Post-Grant Reports Get Minor NIH Polish: Snore
Published Date: 9/18/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) wants your thoughts on updating how researchers report their progress after getting awards. This affects anyone who receives NIH funding and aims to make reporting clearer and less of a hassle. Comments are due by November 17, 2026, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
NIH requires new DMS Plan format
If you receive NIH funding, starting in Fiscal Year 2026 you must use an updated Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan format as part of the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). The updated format uses "Yes, No, or Not Applicable" questions; narrative text is required only for "No" and "Not Applicable" answers and any narrative is limited to 300 words.
Estimated reporting time and burden totals
NIH estimates the average time per DMS Plan response as 1 hour and requests OMB approval for a 3-year collection with total estimated annualized burden hours of 24,270. The table lists 15,649 respondents for the RPPR DMS Plan and 8,621 respondents for the Final RPPR DMS Plan.
RPPR use, interim reports, and closeout rules continue
The RPPR must be used by NIH, FDA, CDC, and AHRQ recipients. Interim progress reports are required to continue support of a PHS grant for each budget year within a competitive segment, and closeout of an award requires a Final Invention Statement (HHS 568) and Final Progress Report.
Public comment deadline for proposed change
NIH is soliciting public comments on this proposed information collection; comments are due by November 17, 2026. Anyone wishing to provide input or request instruments may contact the listed NIH Program Analyst or submit written comments.
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