On May 5, 2021 NIH released updated biosketch and other support format pages, required for use in JIT information and RPPRs with due dates and submissions on or after January 25, 2022.
Other Support includes all resources whether paid or unpaid (foreign and domestic) made available to a researcher in support of and/or related to all of their research endeavors, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value and regardless of whether they are based at the institution the researcher identifies for the current grant.
Who must submit Other Support documents?
All investigators designated as “Senior/Key Personnel” must submit Other Support during the Just-in-Time process and with the annual progress reports (RPPR).
Note: Other Significant Contributors, who do not propose measurable effort to the project, do not need to submit Other Support.
Significant updates to the Other Support document
- The format page has been re-organized to separate funded projects from in-kind contributions.
- Electronic signature required: A signature has been block added, for Program Director/Principal Investigator or Other Senior/Key Personnel to certify the accuracy of the information submitted. Each PD/PI or senior/key personnel must electronically sign their respective Other Support form as a PDF prior to submission.
- Supporting documentation, which includes copies of contracts/agreements specific to senior/key-personnel foreign appointments and/or employment with a foreign institution for all foreign activities and resources that are reported in Other Support.
- If the contracts/agreements are not in English, recipients must provide translated copies.
- Immediate notification of undisclosed Other Support. When a recipient organization discovers that a PI or other Senior/Key personnel on an active NIH grant failed to disclose Other Support information outside of Just-in-Time or the RPPR, as applicable, the recipient must submit updated Other Support to the Grants Management Specialist named in the Notice of Award as soon as it becomes known.
Reminder about what to include in Other Support
Other Support must include the following. See “Resources to Report” below for further clarification.
- Active support
- Pending support
- In-kind support
- Foreign appointments and contract documentation (subject to NIH criteria)
- Investigator signature (see additional information below)
Completed or inactive support will no longer be required as part of Other Support.
Resources to report
Other Support includes all resources made available to a researcher in support of and/or related to all of their research endeavors, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value and regardless of whether they are based at the institution the researcher identifies for the current grant.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Resources and/or financial support from all foreign and domestic entities, that are available to the researcher. This includes but is not limited to, financial support for laboratory personnel, and provision of high-value materials that are not freely available (e.g., biologics, chemical, model systems, technology, etc.).
- Institutional resources, such as core facilities or shared equipment that are made broadly available, should not be included in Other Support, but rather listed under Facilities and Other Resources.
- Consulting agreements, when the PD/PI or other senior/key personnel will be conducting research as part of the consulting activities.
- Non-research consulting activities are not Other Support.
- In-kind contributions, e.g. office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, or employees or students supported by an outside source.
- If the time commitment or dollar value of the in-kind contribution is not readily ascertainable, the recipient must provide reasonable estimates.
Other Support does not include training awards, prizes, or gifts. Gifts are resources provided where there is no expectation of anything (e.g. time, services, specific research activities, money, etc.) in return. An item or service given with the expectation of an associated time commitment is not a gift and is instead an in-kind contribution and must be reported as Other Support.
Other Reading:
NIH Other Support Webpage: incl. summary information, format page, links to guidelines
NIH Other Support and Foreign Components FAQ
NOT-OD-21-073 (03/12/21): Upcoming Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page for Due Dates on or after May 25, 2021
NOT-OD-21-110 (04/28/21): Implementation of Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page (extension to Jan 25, 2022)