Key Dates

Related Announcements

• April 4, 2024 - New NIH "FORMS-I" Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025. See Notice NOT-OD-24-086
• April 4, 2024 - Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025. See Notice NOT-OD-24-084.
• March 20, 2024 – Registration Open for Webinar on NIH Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grants (RPGs): Implementation and Impact on Funding Opportunities. See Notice NOT-OD-24-081.
• October 19, 2023 – Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications. See Notice NOT-OD-24-010.
• December 8, 2022 - Request for Information (RFI) on Proposed Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications. See Notice NOT-OD-23-034

Issued by

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

Purpose

This notice provides an update and implementation plans for the simplified framework for peer review for the majority of research project grant applications announced in October (NOT-OD-24-010). It updates and clarifies impacted activity codes, plans for updating funding opportunities, and timing for application forms availability.

Effective Date

NIH remains on schedule to implement the simplified review framework for application due dates on or after January 25, 2025.

Applicability

Grants and cooperative agreements with the following RPG activity codes:  R01, R03, R15, R16, R21, R33, R34, R36, R61, RC1, RC2, RC4, RF1, RL1, RL2, U01, U34, U3R, UA5, UC1, UC2, UC4, UF1, UG3, UH2, UH3, UH5, (including the following phased awards: R21/R33, UH2/UH3, UG3/UH3, R61/R33).

Note: Since NOT-OD-24-010 was issued, the list of applicable activity codes was modified to remove activity codes DP1, DP2, DP3, DP4, and DP5 and to clarify which phased awards are also applicable.

Funding Opportunities

To ensure each funding opportunity has accurate information regarding how applications will be peer reviewed, many opportunities are being reissued to include the simplified review framework in Section V. Application Review Information. 

• Active opportunities with due dates before and after January 25 will expire early and most will be reissued with the simplified review framework for due dates on or after January 25
• Opportunities with current expiration dates prior to January 25 that would normally be immediately reissued may be extended until they can be reissued with updated language

Applicants are encouraged to

• Pay close attention to the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts for notices and funding opportunity reissuances
  • Tip: Subscribe to receive weekly email of new NIH Guide posts 
• Double-check the Related Notices and Key Dates sections of your funding opportunity in the NIH Guide prior to submission
  • The Related Notices section includes any changes to the opportunity (e.g., indication of reissuance with link to new funding opportunity, notice of change, notice of early termination)
  • Pay special attention to the expiration date in the Key Dates section since individual due dates beyond a revised expiration date are not typically removed
• Take advantage of copy features in ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, and many system-to-system solutions if you find yourself needing to move to a different funding opportunity 

Application Form Packages  

Although there are no form changes associated with the simplified review framework initiative, we will be updating our application forms to support other initiatives for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. See NOT-OD-24-084 and NOT-OD-24-086.

New and reissued funding opportunities with the simplified review framework may be initially posted without an application forms package. In these cases, application forms and associated application instructions will be added at least 30 days and, frequently 60 days or more, prior to the first due date. 

Applicants can begin drafting their application attachments using funding opportunity and current (FORMS-H) application guide instructions and adjust as needed once FORMS-I instructions are available. 

Resources

• Simplifying Review of Research Project Grant Applications
• FAQs
• Register to attend an online briefing from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EDT on April 17 that will provide insight into the process for reissuing impacted funding opportunities and guidance on identifying the correct opportunity for your due date

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

simplifiedreview@nih.gov