Extension of Modified Application Submission, Referral and Review for Reviewers with Recent Substantial Service

Notice Number: NOT-OD-09-155
(For initial and previous notices see NOT-OD-08-026 and NOT-OD-09-114)

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

• December 4, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-028. Change in the NIH Continuous Submission Policy.
• July 8, 2011 - See Notice NOT-OD-11-093 Change in the NIH Continuous Submission Policy for Reviewers with Recent Substantial Service.
• May 7, 2010 - See Notice NOT-OD-10-090 Extension of Modified Application Submission, Referral and Review to Members of NIH Program Advisory Committees (PACs).

Key Dates
Release Date: October 1, 2009 (Rescinded March 2, 2017)
Start Date: October 1, 2009

Related Announcements
NOT-OD-16-121

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov)
Center for Scientific Review (CSR) (http://cms.csr.nih.gov/)

Purpose

As part of the National Institutes of Health continuing commitment to recognize outstanding review and advisory service, and to minimize disincentives to such service, an alternate plan for submission and review of research grant applications from appointed members of NIH review and advisory groups is being extended to applicants who have performed substantial peer review service. The extension is to individuals who have participated in peer review as regular or temporary members six times in 18 months. For the inaugural eligibility period ending April 30, 2009, individuals so identified will be able to participate in this opportunity from October 1, 2009, to September 30, 2010. The eligibility list will be revised annually, for an eligibility period from October 1 of one year through September 30 of the following year.

This continuous submission process will now cover appointed members of chartered standing NIH Study Sections, NIH Boards of Scientific Counselors, NIH Advisory Boards or Councils, the NIH Peer Review Advisory Committee, and peer reviewers who have served as regular or temporary members six times in 18 months and is limited to their R01, R21, and R34 applications that would normally be received on standard submission dates (but not special receipt dates). This extension of the continuous submission process will enable non-appointed reviewers who have performed substantial peer review service to submit their applications as soon as they are fully developed. The applications will be reviewed no later than 120 days after receipt.

Depending on the timing of submission and the number of applications, NIH staff will decide whether an eligible application will be reviewed in a standing Study Section or in a Special Emphasis Panel (SEP). These applications will be processed and assigned to NIH Institute Review Offices of CSR Integrated Review Groups (IRGs) using standard referral guidelines (http://cms.csr.nihg.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/CSRIRGDescription/).

NIH plans to analyze the continuous receipt process on an ongoing basis in order to assess its feasibility and applicants satisfaction.

Eligibility

• Appointed regular members of chartered NIH Study Section, NIH Boards of Scientific Counselors, NIH Advisory Boards or Councils, NIH Peer Review Advisory Committee, as well as non-appointed temporary members who have served as peer reviewers six times in 18 months ending April 30, 2009, may take advantage of the continuous submission process. Appointed members are those who are approved for service on the above groups by the Director of NIH or by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, typically for a four- or six-year term. Multi-principal investigator applications are eligible if one or more of the Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PI) are eligible for continuous submission.
• Appointed regular members of NIH Advisory Groups may participate up to one and a half months after the date of retirement from regular service on the group. Thus, if retirement is June 30, continuous submission is permissible until August 16 of that year.
• This continuous submission opportunity applies only to R01, R21, and R34 applications that would otherwise be submitted for the standard due dates (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm). Continuous submission is NOT available for applications submitted for special dates (RFAs, some PARs) or other activity codes.
• Continuous submission is limited to R01, R21, and R34 applications (including AIDS-related). Most of these applications will be reviewed at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), and some applications will be reviewed in Study Sections at other Institutes and Centers (ICs) of the NIH.
• A cover letter identifying the specific NIH Study Section or Advisory Group and term of service or other eligibility must accompany the application.
• Continuous submission does not apply to applications for which the eligible members have roles other than PD/PI, including eligible members as sponsors for fellowship applications and mentors for career award applications. Fellowship and career award applications are expected to be submitted on the standard due dates. Any requests for late acceptance must relate to the fellow or PD/PI of the fellowship or career award (and not to a member or sponsor).
• Continuous submission does not apply to individuals who serve as appointed advisors or ad hoc reviewers or advisors for other Federal agencies or for private organizations.
• Temporary or ad hoc members who are not eligible for continuous submission will still be eligible for the late submission window as described in the NIH policy on Late Applications Notice (NOT-OD-08-027).
• If desired, members eligible for continuous submission may request review by a standing Study Section (different from the one on which they serve); however, those applications must conform to regular submission deadlines. As such, the late window of consideration for members will apply (NOT-OD-08-027).

Processing and Review Schedule

Applications submitted in response to this opportunity will be reviewed no later than 120 days after receipt. To enable timely second level review, the following Advisory Council dates and rounds will apply. Furthermore, applications may be moved to earlier councils following review if timing permits.

Schedule for Assignment to Advisory Council Rounds

Inquiries

Frequently Asked Questions and answers have been prepared (see http://cms.csr.nih.gov/ResourcesforApplicants/ContinuousSubmissionFAQ.htm). Also, a list of eligible reviewers who have served six times in 18 months is posted (http://era.nih.gov/). Individuals who believe that they are eligible and are not listed must ensure that all of their Commons profiles have been collapsed into one, as service records that are divided among multiple profiles will be missed (investigators own their profile(s) and are responsible for keeping them current). Assistance in collapsing profiles is available at the NIH Commons Help Desk (http://ithelpdesk.nih.gov/eRA/). Any remaining issues/appeals may be directed to a NIH Continuous Submission Committee by emailing [email protected].