Small Research Grant (R03) NOFO: Primary care-focused health services research projects

Small Research Grant (R03) NOFO: Primary care-focused health services research projects is sponsored by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This Small Research Grant (R03) NOFO supports discrete primary care-focused health services research projects designed to advance the science of primary care.

Expired PA-24-155: AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant Program (R03) This notice has expired. For NIH, in limited situations, applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis for a short period after expiration to accommodate NIH late or continuous submission policies . Contact the eRA Service Desk for any submission issues.

Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices. Department of Health and Human Services Part 1. Overview Information Participating Organization(s) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ( AHRQ ) NOTE: The policies, guidelines, terms, and conditions stated in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) may differ from those used by the NIH.

Where this NOFO provides specific written guidance that may differ from the general guidance provided in the grant application form, please follow the instructions given in this NOFO. Also note that AHRQ may have different page limits than NIH for the application Research Strategy, which can be found within each individual NOFO.

of Participating Organizations Funding Opportunity Title AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant March 10, 2026 - Notice of Early Expiration PA-24-266 -- Using Innovative Digital Healthcare Solutions to Improve Quality at the Point of Care (R21/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional). See Notice NOT-HS-26-007 March 31, 2025 - This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities.

Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission. April 04, 2024 - Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025. See Notice NOT-OD-24-084 December 16, 2024 - Special Emphasis Notice: AHRQ Announces Interest in Research to Improve Treatment and Management of Menopause symptoms.

See Notice NOT-HS-25-009 . May 13, 2024 - Special Emphasis Notice: AHRQ Announces Interest in Health Services Research to Improve Care Delivery, Access, Quality, Equity, and Health Outcomes for Older Adults. See Notice NOT-HS-24-013 16, 2023 - Special Emphasis Notice: AHRQ Announces Interest in Health Services Research to Improve Healthcare for Persons Living with Disabilities.

See Notice NOT-HS-24-004 - Special Emphasis Notice: AHRQ Announces Interest in Health Services Research to Advance Health and Healthcare Equity. See NOT-HS-23-013. 6, 2023 - Salary Limitation on AHRQ FY2023 Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts.

See NOT-HS-23-005 . 11, 2022 - Competitive Revision Supplements to Existing AHRQ Grants and Cooperative Agreements to Enhance Workforce Diversity in Health Services Research. See PA-22-175 20, 2021 - Expanding Requirement for eRA Commons IDs to All Senior/Key Personnel.

See Notice NOT-OD-21-109 Funding Opportunity Number (FON) Companion Notice of Funding Additional Information on Eligibility .

Assistance Listing Number(s) Funding Opportunity Purpose The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to seek health services research grant applications focused on AHRQ research priorities, including improving healthcare quality and patient safety, improving healthcare delivery and practice improvement, and enhancing whole-person healthcare delivery.

AHRQ supports research in all healthcare settings, including the hospital, long-term care, ambulatory care, home healthcare, pharmacy, and care transitions between settings. Research may involve many partners and other groups, including patients, families, clinicians, non-clinical healthcare staff, policymakers, payers, healthcare organizations, providers and accreditors, local and State governments, the Federal Government, and others.

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) Letter of Intent Due Date(s) dates apply. The first application due date is June 16, 2024. All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

AIDS Application Due Date(s) Generally, four months after the receipt date Generally, four months after the peer review date New Date March 10, 2026 per issuance of NOT-HS-26-007 . (Original Expiration Date: July 18, 2029) It is critical that applicants follow the Research (R) Instructions (R&R) Application Guide , except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV and follow the AHRQ Grants Policy and Guidance found on the AHRQ website at http://www. ahrq.

gov/funding/policies/nofoguidance/index. html . the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review. Part 1. Overview Information Part 2.

Full Text of the Announcement I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III.

Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Information Section V. Application Review Information Section VI.

Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information Section I.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Description The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the quality of healthcare for all Americans. Providing high-quality care means providing safe, effective, and individualized care to meet the consumer’s desires but also accomplished promptly, efficiently, and equitably.

AHRQ develops science-based knowledge, tools, and data to improve healthcare and help consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make informed decisions. Small research (R03) grants provide flexibility for initiating studies which are generally for preliminary or short-term projects. These grants are non-renewable.

