Competing Continuations / Resubmissions
Competing Continuations
Check “Competing Continuation” box on checklist.
Enter previous 2 character institute code and 5 or 6 digit project number (CA012345).
- NIH doesn’t require the rest.
- Increases allowed
- Some institutes impose caps (generally 10% to 20%). See institute Web site for specifics.
- Categorical budgets to modular budgets can usually round up to the next module.
Following is a published example of policies for budget increases (NHLBI):
Categorical to Categorical:
For competing renewal and MERIT extension grants that were categorical awards in the preceding competitive segment and will be in excess of $250,000 direct costs in any given year in the recommended competitive segment, the Institute will award at the Council recommended direct cost up to a maximum of 10 percent above the level of the last noncompeting award of the preceding competitive segment, except for specific programmatic and administrative adjustments that may be warranted. The 10 percent maximum will only be exceeded to accommodate non-recurring equipment costs.
Categorical to Modular:
For competing renewal and MERIT extension grants that were categorical awards in the preceding competitive segment and will be no more than $250,000 direct costs in any given year in the recommended competitive segment, the Institute will award at the Council recommended direct cost up to a maximum of 10 percent above the level of the last noncompeting award of the preceding competitive segment rounded up to the next module. For example, if the last noncompeting direct cost award was $150,000, a 10 percent escalation would be $165,000. As a result, the applicant would be allowed to round up to the next module, and request $175,000 in direct costs. The cap will only be exceeded to accommodate non-recurring equipment costs, which will also be rounded up to the next module. For example, if requested equipment costs $15,000, a one-time request for an additional module may be made. However, if one-time equipment costs result in direct costs in excess of $250,000, the award will be made as categorical and so actual equipment costs will be awarded.
Modular to Modular:
For competing renewal and MERIT extension grants that were modular awards in the preceding competitive segment and will be no more than $250,000 direct costs in any given year in the recommended competitive segment, the Institute will award at the Council recommended direct cost up to a maximum number of modules specified as follows:
If the previous award is 6 or fewer modules, the competing renewal may be one module more than the previous award. For example, if the last noncompeting direct cost award was $150,000 (6 modules), the applicant would be allowed to apply for $175,000 (7 modules).
If the previous award is 7 or 8 modules, the competing renewal may be two more modules than the previous award. For example, if the last noncompeting direct cost award was $200,000 (8 modules), the applicant would be allowed to apply for $250,000 (10 modules).
These modular caps will only be exceeded to accommodate non-recurring equipment costs, which will also be rounded up to the next module. For example, if requested equipment costs $15,000, a one-time request for an additional module may be made. However, if one-time equipment costs result in direct costs in excess of $250,000, the award will be made as categorical and so actual equipment costs will be awarded.
Modular to Categorical:
If the previous award is 9 or 10 modules, any requested increase will cause the competing renewal to be awarded as categorical. In all such cases, the Institute will award at the Council recommended direct cost up to a maximum of 10 percent above the level of the last noncompeting award of the preceding competitive segment, except for specific programmatic and administrative adjustments that may be warranted. The 10 percent maximum will only be exceeded to accommodate non-recurring equipment costs.
Resubmissions (Revisions/Amendments)
Max of 3 submissions of the same project (3 strikes your out rule)
- Original and 2 resubmissions allowed within 2 years of the initial application receipt date.
- Check “Revision” box on checklist (even if it is a Competing Continuation revision).
- Enter 2 character institute code and 5 or 6 digit project number. (CA012345)
- NIH doesn’t require the rest. - *** Check with the Principal Investigator to see if reviewers made any comments on administrative issues (format, budget, etc.) that can be improved. ***
Common Pitfalls in Submission of Revised Applications
- Face page
- Congressional District now 15, not 13
- No longer need human OR animal approval at time of submission.
If animal approval is pending, type “pending” in date slot.
- Congressional District now 15, not 13
- Abstract page
- Update key personnel. Add or remove people accordingly.
- Collaborator: NIH no longer recognizes this title. This may be different from the last submission. Change to Consultant or Co-Investigator.
- Update key personnel. Add or remove people accordingly.
- Budget
- Categorical Budgets
- Check that justification is updated to match new budget.
- Animal housing costs are now 39.5% SSFF.
- Personnel have updated titles/names.
- Subcontract sites are updated including letters.
- Categorical Budgets
- Biosketches – Research Support Section
- Watch that projects are in the correct category according to end date (Current/Ongoing vs. Completed).
- Also check that Completed research support listings are not too old.
- Suggest using one category (Ongoing or Completed in the Last Three Years) to avoid having to move from one category to the next.
- Watch that projects are in the correct category according to end date (Current/Ongoing vs. Completed).
- Resources
- Read through to make sure space listed is accurate for the current submission.
- Checklist
- Even if it is a resubmission of a Competing Continuation, only check the “Revision” box.
- DHHS agreement date is now 6/28/02.
- Even if it is a resubmission of a Competing Continuation, only check the “Revision” box.
- Consultant Letters
- Make sure all consultant letters are updated and reissued.
K Award Specific Information
- Since no checklist is submitted, please add NIH assigned number from last submission to #10 Notes on the PAF. (For additional K Award hints – see the Career Awards document distributed to GPAC in January ’03) Mentor / Institutional Commitment (Chair letter)/ Consultant Letters
- Consultant letters should be updated/reissued.
