AHRQ Seeks Less Paperwork for Grant Reports
Published Date: 6/17/2026
Notice
Summary
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) wants to update and extend its research reporting system, making it easier and less time-consuming for grant and contract recipients to share progress. This change affects researchers funded by AHRQ through grants, contracts, and competitions, and aims to reduce paperwork while expanding who uses the system. Comments on these changes are open until August 17, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Reduced Annual Reporting Burden
AHRQ says the updated AHRQ Research Reporting System (ARRS) reflects a reduced annual reporting burden: the estimated number of respondents is 450 per year (revised down from 500), each report takes about 30 minutes to enter, total annualized burden hours are 225, and the total estimated annual cost burden is $26,725.50.
Expanded Applicability to Contracts and Competitions
ARRS applicability is being clarified to cover AHRQ-funded extramural research activities conducted through grants, research contracts, and challenge competition awards, meaning contractors and challenge award recipients may now be required to use ARRS; the notice says there are no substantive revisions to core reporting content.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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