[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 48 (Friday, March 12, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11889-11890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5474]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Request for Comments on Proposed NIH, AHRQ and CDC Process Change 
for Electronic Submission of Grant Applications

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Process change.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Center of Disease 
Control (CDC) seek comments from the public on the impact of 
eliminating the correction window from the electronic grant application 
submission process on our applicant organizations and the timing of 
such a change.

DATES: To assure consideration, comments must be received by April 19, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Individuals and organizations interested in submitting 
comments may submit them electronically via http://grants.nih.gov/cfdocs/era_process_changes_rfi/add.htm. Although submission via the 
web is the preferred method of submission as it expedites analysis of 
comments, e-mails will also be accepted at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Columbus, NIH Program Manager 
for Electronic Receipt of Grant Applications, 6705 Rockledge Dr, Suite 
5040, Bethesda, MD 20892, e-mail [email protected] concerning 
programmatic questions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In December 2005, when NIH began its 
transition from paper grant application submission to electronic 
submission using a new application form and the Federal portal, 
Grants.gov, the agency built into the process a temporary error 
correction window to ensure a smooth and successful transition for 
applicants. This window provides applicants a period of time beyond the 
grant application due date to correct any error or warning notices of 
noncompliance with application instructions that are identified by 
NIH's eRA systems. (The standard NIH error correction window is 2 days, 
but it has been temporarily extended to 5 days to facilitate the 
transition for applicants to newly restructured, shorter applications.) 
The NIH is considering the elimination of the error correction window 
within the year.
    Eliminating the error correction window will allow NIH to enforce a 
fair and consistent submission deadline for

[[Page 11890]]

all applicants. In addition, eliminating the error correction window 
will help NIH reduce the time needed to process applications and 
forward them through the peer review process.
    The error correction window was established at a time when an 
application could take multiple days to get processed by Grants.gov and 
NIH's eRA systems. The lengthy processing time meant that applicants 
who applied on time might not receive feedback on the status of their 
submissions in time to address system identified errors/warnings until 
after the due date, unless they applied well in advance.
    During the initial transition the error correction window also 
provided an opportunity for applicants to become familiar with the use 
of the new SF424 (R&R) applications and the new way that long standing 
business rules would be enforced by electronic systems upon submission.
    Since 2005, combined system processing times have improved 
dramatically, with applications now taking minutes to process through 
both systems on average instead of days. This improvement provides 
applicants timely feedback on the status of their applications and 
allows them to address any system identified errors and warnings 
immediately, as the systems can process multiple submissions within a 
short period of time. NIH also has policies in place that do not rely 
on the error correction window to ensure that applicants are protected 
from possible eRA Commons or Grants.gov system issues that might keep 
an application from being received by the submission deadline.
    Additionally, elimination of the error correction window will not 
affect an applicant's ability to submit late applications under the 
existing NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications (NOT-OD-
06-086 available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-06-086.html) or for those who have provided substantial review 
service to NIH to take advantage of NIH's continuous submission policy 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-026.html).
    NIH is accepting comments from individuals and organizations on the 
impact of this change. We are also interested in feedback on possible 
timing of the change. Is there support for making the change in the 
next 3-6 months, a year, or is more time needed to make the change 
should the agencies decide to move forward?

    Date: March 9, 2010.
Sally J. Rockey,
Acting Deputy Director for Extramural Research, National Institutes of 
Health.
[FR Doc. 2010-5474 Filed 3-11-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P