1. Home
  2. Grants
  3. Find Grant Funding
  4. Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant
  5. Ruth L. Kirschstein National Service Research Award Frequently Asked Questions

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Service Research Award Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

  1. Are current NRSA grantees eligible for this funding opportunity?
    Eligible applicants are:

    • Programs that received funds between 2011 through 2020 under sections 747, 736, or 739 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.
    • Faith-based and community-based organizations if otherwise eligible
    • Tribes and Tribal organizations if otherwise eligible.
    Refer to page 4 of the NOFO for more information.

  2. Does applicant eligibility apply to the entire organization, institution or just to a specific department that received an award from 2011-2020 under sections 736, 739, or 747?

    An applicant is eligible if their organization or institution receive funds between 2011 through 2020, under sections 736, 739, or 747 of the Public Health Service Act.

  3. Can we assume that clinicians include registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, social workers, occupational therapists and psychologists?

    Postdoctoral trainees must have one of the following at the beginning date of the NRSA appointment:

    • Ph.D.
    • M.D.
    • D.O.
    • D.D.S.
    • D.M.D.
    • A comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution such as MBBS.
    Refer to page 5 of the NOFO for more information

  4. Is there an eligibility requirement for trainees?

    Yes. You must be a:

    • Citizen
    • Noncitizen national of the United States.
    • Lawfully admitted for permanent residence at time of appointment
    Please refer to page 5 of the NOFO for more information. Find additional details in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

  5. Are we eligible if our institution had a program under sections 736, 739 or 747 but the program was not listed under Appendix A?

    Yes. Your institution is eligible if you received an award between 2011 through 2020, under sections 736, 739, or 747 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.

    If your program is not under Appendix A, provide documentation that includes:

    • Name of the HRSA program
    • Grant or contract number
    • Date of award(s)
    • Institution that received a grant or contract
    HRSA will verify to determine eligibility. Contact your project officer prior to submission of your proposal to determine eligibility.

  6. The NOFO has some text suggesting that trainees can be PhDs.  Does this mean the trainees do not necessarily need to be clinicians?

    Postdoctoral trainees must have one of the following at the beginning date of the NRSA appointment:

    • Ph.D.
    • M.D.
    • D.O.
    • D.D.S.
    • D.M.D.
    • A comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution

    Trainees do not have to be clinicians, but must have one of the degrees listed above. Refer to page 5 of the NOFO for more information.

Training Related Expenses

  1. The NOFO specifies institutional costs up to $7,850 per year. However, the NIH notice OD20070 released on February 7, 2020, identifies training-related expenses to be no more than $11,850 for postdoctoral training. Should we use $11,850 rather than the NOFO limitations for budgets purposes?

    HRSA follows the NIH policy guidelines and the correct amount for Training Related Expenses per trainee is $11,850. Please refer to NOT-OD-20-070 for more information.

  2. Does mandated travel come out of the training-related expenses line, or is this is a separate line item for both the project director travel and trainee travel to Academy Health?

    The mandated travel comes out of the training-related expenses.

Stipend

  1. Please clarify the amount and levels of trainees’ stipends.

    Stipend level is based on the number of full years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment.

    • Appointments of less than a full year, the stipend is based on a monthly or daily proration.
      • Monthly stipend amount is calculated by dividing the current annual stipend by 12.
      • Daily stipend is calculated by dividing the current annual stipend by 365.
    • Note: Appointments for less than one year must be justified. Stipend amounts for trainees are found at Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels.
Career Level Years  of Experience Stipend for FY 2020 Monthly Stipend
Postdoctoral 0 $52,704 $4,392
  1 $53,076 $4,423
  2 $53,460 $4,455
  3 $55,596 $4,633
  4 $57,456 $4,788
  5 $59,580 $4,965
  6 $61,800 $5,150
  7 or more $64,008 $5,334

  1. Do we need to include the projected stipend amounts in 2021?

    NIH has not yet released stipend amounts for 2021.  We encourage applicants to add a 2 percent increase to the 2020 stipend amount for Year 1 stipends for their year 1 budget period.

  2. Does the stipend include trainee-related expenses?

    Stipends do not include trainee-related expenses.

Application

  1. Do applicants need to focus on one of the seven clinical priorities on page 1 of the NOFO?

    We encourage you to select and address one of HHS’s and HRSA’s clinical priorities.  However, it is not a requirement to address the clinical priorities in your proposal.  

    You may address as many priorities, if any, as relevant to your project.

  2. Are applicants required to address the same priorities for their trainees? Can trainees address different priorities?

    You are encouraged to select and address one of HHS’s and HRSA’s clinical priorities.  It is not a requirement. Trainees may address different priorities.

  3. What form should we use for the biosketch?

    Refer to page 14 and 15 of the NOFO for more information on the biosketch.

  4. How will HRSA evaluate community members’ contributions in an application?

    HRSA will evaluate how community members (key stakeholders, state and local health departments) will contribute to designing and implementing all activities in an application. HRSA will also evaluate how those activities contribute to the betterment of the population.

    Refer to Criterion 2a Work plan on page 25 of the NOFO for more information.

  5. Are applicants required to track NPI numbers on all trainees?

    Yes. Award recipients must require trainees with eligible qualifications to apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number and collect the NPI numbers of trainees who already have them.

    Note: HRSA understands that not all trainees will be eligible for an NPI number.

  6. Please define “value-based care” in the topic “Transforming the health care system through value-based care delivery and quality improvement initiatives”.

    Value-based care is a form of reimbursement that ties payments to care delivery to quality of care provided.  Value-based care supports better care for individuals that care for populations and lower costs.

Project Director

  1. Is it permitted to receive an award from several project directors or co-project directors?

    HRSA recognizes only one Project Director. He or she should list their name in the SF-424 R&R and we will identify that individual in the Notice of Award.

  2. What are the qualifications for the Project Director?

    A Project Director must have the credentials listed in questions 3 and 4. Refer to page 23 of the NOFO for more information.

Training Requirements

  1. Is each post doc trainee a one-year commitment? Is there a mandatory timeframe for each trainee?

    A project director should limit trainee appointments to individuals who plan to remain in training no less than two years.

    Refer to page 5 of the NOFO for more information.

  2. Can the postdoc trainees see patients?

    Yes. As long as their clinical activities do not interfere or lengthen the NRSA training.

    HRSA follows the NIH policy guidelines (See NIH Grants Policy Statement, Section 11.2.10.2 and 11.3.10.2, for more details) and additional guidance here.

  3. Is there a required number of trainees?

    No. There is no required number of trainees for this program.

General

  1. Can I get a recording of the TA webinar? Can I get a copy of the Power Point presentation?

    Yes, you can watch the TA webinar recording and download the presentation (PDF - 526 KB).

Date Last Reviewed: