NOT-HS-14-003: AHRQ Implements the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for AHRQ Fellowship Grantees

AHRQ Implements the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for AHRQ Fellowship Grantees

Notice Number: NOT-HS-14-003

Key Dates
Release Date: December 10, 2013

Related Announcements
NOT-HS-15-001

Issued by
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Purpose

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will require its Fellowship grantees to use the eRA commons Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) module in 2014, and will subsequently transition most other AHRQ awards to the RPPR.

Background

The Office of Management and Budget and Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a policy memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies on April 21, 2010, establishing the uniform RPPR to replace other interim performance reporting formats used by agencies. The RPPR was developed by the Research Business Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, National Science and Technology Council. The RBM published the proposed draft RPPR format for public comment in the Federal Register November 9, 2007, and the final format on January 13, 2010.

Additional information about this process and the RPPR Final Format are available on the federal-wide RPPR website hosted by the National Science Foundation.

The National Institutes of Health, with input from its partner Public Health Service agencies, developed the RPPR module in the electronic Research Administration (eRA) Commons, obtained OMB approval as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, and began implementing it for NIH grantees in 2012.

AHRQ RPPR Implementation

The eRA release scheduled for January 31, 2014, will provide AHRQ Fellowship grantees with the ability to use the RPPR in place of the PHS 416-9 Noncompeting Individual Fellowship Progress Report for Continuation Support. Accordingly, AHRQ requires all Fellowship progress reports with start dates on or after August 1, 2014 to be submitted using the RPPR module. The PHS 416-9 will no longer be available after that date.

AHRQ use of the RPPR format will not differ from NIH s, and AHRQ grantees are encouraged to utilize the Resources posted on the NIH RPPR webpage (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/rppr/), especially the webinars, NIH RPPR Instruction Guide, and screen shots. Note that Section 7.2 of the NIH RPPR Instruction Guide includes Supplemental Instructions for Fellowship RPPRs.

AHRQ RPPR Due Dates

If the start date for the pending noncompeting continuation (type 5) is 10/1 through 4/1, the RPPR due date is two months prior to the budget period start date. For example, the due date will be 12/1 for a grant with a budget start date of 2/1. If the start date for the pending type 5 is 4/2 through 9/30, the RPPR due date is four months prior to the budget period start date. For example, the due date will be 5/1 for a grant with a budget start date of 9/1. (These due dates do not apply to AHRQ Training awards, which are NOT included in this Notice.)

AHRQ will begin to implement the RPPR for non-Fellowship awards later in 2014, and will provide further guidance at that time in an NIH Guide Notice.

Inquiries

General questions concerning using the eRA Commons and RPPR functionality should be directed to the eRA Commons Helpdesk at:

eRA Service Desk
Web: http://ithelpdesk.nih.gov/eRA/ (Preferred method of contact)
Toll-free: 1-866-504-9552
Phone: 301-402-7469
TTY: 301-451-5939

General inquires about this Notice may be directed to:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Grants Management Office
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 301-427-1447
Email: [email protected]