This document, issued by the NIH Office of Extramural Research in June 2020, provides comprehensive guidance and policy adaptations for NIH grant recipients responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The document clarifies that COVID-19 is categorized as an emergency under NIH policy, thereby activating a range of flexibilities for affected institutions. These flexibilities address disruptions caused by institutional closures, travel restrictions, delays in research activities and clinical trials, and challenges in grant administration and reporting. Recipients are advised to maintain close communication with their funding Institutes or Centers (ICs) to address delays, request no-cost extensions, or seek administrative supplements, while grant management and reporting controls remain in place to ensure accountability. NIH emphasizes safety and welfare for research staff, human subjects, and animal care while advising recipients on documentations and reporting of COVID-19 impacts within required progress reports.
The FAQs cover a wide range of operational and fiscal issues, including application submissions, late policies, revisions for already submitted applications, financial reporting, and carryover of funds. Policies on allowable costs are clarified for travel, conference fees, salaries, and stipends, with explicit distinctions between charges permissible under existing institutional policies and those that are not. Provisions for remote work, telemedicine, virtual conferences, and adjustments to training and fellowship timelines are outlined, along with extensions and administrative supplements in special cases. The document also details policies and necessary documentation regarding human subject research, animal welfare, and institutional training awards, offering maximum feasible flexibility while maintaining regulatory compliance and oversight. The guidance stresses the importance of adhering to core NIH and federal policies despite the pandemic, and encourages affected institutions to proactively engage with NIH contacts for case-by-case assessment and support.
