Change of Recipient Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 21 268

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NIH PA 21-268 Change of Recipient Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)

What is NIH PA 21-268?

PA 21-268 (titled "Change of Recipient Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)") is an NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA) used to request a transfer of an existing, currently funded NIH award from one recipient organization to another, when a transfer is allowed for that specific award type. It is designed for situations where an ongoing project needs to move to a new institution.

Is PA 21-268 a competitive grant program for new projects?

No. PA 21-268 is not a typical competition for new research or new funding. It is an administrative pathway for certain active NIH awards to request a change in the legal and administrative recipient organization.

What does "change of recipient organization" mean in practice?

It means the NIH award is being moved from the current recipient institution to a different institution that would become the new official recipient responsible for administering the grant. This is commonly needed when a principal investigator changes institutions or when another justified organizational transition requires the recipient to change.

How does NIH treat these requests (administrative vs. peer review)?

NIH treats these submissions as prior approval actions under the NIH Grants Policy Statement (specifically the prior approval section referenced in the opportunity, Section 8.1.2.7). The submission is a formal request for NIH permission to transfer the award rather than a peer-reviewed application competing against others.

Who reviews the request once it is submitted?

After submission under this FOA, the request is routed directly to the Grants Management Specialist associated with the current award for review and consideration, with the awarding NIH Institute or Center (IC) playing a central role in the decision.

Does submitting under PA 21-268 guarantee that NIH will approve the transfer?

No. NIH explicitly notes that submission of a change-of-recipient application does not guarantee approval. NIH may decide not to transfer the award to the proposed new organization.

What factors can affect whether NIH approves a transfer?

NIH decisions may depend on whether the proposed move is programmatically appropriate, whether the new organization can properly administer the grant, whether the project can continue as originally approved, and whether all policy, administrative, oversight, and compliance requirements can be met at the proposed new site.

Should applicants contact NIH before submitting a request?

Yes. NIH strongly encourages potential applicants to discuss the planned request with the awarding NIH Institute or Center before submitting. This helps address questions about allowability, timing, documentation, and expectations early in the process.

Is PA 21-268 considered a new source of funding?

Not in the typical sense. While the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a grant funding instrument, it functions primarily as an administrative action tied to existing NIH awards rather than a new standalone funding pool.

What is the closing date listed for this FOA?

The information provided lists an original closing date of 2024-06-30.

Does the FOA list an award ceiling or an expected number of awards?

No. The provided information indicates that an award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified, which aligns with the fact that transfers occur only as needed and only for awards that are already funded and eligible for transfer.

What types of NIH awards can be transferred using this FOA?

The FOA applies to certain currently funded NIH grants, but eligibility depends on the specific award types listed as eligible in the full FOA. Only awards that are active and permitted to be transferred would be appropriate for this mechanism.

What is meant by "Type 7" in this context?

Based on the description provided, "Type 7" refers to a change-of-recipient action where the recipient organization changes for an existing award. The FOA is presented as the formal NIH pathway for that kind of transfer request.

What does "Parent Clinical Trial Optional" indicate?

It indicates that the FOA is framed as a parent mechanism where a clinical trial component may be optional, depending on the nature of the underlying award and project. The key purpose described is still the administrative transfer of an existing eligible award.

Which NIH entities are involved in deciding whether a transfer is acceptable?

The awarding NIH Institute or Center (IC) plays a central role. The request is also reviewed through NIH grants management, including the Grants Management Specialist associated with the current award.

What CFDA numbers are associated with PA 21-268?

The FOA is associated with many CFDA numbers across NIH programs, reflecting that change-of-recipient requests may apply across a wide range of NIH-supported activity areas and missions.

Who is eligible to submit a change-of-recipient request under this FOA?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can serve as NIH recipients, including state/county/city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other entities.

Are specific institution types (e.g., HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions) included in eligibility?

Yes. The announcement highlights additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, faith-based and community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.

Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations be eligible as the new recipient?

Yes. The provided information states that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are included among the eligible categories, indicating NIH may consider a wide variety of recipients depending on the grant type and transfer circumstances.

What is the main purpose of the grants management review in a change-of-recipient request?

The review is focused on ensuring the award can be responsibly administered by the proposed new organization and that the approved work can continue without compromising NIH programmatic intent or compliance obligations.

When is this FOA typically used?

This FOA is typically used when an NIH-funded project needs to move to a new institution, such as when a principal investigator changes institutions or when there is another justified organizational transition requiring the award recipient to change.

If a project is moving institutions, is this the only step needed?

The information provided characterizes this FOA as the formal NIH administrative route for requesting the transfer. It also emphasizes that the request is a prior approval action and that applicants should consult the awarding IC in advance to understand documentation, timing, and expectations.