Application Requirements for Projects Involving Activities Outside of the United States or Partnerships with International Collaborators

NIH issued this notice as a reminder of longstanding application requirements for projects involving activities outside of the United States or partnerships with international collaborators.

NIH supports properly conducted and principled international collaborations that are integral for our country to remain competitive. These international collaborations must present special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talents, resources, populations, or environmental conditions in other countries which are not readily available in the United States, or which provide augmentation of existing United States resources. In addition, collaborations must have specific relevance to the mission and objectives of the awarding Institute, Center or Office, and have the potential for significantly advancing the health sciences in the United States.

In order for NIH to fully assess all foreign activities and collaborations prior to award, the SF-424 R&R Other Project Information Form requires applicants to indicate whether the project involves activities outside of the United States or partnerships with international collaborators. If the applicant checks “Yes” to this question, they must include a “Foreign Justification” attachment in Field 12, Other Attachments. This justification must describe special resources or characteristics of the research project (e.g., human subjects, animals, disease, equipment, and techniques), including the reasons why the facilities or other aspects of the proposed project are more appropriate than a domestic setting. In the body of the text, begin the section with a heading indicating "Foreign Justification" and name the file “Foreign Justification.”

As a reminder, this attachment is required for all applications that involve activities outside of the United States or partnership with international collaborators, regardless of whether the foreign component will receive funds from the NIH award. Applications that do not include this attachment, as required, will be withdrawn and will not be reviewed. 

Full Notice:
National Institutes of Health
NOT-OD-25-098
April 23, 2025

Updated Procedures for Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Awards

This notice updates the NIH procedures for providing childcare costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Awards. In FY 2022, NIH began providing childcare cost support to full-time predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees appointed on NRSA institutional research training awards. 

To date, NIH has provided the annual childcare costs (currently $3,000) for each full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainee appointment slot at the time the new, renewal or continuation award is made. Unused childcare costs are reported as an unobligated balance on the annual Federal Financial Report (FFR). Since implementing this policy, NIH has monitored the utilization rates of childcare costs on NRSA institutional research training awards. To more effectively manage these funds, NIH is modifying the process going forward.

Effective with the date of this notice, NIH will provide the annual childcare costs (currently $3,000) for 25% of the full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA training appointment slots at the time each new, renewal or continuation awards is made. In line with current policy, when the costs are awarded, they are restricted and must be use for childcare expenses. Unused funds cannot be rebudgeted and must be reported as an unobligated balance on the FFR.

If more than 25% of the full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral trainees appointed on an NRSA institutional training award have eligible childcare costs, the recipient may request an administrative supplement to provide childcare costs for the additional trainee slots, as appropriate.

All of other aspects of the policy remain the same (see NOT-OD-24-116).

Full Notice:
National Institutes of Health
NOT-OD-25-100
April 25, 2025