RAPid Update from ORSP

Important NIH Notices and Updates

For those who have signed up for RAPid Health Science Research updates, the following are slightly more detailed than those shared in our recent January/February 2016 RAP newsletter. These are brief summaries of Health and Human Services (HHS) and NIH updates. For true expertise, do visit the links and read the entire NIH Notices. Here is what we think you will want to explore!

Good news!

NIH will fully fund most FY16 awards.

NIH Fiscal Policy for Grant Awards FY 2016 (NOT-OD-16-046)
As in past years, some non-competing awards were issued before the Federal Government passed a final budget for their fiscal year.

While operating on a Continuing Resolution, NIH Issued awards for approximately 90% of the committed funding level.

Revised awards have begun to arrive adding funds to bring most of the awards up to the original committed funding level. Individual Institutes may have slightly different policies.

More Good News!
NRSA Pre and Post Doc Stipends and Post Doc Institutional Allowance have increased with FY16 awards.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2016 (NOT-OD-16-047)
The new amounts will be included in FY16 awards regardless of what amounts were included in a submitted budget. The new amounts are to be used for appointments made with FY16 funds. FY16 awards have budget period start dates between 10/1/15 and 9/30/2016.

Please be sure you are aware of the funding year you are using as you enter appointments and stipends into xTrain. NIH will revise awards to add funds for any NRSA funding that has already been received for FY16. If you have questions, call your ORSP Project Representative.

Even more good news!
NIH has increased salary allowances on K08 and K23 awards.

Clarification: New Salary and Research Cost Allowances for K08 and K23 Career Development Awards (NOT-OD-16-054)
Previously, as a general policy NIH awarded $75,000 in salary towards the required 9 months effort (75%). That has been increased to $100,000.

Note that this policy does not affect the Institutes that already contribute salary at this level or higher.

And yes, even more good news!
NIH Salary Cap increased for grants and cooperative agreements.

Notice on Salary Limitation on Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts (NOT-OD-16-045)
Previous legislation tied the maximum investigator salary charges to Executive Level II which increased from $183,300 to $185,100 effective 1/10/2016. Though NIH will not increase awards to accommodate this change, you can begin to charge at that salary level as of that date if you choose to do so. Note that a project should be consistently applying the same cap for all investigators who are subject to a cap. View a history of Salary Caps.

Keep apprised of NIH issues on our Sponsor-Specific Resource pages. Contact your assigned Government Team ORSP Project Representative with questions.