'F' Terms

Facilities and Administrative Costs F&A  
Necessary costs incurred by a recipient for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. To facilitate equitable distribution of indirect expenses to the cost objectives served, it may be necessary to establish a number of pools of F&A (indirect) costs. F&A (indirect) cost pools must be distributed to benefitted cost objectives on bases that will produce an equitable result in consideration of relative benefits derived. (See NIH Grants Policy Statement 7.3 Direct Costs and Facilities and Administrative Costs)

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Also known as Indirect Costs.

See Also: Indirect Cost
Fast Track
The simultaneous submission and concurrent review of a combined Phase I/Phase II SBIR or STTR grant application. This option is intended to reduce/eliminate the funding gap between SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II projects.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Feasibility
The practical extent to which a project can be performed successfully.

Quoted from the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program Policy Directive.

Federal Acquisition Regulations FAR  
Laws regulating government contracting. The regulations governing the acquisition of supplies and services, used by the Executive Agencies of the Federal Government. The Federal Acquistion Regulation (FAR) was published as Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Its provisions are implemented and augmented by agency supplements.
Federal Advisory Committee Act FACA  
A law (5 U.S.C. app.) enacted in 1972 to ensure that advice by the various advisory committees formed over the years is objective and accessible to the public.

The following are primary requirements of the FACA:

  • All Federal advisory committees must be chartered and the charters must be renewed every two years. Section 402(b) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act exempts NIH's Initial/Integrated Review Groups (IRGs), Special Emphasis Panels (SEPs), and Boards of Scientific Counselors (BSCs) from renewing their charters every two years.
  • Memberships must be balanced in terms of points of view represented.
  • Notice of all meetings must be published in the Federal Register.
  • A Designated Federal Official (DFO) must attend all meetings and approve the agendas.
  • Minutes of all meetings must be kept and must be certified by the Chairperson of the committee.
  • Financial records must be kept and each committee must report annually on activities, expenses, and membership. This requirement is accomplished by submitting two annual reports:
    1. Annual Report of Closed Meetings.
    2. Annual Comprehensive Review of Federal Advisory Committees.

For information about NIH Advisory Committees, visit the NIH Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy (OFACP) website.

Federal Agency
Federal agency means an "agency" as defined at 5 U.S.C. 551(1) and further clarified by 5 U.S.C. 552(f).

Quoted from 45 CFR §75.2.

Federal Award
"Federal award" has the meaning, depending on the context, in either paragraph (1) or (2) of this definition:
  • (1) (i) The Federal financial assistance that a non-Federal entity receives directly from a Federal awarding agency or indirectly from a pass-through entity, as described in 45 CFR §75.101; or
  • (ii) The cost-reimbursement contract under the Federal Acquisition Regulations that a non-Federal entity receives directly from a Federal awarding agency or indirectly from a pass-through entity, as described in 45 CFR §75.101.
  • (2) The instrument setting forth the terms and conditions. The instrument is the grant agreement, cooperative agreement, other agreement for assistance covered in paragraph (2) of Federal financial assistance, or the cost-reimbursement contract awarded under the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
  • (3) Federal award does not include other contracts that a Federal agency uses to buy goods or services from a contractor or a contract to operate Federal Government owned, contractor operated facilities (GOCOs).
  • (4) See also definitions of Federal financial assistance, grant agreement, and cooperative agreement.
Quoted from 45 CFR §75.2.
See Also: Federal Financial Assistance ;  Cooperative Agreement ;  Grant Agreement
Federal Award Date
Federal award date means the date when the Federal award is signed by the authorized official of the Federal awarding agency.

Quoted from 45 CFR §75.2.

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System FAPIIS  
Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) is the system developed to maintain specific information on the integrity and performance of covered federal agency contractors and grantees. It combines information from the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System, as well as proceedings information and suspension/debarment information from the System for Award Management.
Federal awarding agency
Federal awarding agency means the Federal agency that provides a Federal award directly to a non-Federal entity.

Quoted from 45 CFR §75.2.

