NIH Requires Use of RPPR for All SNAP and Fellowship Progress Reports, and Expands RPPR Functionality


Notice Number: NOT-OD-13-035

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

  • NOT-OD-17-085
  • NOT-OD-17-022
  • NOT-OD-18-103
  • NOT-OD-15-014
  • May 16, 2014 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-092. NIH Will Require the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for All Type 5 Non-SNAP Progress Reports on October 17, 2014.
  • April 15, 2014 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-079. NIH Will Open the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for All Type 5 Non-SNAP Progress Reports on April 25, 2014.
  • March 4, 2014 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-064. NIH Will Open the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for All Type 5 Non-SNAP Progress Reports on April 25, 2014.
  • November 25, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-026. NIH Will Require Use of Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for All Multi-Year Funded Awards.
  • October 18, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-004. Update on the NIH RPPR Phase II Pilot Training Webinar.
  • September 12, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-13-113. NIH Opens the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Phase II Pilot to Federal Demonstration Partnership Members.
  • April 19, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-13-061. NIH Reminds Grantee Institutions of the Requirement to Use the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for All SNAP and Fellowship Progress Reports for Awards with Start Dates On or After July 1, 2013
  • February 14, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-13-042. Changes to Public Access Policy Compliance Efforts Apply to All Awards with Anticipated Start Dates on or after July 1, 2013.
  • See Related Notice NOT-OD-12-160; Upcoming Changes to Public Access Policy Reporting Requirements and Related NIH Efforts to Enhance Compliance.
  • NOT-OD-18-202
Key Dates

Release Date: February 6, 2013

Issued by

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose

The use of the eRA Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Module for submitting Streamlined Noncompeting Award Process (SNAP) and Fellowship progress reports will be required for awards with start dates on or after July 1, 2013 (i.e., due dates on or after May 15, 2013, for SNAP awards and May 1, 2013, for Fellowships). The functionality of the RPPR is also expanding on April 18, 2013 to include requests from the awarding Institutes and Centers (ICs) for additional materials following submission of an RPPR and electronic submission of the additional materials by the grantee.

Background

In October 2012 NIH provided all institutions with the option to use the era Commons RPPR module when submitting a progress report for SNAP and Individual Fellowship awards. A training webinar was held October 17, 2012, for grantees, and is archived on the RPPR webpage under Resources. Grantees were encouraged to use that opportunity to train their investigators and administrative staff, and to gain experience with the system.

NIH continues development of the RPPR for non-SNAP awards, including complex and training awards, and will update the community as progress is made in that regard.

Mandatory Use of the RPPR for SNAP and Fellowship Awards

Progress reports submitted for SNAP and Fellowship Awards with budget start dates on or after July 1, 2013, must be submitted using the eRA RPPR Commons Module.

At this time, if a progress report has been initiated as either an RPPR or an eSNAP, the only way to change the progress report format is with the assistance of the eRA Help Desk at Commons Support (1-866-504-9552 or commons@od.nih.gov). It may take eRA up to two business days to reset the progress report so the user can initiate a progress report in a different format.

Progress Report Additional Materials (PRAM) Functionality Available for RPPRs

The Progress Report Additional Materials (PRAM) feature allows the grantee to electronically enter, review, and submit information in response to specific requests(s) from NIH for additional materials following the submission of an RPPR. Since October 2012 the PRAM has been available for the grantee to respond to the automated email sent upon submission of an RPPR with publications that are not in compliance with the public access policy. Beginning April 18, 2013, the PRAM functionality will include the ability for the funding Institute/Center to send a request for additional material, information or clarification concerning a submitted RPPR, and the grantee to submit a response to that request through the eRA Commons.

If PRAM has been requested, the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) may access the PRAM link from the Action column on the eRA Commons Status page. The PRAM link will provide either the public access compliance option, the Additional Materials Requested by IC option, or both, depending on which is applicable to the particular RPPR. The grantee may provide the requested information, route the response to a Signing Official (SO), or, if the PD/PI has been delegated Submit Progress Report authority by the Signing Official, submit the materials to the agency. The
materials may be viewed from the status information screen in Commons.

Grantee use of the PRAM link to respond to PRAM requests is not mandatory at this time; the grantee may respond via email to the Grants Management Specialist. However, NIH expects to mandate use of the electronic PRAM feature in the future.

Reminders

SNAP progress reports are due the 15th of the month preceding the month in which the budget period ends (e.g., if the budget period ends 11/30, the due date is 10/15). If the 15th falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the due date is automatically extended to the next business day. Fellowship progress reports are due two months before the beginning date of the next budget period. Occasionally the Notice of Award (NoA) will indicate a different due date which will supersede these dates. Grantees should consult the NoA to determine when SNAP provisions apply.

Inquiries

For general questions about using the eRA Commons:

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
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 7a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Email: commons@od.nih.gov (for Commons Support)

For inquiries about this Notice:

Division of Grants Policy
Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
Office of Extramural Research
National Institutes of Health
6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 350
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: 301-435-0949
Email: GrantsPolicy@od.nih.gov