Commitment Management - Frequently Asked Questions

• Are the additional funds provided by commitment management to the first year available for expenditure?
  
  Yes, the amount provided is available for expenditure. However, the financial resources provided and committed to a project need to be carefully managed consistent with your institution's policies. The approved project should continue to be pursued in a manner and timing consistent with what was requested and approved, so that sufficient funds remain available at the end of the project.
   
• Can commitment management result in rebudgeting that will require the prior approval of NIGMS?
  
  Generally, no. There are currently no specific dollar thresholds for rebudgeting that require NIGMS prior approval (See NIH Grants Policy Statement). While significant rebudgeting can be an indicator of a change in scope, which requires prior approval, the modest amount of funds associated with commitment management is well below the threshold of significant rebudgeting.
   
• It is likely that commitment management will result in unspent balances until the fourth year of a grant. Does this balance continue to need to be addressed on the noncompeting application in response to the question: "Is it anticipated that an estimated unobligated balance (including prior year carryover) will be greater than 25 percent of the current year's total budget?"
  
  Although the adjustment is relatively modest, we recognize that the combination of commitment management along with other factors may result in a "reportable" balance. In these situations this should be noted in the justification provided in the application. NIGMS staff will not adjust amounts awarded based on this reasonably anticipated balance.
   
• Will the reduction in the committed level for the later years of my project limit the amount of funds which will be provided on the subsequent competing renewal?
  
  No. Any comparisons made between competing renewal and prior year budgets will be adjusted for the effects of commitment management.
   
• Can I obtain copies of the worksheets calculating the commitment management and displaying the approved project budget prior to this adjustment?
  
  These worksheets will be provided on request to the Principal Investigator or Business Official. Please contact the Grants Management Specialist identified on your award to request a copy.
   
• To what types of grants will commitment management be applied?
  
  Beginning in May 2002, commitment management will be applied to most 4- and 5-year competing R01 awards.
   
• How will funds for a research project be distributed under commitment management?
  
  The application of commitment management to competing awards made in FY 2002 will result in a slightly higher first-year budget and a decrease of an equal amount in the fourth-year budget of the project.
   
• Will NIGMS continue to apply commitment management to competing awards in future fiscal years?
  
  We expect that commitment management will only be necessary during this period of transition from double-digit budget increases associated with a doubling of the NIH budget to a period of slower growth. The need for commitment management will be re-evaluated at the start of each fiscal year.
   
• When I develop an R01 application, should I anticipate the CM adjustment and modify the requested budget?
  
  No. All CM considerations and adjustments are made after the application has completed review and is selected for award. So, you should prepare the application and budget request without any consideration of a potential CM adjustment.
   

For additional questions or comments regarding Commitment Management, please send an e-mail to: CMComments@nigms.nih.gov