stage indicator - apply for a grant

Select Agent Review and Approval Procedure for New and Existing Contracts That Include Foreign Institutions

Related procedure: Select Agent Awards SOP

Preparing the Acquisition Plan and Solicitation

Contracting officer's representatives identify projects that will involve select agents in acquisition plans.

All solicitations will contain information for offerors about select agent regulations and state the evaluation process for foreign primes and foreign subcontracts. Refer to Select Agent Language for Solicitations and Contracts for more information.

Institute Review

As part of the solicitation requirements or during negotiations, if conducted, with those still being considered for an award, the contracting officer will request the following information from the foreign institution:

  1. An acknowledgement to complete Form 1 Application for Laboratory Registration for Possession, Use, and Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins within 30 days after a request from the Office of Extramural Research Policy and Operations (OERPO) in the Division of Extramural Activities (DEA). 
  2. Completed NIAID Attachment A: Non-U.S. Institution’s Procedure for Personnel Security Risk Assessment. NIAID will provide this form to the foreign institution for completion.
  3. Information about policies for possession and use of select agents, and assurance from the institutional responsible official that a process comparable to that described in Federal Select Agent Program 42 CFR 73, 7 CFR 331, and 9 CFR 121 for U.S. institutions is in place and will be administered on behalf of all select agent work sponsored by NIH funds.
    • Institutions that do not have a policy equivalent to 42 CFR 73 must provide information on any laws, regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to the institution for the safe and secure possession and use of select agents.
  4. Certification by the institutional business official and alternate responsible official that facilities meet their institution's requirements to work safely with select agents, only authorized personnel have access to select agents, and the institution keeps records of select agents transferred to and from its facilities.

When selected for award, the contracting officer provides the contract number, organization name, and address to OERPO in DEA along with, if available, information obtained during negotiations. (Items 1 through 3 from above.)

OERPO requests that completed Form 1 be submitted for the foreign institution. Because the form will not be used to register with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Select Agent Program, send completed forms to NIAID, not to CDC or the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as indicated in the instructions. Information provided on Form 1 will be reviewed during the laboratory review. Every foreign laboratory will be inspected.

For every foreign laboratory, OERPO coordinates with its CDC Division of Regulatory Science and Compliance (DRSC) partners to conduct select agent laboratory site reviews. OERPO convenes and leads the Interagency Select Agent Review Group (ISARG) review panels, during which the site visit reports are discussed.

For institutions without a process similar to that described in 42 CFR 73, submit information about any laws, regulations, and policies for possession, use, and transfer of select agents applicable to the foreign institution, if needed.

The ISARG assesses laboratory site review reports, foreign institutional policies, and institutional certification and makes a recommendation to NIAID. ISARG members are federal employees with experience in select agent research or policies.

The DEA Director decides whether to approve or not and notifies the contracting officer of that decision.

Potential Outcomes of NIAID Review

No restrictions on the contract. ISARG completes its review before award, and the DEA Director approves the release of funds for select agent research at foreign institutions.

Restriction on the contract. ISARG is unable to complete its review before award. The contract contains language restricting the use of NIH funds for research involving select agents until the ISARG review is complete and approved by the DEA Director.

For more information and contacts, refer to the Select Agent Awards SOP.

Have Questions?

Researchers with questions about NIAID's select agent policy should contact DEA Policy Shop.

Researchers with science or application questions should talk to a program officer. Refer to When to Contact an NIAID Program Officer.

For public inquiries, go to Office of Biodefense Research and Surety (OBRS) Contacts.​

Content last reviewed on