Reminder on Implications of NIH Unilateral Closeout
As posted previously, NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-18-107 alerted the research community to strengthened enforcement of the closeout requirements of all NIH grant awards. Where proper closeout has not been accomplished by receipt of acceptable final reports within the required 120 calendar days after grant expiration, NIH will initiate unilateral closeout on delinquent grants.
The implications of unilateral closeout jeopardize future funding for all grants at the University, not only the grants of the delinquent Principal Investigator. The University was recently notified by an NIH Institute that 17 grants within their Institute were at risk for funding if an acceptable outstanding final research performance progress report was not submitted almost immediately. This was the most direct communication we have received and makes it clear that federal agencies are serious in imposing the consequences at their disposal.
The Final Research Performance Progress Report and the Final Invention Statement are the responsibility of the Principal Investigator. Sponsored Programs has initiated scheduled reminders to the Principal Investigators and Department Administrators of NIH grants prior to grant close-out and overdue reminders when required as previously noted here. We look for Department Administrators to support submission of these reports by their Principal Investigators and encourage you to reach out to your Sponsored Programs Research Administrator with any questions.