Notice Number: NOT-HS-17-018
Key Dates
Release Date: July 24, 2017
RFA-HS-17-011
Issued by
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Purpose
The purpose of this Notice is to revise tuition and fee expenses information for RFA-HS-17-011 "AHRQ National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T32)." These instructions shall supersede the instructions in the current SF424 (R&R) Application Guide Supplemental Instructions for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Application.
Part 2. Full Text of Announcement
Section II. Award Information
Other Award Budget Information
Stipends, Tuition, and Fees
Current language:
Kirschstein-NRSA awards provide stipends as a subsistence allowance to help defray living expenses during the research training experience.
AHRQ will contribute to the combined cost of tuition and fees at the rate in place at the time of award.
Stipend levels, as well as funding amounts for tuition and fees and for training related expenses are announced annually in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, and are also posted on the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) webpage.
Revised language:
Kirschstein-NRSA awards provide stipends as a subsistence allowance to help defray living expenses during the research training experience.
AHRQ will contribute to the combined cost of tuition and fees at the rate in place at the time of award.
Stipend levels, as well as funding amounts for tuition and fees and for training related expenses are announced annually in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.
AHRQ will contribute funds for tuition and fees for eligible NRSA trainees. At present, the formulas for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees are as follows:
- At the pre-doctoral level, tuition and fees will be calculated at 60 percent of each requested pre-doctoral trainee’s tuition and fees up to a cap of $16,000 direct costs annually. The requested level of tuition and fees may not exceed the applicant’s actual tuition and fees.
- At the post-doctoral level, tuition and fees will be 60% of each eligible post-doctoral trainee’s tuition and fees up to a cap of $4,500 direct costs per year, or $16,000 direct costs per year for those in formal degree-granting programs. The requested level of tuition and fees may not exceed the applicant’s actual tuition and fees.
Costs associated with tuition and fees are allowable only if they are required for specific courses as part of the approved research training program and are applied consistently to all persons in a similar research training status at the institution, regardless of the source of support. Tuition at the post-doctoral level is limited to that required for specific courses in support of the approved training program, which should be identified in the application
The current tuition formulas described above are to be used for budgeting purposes. Applicants are to calculate trainee tuition using the formulas, include these costs in the detailed budget section of the SF424 (R&R) application, and then state the current and actual full tuition and fee costs in the budget justification section. Please show the application of the budget formula to the full rates in the budget justification section. Note that if the applicant’s actual tuition rates differ for in-state vs. out-of-state trainees, and/or for pre-doctoral vs. post-doctoral trainees, these different rates must be clearly stated in the budget justification, even if the current request does not include trainees with these tuition rates. AHRQ re-evaluates the amount to be awarded for tuition and fees annually, but historically AHRQ has held tuition and fees awarded in future years to the rates awarded in the competing year of the award. The final determination of eligible tuition support from AHRQ will be applied at the time of award.
"Trainee Costs" include funds awarded in the stipends and tuition/fees budget categories. These costs may not be used for other purposes and therefore may not be re-budgeted into other budget categories such as travel or Training Related Expenses. Unless otherwise restricted, re-budgeting into or within Trainee Costs (stipends and tuition/fees) is allowable without prior approval of AHRQ.Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Galen Gregor
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Division of Grants Management
Telephone: 301-427-1457
Email: galen.gregor@ahrq.hhs.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
