The NIH is going ahead with its transition from FORMS-E application forms to FORMS-F forms. Funding opportunities with due dates on or before May 24 should use FORMS-E forms, and opportunities with due dates on or after May 25 should use FORMS-F forms.

The NIH has released notices and updates to help this transition; we’ve listed them below for you to refer to as you navigate the changes:

• NIH Moving Ahead with FORMS-F Grant Application Form Update: The NIH’s most recent updates and tips on the FORMS-F transition including where to find the FORMS-F application packages and many links to more helpful resources in one spot.

• NOT-OD-20-077 Reminder: FORMS-F Grant Application Forms & Instructions Must be Used for Due Dates On or After May 25, 2020- New Grant Application Instructions Now Available: Reminder notice about the forms change with a link to application instructions.

• Preparing for Updated Application Forms (FORMS-F): Outlines how to prepare for the forms change.

• NOT-OD-20-026 New NIH “FORMS-F” Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates on or after May 25, 2020: Original notice concerning the forms change; lists which forms are affected and links to high-level summary of changes.

In addition, OHSU’s Office of Proposal and Awards Management sent the following advice to the investigator community on April 8:

You must use FORMS-F forms for grant application due dates on or after May 25, 2020 and FORMS-E for due dates on or before May 24, 2020

• FORMS-F application packages are now available on active, non-parent funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) in InfoEd.
• FORMS-F application packages were not added to our parent announcements. Instead, NIH is reissuing each parent announcement with a new announcement number, updated opportunity text, and FORMS-F package.
• Parent FOAs will be reissued 30-60 days prior to their first FORMS-F due dates.  This means we will see these Parent FOA’s between now and May 5^th, in theory.  These Parent FOA’s are not currently available.

Most changes are minor compared to previous forms updates, but we will update you as any major implications of these changes emerge.