See: Federal Agency
Federal Business Opportunities FedBizOpps  
The Federal Business Opportunities website is the single point of universal electronic public access on the Internet for Government-wide Federal procurement opportunities. It replaced the Federal government's Commerce Business Daily (CBD), which no longer exists.
Federal Cash Transaction Report (SF-272) FCTR  
Note the FTCR has been replaced with the Federal Financial Report (FFR) (SF425).
See: Federal Financial Report
Federal Demonstration Partnership FDP  
The Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) is an association of federal agencies, academic research institutions with administrative, faculty and technical representation, and research policy organizations that work to streamline the administration of federally sponsored research. FDP members of all sectors cooperate in identifying, testing, and implementing new, more effective ways of managing the more than $15 Billion in federal research grants. The goal of improving the productivity of research without compromising its stewardship has benefits for the entire nation.
Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA  
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.
Federal Financial Assistance
Federal financial assistance means:
  • (1) Assistance that non-Federal entities receive or administer in the form of:
    1. Grants;
    2. Cooperative Agreements;
    3. Non-cash contributions or donations of property (including donated surplus property);
    4. Direct appropriations;
    5. Food Commodities; and
    6. Other financial assistance (except assistance listed in paragraph (2) of this section).
  • (2) For 45 CFR §75.202 and subpart F of this part, Federal financial assistance also includes assistance that non-Federal entities receive or administer in the form of:
    1. Loans;
    2. Loan Guarantees;
    3. Interest subsidies; and
    4. Insurance.
  • (3) Federal financial assistance does not include amounts received as reimbursement for services rendered to individuals as described in 45 CFR §75.502(h) and (i).

    • Quoted from 45 CFR §75.2.

Federal Financial Report FFR  
The Federal Financial Report (SF425) is a single form consolidating the collection of financial information previously collected on the Federal Cash Transaction Report (SF 272) and the Financial Status Report (SF 269). NIH grantees now required to submit all required expendituree reports using the FFR. Further all FFR expenditure reports must be submitted to NIH electronically through the eRA Commons.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Federal Financial Report (FSR Role) FSR Role  
The eRA Commons role assigning grantee institution authority for completing Federal Financial Report (FFR)responsibilities.
See Also: Federal Financial Report
Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977
The Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act set out to guide government agencies in their use of Federal funds — particularly by distinguishing between contracts, cooperative agreements and grants.

Contracts, the law states, are awarded when a Federal agency is acquiring something — a service, for example. Both grants and cooperative agreements are awarded when a Federal agency is providing assistance — the latter involving a greater degree of participation and oversight by the agency.

Quoted from Grants.gov.

Federal Institution
A Cabinet-level Department or independent Agency of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government or any component organization of such a Department or Agency.

Quoted from NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Federal Mandate
Statutory provisions that limit the use of funds on NIH grants, cooperative agreements, and contract awards.

For additional information, see §4.2 of the NIH Grants Policy Manual.

Federal Premier Lodging Program FPLP  
See: FedRooms
Federal Register
The Federal Register is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices, of and by Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders, Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) and other Presidential Documents.
Federal Register Notice FRN  
Per 5 U.S.C. App. §9 and §10 a timely notice of each Advisory Committee Meeting shall be published in the Federal Register.
Federal Supply Schedule FSS  
The Federal Supply Schedule program, pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 152(3), provides Federal agencies with a simplified process of acquiring commercial supplies and services in varying quantities while obtaining volume discounts. Indefinite-delivery contracts are awarded using competitive procedures to firms. The firms provide supplies and services at stated prices for given periods of time, for delivery within a stated geographic area such as the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, and overseas. The schedule contracting office issues Federal Supply Schedule publications that contain a general overview of the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program and address pertinent topics. (FAR §38.1)

Visit the GSA Schedules webpage for additional information.

Federal Technology Transfer Act FTTA  
The Federal Technology Transfer Act (Public Law 99-502) authorizes government agencies to enter into cooperative research and development awards (CRADAs) with private companies.

