Continuing the Project

No Cost Extension (NCE)

No-cost extensions are requests to extend the termination date of a sponsored project award without additional funds. The Principal Investigator must have prior approval before the award is allowed to continue past the termination date stated in the Notice of Award.

If the sponsored project award has been awarded under the terms and conditions of the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP), OSP can approve the first no-cost extension request. To initiate this no-cost extension request, we would need the PI's department grant manager to send an award modification request through RAPPORT requesting the no-cost extension. In the award modification that contains the no-cost extension request, we would need it to state the length of time (the most you can request at one time is up to 12 months), the reason for additional time, the remaining balance and how it will be spent during the no-cost extension period. OSP will approve this no-cost extension request in RAPPORT. OSP will then notify the sponsor that we have approved the request so the sponsor can update the end date in their records for this award. OSP will then update the end date in OGA and RAPPORT.

If the sponsored project award is not awarded under the FDP or it is not the first no-cost extension request under the FDP, a letter requesting a no-cost extension will need to be completed. The letter needs to state the length of the extension (as stated above, they can only request up to 12 months at a time), the letter needs to explain the reason for the additional time, the letter needs to provide the remaining balance, then explain how that remaining balance will be spent out during the no-cost extension period, there should also be a detailed budget breakdown of how remaining funds will be spent during the no-cost extension that should be attached to the request letter, finally the letter will need to be signed by the PI and co-signed by OSP. The PI's department grant manager will need to send an award modification request through RAPPORT which will need to include the no-cost extension request letter. Once OSP receives this request in RAPPORT, OSP will sign the request letter, then email the fully signed request to the sponsor. OSP will follow up with the sponsor periodically until we receive an official approval from the sponsor. Once we receive sponsor approval, OSP will update the end date in OGA and RAPPORT.

Please note that no-cost extension requests on sponsored project awards should be made at least 45 days prior to the end date of the award.

Non-Competing Continuation

If a sponsored project award has been approved for funding for more than one year, the Principal Investigator must complete a noncompeting continuation application annually. This application usually includes a report on the work completed to-date, a financial report, plans for the next award cycle's work, and a budget plan. Non-competing continuations imply that the sponsor recognizes the research as on-going and assumes that, as long as the research is going well and funding is available, the project will be funded for multiple years. Noncompeting continuations do not compete with new projects for a sponsor's funds. With a sponsor's approval, funds may also be carried over from project year to project year. Noncompeting continuations imply additional funding will be added to the total sponsored project award.

Competing Continuation

A competing continuation requests additional funds from a sponsor to continue the work of a previously funded project. Competing continuations compete with new applications for a sponsor's funds. If funds are not awarded to continue the project, and no additional funding from other sources is available, the project must be completed by the date indicated in the original Notice of Award.