Recovery Act: Information for Researchers

Information and Suggestions for Grant Applicants

The specific goals of ARRA as defined in the Act itself are:

  • To preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery.
  • To assist those most impacted by the recession.
  • To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health.
  • To invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.
  • To stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases.

It's important to remember that these funds are intended as one-time, short- to mid-range funding to meet these specific goals as closely as possible.


Suggestions for PIs and Grant Administrators

Keep in close contact with your program officers at the funding agencies.

  • Inquire if recently reviewed but not funded proposals will be considered for ARRA funding.
  • Inquire if supplemental funding of currently funded proposals is a possibility.

Depending on the agency's requirements, you may need to be prepared to redefine the project to meet a shortened timeline. You may also be required to demonstrate - indirectly or explicitly - how your funding helped create and/or retain jobs.


NIH Funding Highlights

NIH is preparing to move funds as quickly as possible, working with the administration on specifics. For the most up-to-date information, check http://grants.nih.gov/recovery/.

  • There is no assumption that any of this funding will be added to NIH's ongoing base level of support, for future funding levels. Also, there is not plan at the present time to "restore" dollars cut from various programs or initiatives.
  • As with all the ARRA-related funding, there will be substantially more reporting requirements, both more frequent and additional reports, particularly as grants relate to the goal of the legislation.
  • This is not "business as usual" for NIH; the expectation is that these funds are about short-term economic stimulus and making an immediate economic impact.
  • The expectation also is that these funds will be "obligated" and spent within 2 years (i.e., by 9/30/10).

NSF Funding Highlights

NSF is taking a somewhat different approach from NIH in implementing its Recovery Act funding. For the most up-to-date information, check http://www.nsf.gov/recovery/.

  • NSF will use a large share of its ARRA funding to address the backlog of existing proposals.
  • All grants issued with Recovery Act funds will be standard grants with durations of up to 5 years.
  • Funding of new Principal Investigators and high-risk, high-return research will be top priorities.
  • PIs are expected to expend funds in a "timely manner;" if, after 12 months, no allowable expenditures have taken place, NSF may consider reducing or terminating the award and reallocating the funds.

Suggested Grant Application Language

The following language is offered as boilerplate text which can be included in ARRA-related grant proposals, in the Budget Justification section, or in the institutional letter of support, as appropriate. It can be customized to suit specific agency guidelines and individual project goals. It is meant as a suggestion only.

Vanderbilt University is grateful for the opportunity to apply for [sponsor/proposal name] funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. We recognize ...


Accountability and Reporting Requirements

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on February 18 issued initial implementation guidance to the federal agencies on spending the economic recovery funds. Among provisions of interest in this document are those relating to the allocation of grants and cooperative agreements and the extensive new reporting requirements for entities that accept Recovery Act funds.

We don't yet know the full extent of the additional reporting requirements, although we do know that beginning in July 2009, quarterly reporting will be required of recipients of federal funding under the Recovery Act.

Among the elements to be reported are: the total amount of Recovery funds received from the agency; the amount of those Recovery funds obligated or expended to projects or activities; a detailed list of all projects or activities for which Recovery funds were obligated or expended; an estimate of the number of jobs created or retained by the project or activity; and detailed information on any subcontracts or sub-grants awarded by the recipient.

The guidance document adds, "The final guidance issued by OMB for the Recovery Act will lay out in more detail specific reporting instructions and how the data collection for this reporting will work government-wide."


Federal Updates

Funding Summary

Grant Application Information

Vanderbilt has put together some general information for PIs and grant administrators, along with suggested text for use in ARRA-related funding requests. Click here for information.

As with any grant application, staff in the Division of Sponsored Research (DSR) and Office of Grant and Contract Management (GCM) are available to assist with application review and submission. Click on the appropriate link:


Agency Websites