Visit the NIH Office of Technology Transfer webpage for additional information.

Federal Travel Regulation FTR  
Implements statutory requirements and Executive branch policies for travel by federal civilian employees and others authorized to travel at government expense (41 CFR 300-304).

See the Chapter 1500 of the NIH Policy Manual and GSA's Federal Travel Regulations for additional information.

Federally Funded Research and Development Center FFRDC  
Per 48 CFR §2.101, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC's) means activities that are sponsored under a broad charter by a Government agency (or agencies) for the purpose of performing, analyzing, integrating, supporting, and/or managing basic or applied research and/or development, and that receive 70 percent or more of their financial support from the Government; and—
  • (1) A long-term relationship is contemplated;
  • (2) Most or all of the facilities are owned or funded by the Government; and
  • (3) The FFRDC has access to Government and supplier data, employees, and facilities beyond that common in a normal contractual relationship.
The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center.
Federalwide Assurance (for Protection for Human Subjects) FWA  
The Federal-Wide Assurance is the only type of new assurance of compliance accepted and approved by OHRP for institutions engaged in non-exempt human subjects research conducted or supported by HHS. Under a FWA, an institution commits to HHS that it will comply with the requirements set forth in 45 CFR 46, as well as the terms of assurance.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

FedRooms
Part of GSALodging®, FedRooms® provides federal travelers on official business with FTR compliant hotel rooms for transient and extended stays (up to 29 days). The program uses FEMA and ADA-compliant rooms with flexible booking terms at or below per diem rates.
Fee
An amount, in addition to actual, allowable costs, paid to an organization providing goods or services consistent with normal commercial practice. This payment also is referred to as profit. (See NIH Grants Policy Statement: 18 Grants to For-Profit Organizations 18.5 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs 18.5.4 Allowable Costs and Fee 18.5.4.2 Profit or Fee).

Quoted from theNIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Fellowship
An NIH training program award where the NIH specifies the individual receiving the award. Fellowships comprise the F activity codes.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

See Also: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32) ;  Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (F31) ;  Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD Degree Fellows (F30) ;  Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Senior Fellows (F33)
Fiduciary Duty
A fiduciary duty or responsibility is a legal obligation to act in the best interests of another party. For example, a board member of a corporation has a fiduciary duty to the shareholders, an attorney has a fiduciary duty to a client, a trustee has a fiduciary responsibility to the trust, or a business owner has a fiduciary responsibility to him/herself and the business. A fiduciary obligation exists whenever special trust and confidence is placed, by law, in a person who is relied upon to exercise his/her discretion or expertise in acting for the client, company, etc. Fiduciary duties typically involve the internal business, management, or personnel activities of the organization and are not limited to financial matters.

Quoted from §F.8., Chapter 2400-1 of the NIH Policy Manual.

Final Proposal Revision FPR  
After completion of negotiations, offerors are asked to submit a final proposal revision which documents all cost and technical agreements reached during negotiations.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Financial Conflict of Interest
A financial conflict of interest exists when the recipient's designated official(s) reasonably determines that an investigator's significant financial interest could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct, or reporting of the PHS-funded research. See 42 CFR 50, Subpart F, Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for which PHS funding is sought and NIH Grants Policy Statement: 4.1 Public Policy Requirements and Objectives 4.1.10 Financial Conflict of Interest.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

For additional information, visit the NIH OER Financial Conflict of Interest webpage.

See Also: Conflict of Interest
Financial Conflict of Interest Role FCOI  
An eRA Commons Account Role:
  • The FCOI can initiate, edit, submit, view and delete records and documents.
  • Can only be assigned by the Signing Official (SO) to someone within his or her institution and that person must have a Commons account.

Financial Conflict of Interest Assistant Role (FCOI ASST)

  • The FCOI Assistant (ASST) is delegated access by the FCOI role to assist with data entry and completion of FCOI reports.

