AHRQ Administrative Supplements for Grants in Health Services Research

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has released a notice of funding opportunity for administrative supplements to active AHRQ grants in health services research. This program is intended to provide additional funding to address increased costs within the approved scope of a parent award that were unforeseen at the time of the original application. The supplements are not intended to restore costs disallowed during award negotiations or cover expenses beyond the approved project period. The funding is available to ensure that ongoing health services research projects continue to align with AHRQ’s mission to improve healthcare safety, quality, accessibility, equity, and affordability. The supplements are open to recipients with active AHRQ research grants and cooperative agreements, except for R13 and R36 awards, which are not eligible. The supplemental funding must remain within the original scope of the peer-reviewed and approved project and cannot be used to initiate entirely new lines of research. Applications must demonstrate that existing project funds cannot be re-budgeted to meet the need. Requests for large research projects such as R01, R18, and U18 are capped at the lesser of 20 percent of the approved federal direct costs for the project period or $100,000 in total costs. Small research grants such as R03 are limited to 10 percent of the approved federal direct costs for the project period. Applications for supplements are submitted electronically through the NIH ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. Supplement requests are treated as prior approval applications and must include justification of the unforeseen costs and explanation of how they support the parent project’s aims. Applicants must follow the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and AHRQ’s program-specific requirements, including use of detailed budget forms rather than modular budgets. Supplement requests must fall within the current project period and are not allowed during the final budget year of the parent grant. Funds may only be requested for a single budget period not exceeding 12 months. Applications are accepted three times per year, on February 26, June 26, and October 26, by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. The opportunity is open until April 8, 2027. AHRQ staff review supplement applications administratively; they are not peer reviewed. The evaluation focuses on whether the request is justified, within scope, and capable of preserving or enhancing the impact of the parent project. The supplements may also be tied to special emphasis notices or notices of special interest, which could provide further instructions or priorities for submission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult their assigned program officials before submitting a request. Eligibility is limited to organizations that administer active AHRQ parent awards. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. All applicants must maintain required registrations including SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Program directors or principal investigators must hold an active AHRQ award and have an eRA Commons ID. Multiple PDs/PIs may request a supplement in accordance with the leadership plan of the parent award. Cost sharing is not required, although institutions are encouraged to document any additional resources they will devote to the project. Applicants must consider AHRQ’s inclusion policy, which emphasizes priority populations such as inner-city, rural, low-income, minority groups, women, children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities or chronic care needs, and other underserved communities. Reporting requirements include submission of progress reports clearly delineating supplement activities, as well as financial expenditure reports. Supplements are subject to the same terms and conditions as the parent award, including public access requirements for funded publications, confidentiality provisions, and data management policies. Notices of Award will be issued through AHRQ upon approval. For scientific or research questions, applicants should consult the AHRQ staff assigned to their parent grant. General questions may be directed to Kathryn Roberts Marron, Ph.D., of the Division for Policy, Coordination and Analysis at the Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations, via email at Kathryn.Marron@ahrq.hhs.gov. For grants management questions, applicants should contact the Division of Grants Management at GMI@ahrq.hhs.gov. Applications are submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and technical support is available from the eRA Service Desk or Grants.gov Customer Support Center.

Applicants are encouraged to consult their program official, follow AHRQ-specific budget instructions, and ensure supplements stay within scope