Notice Number: NOT-OD-20-082

Key Dates
Release Date: March 9, 2020

Issued by
Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)

Purpose

It is likely that the emergency declaration related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will adversely affect some NIH applicants' and recipients' ability to submit applications in a timely manner.

Late applications

When delays occur because the applicant or recipient organization is officially closed or unable to submit grant applications due to the effects of COVID-19, the NIH will consider accepting applications late, on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the NIH Grants Policy Statement, Section 2.3.9, under the following circumstances:

• Institutions must submit applications or reports as soon as possible after reopening or resuming operations so that grant applications can be submitted, not to exceed the number of days the institution was officially closed or unable to submit grant applications.
• Institutions must submit a cover letter with the applications with enough detail about the delay so that NIH staff can make a determination whether circumstances justify accepting the application late.
• Institutions need not request advance permission to submit late due to this declared emergency.

NIH will be issuing additional guidance related to this public health emergency in the near future.

Inquiries