Some examples of the types of projects that R03 research supports include: Pilot or feasibility studies Secondary analysis of existing data Small, self-contained research projects Development of research methodology Development of new research technology The AHRQ small grant is a mechanism for supporting discrete, well-defined health services research projects that realistically can be completed within two years (or less) within the budget constraints of the mechanism.

Because the research strategy section of the application is limited to 6 pages, an R03 grant application may not contain the same level of detail as that found in an R01 application. Accordingly, appropriate justification for the proposed work can be provided through literature citations, data from other sources, or from investigator-generated data.

Preliminary data are not required, particularly in applications proposing pilot or feasibility studies. The Small Research Grant (R03) is an award made by AHRQ to an institution/organization to support a discrete health services research project. The R03 research strategy proposed by the applicant institution/organization must be related to the mission and research interests of AHRQ, which are detailed below.

Although the PD/PI is responsible for conducting and supervising the research, the actual applicant is the research institution/organization legally accountable for the performance of the award and the expenditure of funds.

AHRQ research priority areas guide health services research grant applications responding to all open Notices of Funding Opportunity, including large and small research projects and cooperative agreements, research demonstration and dissemination projects, training and career development, and conference grant applications.

Including priority populations remains essential for all AHRQ-supported research projects involving human subjects ( NOT-HS-21-015). AHRQ supports research in all healthcare settings, including the hospital, long-term care, ambulatory care, home healthcare, pharmacy, and care transitions between settings.

Research may involve many partners and other groups, including patients, families, clinicians, non-clinical healthcare staff, policymakers, payers, healthcare organizations, providers and accreditors, local and State governments, the Federal Government, and others.

AHRQ Research Priority Areas Research to improve healthcare quality and Research to improve healthcare delivery and practice Research to enhance whole-person healthcare For detailed information on AHRQ's research priorities including proposed areas for each priority area, see https://www. ahrq. gov/funding/policies/nofoguidance/index.

html . Applicants may contact a member of AHRQ's program staff if they would like help focusing the research plan based on an understanding of the AHRQ mission and research priorities. AHRQ staff contacts can be found at https://www.

ahrq. gov/funding/priorities-contacts/contacts/index. html .

AHRQ is interested in funding research that will have an important impact on health care practice and policy. See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. Application Types Allowed and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.

Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO. Optional: Accepting applications that either propose or do not propose clinical trial(s) determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards The number of awards is contingent upon AHRQ appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious Future year funding is contingent upon the availability of funds for each year of support. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary.

Application budgets are limited to $100,000 total costs (including direct and indirect costs) for the entire project period, regardless of the length of the proposed project period.

An application with a budget that exceeds $100,000 total costs for the entire project period will not be reviewed Funds may be used only for those expenses that are directly related and necessary to the project and must be expended in compliance with applicable Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards (45 CFR Part 75) and the HHS Grants The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period.

The project period may not exceed 2 years. These projects are being funded pursuant to 42 U.S.C.

299a, which provides that AHRQ shall conduct and support research, support demonstration projects, and disseminate information on health care and on systems for the delivery of such care, including activities with respect to the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness, and value of health care All applications submitted and AHRQ grants made in response to this NOFO are subject to 45 CFR Part 75 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards; https://www.

ecfr. gov/cgi-bin/text-idx? node=pt45.

1. 75) , the HHS Grants Policy Statement (see https://www. ahrq.

gov/funding/policies/hhspolicy/index. html ), and the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Award.

Higher Education Institutions Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education Private Institutions of Higher Education The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for AHRQ support as Public or Private Institutions Hispanic-serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of City or Township Governments Special District Governments Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government U.S. Territory or Possession Independent School Districts Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Faith-based or Community-based Organizations AHRQ's authorizing legislation does not allow for-profit organizations to be eligible to lead applications under this research mechanism.

For-profit organizations may participate in projects as members of consortia or as subcontractors only. Because the purpose of this program is to improve healthcare in the United States, foreign institutions may participate in projects as members of consortia or as subcontractors only. Applications submitted by for-profit organizations or foreign institutions will not be reviewed.

Organizations described in section 501(c) 4 of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying are HHS grants policy requires that the grant recipient perform a substantive role in the conduct of the planned project or program activity and not merely serve as a conduit of funds to another party or parties.

