Notice Number: NOT-OD-18-180
Key Dates
Release Date: May 16, 2018
NOT-OD-18-139
NOT-OD-18-137
NOT-OD-18-136
NOT-OD-18-124
NOT-OD-18-120
NOT-OD-19-031
Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Purpose
This Notice provides guidance about the NIH Fiscal Operations for FY 2018 and implements the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), signed into law on March 23, 2018. With the passage of the Act, NIH received a 9 percent increase over FY 2017, for a total of $37.311 billion in program level funding, including $496,000,000 authorized under the 21st Century Cures Act. A general increase of over 5 percent was received, as well as specific increases for Opioid/Pain research, Alzheimer’s disease, and other high priority research initiatives.
The following NIH fiscal policies are instituted in FY 2018:
FY 2018 Funding Levels: Non-competing continuation awards that have already been made in FY 2018 were generally funded at levels below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90% of the previously committed level) as described in NOT-OD-18-120. In general, such reductions will be fully restored, and non-competing continuation grants (research and non-research) including those that remain to be issued in FY 2018 will be made at the commitment level indicated on the Notice of Award. Any exceptions will be posted at the site listed under "Additional Information" below. Out-year commitments for continuation awards in FY 2019 and beyond will remain unchanged. The NIH awarding Institutes/Centers (IC) will develop and post their fiscal policies consistent with overall NIH goals and available FY 2018 funds.
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA): Consistent with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee to the Director regarding the Biomedical Research Workforce, the NIH will increase NRSA stipends by approximately 2 percent on average. The full range of stipend adjustments for FY 2018 is described at NOT-OD-18-175.
Next Generation Researchers Initiative Policy: NIH will prioritize meritorious R01- equivalent applications from ESI PD/PIs. By providing funding priority for ESIs, NIH intends to encourage funding applications that involve researchers earlier in their career in accordance with the policy established in FY 2017 and described at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-17-101.html.
Salary Limits: Section 202 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 prohibits payments for salaries under grants and other extramural mechanisms in excess of Executive Level II previously set at $187,000, and effective January 7, 2018, increased to $189,600. See NOT-OD-18-137 for additional information.
Other Legislative Mandates: Other statutory requirements are described in NOT-OD-18-181.
Additional Information: Additional details on Fiscal Operations, including specific funding strategies for ICs will be posted at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/financial/index.htm.Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Division of Grants Policy
National Institutes of Health
Telephone: 301-435-0949
Email: GrantsPolicy@od.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
