Key Dates

Related Announcements

• January 24, 2020 - NOT-OD-20-060 Update of NIH Continuous Submission Policy: Change in Submission Deadlines and End of Recent Substantial Service Option RESCINDED
• December 17, 2014 - NOT-OD-15-039 Simplifying the NIH Policy for Late Application Submission RESCINDED

Issued by

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

Purpose

This Notice announces an updated policy for late submission of competitive applications. Specifically, it ends Continuous Submission, announces modifications to reasons considered for late submission, and announces the prohibition of Fellowship, Small Business, and International Collaboration late applications.

When appropriate, we may issue separate guidance in the NIH Guide to provide details on any application submission leniency related to public health emergencies declared by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), natural disasters, or a lapse in federal appropriations. 

End of Continuous Submission

NIH greatly appreciates the time and service of those who serve on our review and advisory groups. We intended the continuous submission policy to allow applications with PD/PIs providing review service to be submitted at any time. In practice, the Council assignment deadline became a de facto due date - sometimes as much as nine weeks after the submission deadline. The submission delays have led to inefficiencies in application referral and peer review.

As a result, we are ending the Continuous Submission Policy and updating the Late Application Submission Policy to designate participation in a recent review or advisory group meeting as an acceptable reason for late submission.

We will accept Continuous Submission applications through August 10, 2026 (the end of the continuous submission receipt period for the June/July standard due dates) for assignment to January 2027 Council. 

Updated Late Application Submission Policy

The updated Late Application Submission Policy is effective for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026.

NIH only accepts late applications in limited situations and considers each late application for acceptance on a case-by-case basis. Decisions are based on the cover letter explanation, the funding opportunity, and the completed submission date.

To be considered under the late policy, you must submit your application within two calendar weeks of the original due date, even if there is more than one reason for the delay. We consider those two calendar weeks the late application period. If an application due date extends to the next business day because it falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the late application period is calculated from that business day.

You may submit during the late application period if all the following are true:

• One or more of the PD/PIs listed on the application encountered extenuating circumstances that led to the missed deadline
  • We don't accept late applications due to situations involving individuals other than a PD/PI (e.g., authorized organization representatives (AORs)/signing officials (SOs), senior/key personnel, other significant contributors, mentors/sponsors, co-investigators, collaborators, consultants, project or core leaders in a multi-component application)
• The PD/PI's extenuating circumstances are documented in the cover letter submitted with the late application
• Your application is in response to a program that allows late submission
  • We will not accept late submission for 
    • Fellowship (e.g., F30, F31, F32, F33, F99/K00) and Small Business (e.g., R41, R42, R43, R44, SB1, UT1, U44) applications which have the shortest processing time prior to review
    • Collaborative International Research applications (e.g., PF5, UF5)
    • Any funding opportunity that states in the Key Dates section that late applications will not be accepted
  • Late submissions are considered for all other programs

NIH Review Service

You may also submit within the late application period, if within four calendar weeks before or after the due date, any PD/PI named on the application participates in

• An NIH peer review study section or special emphasis panel
• An NIH Board of Scientific Counselors, Program Advisory Committee, or an NIH Advisory Board or Council

This specific review service is the only pre-authorized reason for a late submission (i.e., automatically accepted once review service information provided in the cover letter is confirmed). Other types of NIH activities and services for other federal agencies or private organizations are not acceptable reasons for late submission.

No Advance Permission is Given to Submit Late

We don't provide advance permission to submit late. No NIH staff member (including receipt and referral, review, grants management, and program staff) has the authority to evaluate or pre-approve reasons for late submission. 

Submitting a Late Application & Cover Letter

Submit your application as soon as possible. We consider your submission time as a factor when evaluating your case.

You must document your situation in the Cover Letter attachment on the SF424 R&R form submitted with your late application. Clearly explain the reason for the delay (including delays for qualifying NIH review service). NIH receipt and referral staff use the cover letter to evaluate whether your situation warrants late application acceptance. While the reasons for late application submission are sometimes personal in nature, specific information about the timing and cause of the delay should be provided so an informed, objective decision can be made. For example, in the case of sudden, acute, severe illness, the timing/onset and severity should be explained.

Your cover letter is only seen by NIH staff who need the information for referral or review decisions. We do not share cover letters with peer reviewers or include them in the assembled e-Application seen by reviewers and general NIH staff.

Examples of reasons we may or may not accept a late application can be found on our NIH Late Application Submission Policy page.

Problems with Federal Computer Systems

You must report to the eRA Service Desk any system issues with federal services that threaten your ability to apply on time. We investigate these reports on a case-by-case basis to determine root cause. If the eRA Service Desk confirms that the encountered issue was beyond your control, they will document their findings in a support ticket and share them with receipt and referral staff. Your application will not be considered late if you follow our guidelines for Dealing with System Issues and work diligently with the eRA Service Desk to quickly complete your submission. You must document in the cover letter your good faith effort to submit on time and steps taken to resolve the encountered issue including service desk ticket numbers. 

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Division of Receipt and Referral
Center for Scientific Review
[email protected]