NIH Automatic No-Cost Extensions Temporarily Deactivated
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued Notice NOT-OD-25-110, Updated NIH Processes for No-Cost Extensions. The automatic NCE link, which previously was activated 90 days before the award end date in eRA Commons, has been deactivated.
The NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-110, released on May 7, 2025, announces a temporary change in the process for No-Cost Extensions (NCEs) for NIH grants.
Key Points:
- Temporary Suspension of NCE Functionality: NIH has disabled the automatic No-Cost Extension feature in the eRA Commons system.
- Reason for Change: This action is part of a broader review directed by the NIH Director to ensure that all NIH-funded activities align with the NIH mission and agency priorities.
- New Process: All NCE requests must now be submitted as prior approval requests through eRA Commons. These will undergo NIH staff review.
- Approval Criteria: Only extension requests that support activities consistent with NIH’s mission will be approved. Requests for off-mission activities will be denied.
Use of the Prior Approval Module for First No-Cost Extension (NCE) Requests
Effective immediately, NIH is requiring all recipients to submit first-time No-Cost Extension (NCE) requests through the Prior Approval Module in eRA Commons.
Prior approval requests take weeks to months to process and for the University to receive a determination. NCE requests can be submitted up to 90 days before the award end date, but should be submitted at least 30 days before the end date.
Required Elements for NCE Requests:
To ensure timely review, each NCE request must include the following:
- A PDF progress report summarizing project accomplishments to date
- A budget and budget justification detailing how remaining funds will be used
- A scientific or technical justification explaining the need for additional time
- The number of months requested for the extension
- The unobligated balance available
- Responses to questions regarding:
- Principal Investigator (PI) effort
- IRB or IACUC approvals, if applicable
Important Notes:
- First-time NCEs will no longer be automatically approved.
- If approved, a Grants Management Specialist (GMS) will issue a revised Notice of Award (NOA).
- Please allow additional time for NIH review and processing.
Researchers considering preliminary extension requests are advised to proceed with caution.