Notice Number: NOT-HS-17-021

Key Dates
Release Date: August 31, 2017

Issued by
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (www.AHRQ.gov)

Purpose

AHRQ realizes that the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and aftermath may lead to problems for investigators who are planning on submitting grant applications and reports. This notice is to inform the research community that AHRQ will follow the NIH Natural Disaster Policy as contained in NOT-OD-17-106 and as described below.

When delays occur because the applicant or recipient organization is officially closed due to a natural disaster or other emergency, AHRQ will consider accepting applications late, on a case-by-case basis, under the following circumstances:

• Institutions must submit applications or reports as soon as possible after reopening, not to exceed the number of days the institution was officially closed.
• Institutions must submit a cover letter with the application, with enough detail about the delay so that AHRQ staff can make a determination whether circumstances justify accepting the application late.
• Institutions need not request advance permission to submit late due to a disaster-related delay.

AHRQ will provide information (including reporting guidance) to grantees whose research has been affected by the storm, and will proceed with additional NIH Guide Notices once the initial period of emergency has passed.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Gerald E. (Jerry) Calderone, Ph.D.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Telephone: 301-427-1548
Email: Gerald.Calderone@ahrq.hhs.gov

Division of Receipt and Referral
Center for Scientific Review
Telephone: 301-435-0715
Email: csrdrr@mail.nih.gov