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Scope Note
For currently funded NIH grants, supplemental funding may be available through competing revisions to expand a project's scope and administrative supplements to meet unanticipated costs, promote workforce diversity, or support career re-entry without a change of scope.
Competing Revision and Administrative Supplement Comparison
Current recipients of NIH grants and cooperative agreements can request supplemental funding through the submission of two specific types of revision applications:
- Competing revisions
- Administrative supplements (non-competing revisions)
The following table outlines the differences and similarities between them.
| Item | Competing Revisions | Administrative Supplements (Non-competing Revisions) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Increase support in a current project period for expansion of the project's approved scope or research protocol | Provide additional funding to meet increased costs that are within the approved project’s scope, but were unforeseen when the original award was made |
| Timing | Requested project period must be within the awarded project period, unless stated otherwise in the funding opportunity | Requested project period must be within the awarded project period, unless stated otherwise in the funding opportunity |
| Funding Opportunities | Use an opportunity that specifies Revision as an allowable application type and describes scientific peer review in the application review information section | Use opportunity identified as "Admin Supp" (activity code may show as "333") |
| Budget Forms | Use the same budget format (R&R Budget or PHS 398 Modular Budget) as the current award | Use R&R Budget form |
| Cover Letter and Assignment Request Forms | Can be used to convey information to receipt and referral staff | Do not use - applications automatically sent to awarding institute and center staff (bypassing receipt and referral) |
| Application Submission | Submitted electronically using chosen submission options (ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or a system-to-system solution) | Same process as general applications - submitted electronically using chosen submission options (ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or a system-to-system solution) |
| Review | Undergoes standard peer review and competes with new, revision, resubmission, and renewal applications for general funds | Administratively reviewed within funding institute or center |