*Relevant Extramural SOP: [Big
Grants](http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/sop/biggrants.htm)*

*Last reviewed: July 28, 2008*

(Delete this and any text above this when using the form. Do not fill
out online. See [Using forms and
letters](http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/tool/useform.htm).)

Application Number: (Grant number, when available; title; topic; and PI
name and address. If in response to a program announcement, include PA
number and title.)

> Dear Dr. :
>
> This letter notifies you that the National Institute of Allergy and
> Infectious Diseases accepts the assignment of your application to the
> Institute. Special procedures apply because your application requests
> \$500,000 dollars or more in direct costs in any year, or is part of a
> multi-project application requesting such an amount. Please note that
> if, after peer review, your application is not funded, you must obtain
> NIAID's agreement to accept assignment of any amended (revised)
> application before resubmission.
>
> NIH policy requires that, in your application submission to the Center
> for Scientific Review, you include a cover letter documenting NIAID's
> concurrence to accept assignment of your application. You can use this
> letter to comply with that policy, or you can create your own letter,
> providing the following information:

-   Name of the institute or center that agreed to accept your
    application: **NIAID**

-   Name of the program staff member who performed required clearances:
    **\[PO fill in\]**.

-   Receipt date provided by the program officer: **\[PO fill in\]**

-   Approximate date of initial review. **\[PO fill in\]** For research
    using human embryonic germ cells derived from fetal tissue, allow
    extra time for review by the Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Review
    Group (HPSCRG). Applications for HPSCRG review may be submitted
    before, during, or after scientific review, but we cannot make an
    award until the review is completed. See the *NIH Guide* notice at
    <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-049.html>
    for details.

-   Earliest date the NIAID advisory Council would consider your
    application for award. **\[PO fill in\]**

-   Also, see the table at
    <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm> to
    determine the receipt, review, and Council dates.

-   A plan for sharing data, or an explanation for why data sharing is
    not possible. See the *NIH Guide* notice at
    <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-032.html>
    for details.

> **NIH will return your application to you without review if it does
> not include documentation that an NIAID program officer has previously
> agreed the Institute will accept the application.**
>
> Please recognize that review dates are dependent on the number and
> complexity of applications received and the ability to recruit
> reviewers.

Further, NIAID may not be able to fund your application, even if peer
reviewers give it an outstanding priority score. Though the Institute
supports research projects with large budgets, most applications cost
less than \$500,000 in direct costs. By accepting your application for
review, we do not guarantee funds will be available for an award.
Funding depends on several factors, including technical merit, relative
program priority, and available funds. We have many high-merit
applications for large grants, as well as less costly applications, that
will not be funded this fiscal year.

> For more information on the NIH policy for accepting unsolicited
> applications requesting more than \$500,000 in direct costs, see
> <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-004.html>.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> (Program Division director)
>
> cc: (program officer), (division), NIAID
>
> Mary Kirker, grants management officer, NIAID
>
> Marvin R. Kalt, Ph.D., director, Division of Extramural Activities,
> NIAID
>
> Wayne Crum, chief, Budget and Financial Management Branch, OSPFM,
> NIAID