Notice Number: NOT-OD-19-043

Key Dates
Release Date: December 12, 2018

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose

The purpose of this Guide Notice is to alert recipients of the Federal-wide effort to streamline the certifications and representations (assurances) process by incorporating them into the System for Award Management (SAM). Effective January 1, 2020, SAM will become the central repository for common government-wide certifications and representations required of NIH applicants and recipients.

Background

Pursuant to 2 CFR Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart C, Section 200.208 Certifications and representations, Federal agencies are authorized to require non-Federal entities to submit certifications and representations, required by Federal statutes or regulations, on an annual basis. Currently, most Federal agencies require non-Federal entities to submit certifications with each Federal assistance application by use of the Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B) and on an annual basis thereafter.

To streamline this data collection and to reduce recipient burden, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in conjunction with the Federal assistance community, developed standard government-wide certifications and representations to be certified by the non-Federal entity when registering in the System for Award Management (SAM). This will reduce the duplicative practice of Federal-awarding agencies requesting certifications and representations with the submission of each Federal financial assistance application and lead to phasing out the use of the SF 424B, thereby decreasing the burden level of Federal award recipients.

Although NIH does not use the SF-424B, applicants are required to acknowledge compliance with the standard certifications and representations at the time of registration in the eRA Commons. Additionally, these standard certifications and representations, along with other public policy requirements, are a standard term and condition detailed in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Therefore, to comply with this streamlining effort, NIH will ensure the certifications and representations contained within the current application process do not duplicate the assurances maintained within SAM once these changes are implemented.

Additional information will be forthcoming as various phases of implementation are deployed. At this time, no action is required for NIH applicants and recipients.

REMINDER: Each registered entity must renew and revalidate its SAM registration at least every 12 months from the date previously registered to maintain an active status in SAM. If registration is not renewed, it will expire. An expired registration affects an applicants ability to apply for or receive NIH awards.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Division of Grants Policy
Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
Office of Extramural Research
National Institutes of Health
Telephone: 301-435-0949
Email: GrantsPolicy@od.nih.gov