Announcement: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) released a notice requiring a minimum level of effort for funding consideration for NCI-funded grants. In addition to previously established policies for specific grant mechanisms described in funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), Principal Investigators (PIs), including Project Leaders on multi-project grants, will be required to commit a minimum level of effort to be eligible for NCI funding through R01, U01, P01, and R21 grant mechanisms.
Effective immediately, competing applications that do not meet the minimum criteria will not be considered for funding unless the level of effort is raised to comply with the policy. In addition, a request to reduce the PI’s level of effort in subsequent years of funding will not be approved if the proposed level of effort falls below the minimum level. The minimum effort policy described in this notice will not apply when the grant is in a no-cost extension.
Unless otherwise stated in an FOA, the minimum levels of effort are as follows:
| Mechanism | Role | Minimum Level of Effort in Calendar Months/Year (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
R01/U01 |
SinglePI |
0.6 months (5%) |
|
Multi-PI |
1.2 months (10%) each |
|
|
P01 |
PI |
1.8 months (15%) |
|
Project PI |
1.2 months (10%) |
|
|
PI and Project PI |
3 months (25%) |
|
|
PI 3 months (25%) |
3 months (25%) |
|
|
R21 |
PI |
0.6 months (5%) |
|
R35 (Current Policy) |
PI |
6 months (50%) |
|
P50(Current Policy) |
PI or 2 multi-PIs |
2.4 months (20%) each |
|
3 or more Multi-PIs |
1.8 months (15%) each |
|
|
Co-leads |
0.6 months (5%) each |
|
|
Core Director |
0.6 months (5%) |
|
|
P30(Current Policy) |
PI |
3 months (25%) |
|
Core Director |
0.6 months (5%) |
Requisite levels of effort for grant mechanisms not listed in this table are stipulated in the FOA. The policy will ensure that PIs devote the appropriate effort and attention to project leadership for the duration of the grant award.
Note: Research administrators should be cognizant of the minimum levels of effort before routing NCI proposals through Kuali Coeus. Proposals that do not meet the minimum level of effort will be returned for correction.
Questions? If you have any questions, contact the Contracts and Grants Officer assigned to your unit.