Financial Conflict of Interest View Only Role (FCOI View Only)

  • A person with FCOI View-Only authority can view FCOI information entered by the institution in the FCOI module.
Financial Management Plan
A Financial Management Plan, also known as Funding Policy, is a policy to establish consistency in funding which specifies levels for items such as the payline, programmatic reductions, and caps for re-competing grants.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Financial Status Report (SF-269 or 269A) FSR  
Note the FSR has been replaced with the Federal Financial Report (FFR) (SF425).
See: Federal Financial Report
Financial Status Reporter FSR  
An eRA Commons Account Role, the Financial Status Reporter (FSR) is responsible for the reporting a statement of expenditures for a grant. Depending on the institution workflow process, it is possible for the Signing Official (SO) and FSR to be the same person (these two authorities may be combined). If the FSR is a different individual, a separate FSR account must be created.
Firm-Fixed-Price Contract FFP  
A firm-fixed-price contract provides for a price that is not subject to any adjustment on the basis of the contractor's cost experience in performing the contract. This contract type places upon the contractor maximum risk and full responsibility for all costs and resulting profit or loss. It provides maximum incentive for the contractor to control costs and perform effectively and imposes a minimum administrative burden upon the contracting parties. The contracting officer may use a firm-fixed-price contract in conjunction with an award-fee incentive (see 16.404) and performance or delivery incentives (see 16.402-2 and 16.402-3) when the award fee or incentive is based solely on factors other than cost. The contract type remains firm-fixed-price when used with these incentives.

Quoted from §16.202-1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

First Level of Review
Initial peer review meetings are administered by either the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) or one of the NIH ICs with funding authority as specified in the funding opportunity announcement (FOA).

The first level of review is carried out by a Scientific Review Group (SRG) composed primarily of non-federal scientists who have expertise in relevant scientific disciplines and current research areas.

For additional information, see the NIH OER Peer Review webpage.

Fiscal Linked Analysis of Research Emphasis FLARE  
NCI DEA Research Analysis and Evaluation Branch's (RAEB's) grants documentation and indexing database.
See: Research Analysis and Evaluation Branch
Fiscal Year FY  
The annual period established for Government accounting purposes. A Fiscal Year begins on October 1 and ends September 30 of the following year. Example: FY2011-Started October 1, 2010 and ends September 30, 2011.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Fixed-Price Contract
  1. Fixed-price types of contracts provide for a firm price or, in appropriate cases, an adjustable price. Fixed-price contracts providing for an adjustable price may include a ceiling price, a target price (including target cost), or both. Unless otherwise specified in the contract, the ceiling price or target price is subject to adjustment only by operation of contract clauses providing for equitable adjustment or other revision of the contract price under stated circumstances. The contracting officer shall use firm-fixed-price or fixed-price with economic price adjustment contracts when acquiring commercial items, except as provided in 12.207(b).
  2. Time-and-materials contracts and labor-hour contracts are not fixed-price contracts.

Quoted from §16.201 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Focused Ultrasound
See: High-intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy
Fogarty International Center FIC  
The Fogarty International Center is dedicated to advancing the mission of the National Institutes of Health by supporting and facilitating global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, building partnerships between health research institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and training the next generation of scientists to address global health needs.
Food and Drug Administration FDA  
The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

FDA also has responsibility for regulating the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products to protect the public health and to reduce tobacco use by minors.

FDA is responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medical products more effective, safer, and more affordable and by helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medical products and foods to maintain and improve their health.

FDA also plays a significant role in the Nation's counterterrorism capability. FDA fulfills this responsibility by ensuring the security of the food supply and by fostering development of medical products to respond to deliberate and naturally emerging public health threats.

For-Profit Organization
An organization, institution, corporation, or other legal entity that is organized or operated for the profit or financial benefit of its shareholders or other owners. A for-profit organization is considered to be a small business if it is independently owned and operated, if it is not dominant in the field in which research is proposed, and if it employs no more than 500 persons.

Quoted from NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Foreign Area
Any area, including the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, situated both outside CONUS and the non‑foreign areas.

Quoted from §300–3.1 of the Federal Travel Regulation.

