Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ Pages

• The Top 10 Questions
• General questions about NLM grants
• Applying for a grant
• How grant applications are reviewed
• Priority scores and summary statements
• Grant awards
• Extensions, changes and reports
• Revising an unsuccessful grant application
• Grant appeals
• The Federal DUNS Number Application Requirement

Grant awards

Q: How will I know that my application was funded?

A: The Notice of Grant Award, the official notification that your grant has been funded, is sent to your institution's sponsored research office, with a copy to the principal investigator. The NLM program officer assigned to the grant may contact the principal investigator to give informal news of an award, but the Notice of Grant Award is the official documentation. If your organization has provided an e-mail address, an electronic Notice of Grant Award letter is sent from NIH to the administrative official listed on the face page of your grant application. A courtesy copy of the e-mail is sent to the principal investigator of a successful application. If your organization does not use e-mail, the Notice of Grant Award will be faxed to the administrative official listed on the face page of your application. See //grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2011/nihgps_ch5.htm#noa for an explanation of the Notice of Grant Award.

Q: Will NLM send me a notice if my application is not funded?

A: No notifications are sent to grant applicants whose proposals did not receive funding. If you are not sure whether your grant proposal received funding, contact the appropriate NLM program officer listed in the grant program announcement.

Q: Why didn't I get the budget I requested?

A: After the scientific merit of your proposal is completed, the reviewers may make recommendations that elements of it be reduced or augmented. NLM Program staff may also reduce the budget for programmatic reasons or because available funds are not sufficient to provide full funding.

Q: My Notice of Grant Award says the grant is excluded from "expanded authorities" - what does that mean?

A: For certain types of grants, NIH has waived the requirement for its prior approval of certain expenditures and activities. If your grant is excluded from expanded authorities, you must seek prior approval for budget carryover and no-cost extensions. See //grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2013/nihgps_ch8.htm#prior_approval_requirements for more information.

Q: Where can I find out about the latest Federal initiative for electronic access to grant information?

A: //Grants.gov is the electronic storefront for Federal grants. Grants.gov was created as the development of a one-stop electronic grant portal where potential grant recipients will receive full service electronic grant administration. DHHS is the managing partner responsible for the overall management of the site that includes the ongoing participation of 11 Departments and Agencies within the Federal Government.

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