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Background Information -- Recovery Act Questions and Answers

<< Recovery Act Q&A Index · NIAID and the Economic Recovery Act

This page is meant as an interactive resource, often based on actual questions from the research community and NIAID staff. We link to more in-depth information in other sections of the NIAID and the Economic Recovery Act and Research Funding site.

Note that these answers may be true only for NIAID; other NIH institutes may take a different approach.

Background Information

How did NIAID design its program to meet the goals of the Recovery Act?

The main objectives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 are to create and save jobs, kick-start the economy, and build the foundation for long-term economic growth within the next two years.

To meet those goals, we spent a large portion of our funds awarding hundreds of high-quality two-year grants.

Read more about the goals of the Act and funding opportunity details in the NIAID and the Economic Recovery Act section.

What's the difference between ARRA funds and NIAID's regular appropriation?

ARRA provided two-year money for a defined purpose. It is separate from our regular appropriation and is not added to our funding base. See Don't Confuse Stimulus Money With Our FY 2009 Budget.

You should keep in mind that the regular NIAID Paylines do not apply to Recovery Act funds. For ARRA funding, see Funding Range for ARRA Awards.

What types of awards is NIAID funding?

In FY 2009, we funded two-year R01, R21, and R03 grants as well as a limited number of other awards. We have not yet decided what we will do in FY 2010. See How NIAID Is Spending the Stimulus Money.

Can I get more than one ARRA grant?

Yes, you can.

Are there NIH initiatives in which NIAID is not participating?

Yes. Also, we’re doing limited participation in others. See NIAID Participation in NIH ARRA Opportunities.

Is NIAID funding both investigator-initiated applications and those responding to RFAs?

Yes. Even though we announced funding using investigator-initiated paylines, we are also funding (at comparable scores) applications that respond to requests for applications.

How are you funding R01 applications responding to an RFA with ARRA monies?

Check with your program officer to find out whether your application that responded to a request for application (RFA) qualifies for ARRA and, if so, your chances of getting ARRA funding.

Note that our Funding Range for ARRA Awards applies to investigator-initiated grants. Each RFA is unique in terms of the numbers of applications received and range of resulting scores, so you'll need to ask your program officer about your chances of funding.

For more information on the differences between the types of announcements, go to Application Approach: What Are Your Choices?

Who at NIAID can answer my questions about ARRA and the stimulus funds?

Start with your program officer for grant-specific questions. For general questions, you can email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov. We will research an answer and reply.

Are NIAID and other NIH institutes implementing Recovery Act funding in the same way?

No, different institutes may take different approaches. Please check with the relevant institute, listed at Institutes, Centers, and Offices. For NIH-level information, see NIH and the ARRA.

When did agencies begin reporting their use of Recovery Act funds to Recovery.gov?

Agencies began reporting the use of the funds to Recovery.gov on March 3, 2009.

When do grantees report their use of Recovery Act funds?

Grantees must file a report with FederalReporting.gov for every quarter, including the first quarter -- no matter how short the time frame or whether funds were used. See Special Reporting Requirements for more information.

Why did NIAID issue two-year awards instead of longer awards?

The Recovery Act requires that we spend the money by September 30, 2010. That means we are funding only research that would yield meaningful results for all your aims by then.

How does Recovery Act funding affect new and early-stage investigators?

For NIAID, new and early-stage investigators are typically not affected by the two-year awards.

Is NIAID awarding any supplements?

See Is NIAID awarding any supplements? on our Supplements -- Recovery Act Questions and Answers.

Are NIAID R56-Bridge awards using stimulus funds or money from the regular fiscal year budget?

For information on R56-Bridge awards, see our Financial Management Plan. Read more at How NIAID Is Spending the Stimulus Money.

Can I get an ARRA award to extend my grant?

Though NIAID is funding a limited number of administrative supplements, we cannot use ARRA money to extend grants.

You can request an ARRA administrative supplement during a no-cost extension, but your grant has to be active at the time of the supplement award. A no-cost extension will not be processed earlier than 90 days before the end of your project.

When requesting an extension, keep in mind that you must have enough time to get meaningful results for all your aims during the funding period.

Is NIAID awarding or extending fellowships and career awards from ARRA funds?

NIAID may offer ARRA administrative supplements for career development (K) awards in FY 2010.

Fellowships (F) aren't eligible for supplements. Instead, we will support fellowships within the funding range using one- or two-year ARRA money. See Funding Range for ARRA Awards.

Are small businesses eligible for ARRA funds including supplements?

See Are small businesses eligible for ARRA funds including supplements? on our Supplements -- Recovery Act Questions and Answers.

Are R56-Bridge awards eligible for ARRA supplements?

See Are R56-Bridge awards eligible for ARRA supplements? on our Supplements -- Recovery Act Questions and Answers.

Would an R01 submitted in FY 2010 that ranks between 12 and 25 percentile be eligible for an ARRA R56-Bridge?

Unfortunately we do not have any information for FY 2010 funding yet.

Could I get stimulus funds through NIAID if another NIH institute is listed as primary on my application?

Possibly. First talk to your program officer at the other institute about the chances of funding there. If the other institute will not fund it, talk to a program officer at NIAID.

Why do you refer to two-year awards when September 2010 is less than two years away?

September 30, 2010, is the deadline for NIAID to spend ARRA funds. The grantee has additional time to spend the money.

What if my question wasn't answered here, or I'd like to suggest a question?

Email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with your question or comment. We answer questions by email and post them here. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.