See Also: Continental United States ;  Contiguous United States ;  Non-foreign Area ;  Overseas
Foreign Component
The performance of any significant scientific element or segment of a project outside of the United States, either by the recipient or by a researcher employed by a foreign organization, whether or not grant funds are expended. Activities that would meet this definition include, but are not limited to,

  1. the involvement of human subjects or animals,
  2. extensive foreign travel by recipient project staff for the purpose of data collection, surveying, sampling, and similar activities, or
  3. any activity of the recipient that may have an impact on U.S. foreign policy through involvement in the affairs or environment of a foreign country.

Examples of other grant-related activities that may be significant are:
  • collaborations with investigators at a foreign site anticipated to result in co-authorship;
  • use of facilities or instrumentation at a foreign site; or
  • receipt of financial support or resources from a foreign entity.
Foreign travel for consultation is not considered a foreign component. (See NIH Grants Policy Statement: 16 Grants to Foreign Organizations, International Organizations, and Domestic Grants with Foreign Components).

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Foreign Institution
An organization located in a country other than the United States and its territories that is subject to the laws of that country, regardless of the citizenship of the proposed PD/PI.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Foreign Organization
An entity that is:
  • (1) A public or private organization located in a country other than the United States and its territories that is subject to the laws of the country in which it is located, irrespective of the citizenship of project staff or place of performance;
  • (2) A private nongovernmental organization located in a country other than the United States that solicits and receives cash contributions from the general public;
  • (3) A charitable organization located in a country other than the United States that is nonprofit and tax exempt under the laws of its country of domicile and operation, and is not a university, college, accredited degree-granting institution of education, private foundation, hospital, organization engaged exclusively in research or scientific activities, church, synagogue, mosque or other similar entities organized primarily for religious purposes; or
  • (4) An organization located in a country other than the United States not recognized as a Foreign Public Entity.
Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.
Foreign Public Entity
(1) A foreign government or foreign governmental entity;

(2) A public international organization, which is an organization entitled to enjoy privileges, exemptions, and immunities as an international organization under the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. §288-288f);

(3) An entity owned (in whole or in part) or controlled by a foreign government; or

(4) Any other entity consisting wholly or partially of one or more foreign governments or foreign governmental entities.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Form
A 'form' is a named collection of data fields approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Visit the NIH OER Forms Library for a comprehensive inventory of forms, instructions, and format pages for each stage of the grant life cycle.

Form PHS 398 PHS 398  
These forms are to be used only with paper submissions using the PHS 398. Do not use the PDF samples provided below in an SF424 (R&R) application. These are fillable PDF forms which will cause an error in the electronic submission of an SF424 (R&R) application. See the SF424 (R&R) application page for appropriate formats to be used for electronic submission.
See: Standard Form 424 (Research & Related) [SF424 (R&R)]
See Also: Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking
Formative Evaluation
Formative evaluation ensures that a program or program activity is feasible, appropriate, and acceptable before it is fully implemented. It is usually conducted when a new program or activity is being developed or when an existing one is being adapted or modified.

Quoted from Types of Evaluation in "Step 3: Focus the Evaluation" chapter of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) "Practical Use of Program Evaluation among Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Program".

Formula Grant
Allocations of federal funding to states, territories, or local units of government determined by distribution formulas in the authorizing legislation and regulations. To receive a formula grant, the entity must meet all the eligibility criteria for the program, which are pre-determined and not open to discretionary funding decisions.

Formula grants typically fund activities of a continuing nature and may not be confined to a specific project. Common elements in formulas include population, proportion of population below the poverty line, and other demographic information.

Quoted from Grants.gov Grant Terminology.

