Reminder of Lobbying Prohibition on Federal Funds for All NIH-Supported Institutions

Notice Number: NOT-OD-13-072

Key Dates
Release Date: May 24, 2013

Related Announcements
NOT-OD-12-034

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose

This Notice is intended as a reminder that all NIH-funded awards are subject to a prohibition on using federal funds for lobbying activities.  This prohibition is described in the grants policy statement at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2012/nihgps_ch4.htm#lobby_prohibition.

“Recipients of Federal grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and loans are prohibited by 31 U.S.C. 1352, "Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions," from using appropriated Federal funds to pay any person for influencing or attempting to influence any officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress with respect to the award, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any of these instruments. These requirements are implemented for HHS in 45 CFR 93, which also describes types of activities, such as legislative liaison activities and professional and technical services, which are not subject to this prohibition.”

The prohibition was expanded in FY2012 as described in NOT-OD-12-034.

Additional guidance, including examples of allowable and restricted activities using federal dollars, has been posted at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/lobbying_guidance.htm.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to [email protected].