The NIH Implements New Registration Process for Reviewer Reimbursement for Participation in NIH Peer Review Meetings

Notice Number: NOT-OD-09-033

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

  • March 19, 2009 - See Notice NOT-OD-09-071. In accordance with Division F Section 217 of PL 111-8 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), the NIH Public Access Policy remains a legislative mandate for FY 2009 and beyond.

Key Dates
Release Date: January 5, 2009

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)

Purpose:

To inform NIH peer reviewers about a new, simplified registration process that they must follow beginning Jan. 17, 2009 to receive reimbursement and honoraria related to their service in NIH peer review meetings.

The NIH is introducing a new, simplified and secure registration process for reviewers to receive reimbursement and honoraria for their valued participation in NIH peer review meetings. The new registration system replaces the U.S. Treasury Central Contract Registration (CCR) system that the NIH used until May 2008 to facilitate these disbursements. Registration in the new NIH system is required for the NIH to process reviewers honoraria and reimbursements for expenses related to their participation in NIH peer review meetings.

The new system requires reviewers to log in to eRA Commons (https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/) with their user name and password, and update their Personal Profile with the following information: residential address, phone number, and email; and link to the Secure Payee Reimbursement System (SPRS) to enter social security number, bank routing number, and bank account number. Please follow the step-by-step instructions at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer/reviewer_guidelines.htm for registration.

When entering bank account information in SPRS, reviewers are cautioned to enter a routing number for direct deposits and not a routing number for wire transfers. Reviewers may want to verify this information with their financial institution, especially if their account is with Bank of America or a Credit Union. Reviewers are urged to log in to Commons and update/verify their residential address and enter their bank information beginning Jan. 17, 2009. Reviewers should maintain current address and banking information in the system to ensure timely disbursements.

Important Notes:

  • Registration in the system is required to receive disbursement.
  • Foreign nationals who live outside the U.S. and have no U.S. Bank account should click the radio button on the SPRS site that states, My permanent residence is outside the U.S and I do not have a U.S. bank account . The NIH Office of Financial Management will review the information and once approved, will send a check to the reviewer.
  • Information entered as part of the new registration process will be kept secure and confidential. Reviewers will not be spammed by third party solicitations. Additionally, reviewers no longer need to obtain a DUNS number.
  • Reviewers with CCR accounts may cancel their CCR registration if they wish. Anyone with an active CCR account will continue receiving automatic reminders from CCR to renew his/her CCR registration. For reimbursement related to NIH peer review meetings, reviewers must disregard the automatic CCR reminders as SPRS is replacing CCR for this purpose.
  • To cancel an active CCR registration (from the CCR Handbook)
    • Go to CCR (www.ccr.gov ) and click on Update or Renew Registration . Check: 1) I am not a U.S. Government entity (if appropriate). Enter your DUNS Number and TPIN and click Log In . On the next screen click Delete Profile in the upper left corner to cancel your registration.
    • Or contact the CCR Helpdesk at (888) 227-2423 or (269) 961-5757
  • The NIH registration does not need to be renewed annually.
  • If a reviewer changes to another bank or if he/she changes his/her residential address, he/ she must update his/her banking and/or residential address information through eRA Commons.
  • Foreign addresses should be anglicized or they may be lost in translation due to restrictions on use of special characters such as accent marks in the U.S. Treasury system. For example, the address 116, rue de’s vres, Paris, France will come across as 116, rue de S?vres, Paris, France. Addresses must be kept to below 30-35 characters per line to ensure proper delivery.

Inquiries

For additional information, please contact: Dr. Sally Amero, NIH Review Policy Officer, Office of Extramural Research, NIH (301-435-1418; ReviewPolicyOfficer@mail.nih.gov).

For technical assistance, please contact:

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 Time

Related Guide Notices

  • NOT-OD-09-009 Extension of Interim NIH Reimbursement Process for New Peer Reviewers and Peer Reviewers Up for CCR Renewal (Oct. 10, 2008)
  • NOT-OD-08-075 New GSA Directive Affects NIH Reimbursement Process for New Reviewers and Reviewers Up for CCR Renewal (May 23, 2008)