NIH Modular Budgets

NIH uses a modular budget format (applicants request funds in lump sums of $25,000 intervals) for certain applications, rather than requiring a full detailed budget. The modular budget format is not accepted for SBIR and STTR grant applications. SBIR and STTR applicants must complete and submit budget requests using Grants.gov Workspace. Applications from foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must include only detailed (non-modular) budgets.

Creating a modular budget

Within NIH Assist select the PHS398 Modular Budget Component form for your submission package, and use the appropriate set of instructions from the electronic application user’s guide.

Create a detailed budget for internal use including salaries, equipment, supplies, graduate student tuition, etc. for every year of funds requested. A detailed budget is required to be attached to the ePAWs record so that calculations can be confirmed, and for audit purposes.

To determine how many modules should be requested, subtract any consortium indirect costs from the total direct costs, and then round to the nearest $25,000 increment.

A modular budget justification should include:

PERSONNEL JUSTIFICATION

The Personnel Justification should include the name, role, and number of person-months devoted to this project for every person on the project. Do not include salary and fringe benefit rate in the justification, but keep in mind the legislatively mandated salary cap when calculating your budget. [When preparing a modular budget, you are instructed to use the current cap when determining the appropriate number of modules.]

CONSORTIUM JUSTIFICATION

If you have a consortium/subcontract, include the total costs (direct costs plus indirect costs), rounded to the nearest $1,000, for each consortium/subcontract. Additionally, any personnel should include their roles and person months; if the consortium is foreign, that should be stated as well.

ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE JUSTIFICATION

Additional justification should include explanations for any variations in the number of modules requested annually. Also, this section should describe any direct costs that were excluded from the total direct costs (such as equipment, tuition remission) and any work being conducted off-site, especially if it involves a foreign study site or an off-site indirect cost rate.

Last Updated on February 22, 2024