Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 163
Competing Revisions to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Clinical Trial Optional) (Funding Opportunity Number PA-20-163) is an NIH grant funding opportunity that provides a path for current NIH award recipients to request additional support to expand the scope, activities, or impact of an already-funded project or program. The core idea is that NIH may have funds available for competitive revision applications, meaning these are not administrative supplements but peer-reviewed requests that propose scientifically and technically justified expansions to an active award. The opportunity is labeled "clinical trial optional," which signals that a proposed expansion may include a clinical trial if it fits the parent award and the relevant NIH policies, but a clinical trial is not required.
A key restriction is that applicants can only use this FOA when responding to a specific Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) issued by an NIH Institute or Center (IC). In other words, you cannot submit a competing revision under PA-20-163 on its own; the revision must be tied to a competitive revision NOSI published by the awarding IC. That NOSI effectively defines the scientific area of interest and the conditions for applying, and it also indicates which NIH IC is participating for that topic. The revision is expected to remain anchored to the parent grant or cooperative agreement, building on the original aims rather than turning the project into something unrelated.
Applications submitted under this opportunity are reviewed for scientific and technical merit through NIH peer review processes. NIH indicates that appropriate Scientific Review Groups will evaluate these revisions using standard NIH review criteria and procedures, consistent with NIH policy. Practically, that means the proposed expansion needs to be compelling on significance, innovation, approach, investigator capability, and research environment, while also showing a clear fit with the original funded project and with the NOSI that authorizes submission.
Eligibility is broad in terms of organizational types, but the intent is directed at entities that already hold NIH awards and are seeking to revise those existing awards competitively. Eligible applicants listed include many U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city or township governments, special district governments), education entities (independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education), and a wide range of nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses). The FOA also highlights eligibility for several mission-relevant institutional categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies.
International participation is explicitly allowed in multiple forms. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also eligible. In addition, foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are permitted. This makes the opportunity usable for awards that legitimately require international collaboration or include overseas sites, as long as the proposed revision is consistent with NIH policy and the requirements of the relevant NOSI and parent award.
From a classification standpoint, this is a discretionary grant mechanism under NIH, with activity categories spanning environment, food and nutrition, and health, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.113 and 93.847. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which typically means the amount and volume of funding depend on the participating ICs, the specific NOSIs, and NIH budget availability at the time of submission and award. The original closing date shown is 2023-05-03, and the opportunity was created on 2020-04-03, but in practice applicants generally need to rely on the currently active NOSI and NIH submission windows and confirm whether the FOA is still open for the intended submission date.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a standardized NIH pathway for competitively reviewed revisions that expand existing NIH-funded work in areas where an NIH Institute or Center has announced targeted interest through a NOSI. It is aimed at strengthening and extending ongoing projects rather than initiating brand-new, unrelated research programs, while still requiring the same level of rigor and competitiveness expected in NIH peer review.Apply for PA 20 163
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Competing Revisions to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.847.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-04-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FAQs: Competing Revisions to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Clinical Trial Optional) (PA-20-163)
What is PA-20-163?
PA-20-163 is an NIH funding opportunity that allows current NIH award recipients to request additional support through a competing revision to an existing NIH grant or cooperative agreement. A competing revision is a peer-reviewed request to expand the scope, activities, or impact of an already-funded project or program.
What is a "competing revision" in this context?
A competing revision is a request for additional funds and/or expanded work that is competitively reviewed through NIH peer review. It is not an administrative supplement. The proposed expansion must be scientifically and technically justified and must remain connected to the parent award.
How is this different from an administrative supplement?
Based on the description provided, PA-20-163 supports competitive revision applications that are peer reviewed. Administrative supplements are not the focus here; the key distinction is that these revisions are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through NIH peer review processes.
Do I need to propose a clinical trial?
No. The opportunity is labeled "clinical trial optional", meaning a proposed expansion may include a clinical trial if it fits the parent award and NIH policies, but a clinical trial is not required.
Can I submit under PA-20-163 without any other NIH announcement?
No. A major restriction is that you can only use PA-20-163 when responding to a specific Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) issued by an NIH Institute or Center (IC). You cannot submit a competing revision under PA-20-163 on its own.
What role does a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) play?
The NOSI is what authorizes submission under PA-20-163 for a particular topic. It defines the scientific area of interest, outlines conditions for applying, and indicates which NIH Institute or Center is participating for that topic. Your revision must be tied to that competitive revision NOSI.
Does the proposed revision have to be related to the parent award?
Yes. The revision is expected to remain anchored to the parent grant or cooperative agreement, building on the original aims rather than turning the project into something unrelated.
What kinds of changes are appropriate for a competing revision?
The description emphasizes requests that expand the scope, activities, or impact of an already-funded project or program. The expansion should be scientifically and technically justified, aligned with the parent award, and aligned with the relevant NOSI.
How will applications be reviewed?
Applications are reviewed for scientific and technical merit through NIH peer review processes. NIH indicates that appropriate Scientific Review Groups will evaluate these revisions using standard NIH review criteria and procedures consistent with NIH policy.
What review criteria should applicants expect?
Practically, the proposed expansion needs to be compelling on core NIH review considerations such as significance, innovation, approach, investigator capability, and research environment, while also demonstrating clear fit with the parent award and the NOSI that permits submission.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad by organizational type, but the intent is for entities that already hold NIH awards and want to revise those awards competitively. Eligible applicant types listed include U.S. governmental entities, educational organizations, nonprofits and for-profits (including small businesses), and other mission-relevant institutional categories highlighted in the opportunity.
Are U.S. government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants listed include U.S. governmental entities such as state, county, city or township governments and special district governments.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicants listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are K-12 or school district entities eligible?
Yes. The listing includes independent school districts among eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicants include for-profit organizations other than small businesses and also small businesses.
Are specific institution types (such as HBCUs or HSIs) mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights eligibility for multiple mission-relevant categories, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The information provided notes that eligible federal agencies are included among eligible applicants.
Is international participation allowed?
Yes. International participation is explicitly allowed in multiple forms, consistent with NIH policy and the relevant NOSI and parent award.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply?
Yes. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization include non-U.S. components?
Yes. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are permitted.
What activity areas does this opportunity cover?
The opportunity is associated with activity categories spanning environment, food and nutrition, and health, as described in the listing.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.113 and 93.847.
Is there an award ceiling or a set number of awards?
The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. This typically means the amount and volume of funding depend on the participating Institutes and Centers, the specific NOSIs, and NIH budget availability at the time of submission and award.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The information provided shows an original closing date of 2023-05-03 and a creation date of 2020-04-03. However, applicants are advised (per the description) to rely on the currently active NOSI and NIH submission windows and confirm whether the FOA is still open for the intended submission date.
What is the main purpose of this FOA for applicants?
Overall, PA-20-163 is a standardized NIH pathway for competitively reviewed revisions that expand existing NIH-funded work in areas where an NIH Institute or Center has announced targeted interest through a NOSI. It is intended to strengthen and extend ongoing projects rather than start a brand-new, unrelated research program.
What must an applicant demonstrate for a strong submission under this FOA?
Based on the description, a strong submission should (1) propose a scientifically and technically justified expansion, (2) show clear alignment with the parent award, (3) meet the conditions and topic focus in the relevant NOSI, and (4) be competitive under standard NIH peer review expectations.
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