Multiproject Awards SOP

This standard operating procedure (SOP) includes the following sections: Purpose, Procedure, Contacts, and Links.

Some links will work for NIAID staff only.

Purpose

To provide grant funding to at least two related research projects or components submitted as a single application to a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

Procedure

You may apply for a multiproject grant in one the following two ways:

  1. Respond to a request for applications (RFA) for a program project or cooperative agreement.
  2. Submit an application for an investigator-initiated P01 program project grant, e.g., the NIAID Investigator-Initiated Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) NOFO.

Note: Only submit an application that proposes a clinical trial to a NOFO that explicitly states it accepts clinical trials.

Multi​project grant types include the following:

  • P01 grant—multidisciplinary, long-term program headed by a principal investigator (PI) or PIs who bring in other investigators to conduct research projects and share resources. For an investigator-initiated application, go to the NIAID Investigator-Initiated Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) NOFO.
  • P30 grant—center core grant that supports shared resources and facilities for a multidisciplinary research team or group of investigators focusing on a common research topic.
  • P50 grant—specialized center award that supports a multidisciplinary group of investigators who share a common research topic.
  • U19 cooperative agreement—award for multidisciplinary projects that require substantial involvement from NIAID staff. See our description of Substantial Staff Involvement at Determining When To Use a Cooperative Agreement.
  • U54 cooperative agreement—support for research and development from basic to clinical, including ancillary supportive activities that create a multidisciplinary focus on a disease or a biomedical problem. Centers may also serve as regional or national resources for special research purposes.
  • UM2 cooperative agreement—support for large-scale centers with complicated structures that cannot be appropriately categorized into an available multicomponent activity code, e.g., clinical networks, research programs, or consortiums.

Investigators

  • Thoroughly read the RFA or program announcement to which you are responding to for eligibility conditions.
  • Only submit an application that proposes a clinical trial to a NOFO that explicitly states it accepts clinical trials.
  • Read Multiproject Research (P, U) Applications for NIAID-specific instructions.
  • For an investigator-initiated P01 application, contact an NIAID program officer when still in the planning stage to assess the likelihood of our approval of your idea. We strongly encourage prior consultation with NIAID staff at least 15 weeks before the application due date.
  • Get NIAID approval for your application before you apply, indicating that we agree to allow Center for Scientific Review to assign it here for possible funding. Learn more at Contact NIAID and Obtain Preapproval.
  • With your application, include a cover letter from an NIAID program officer that approves the submission.
  • For an overview of how to apply for a P01, see P01 Program Project Grants.
  • For any multiproject application, contact an NIAID program before you apply.
    • Check your NOFO for timing. Most NOFOs state that you should contact a program officer at least 10 weeks (15 weeks for investigator-initiated P01s) before the application due date.
    • If your application requests direct costs of $500,000 or more in any year of the grant, get approval to submit a big grant at least six weeks before you apply, even if none of the individual projects request that much. See the Big Grants SOP.
  • If you are requesting close to $500,000, read our Big Grants SOP for guidance.
  • Even if you plan to request under $500,000, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your idea with an NIAID program officer when still in the planning stage. Learn more at Contact NIAID and Obtain Preapproval

Program Staff

  • Document your approval by following the procedures in the Big Grants SOP.

Contacts

NIAIDOPCO@niaid.nih.gov

Use the contacts listed above for questions about your specific situation. If you have a general question or a suggestion to improve this page, email the Office of Knowledge and Educational Resources at deaweb@niaid.nih.gov.

Links

Selecting Unsolicited P01 Applications for Award SOP

IC-Sponsored Program Announcements (PARs and PASs) SOP

Requests for Applications (RFA) SOP

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