If consortium/contractual activities represent a significant portion of the overall project, the applicant must justify why the applicant organization, rather than the party(s) performing this portion of the overall project, should be the recipient and what substantive role the applicant organization will play.

Justification can be provided in the Specific Aims or Research Strategy section of the PHS398 Research Plan Component sections of the SF424 (R&R) application. There is no budget allocation guideline for determining substantial involvement; determination of substantial involvement is based on a review of the primary project activities for which grant support is provided and the organization(s) that will be performing those activities.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted.

Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Award Management (SAM) Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, at least annually . The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration.

SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code. and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM. Entity Identifier (UEI) - A UEI is issued as part of the SAM.

gov registration process. The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application. - Once the unique organization identifier is established, organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their Grants.

gov registration; all registrations must be in place by time of submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an Applicants must have an active SAM registration in order to complete the Grants. gov Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account.

PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role.

Obtaining an eRA Commons account can Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. The AHRQ multiple PDs/PIs policy can be found at https://grants. nih.

gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-16-018. html . Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account.

PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If a PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

This NOFO does not require cost sharing. While there is no cost sharing requirement included in this NOFO, AHRQ welcomes applicant institutions, including any collaborating institutions, to devote resources to this effort. An indication of institutional support from the applicant and its collaborators indicates a greater potential of success and sustainability of the project.

Examples of institutional support would include: donated equipment and space, institutional funded staff time and effort, or other resource investments. Applicant institutions should indicate institutional support by outlining the specific contributions to the project and providing assurances that their organization and any collaborators are committed to providing these funds and resources to the project.

This information can be included at the end of the budget justification section of the application, but institutional support dollars are not to be shown/included in the detailed 3. Additional Information Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct. AHRQ will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time.

This means that the AHRQ will A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application. Section IV. Application and Submission Information 1.

Requesting an Application Package The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants. gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.

gov Workspace are available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system 2. Content and Form of Application It is critical that applicants follow the Research (R) Instructions to Apply - Application Guide , except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise.

Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for A letter of intent is NOT required for this funding opportunity. All page limitations described in the How to Apply Application Guide of Page Limits must be followed.

Instructions for Application Submission The following section supplements the instructions found in Apply Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must SF424(R&R) Other Project Information All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must Budget Component: Special Instructions for AHRQ applications AHRQ is not using the Modular Grant Application and Award Process.

Applicants applying for funding from AHRQ are to ignore application instructions concerning the Modular Grant Application and Award Process, and prepare applications using instructions for the Research and Related Budget Components of the SF 424 (R&R).

Applications submitted in the Modular format will not All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following instructions: Introduction (required for a resubmission or revision application) Specific Aims is limited to 1 page.

Research Strategy section, including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts, is limited to 6 pages. Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification: Submission of a data management plan is required.

AHRQ applicants are reminded to refer to NOT-HS-20-011: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Data Management Plan Policy ( https://grants. nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-20-011.

html for additional information on how to incorporate their data management plan into the resource sharing plan. Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits.

Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or clinical trials (and when applicable, clinical trials research experience) follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved?

on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

For details regarding IRB approval, applicants may refer to the "AHRQ Revised Policy for Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review of Human Subjects Protocols in Grant Applications" ( https://grants. nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not-hs-00-003.

html ). Applicant should also be aware of the AHRQ policy for use of single IRB for cooperative research, 45 CFR 46. 114 (b) https://grants.

nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-20-005. html .

PHS Assignment Request Form All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management See Part 1. Section III.

1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants. gov 4. Submission Dates and Times Part I.

Overview Information contains information about Key Dates and times. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday , the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants. gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons , NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

NIH and Grants. gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.

gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected Policy Statement Section 2.

3. 9. 2 Electronically Submitted Applications .

are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission. Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the How to 5. Intergovernmental Review (E.

O. This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental For efficient grant administration, AHRQ grant administration procedures will be used and conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement. The HHS Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://www.

hhs. gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107. pdf .

Pre-award costs are allowable. A recipient may, at its own risk and without AHRQ prior approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award if such costs are necessary to conduct the project and would be allowable under the grant, if awarded, without AHRQ prior approval.

If specific expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the recipient must obtain AHRQ approval before incurring the cost. AHRQ prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award.

The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing award imposes no obligation on AHRQ either to make the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred.

