Competing Revisions

Timing

• Original grant must be awarded
• Revisions may not extend beyond the term of the current award period

Application Process

• Competing revisions follow the same grant process as new, renewal, and resubmission applications 
  • Applications are submitted in response to an active funding opportunity that indicates Revision is an allowable Application Type 
  • Application forms are accessed, prepared, and submitted using a chosen submission option (ASSIST, institutional system-to-system solution, Grants.gov Workspace)

Application Content

• Guidance 
  • Follow all guidance in the How to Apply – Application Guide, funding opportunity, and related notices
  • The body of the application should contain sufficient information from the original grant application to allow evaluation of the proposed revision in relation to the goals of the original application
• Introduction (3-pages for training grants; 1-page for all others)
  • Describe the nature of the revision and how it will influence the specific aims, research design, and methods of the current grant
  • Highlight the significance of the new work
• Specific Aims
  • Clearly identify what part of the original award you are revising (e.g., expanding the scope of existing aims, adding aims) and update accordingly
  • Ensure clarity and alignment with the expanded project
• Research Strategy
  • Address changes or additions, ensuring the strategy remains coherent and feasible
• Letters of Support
  • Provide letters of support for any new collaborators 
• Other Project Information
  • Check if you need to update sections such as Facilities and Resources, and Equipment, particularly if the revision involves significant changes
• Sr/Key Personnel
  • Designate the same project director/principal investigator (PD/PI), or Contact PD/PI for multi-PI grants, as listed on the current award
  • Update the biosketches of key personnel involved to reflect their roles specific to the revision
  • Add any new team members
• Budget
  • Use the same budget format (i.e., R&R Budget Form or PHS 398 Modular Budget Form) as the current award
  • Use the Budget Justification to discuss budgetary changes for the remainder of the project period of the current grant
• Human Subjects & Clinical Trials
  • Update the Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form if the revision impacts human subject research
• Cover Letter attachment and PHS Assignment Request form
  • Use to convey information to NIH receipt and referral staff
• Multi-project applications
  • Use the Overall component to describe the original grant and context for any additional components or changes to existing components proposed in the Revision application
  • Include the Overall component, any revised components, and any new components (i.e., it is not necessary to provide information for components in the awarded grant for which no change is proposed in the Revision application)
  • The Introduction is required in the overall component and is optional in other components

Application/Grant Number Identification

• A revision has a suffix in its application identification number, e.g., S1. (Revisions were previously referred to as "competing supplements" hence "S1".)

Review

• Undergoes standard peer review using the criteria in Section V of the funding opportunity
• Competes with other new, revision, resubmission, and renewal applications for general funds unless applying to a funding opportunity with set-aside funds (PAS, RFA)