IMPORTANT: Interim Guidance on NIH Salary Cap | New Format Effective for Advance and Pre-Award Account Grant Award Summary (GAS)

MU Grants Community,

Two Important notices picked up from the March 17, 2017 NIH Table of Contents (TOC): 

• NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution (NOT-OD-17-048) National Institutes of Health 

NIH, as part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) continues to operate under the “Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017,” (Public Law 114-254) signed by President Obama on December 10, 2016. In short, NIH will issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent notice of award. When FY 2017 appropriations are enacted, upward adjustments may be considered by NIH.

• Interim Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements (NOT-OD-17-049) National Institutes of Health 

NIH has released Interim Guidance on Salary Limitations (Salary Cap) in NOT-OD-17-049.

OSPA Updates: New NIH and NSF application guidelines for 1/25/16 due dates | New DHHS salary cap | Proposal submission deadlines policy | Grants training

National Institutes of Health
REMINDER: For 1/25/16 due dates and after, revised SF424 Application Guides
Refer here for the prior notice with full details. Significant changes include updated application requirements and review language to enhance reproducibility of research findings through increased scientific rigor and transparency. Note that the new “Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources” attachment is required only for applications that propose to use biological and/or chemical resources.

New DHHS Salary Cap, Effective 1/10/2016
Executive Level II of the Federal Pay Scale, which sets the cap limit for salaries on DHHS awards, has increased from $183,300 to $185,100 effective January 10, 2016. The Sponsored Programs Procedure Guide (SPPG) is updated here, including links to relevant NIH Notices and salary cap history (FY 1990 to present).

National Science Foundation

REMINDER: For 1/25/16 due dates and after, revised Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide (NSF 16-1)
Refer here for the prior notice with full details. Significant changes include a new single-copy document required for each senior project personnel regarding collaborators and other affiliations and new submission instructions for biosketches and current and pending support.

Grant Connections | August Meeting Notes

Please use these notes from the August Grant Connections meeting for your review and reference. Thanks to all who attended. We hope to see you at the next meeting on Wednesday, September 23, when Dr. Mark McIntosh will be the invited guest.

Dr. McIntosh is Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Research, Graduate Studies, and Economic Development, as well as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. In anticipation of our conversation with Dr. McIntosh, send questions or topics to Julia Rodriguez at rodriguezj@missouri.edu or call her at 884-1783.

New DHHS Salary Cap, Effective 1/1/14

The Executive Level II of the Federal Pay Scale, which sets the cap limit for salaries on DHHS awards, has increased from $179,700 to $181,500 effective January 1, 2014 (schedule 5 on page 6 of this link EO 13655 is screen shot below). For proposal budgets, please use this amount as applicable for periods after 1/1/14. For existing projects, beginning with pay periods starting on or after 1/1/14, this new cap will apply.

The DHHS Salary Cap section of the SPPG will be updated and reposted soon.

HHS and PHS Operating Divisions

Considering that both the HHS Salary Cap and PHS Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) Policy are with us for the foreseeable future, please find below for reference the lists of operating divisions that comprise each agency. 

The US Department of Health and Human Services Organizational Chart (screenshot below) illustrates that there are just a few extra HHS operating divisions that are not PHS. 

Update to Salary Cap Notice

It is confirmed that all Health and Human Services (HHS) operating divisions (listed below) are subject to the new Executive Level II ($179,700) salary limitation. To date, only NIH has issued official guidance. We will continue to monitor the affected agencies and communicate additional information as it becomes available. In the meantime, please refer to the NIH notice and often-updated Salary Cap - FY2012 Frequently Asked Questions. In addition to NIH awards, OSPA will review other HHS awards requiring adjustments to budgets and cost-shared salary and will contact Department personnel on a project-by-project basis.

HHS Operating Divisions

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF)

Administration on Aging (AoA)

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Indian Health Service (IHS)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

                                                                                                                                            

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued guidance on Friday, January 20, related to the new Executive Level II salary limitation (“salary cap”). With passage of H.R. 2055 into law, the NIH salary cap is reduced to $179,700 (Executive Level II) from $199,700 (Executive Level I), effective December 23, 2011.  

NOT-OD-12-035: Notice of Salary Limitation on Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts outlines the following:

·         For competing grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or before 12/22/2011: The salary cap remains at $199,700 for the FY2012 award period (no adjustment required). NIH will adjust future years for these awards to reflect a salary cap of $179,700.  

·         For competing grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or after 12/23/2011: A salary cap of $179,700 applies to current and all future years (adjustment required). NIH will revise the award.   

·         Non-competing grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or before 12/22/2011: Applicable salary cap is $199,700 (no adjustment required).

·         Non-competing grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or after 12/23/2011: Applicable salary cap is $179,700. Unless otherwise restricted, grantees may rebudget any funds freed as a result of the lower cap.   

Note that a lower salary cap raises the level of salary cost share required on a project. OSPA is currently reviewing NIH awards and will soon contact Department personnel regarding affected projects requiring adjustments to budgets and cost-shared salary.

Finally, our understanding is that all Health and Human Services (HHS) operating divisions are subject to the new Executive Level II salary limitation, whereas in the past only NIH, AHRQ, and SAMHSA were affected. Guidance from these agencies is not yet released; we are seeking clarification and will relay information as it becomes available.

Feel free to contact me with any questions as they arise. 

New NIH Salary Cap, Effective 12-23-12

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued guidance on Friday, January 20, related to the new Executive Level II salary limitation (“salary cap”). With passage of H.R. 2055 into law, the NIH salary cap is reduced to $179,700 (Executive Level II) from $199,700 (Executive Level I), effective December 23, 2011.  

NOT-OD-12-035: Notice of Salary Limitation on Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts outlines the following:

        ·         For competing grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or before 12/22/2011: The salary cap remains at $199,700 for the FY2012 award period (no adjustment required). NIH will adjust future years for these awards to reflect a salary cap of $179,700.  

        ·         For competing grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or after 12/23/2011: A salary cap of $179,700 applies to current and all future years (adjustment required). NIH will revise the award.   

        ·         Non-competing grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or before 12/22/2011: Applicable salary cap is $199,700 (no adjustment required).

        ·         Non-competing grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or after 12/23/2011: Applicable salary cap is $179,700. Unless otherwise restricted, grantees may rebudget any funds freed as a result of the lower cap.   

Note that a lower salary cap raises the level of salary cost share required on a project. OSPA is currently reviewing NIH awards and will soon contact Department personnel regarding affected projects requiring adjustments to budgets and cost-shared salary.

Finally, our understanding is that all Health and Human Services (HHS) operating divisions are subject to the new Executive Level II salary limitation, whereas in the past only NIH, AHRQ, and SAMHSA were affected. Guidance from these agencies is not yet released; we are seeking clarification and will relay information as it becomes available.

Feel free to contact me with any questions as they arise.