedited review, post-submission materials will not be accepted for those applications. 

The deadline for submitting all post-submission materials, including preliminary data, will be 30 days before the study section meeting,unless specified otherwise in the FOA.