How do I request a no-cost extension?
The authorized organizational representative/signing official at your institution may approve your first no-cost extension for up to 12 months beyond your project’s end date. Your authorized organizational representative/signing official should report this extension in eRA Commons 45 days before the end of your project. Late notification of this extension requires prior approval. For more information view the eRA Commons User Guide, Section 12.9 (PDF, 20.9 MB) .
Any additional no-cost extensions beyond the initial extension of up to 12 months requires prior NIH approval. The authorized organizational representative/signing official at your institution should submit a request for the additional extension to your grants management specialist, and send a copy to your program officer. The requests should include a description of the project activities that require support during the extension and a statement about the funds available to support the extension. The authorized official can also use the eRA Prior Approval module to request an extension, which is contingent on NIH approval.
Additional COVID-19 guidance – In cases where the Prior Approval module is utilized for an additional extension related to COVID-19, recipients should include the justification, number of months of the extension and the unobligated balance on the award. A blank document may be uploaded in the Progress Report and Budget Document Fields. These documents are not required for no-cost extension requests related to COVID-19. The recipient should also provide details on the effects of COVID-19 on the research and describe plans to complete the project.