Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 26 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 26 001

The NIH opportunity PA 26-001, titled "Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)," is designed for organizations that already hold certain active NIH research awards and need additional funds to cover increased project costs that were not anticipated at the time the original (or competing renewal) application was awarded. The key point is that this is not a new standalone research grant. It is an administrative supplement, meaning extra funding added onto an existing parent award to keep the originally approved work on track when unexpected cost increases arise.

These supplement requests must stay strictly within the scope of the peer-reviewed and approved parent project. In practical terms, the supplement cannot be used to launch a new research direction, add aims that substantially change the science, or expand the project beyond what NIH originally reviewed and approved. The supplement is meant to address unplanned needs that still fit the existing project, such as legitimate cost increases, unforeseen resource needs, or other budget impacts that emerged after the award was made, as long as the proposed activities remain consistent with the approved aims and approach.

Eligibility is tied to the status of the parent award. The parent grant or cooperative agreement must be active and cannot be in a no-cost extension period. In addition, the work supported by the supplement has to be completed within the current competitive segment of the parent award. That timing requirement matters because administrative supplements are intended to help complete the approved project during its funded project period, not to extend it beyond the competitive segment or shift it into a different funding timeline.

NIH treats these applications as prior approval requests under the NIH Grants Policy Statement (referenced as Section 8.1.2.11). Instead of going through a standard competitive peer review like many new applications, the request is routed directly to the Grants Management Officer for the parent award. Even so, funding is not guaranteed. Availability depends on whether the awarding NIH Institute or Center (IC) has funds and chooses to support a supplement for that specific award. Because of that uncertainty, NIH emphasizes that applicants should discuss the potential request before submitting, coordinating with both the grants management and program officials at the awarding IC or Office (ICO). That pre-submission conversation is effectively part of the process, since it helps confirm whether the request fits policy, fits scope, and is realistically fundable.

The opportunity is broadly available across many applicant types commonly eligible for NIH funding. This includes state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities. The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), though any foreign involvement must comply with current NIH policy constraints.

A major compliance issue in this NOFO is NIH's updated policy on international collaborations that involve money flowing to foreign institutions. NIH states that it will no longer issue awards (including new awards, renewals, or non-competing continuations) to domestic or foreign entities if the project includes foreign subawards or subcontracts, unless the application is submitted under a NOFO specifically designated for funded international collaborations. This requirement took effect May 1, 2025. For this particular administrative supplement NOFO, applications that include foreign subawards or subcontracts are considered noncompliant and will not be considered for funding. At the same time, NIH clarifies that the policy does not prohibit all foreign-related activity. Unfunded international collaborations, allowable foreign components that do not involve a foreign subaward/subcontract arrangement, payments to foreign consultants, and purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors may still be possible, provided they align with the parent award and comply with NIH policy.

From a basic administrative standpoint, the opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health, categorized as discretionary funding, with the funding instrument listed as a grant and the activity area as health (CFDA 93.310). The original closing date shown is November 30, 2028. The notice does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided data, reinforcing the idea that these supplements are handled case-by-case depending on IC priorities and available funds rather than as a fixed, large cohort competition.

Overall, the purpose of PA 26-001 is to give current NIH awardees a pathway to request additional funds when real, unforeseen cost increases threaten the ability to carry out the already-approved research plan during the active competitive segment. The strongest applications under this NOFO are typically those that clearly explain what changed, why the added costs could not have been anticipated at the time of award, how the request remains within scope, and why the supplement is necessary to complete the approved project as originally intended, while also meeting NIH's updated restrictions on foreign subawards and subcontracts.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-11-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-11-30.
• 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.

Apply for PA 26 001

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