The National Institutes of Health (NIH) PA-26-002 introduces the PF5 activity code — NIH's new structure for international research collaborations, replacing foreign subawards entirely. When Pitt serves as the domestic prime applicant (lead), each foreign institutional partner is an independent International Project Component (IPC) and, if funded, receives their own direct NIH award (RF2). NIH will no longer accept foreign subawards.
Key Administrative Considerations
- Submit via ASSIST – The PF5 is a multi-component application. MyFunding’s system-to-system (S2S) does not support this structure, and all PF5 applications must be submitted via ASSIST.
- Each IPC requires its own 6-page Research Strategy, budget, biosketches, and Letter of Support from the foreign Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).
- Letter of Support Template - OSP has created a Letter of Support template that meets all PF5 requirements and includes data fields that are needed for Pitt and the federal application package. The template is on the OSP Forms and Waivers page.
- Separate Awards – If funded, each foreign institution handles their own financial reporting and RPPR. There will be no subawards from Pitt to the foreign institutions.
For more information about the PF5, visit: Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) | Grants & Funding and the New Video Overview for NIH’s Collaborative International Research Projects (PF5) | Grants & Funding.
FEDERAL AGENCY ROUNDUP
Updates from federal agencies for the week of 04/27/2026
- NIH released NOT-OD-26-065: Request for Information (RFI): Promoting Youth Participatory Action Research Approaches in Prevention Research
- NIH released NOT-OD-26-071: Notice to Rescind NOT-OD-23-075 "Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) implementation of NIH Policy on Acceptance for Review of Applications Requesting $500,000 or More in Direct Costs in Any One Budget Year"
- NIH released NOT-AG-26-006: Notice to Rescind NOT-AG-21-055, "NIA Announces Guidance for Purchasing Identifiable Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Data in Grant Applications Effective FY 2022"
- NIH released NOT-NS-26-038: Notice to Rescind NOT-NS-24-079 "NINDS Policy for applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year (excluding consortium F&A)on NIH Parent R01 Notices of Funding Opportunities"
- NIH released NOT-AG-26-005: NIA Caenorhabditis Interventions Testing Program (CITP) Announces Annual Call for Compounds to Test for Lifespan Extension in Caenorhabditis
- NIH released NOT-LM-26-001: Request for Information (RFI): Future Directions for the NLM Information Resource Grants (G08) Program
- NIH released NOT-OD-26-078: Update to Standard Language for Developer Terms of Access in the Terms and Conditions of Award
Stay up-to-date and informed by visiting the Pitt Research Executive Orders and Federal Funding website.