Federal Agency Updates Digest

Published May 11, 2026, via Research News

This digest highlights recent announcements and updates issued by federal agencies, but is not comprehensive. Regularly check sponsor websites to see all announcements.

NIH – National Institutes of Health

April 28, 2026

Embedding Replication and Reproducibility Throughout NIH Research: Key Reminders for Applications, Awards, and a New Highlighted Topic

  • NIH has updated their strategy to bolster the reliability of biomedical research through its new Replication and Reproducibility Initiative.
  • NIH has introduced a Highlighted Topic to spur innovative investigator-initiated research around:
    • Developing new tools and methods to help ensure experiments are optimally designed and research outputs are described with sufficient details and metadata
    • Shifting scientific norms to better incentivize rigorous and reliable research practices
    • Improving adoption of rigorous research practices through effective outreach, such as at scientific meetings and educational programs
  • When preparing an application, investigators should address how the following four areas apply to their proposed research:
    • Rigor of Prior Research
    • Experimental Design
    • Biological Variables
    • Resource Authentication
  • Attention to rigor does not end once an award is made. Recipients are expected to maintain and document rigorous practices throughout the lifecycle of the project.

April 21, 2026
NOT-OD-26-079: Announcement of Upcoming System Enforcement of Common Forms and End of NIH’s Leniency Period

  • The NIH leniency period for use of the updated Common Forms will end on May 7, 2026. During this period, NIH systems will only issue warnings for use of legacy NIH Biosketch and Other Support formats or non‑compliant Common Forms, without withdrawing applications.
  • Starting May 8, 2026, the Common Forms will be required for all submissions. Warnings issued during the leniency period will convert to blocking errors that will prevent submission.
  • On April 22, 2026, SciENcv and eRA deployed system updates to allow entry of zero person months effort for Proposals/Active Projects and In-Kind Contributions on the Current and Pending (Other) Support Form. Any documents created using this new version (2026-1) or older documents updated to the new version will allow individuals to indicate zero effort for sources of support when applicable.
    • WashU has confirmed with NIH that beginning May 8, 2026, eRA Commons will require the 2026-1 version of the Biosketch and Current and Pending Other Support Form. This will be the case for applications submitting either using RMS/S2S and ASSIST.
  • On April 22, 2026, SciENcv added the Research Security Training (RST) Certification back to the Common Forms to provide individuals time to comply with the requirement for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026.
    • Detailed instructions are included within the Notice for Common Forms certified prior to the addition of this text.
  • The NIH Grants Policy Statement was updated on March 25, 2026. Due to the timing of its release, NIH was unable to fully incorporate the requirements for the use of Common Forms for NIH as outlined in previous notices. NIH will fully incorporate these requirements into the next update of the GPS.
  • For more information, see the WashU Research News announcement published on May 7, 2026.  

April 20, 2026
NOT-OD-26-072: Update – NIH Implementation of Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal Financial Assistance

  • NIH states that, although it previously incorporated updates from the 2024 revisions to 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance), the FY 2026 appropriations law requires that the provisions relating to indirect costs in 45 CFR Part 75 continue to apply to NIH awards. Accordingly, NIH indicates it “will not apply updated thresholds outlined within 2 CFR Part 200, at this time.”
  • Therefore, the following flexibilities outlined in NOT-OD-25-059 are hereby rescinded.
    • The updated Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) definition (including the $50,000 subaward threshold); and
    • The updated 15% de minimis indirect cost rate.
  • While the notice does not restate specific thresholds, NIH’s direction to apply 45 CFR Part 75 reflects a return to the prior framework for indirect cost calculations, including:
    • MTDC including up to the first $25,000 of each subaward; and
    • A 10% de minimis indirect cost rate for eligible entities without a negotiated rate.
  • For more information, see the WashU Research News announcement published on April 28, 2026.

March 31, 2026
NOT-OD-26-064: Update of NIH Late Application Submission Policy and End of Continuous Submission

  • This Notice announces an updated policy for late submission of competitive applications. Specifically, the Notice ends Continuous Submission Policy, announces modifications to reasons considered for late submissions, and states the prohibition of Fellowship, Small Business, and International Collaboration late applications.
  • Continuous Submission applications will still be accepted through August 10, 2026 (the end of the continuous submission receipt period for the June/July standard due dates) for assignment to January 2027 Council.
  • The updated Late Application Submission Policy is effective for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026.
  • For more information, see the WashU Research News announcement published on April 2, 2026.

March 25, 2026
NOT-OD-26-062: Prior Approval Requirement for Changes to Domestic Subawards

  • Effective June 1, 2026, all prime recipients are required to obtain NIH prior approval when adding a new domestic subaward to a project post-award, when the arrangement was not originally a part of the peer-reviewed and approved application.
  • Requests must be submitted in the eRA Commons Prior Approval Module using the “Other Request” type.
  • WashU Research News announcement published April 1, 2026.

& In Case You Missed It…

FAQ Clarification on NOT-OD-25-132: Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications

  • NIH will only accept six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications from an individual Principal Investigator/Program Director or Multiple Principal Investigator for all council rounds in a calendar year.
  • A PI’s six application limit is based on the calendar year of the Advisory Council meeting when the application is review, not when the application is submitted.
    • Example: the January 2026 Advisory Council in calendar year 2026 is the first to follow the new Policy. That meeting included applications scientifically reviewed between October and November 2025. Therefore, even though an application was submitted in 2025, those applications reviewed in the January 2026 Council Meeting count towards the 2026 limit.
  • For 2027, the application limit resets for applications scheduled to be reviewed at the Advisory Council in January 2027. This corresponds with applications submitted for the May 25, 2026, receipt date or later dates and scientific review dates in October to November 2026.
  • Applications submitted to receipt dates before the September 25, 2025, receipt date will not be counted towards a PI’s limit for calendar year 2026 and will not be withdrawn if they exceed a PI’s limit of 6 applications in a calendar year. Applications submitted to the September 25, 2025, receipt date and later dates will be counted towards a PI/PD’s limit for calendar year 2026.

If you have agency updates you would like to add to future digests, email rei@wusm.wustl.edu.