Key Dates

Related Announcements

• September 23, 2021 - Announcement of Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Awards. See Notice NOT-OD-21-177 (RESCINDED). 
• March 15, 2021 - Notice of Correction to Application and Submission Information for NOSI: Availability of Administrative Supplements for Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellows (NOT-OD-21-070). See Notice NOT-OD-21-075.
• March 15, 2021 - Announcement of Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellows. See Notice NOT-OD-21-074 (RESCINDED).
• October 9, 2020 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PA-20-272. 

Issued by

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

Purpose

This Notice supersedes NOT-OD-21-074 - Announcement of Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellows and NOT-OD-21-177 - Announcement of Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Awards. As part of ongoing efforts to support family-friendly work environments for the NIH-supported workforce, NIH is increasing the childcare support to $3000 for applicable NRSA individual fellowships and institutional training awards effective beginning with FY2024 awards. Applicable FY2024 training and fellowship awards that were issued prior to the date of this notice will be revised to retroactively reflect the increase in support for all eligible slots (training) and individuals (fellowships).

Background

In April 2021, NIH began providing childcare cost support to recipients of full-time NRSA fellowships in recognition that the high cost of childcare impacts graduate students and post-doctorates funded through NRSA fellowships and hinders their ability to successfully complete their training and fully participate in the extramural research workforce. During phase 2 of this initiative, NIH provided childcare cost support to full-time predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees appointed on NRSA institutional research training awards . 

Applicability

The NRSA childcare costs apply to full-time, active NIH-funded NRSA fellowship positions and predoctoral or postdoctoral NIH-supported institutional research training award appointments. Undergraduate and short-term training award appointees are not eligible. Fellows, predoctoral trainees, and postdoctoral trainees are eligible to receive $3000 per budget period for costs for childcare provided by a licensed childcare provider. For households where both parents are NRSA fellows and/or full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral trainees, each parent is eligible to receive $3000.

Childcare costs are permitted for dependent children living in the eligible fellow’s or trainee’s home from birth under the age of 13, or children who are disabled [1] and under age 18. Childcare costs do not apply to elder or non-child dependent care costs.

Policy

This change is in effect beginning with FY2024 awards. Applicable FY2024 training and fellowship awards that were issued prior to the date of this notice will be revised to retroactively reflect the increase in support for all eligible slots (training) and individuals (fellowships).

Each NRSA fellow may request $3000 per budget period to defray childcare costs.

For trainees, NIH will provide an annual $3,000 per each full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainee appointment slot at the time the new, renewal, or continuation award is made. NIH will not provide childcare support for undergraduate, short-term predoctoral, or short-term postdoctoral NRSA trainees regardless of the activity code. For childcare costs to be considered allowable, eligible full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainees must be appointed to the NRSA institutional research training award prior to use of the childcare costs.

The NRSA childcare costs are not tied to payback obligations, nor should it be reported as such.

Childcare must be provided by a licensed childcare provider. Recipients must maintain all supporting documentation (e.g., proof provider is licensed) and make it available to NIH officials upon request. NIH does not require recipients to submit this supporting documentation with each request.

NRSA Fellowship Application Instructions

Applicants and recipients may request the NRSA childcare costs as part of new applications, continuation applications (Type 5), or as an administrative supplement request (Type 3). Applicable FY2024 training awards issued prior to the date of this notice will be revised to retroactively reflect the increase in support for all eligible individuals.

When childcare costs are awarded, they are generally restricted and cannot be re-budgeted without prior written approval from the NIH awarding IC. In cases of early termination, recipients may not use any unused portion of the childcare costs. It will remain unobligated and will be adjusted by the agency as part of the closeout process.

New Applications

Applicants must follow the instructions for requesting childcare costs in the Childcare Costs Section of the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form as outlined in the How to Apply – Application Guide. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request childcare costs for all applicable years that the project will be funded based on the dependent(s) age eligibility factor.

Continuation Applications

Current fellows may request childcare costs for future years via the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). Recipients must follow the instructions for Section G.1Special Notice of Award and Funding Opportunity Announcement Reporting Requirements of the RPPR, as outlined in the RPPR Instruction Guide. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request childcare costs for all remaining years that the project will be funded based on the dependent(s)’ age eligibility factor. Recipients are not required to submit supporting documentation with each request. Recipients must maintain all supporting documentation (e.g., proof provider is licensed). NIH reserves the right to request proof at any time.

Administrative Supplements

Current fellows may request an administrative supplement to provide childcare costs on an existing award. Applications must be submitted using Notice of Special Interest NOT-OD-21-070 or subsequent reissue Applicants must follow the instructions for requesting childcare costs as detailed in the NOSI as well as completing in the Childcare Costs Section of the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form as outlined in the How to Apply – Application Guide. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request childcare costs for all applicable years that the project will be funded based on the dependent(s) age eligibility factor. 

Institutional Training Award Application Instructions

When childcare costs are awarded, they are restricted. Only eligible full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainees may use the costs, and they must be used for childcare expenses; any unused funds cannot be rebudgeted and must be reported as an unobligated balance on the Federal Financial Report (FFR). The awarding IC will offset any unused funds in future years or will adjust the amount as a part of the closeout process.

New, Renewal, and Continuation Applications

Childcare costs will be provided, unless otherwise specified on the notice of award, based on the current number of trainee slots awarded. No additional action is needed on the part of the applicant at the time of application to request these funds. Applicable FY2024 training awards issued prior to the date of this notice will be revised to retroactively reflect the increase in support for all eligible slots.

Reporting for Continuation Applications

Recipients must follow the instructions for Section G.1 Special Notice of Award and Funding Opportunity Announcement Reporting Requirements of the RPPR, as outlined in the RPPR Instruction Guide. Future system enhancements are anticipated that will incorporate reporting via xTrain. Additional information and implementation guidance will be issued.

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions are available here: https://grants.nih.gov/faqs#/funding_programs_childcare_costs.htm

[1] Defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Please direct specific application or award inquiries to the Grants Management Specialist or Grants Management Officer listed on the NoA of the most recent parent award.

Please direct grants policy inquiries to:

NIH Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
Division of Grants Policy
Email: grantspolicy@nih.gov

For general inquiries about fellowships and career development programs please contact:

Division of Biomedical Research Workforce
Office of Extramural Research
Website: https://researchtraining.nih.gov
Email: NIHTrain@mail.nih.gov