Frederick National Laboratory Advisory Committee FNLAC  
Formerly known as The NCI Frederick Advisory Committee (NFAC), the Frederick National Laboratory Advisory Committee (NFLAC) provides advice to the Director, NCI and the Associate Director, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) on the optimal use of the Laboratory to meet the most urgent needs of the Institute. In addition, the FNLAC reviews the state of research at the FNLCR and makes recommendations for the best use of its capabilities and infrastructure.
Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research FNLCR  
The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) is a federal national laboratory operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. and sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The laboratory works at the forefront of basic, translational, and clinical science with a focus on cancer, AIDS, and infectious disease. We operate in the public interest as a shared national resource, and collaborate with public and private partners to discover, to innovate, and to improve human health.
Freedom of Information Act FOIA  
The Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), 5 U.S.C. 552, provides individuals with a right to access to records in the possession of the federal government. The government may withhold information pursuant to the nine exemptions and three exclusions contained in the Act.

For additional information, visit the NIH Freedom of Information Office webpage.

Fringe Benefits
Fringe benefits are allowances and services provided by employers to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefits include, but are not limited to, the costs of leave (vacation, family related, sick or military), employee insurance, pensions, and unemployment benefit plans. Except as provided elsewhere in 45 CFR 75 Subpart E, the costs of fringe benefits are allowable provided that the benefits are reasonable and are required by law, non-Federal entity-employee agreement, or an established policy of the non-Federal entity.

Quoted from the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Full and Open Competition
Per 41 USC §107, the term "full and open competition", when used with respect to a procurement, means that all responsible sources are permitted to submit sealed bids or competitive proposals on the procurement.
See Also: Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition
Full-Time Equivalent FTE  
Reflects the total number of regular straight-time hours (i.e., not including overtime or holiday hours) worked by employees divided by the number of compensable hours applicable to each fiscal year. Annual leave, sick leave, and compensatory time off and other approved leave categories are considered to be "hours worked" for purposes of defining FTE employment.

Quoted from the GAO's "A Glossary of Terms Used in the Federal Budget Process".

Fully Participating Reviewer
A fully participating reviewer is an SRG member who is present at the SRG meeting, or for the teleconference or web-based discussion; has reviewed and evaluated the application; and has participated in the deliberation on its scientific and technical merit or in the deliberation to streamline the application at the review meeting, or during the teleconference or web-based discussion. Only fully participating reviewers are eligible to give overall impact scores for an application.

Quoted from NIH Guide Notice: NOT-OD-13-010.

Fundable Range
A "fundable range" is not to be confused with an Institute's pay line. The "fundable range" will include all applications that fall within an Institute's pay line and also applications that extend a number of priority score/percentile points beyond. This range will vary from year to year and often round to round. The intent of widening the range of applications beyond the nominal pay line to proceed with IRB review is to provide Institutes the discretion to select applications beyond the pay line for special consideration, particular program relevance, etc.

Quoted from NIH Guide Notice OD-00-031.

Funding Mechanism
See: Mechanism
Funding Opportunity Announcement FOA  
A publicly available document by which a Federal Agency makes known its intentions to award discretionary grants or cooperative agreements, usually as a result of competition for funds. Funding opportunity announcements may be known as program announcements, requests for applications, notices of funding availability, solicitations, or other names depending on the Agency and type of program. Funding opportunity announcements can be found at Grants.gov/FIND and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.

Quoted from NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Funding Opportunity Announcement Module FOAM  
The Funding Opportunity Announcement Module (FOAM) was launched with the vision of end-to-end support for the ICs at NIH and our agency partners in development of funding announcements and guide notices from initial draft through publication in the NIH Guide.
Funding Period
The period of time when Federal funding is available for obligation by the recipient.

Quoted from Grants.gov Grant Terminology.

Funding Plan
Funding Plan is a snapshot in time of the present Research Projects Grants (RPG) budget situation. These snapshots in time are collected throughout the fiscal year for analysis and comparison. It serves as an analytical tool to develop recommendations for funding policies and allocation levels for specific types of grant selections. It displays the estimated award totals for each RPG budget mechanism and type of grant selection, given certain budget constraints such as funding reductions, scoring limits, budget targets, grant count targets, and average costs limits.
Funding Policy
See: Financial Management Plan
Funding Rate
Percentage of applicants that receive funding in a fiscal year.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.