AHRQ expects the recipient to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not impair the recipient's ability to accomplish the project objectives in the approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the project. 7.

Other Submission Requirements and Information Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III.

Eligibility Information contains information about registration. For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, Application Guide .. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must with System Issues guidance.

For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII . All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile form . Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to AHRQ.

See Section III of this NOFO for information on registration requirements. The applicant organization must ensure that the unique entity identifier provided on the application is the same identifier used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application for avoiding common errors.

The applicant should pay particular attention to the SF424 (R&R) application guide instructions https://grants. nih. gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-f/general-forms-f.

pdf ) concerning letters of support. Letters of support, recommendation, or affirmation from any entity or individual not directly participating in the project should Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, and for responsiveness by AHRQ.

Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of human subjects is not required prior to peer review of an application (see https://grants. nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-00-003.

html ). However, initiation of IRB review, if necessary or applicable, is strongly encouraged to assure timely commencement of research. Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding assignment within eight (8) weeks.

Please be sure that you observe the total cost, project period, and page number limitations specified above for this NOFO. Application processing may be delayed or the application may be rejected if it does not comply with Post Submission Materials Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy .

Any instructions provided here are in addition to the instructions in the AHRQ is committed to the inclusion of priority populations in health services research.

The overall portfolio of health services research that AHRQ conducts and supports shall include the populations specifically named in AHRQ’s authorizing legislation: inner city; rural; low income; minority; women; children; elderly; and those with special health care needs, including those who have disabilities, need chronic care, or need end-of-life health care. 42 U.S.C. 299(c)(1).

AHRQ also includes in its definition of priority populations those groups identified in Section 2(a) of Executive Order 13985 as members of underserved communities: Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or AHRQ will broadly implement this inclusion policy across the research that AHRQ supports and conducts so that the portfolio of research is inclusive of all populations.

AHRQ intends that these populations be included in studies such that the research design explicitly allows conduct of valid analyses. The policy applies to all grant applications. Investigators should review the document entitled, AHRQ Policy on the Inclusion of Priority Populations, which is available at https://grants.

nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-21-015. html .

Applicants under this NOFO must consider and discuss including priority populations in research design as specified in this Notice. Access to AHRQ-Funded Scientific Publications Investigators should review the document titled AHRQ Announces new Policy for Public Access to AHRQ-Funded Scientific Publications , which is available at ( http://grants. nih.

gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-16-008. html ). For all research arising from AHRQ support, this policy requires that AHRQ-funded authors submit an electronic version of the author’s final peer-reviewed accepted manuscript to the National Library of Medicine's PubMed Central (PMC) to be made publicly available within 12 months of the publisher’s date of publication.

Data Management Plan Policy Investigators should review the document titled AHRQ Data Management Plan (DMP) Policy, which is available at ( https://grants. nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-20-011.

html ).

This policy requires applicants for AHRQ new/competing grants and research contracts to include a DMP for managing, storing and disseminating the primary data, samples, physical collections, and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of research funded by AHRQ, or state why data management is not possible, as a component of their grant application or research contract The precise content of the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and how the investigator is planning to share the data.

Applicants who are planning to share data should describe briefly the expected schedule for data sharing; the format of the final dataset; the documentation to be provided; whether or not any analytic tools also will be provided; whether or not a data-sharing agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such an agreement (including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and whether or not any conditions will be placed on their use); and the mode of data sharing (e.g., under its own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data on its institutional or personal website or through a data archive or enclave).

Investigators choosing to share under their own auspices may wish to enter into a data-sharing agreement. References to data sharing may also be appropriate in other sections of the application. The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers.

However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score. The AHRQ confidentiality statute, 42 USC 299c-3(c), requires that information that is obtained in the course of AHRQ supported activities and that identifies individuals or establishments be used only for the purpose for which it was supplied.

Information that is obtained in the course of AHRQ-supported activities and that identifies an individual may be published or released only with the consent of the individual who supplied the information or is described in it. There are civil monetary penalties for violation of the confidentiality provision of the AHRQ statute. 42 USC 299c-3(d).

In the Human Subjects section of the application, applicants must describe procedures for ensuring the confidentiality of the identifying information to be collected (see NOT-HS-18-012 : Confidentiality in AHRQ-Supported Research). The description of the procedures should include