NIH New/Competing Proposals: Quick Reference Guide

General Application Information

NIH grant applications are submitted in either “Traditional” or “Modular” format. NIH will return applications if the proper format is not used.

  • Modular Grant: The modular grant format is used when a request is for $250,000 or less in direct costs in each year of proposed support, unless the proposal guidelines indicate otherwise. Funding is requested in modules of $25,000. Detailed budget information is not required.
  • Traditional Grant: The traditional format is used for any grant requesting over $250,000 in any year or when program guidelines require the use of the traditional format.
  • Any proposal requesting $500,000 in direct costs any year requires sponsor approval prior to submission.
  • Non-competing Renewal Application: This is a request for funding for the second or subsequent budget period of a grant within an approved project period. The recommended funding level for the proposal was set in the award made for the initial grant.
  • Competing Renewal Application: This is a request for funding to continue a project period that would otherwise expire. No recommended funding has been established for this type of application.
  • NIH Salary Cap: NIH limits the annual salary an individual can receive from NIH funding to $183,500. The limit is changed annually. Proposals must cap salaries for staff earning in excess of the salary cap. Purdue provides cost-sharing to support the portion of the salary that is over the salary cap. See for detailed instructions.
  • Instructions for new, competing renewal and continuation applications are detailed in the following.

New and Competing Renewal procedures

( All forms are contained in the PHS 398 packet)

***Make sure that Rev 4/06 date is on ALL PHS 398 forms (lower left corner)***

  • Face Page (Form Page 1)
  • 4b -- 00001548
  • 5a -- use the PI’s date; it must be within 3 years of the proposed start date
  • 5b -- A3231
  • 9 -- PurdueUniversity

302 Wood Street

Young Hall, 7th Floor

West Lafayette, IN47907-2108

  • 10 – State
  • 11 -- EIN # 356002041; DUNS # 07-205-1394; Congressional District 4th
  • 12 & 13 –Thomas B. Wright

Senior Operations Manager, SPA

302 Wood Street

Young Hall, 7th Floor

West Lafayette, IN47907-2108

765-494-6204; 765-494-1360

  • Project Description and Performance Sites (Form Page 2)
  • Key Personnel, Other Significant Contributors (Form Page 2-continued)
  • Key Personnel is defined as individuals who contribute to the scientific development or execution of the project in a substantive, measurable way, whether or not salaries are requested.
  • Other Significant Contributors are those who have committed to contribute to the scientific development or execution of the project, but are not committing any specified measurable effort to the project.
  • Research Grant Table of Contents (Form Page 3)
  • Detailed Budget Page for the Initial Budget Period (Form Page 4)
  • Only required for the Traditional format grant.
  • Budget for Entire Proposed Period of Support (Form Page 5)
  • Only required for Traditional format grant.
  • Modular Budget Format Page
  • Used for budgets with $250,000 in direct costs less consortium f&a.
  • Biographical Sketch Format Page
  • Cannot exceed 4 pages
  • Needed for both Key Personnel and Other Significant Contributors
  • Other Support Format Page
  • Only needed for Traditional format grants
  • Resources Format Page
  • Continuation Format Page (Used for theResearch Plan)
  • Followthe information on Form Page 3 for thespecifications of theResearch Plan
  • Checklist Format Page
  • Indicatethe type of application
  • 3 – DHHS Agreement dated: 11/17/2005
  • CheckModified total direct cost base
  • Personnel Report Format Page–Do not submitunlessrequested
  • Personal Data Form Page - This page is an optional page
  • Purdue Internal Budget pages—COEUS

Subcontract Information Needed:

When PurdueUniversity is issuing the Subcontract to another entity the following information must be included:

  • Face Page
  • Statement of Work
  • Detailed Budget
  • Budget Justification
  • F&A Checklist

When PurdueUniversity is the subcontract to another entity, information listed above must be included in the proposal along with a copy of the internal budget pages.

Important Web links:

  • NIH Homepage:
  • NIH Modular Grant Page:
  • PHS 398 Instructions and Forms:
  • RFA Web link:
  • PA Web link:
  • NIH eRA Commons: