Dear Colleagues,
March 1 is just a few days away and the prospect of a budget
sequester seems inevitable. Below is the communication from NIH dated this past
Friday which does not specifically address how NIH will handle the sequester.
How is your institution planning for the sequester? You can
reply to me offline at my contact information below.
We’ve made the assumption, based on a number of published
reports, that we will experience an across the board reduction of 8% to our NIH
grant portfolio.
Thanks
Vinnie
NIH on
Thursday issued a notice titled, "NIH Operation Plan in the Event of a
Sequestration." The notice reads, in its entirety: "The NIH continues
to operate under a Continuing Resolution as described in NOT-OD-13-002, and
therefore all non-competing continuation awards are currently being funded at a
level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to
90% of the previously committed level). Final levels of FY 2013 funding may be
reduced by a sequestration. Despite the potential for reduced funding, the NIH
remains committed to our mission to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature
and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance
health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. Should
a sequestration occur, NIH likely will reduce the final FY 2013 funding levels
of non-competing continuation grants and expects to make fewer competing awards
to allow the agency to meet the available budget allocation. Although each NIH
Institute and Center (IC) will assess allocations within their portfolio to
maximize the scientific impact, non-competing continuation awards that have
already been made may be restored above the current level as described in
NOT-OD-13-002 but likely will not reach the full FY 2013 commitment level
described in the Notice of Award. Finally, in the event of a sequestration, NIH
ICs will announce their respective approaches to meeting the new budget level.
Inquiries: Questions regarding adjustments applied to individual grant awards
may be directed to the Grants Management Specialist identified on the Notice of
Award."
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-13-043.html
Vincent L. Grassia, Jr.
Vice President for Research
Administration
Hospital for Special Surgery
tel (212) 774-2261
fax (212) 774-2301