Division of Research

Guidance for NIH PF5 Mechanism

Guidance for NIH PF5 Mechanism

The NIH PF5 is a multi-component funding mechanism for domestic and international activities. Unlike traditional foreign subawards, foreign subprojects are split into separate RF2 awards funded directly to the foreign organization. The complex structure and unique foreign PI requirements require PF5 proposals to be submitted via ASSIST/WorkSpace rather than Huron. Use this guide to manage submission and compliance.

PF5 Funding Mechanism Overview

The PF5 Funding Opportunity is a new mechanism which allows for both domestic work and international activities which would have been previously structured as foreign subawards. This new proposal structure has three main components: 

  • Overall
  • Research Project
  • International Project

There are two other optional components for Cores or Training activities, to be used when applicable.

Please note: International subprojects should not be used for international collaborations that do not involve NIH funding or activities that would not result in a foreign subaward, including foreign consultants, purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors.

Award Structure & RF2 Grants

While the PF5 applications are submitted as one single proposal, resulting awards will be split in two; at award stage, all international subprojects will be split off and funded as separate RF2 grant awards in lieu of foreign subawards. In order to manage compliance and track international funding, the RF2 will be awarded directly to the foreign organization.

Foreign Organization & PI Requirements

The RF2 award structure introduces several requirements for the foreign organization and its PI. These requirements are significantly different from the previous requirements for foreign subawards; foreign collaborators may require a substantial amount of lead time before proposal submission to complete them.

Submission Instructions

Due to the complex, multi-component structure of the PF5, these proposals cannot be submitted System-to-System via Huron.

  • Proposals must be submitted in ASSIST/WorkSpace.
  • Even though the international subprojects will not be awarded to Brown, these costs should still be included as in the Huron FP. Include these costs as a lump sum using the "Create Additional Budget" feature in Huron.

PF5 Proposal

PF5 Proposal hierarchy of three components
The PF5 Proposal hierarchy includes three components: Overall, Research Project, and International Project Components. Each is described in detail in the following table.

PF5 Proposal Components

OverallResearch ProjectInternational Project
Required ComponentRequired ComponentRequired Component
12-page Research Strategy12-page Research Strategy (each)6-page Research Strategy (each)
No detailed budget in this sectionBudget limited to domestic scope onlyBudget specific to the international organization

Research Strategy Includes:

• Scientific rationale and overall need for the project 
• Explanation of why international collaboration is necessary 
• Description of how the collaboration will function 
• Required dispute resolution plan

•  Data Management and Sharing Plan must be provided in the Overall Component

Research Strategy Includes:

• Scientific and technical direction of the project 
• May describe both domestic and international technical activities

Research Strategy Includes:

• Scope of work conducted at the international organization 
• Unique resources, expertise, populations, or capabilities that justify the collaboration 
• Description of how the international work integrates with the overall project

• In the R&R Other Project Information section, ensure that field 6 is marked “yes” and identify the countries of all foreign components. Be sure to also upload the Foreign Justification in field 12, detailing why the research is better suited for a foreign setting than a domestic one

• Only the Primary Performance Site and PD/PI(s) should be listed

• For straightforward collaborative arrangements, it is anticipated that applicants may not need all 12 pages to describe their Overall Research Strategy.

• On the SF424 R&R Cover, complete only the following: 

  • Applicant Information
  • Type of Applicant (optional)
  • Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
  • Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

• Only answer “yes” to R&R Other Project Info Field 6 and upload a Foreign Justification if the Research Project includes additional foreign involvement distinct from what is included in the International Project(s) components, such as foreign consultants or foreign travel by U.S. members of the research team for the purpose of gathering data

• Project Narrative should not be completed, this is only required in Overall and International components

• On the SF424 R&R Cover, complete only the following: 

  • Applicant (Foreign Organization) Information
  • Type of Applicant (optional)
  • Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
  • Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

• A Letter of Support must be provided from an AOR of the foreign organization indicating that the foreign organization will fill the role as a recipient organization for the resulting RF2 award, and will therefore have all the necessary registrations completed prior to award.

PF5 Proposal: Optional Components

Core(s) OPTIONALInstitutional Career Development & Training OPTIONAL
OptionalOptional
6-page Research Strategy (each)25-page Training Program Plan
Budget limited to domestic scope onlyBudget limited to domestic scope only
Research Strategy Includes:Research Strategy Includes:
• Shared activities or resources supporting multiple components 
• Description of efficiencies and synergies enabled by the core		• Description of training environment and mentoring 
• Structure and goals of the training program 
• International Training Data Tables

More Helpful Hints and Reminders

  • Follow the PF5 Notice of Funding Opportunity instructions carefully.
  • Include an International Project component for each foreign organization.
  • Previously submitted non-PF5 proposals cannot use the Resubmission or Renewal actions, as the PF5 mechanism is newly created. For the May 2026 cycle, all PF5 proposals will be “New.”

International Project Component: Foreign Organization Requirements

The following registrations and requirements must be completed before the RF2 award can be issued to the foreign organization. As some of these registrations can include lengthy processing times, the foreign organization(s) are strongly encouraged to begin the registration processes outlined below as soon as possible.

  • Full registration in SAM.gov
    • Note: Subrecipients are only required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which can be done through a streamlined SAM.gov registration. This streamlined process does not meet the full registration requirements, and foreign collaborators who already have a UEI may still need to complete a full registration.
  • Obtain an NCAGE Code for the organization
  • Complete an eRA Commons registration for the organization
    • Note: The organization will need a UEI from its SAM.gov registration before it can finalize an eRA Commons registration
  • Complete a Grants.gov registration for the organization
  • In addition to these registration requirements, the foreign organization must establish written policies for a wide range of federal requirements before the foreign organization can receive an RF2 award directly as a recipient. Some of these include:
    • Financial Conflict of Interest Policy
    • Compliance Policies (Human Subjects, Animal Welfare, etc)
  • The foreign organization will also be required to take on additional administrative responsibilities during lifecycle, such as award drawdown, reporting, etc.

International Project Component: Foreign PI Requirements

  • Complete an eRA Commons registration for the Principal Investigator and obtain an eRA Commons ID
  • Complete an ORCID iD registration for the PI and link it to the PI’s eRA Commons ID
  • Complete all required PI certifications and trainings
    • Example Trainings: Financial Conflict of Interest Training, Human Subjects Protection Training, Research Security Training, Responsible Conduct of Research, etc.
    • Example Certifications: Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program certification, and Research Security Training certification