The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognize that the high cost of childcare impacts graduate students and post-doctorates funded through NRSA fellowships, and their ability to successfully complete their training and fully participate in the extramural research workforce. Therefore, as part of ongoing efforts to support family-friendly work environments for the NIH-supported workforce, NIH will begin providing childcare support to recipients of NRSA fellowships, on or after April 8, 2021. In Phase 2 of this initiative, a similar cost will be provided for NRSA-supported trainees (anticipated early FY 2022). For Phase 2 of this initiative, additional information and implementation guidance will be issued.

Applicability: The NRSA childcare costs apply to full-time NIH-NRSA-supported fellowship positions. Each fellow is eligible to receive $2,500 per budget period for costs for childcare provided by a licensed childcare provider. For households where both parents are NRSA fellows, each parent is eligible to receive $2,500.

Childcare costs are permitted for dependent children living in the eligible fellow’s home from birth under the age of 13, or children who are disabled and under age 18. Childcare costs do not apply to elder or non-child dependent care costs.

Policy: Each NRSA fellow may request $2,500 per budget period to defray childcare costs. Childcare must be provided by a licensed childcare provider. Recipients must maintain all supporting documentation (e.g., proof provider is licensed) and make it available to NIH officials upon request. NIH does not require recipients to submit this supporting documentation with each request.

The NRSA childcare costs are not tied to payback obligations, nor should it be reported as such.

When childcare costs are awarded, they are generally restricted and cannot be rebudgeted without prior written approval from the NIH awarding IC. In cases of early termination, recipients may not use any unused portion of the childcare costs. It will remain unobligated and will be adjusted by the agency as part of the closeout process.

Applicants and recipients may request the NRSA childcare costs as part of new applications, continuation applications (Type 5), or as an administrative supplement request (Type 3).

Application Instructions

New Applications: All fellowship applicants are required to specify the requested childcare costs in field 28b (Supplementation from Other Sources: Amount, Number of Months, Type, and Source) on the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form. Enter ‘Childcare Costs’ (without quotation marks) as the Type. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request childcare costs for all applicable years that the project will be funded based on the dependent(s)’ age eligibility factor. Recipients are not required to submit supporting documentation with each request. Recipients must maintain all supporting documentation (e.g., proof provider is licensed). NIH reserves the right to request proof at any time.

Continuation Applications: Current fellows may request childcare costs for future years via the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). In Section G.1 of the RPPR, recipients must upload a PDF named "Childcare_Cost_Request.pdf" (without quotation marks). The attachment must specify the requested childcare costs amount and number of years requested. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request childcare costs for all remaining years that the project will be funded based on the dependent(s)’ age eligibility factor. Recipients are not required to submit supporting documentation with each request. Recipients must maintain all supporting documentation (e.g., proof provider is licensed). NIH reserves the right to request proof at any time.

Administrative Supplements: Current fellows may request an administrative supplement to provide childcare costs on an existing award. Applications must be submitted using Notice of Special Interest NOT-OD-21-070.

Applicants must use the forms package with the Competition ID containing “ADMINSUPP-FELLOWSHIP” and specify the requested childcare costs in field 28b (Supplementation from Other Sources: Amount, Number of Months, Type, and Source) on the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form. Enter ‘Childcare Costs’ (without quotation marks) as the Type. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request childcare costs for all remaining years that the project will be funded based on the dependent(s)’ age eligibility factor. Recipients are not required to submit supporting documentation with each request. Recipients must maintain all supporting documentation (e.g., proof provider is licensed). NIH reserves the right to request proof at any time.

Announcement available here>>

Please direct any questions you have to the Division of Sponsored Programs at 319-335-2123, or the Conflict of Interest Office at 319-384-4256.