Most applications for sponsored funding are submitted for multiple years. However, the majority of sponsors tend to provide funding in annual increments only; and most require that a progress report be filed prior to the release of subsequent years' funds. The annual filing of a progress report and any other documentation requested by the sponsor is considered to be a non-competing application for the continuation of funds.
For proper record keeping and reporting, it is important that Principal Investigators plan to route annually to Grants and Contracts all paperwork a sponsor requires for documenting the yearly progress of the project, regardless of whether or not the required paperwork includes budgetary information or institutional endorsement. Routing non-competing paperwork prior to submission to the sponsor ensures timely set-up of the new funding once the continuation award notice is received by Grants and Contracts.
Though most NIH non-competing applications follow the standard instructions, there are a few exceptions depending on the type of award:
Streamlined Non-Competing Application Procedures
These are simplified application requirements that reduce the amount of paperwork to be submitted to NIH. specifically, those awards that fall under SNAP regulation do not have to submit a detailed budget or budget justification on an annual basis. In the first year of a project period, NIH commits funding amounts for all years of the project period. The annual award will match the funds NIH defined as the commitment for that year.
Each year, NIH specifies whether a given award is subject to SNAP or not. The information is found on the award notice under Section III - Terms and Conditions. If you have questions about whether your award is subject to SNAP, check your award notice or contact Grants and Contracts at 303-724-0090.
Award mechanisms most often subject to SNAP: R01, R03, R13, R15, R18, R21, R24, R25, R29, R37, R42, R44 and all K series mechanisms. ​