Administrative Supplements

An administrative supplement is a non-competing award that provides additional funding to a currently funded grant to meet increased costs that are within the scope of the approved project, but that were unforeseen when the new or competing renewal application was awarded.

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The NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts is NIH's official publication of notices of grant policies, guidelines, and funding opportunities.

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Featured Administrative Supplement Opportunities

These opportunities have wide participation across NIH and support the biomedical research workforce:

Administrative Supplement Parent Announcement

Administrative Supplement Parent Announcement available.

  • Broad funding opportunity for requests that do not fall under a specific program. 
  • Many notices of special interest (NOSIs) for administrative supplements use the parent announcement for application submission.
  • Not all NIH institutes and centers participate on all parent announcements. Check the participating organization in the funding opportunity before applying.

Timing

  • Original grant award must be active
  • Administrative supplements may not extend beyond the term of the current award period

Application Process

  • Administrative Supplements follow a similar grants process as competing applications, however, the process post-submission is a bit different
    • Submit your application in response to an active funding opportunity identified as "Admin Supp" (activity code may show as "333")
    • Access, prepare, and submit application forms using your chosen submission option (ASSIST, institutional system-to-system solution, Grants.gov Workspace)
    • Administrative supplements bypass the standard receipt, referral, and review process used for competing applications and are instead automatically forwarded to the awarding institute or center for processing and consideration.

Application Content

  • Follow all guidance in the How to Apply – Application Guide, funding opportunity, and related notices
    • Follow the appropriate page limits for the activity code of the award
  • Review the awarding institute and center's (IC) web site for any IC-specific submission deadlines or eligibility criteria before submitting an administrative supplement request
  • Complete all required fields in the application package that you would for a competing revision (including an Introduction) unless the funding opportunity specifies otherwise
  • Sr/Key Personnel
    • Designate the same project director/principal investigator (PD/PI), or contact PD/PI for multiple-PD/PI, as listed on the current award
    • List anyone being added through the supplement, or for whom additional funds are being requested through this supplement
  • Budget
    • Use the R&R Budget form (or PHS 398 Training Budget), regardless of requested amount (i.e., modular budget policies do not apply)
    • Only include funds requested for the additional supplement activities
  • Cover Letter attachment and PHS Assignment Request form
    • Do not use (applications bypass receipt and referral staff who have access to them) 
  • Administrative supplements for multi-project applications
    • Administrative supplements are submitted as single-project application since the supplement is for the overall award

Review Criteria

  • Administratively reviewed by NIH institute and center staff considering the criteria in Section V of the funding opportunity

This page last updated on: September 30, 2024
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