The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for administrative supplements to active AHRQ health services research grants. The aim of this supplement is to provide additional funding to cover unforeseen costs that are within the scope of the originally approved award but were not anticipated at the time of the grant’s initial submission. These supplements are applicable to eligible AHRQ-funded grants and cooperative agreements, excluding R13 and R36 awards. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential requests with their assigned AHRQ staff before submitting an application, as the availability of funds is not guaranteed.

The supplement is intended to cover additional costs necessary to meet the objectives of the original project. These costs must be directly related to the approved project but could not have been predicted when the application was initially submitted. The funds may not be used to restore costs disallowed during the original budget negotiation or for activities outside the approved project period. Importantly, the supplemental project must fit within the scope and duration of the parent grant, and the request cannot be made in the final year of the parent project. Funding limits for supplements vary depending on the size of the original award; for large research grants, requests are capped at the lesser of 20% of the original award or $100,000 in total costs. For smaller R03 grants, the cap is 10% of direct costs.

Eligible applicants include organizations holding active AHRQ grants, provided the parent grant is still within its project period. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. The submission must comply with the detailed instructions in the NOFO and follow AHRQ's specific guidelines, which may differ from NIH policies. These guidelines include adherence to page limits and application formats, as well as requirements related to the budget, research strategy, and resource sharing plans.

Applications are submitted electronically via systems such as NIH ASSIST or Grants.gov, and must include a justification of the unforeseen expenses, along with a description of how the supplement will contribute to the original project’s goals. Administrative supplements do not undergo peer review but will be evaluated internally by AHRQ staff based on factors such as the necessity of the additional funding and the project's potential to meet its original aims more effectively. Reviews will focus on the budget, project relevance, and whether the proposed activities align with AHRQ’s mission to improve healthcare safety, quality, and accessibility.

Supplemental funds are typically awarded for one budget period, and the award may not exceed 12 months. Pre-award costs are not allowed, and recipients must submit reports on the progress and expenditures related to the supplement. Applicants should note that the NOFO emphasizes the inclusion of priority populations in healthcare research, including minority groups, underserved populations, and those with special healthcare needs. All proposals should address how they plan to include such groups in their research design.

This NOFO will remain open through April 2027, with submission deadlines of June 26, October 26, and February 26 of each year.