Grant Programs FAQ

Office of Research Integrity (ORI)

FY26 Grant Programs: Frequently Asked Questions

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | ori.hhs.gov

These FAQs are intended to help prospective applicants understand ORI’s FY26 grant programs and navigate the application process. For deadlines, funding amounts, and application requirements, always refer to the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) posted on Grants.gov and the ORI website.

Section 1: ORI Grant Programs — Overview

Q1. What is the purpose of ORI’s FY26 grant programs?

ORI’s FY26 grant programs support original research, the development of practical tools, and the dissemination of knowledge that helps institutions, researchers, and the broader Public Health Service (PHS) research community prevent misconduct and foster a culture of integrity.

Q2. What types of grants does ORI offer?

ORI offers three FY26 grant programs, all focused on advancing the field of research integrity:

Research on Research Integrity (RRI): Supports empirical research on the societal, organizational, group, and individual factors that affect integrity in research. This is ORI’s longest-running program, established in 2001.
Program Development and Evaluation (PDE): Supports the development and evaluation of innovative practical tools, interventions, and approaches that promote research integrity and help prevent misconduct.
Conferences and Workshops Program (CWP): Supports the planning and execution of conferences or workshops that promote the responsible conduct of research and disseminate knowledge on research integrity topics.

Q3. What are the differences between the RRI and PDE grant programs?

RRI (Research on Research Integrity) grants fund studies that generate new knowledge about why research misconduct happens and how to prevent it, with outputs like publications, data, and models. PDE (Program Development and Evaluation) grants fund applied, practical projects that build or improve training, institutional systems, and tools to directly strengthen research integrity in organizations. In short: RRI is about understanding the problem, while PDE is about implementing solutions in real-world settings.

Q4. Do I need to have received an RRI grant to apply for a PDE grant?

No. You can apply for a PDE grant even if you have not received an RRI grant.

Q5. How competitive are ORI grants?

ORI’s grant programs have been highly competitive and the agency expects to fund a small number of FY26 awards. Applicants should clearly align their proposed project with the specific requirements of the applicable NOFO.

Q6. Are these grant programs about ethics and ethics related research?

No. ORI grants focus specifically on research misconduct and research integrity systems, not general research ethics or broader bioethics topics. The program is designed to support work that examines, prevents, or detects research misconduct (fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism), or strengthens institutional processes that address those issues. If a project is primarily about ethical theory or general ethical decision-making, it’s usually outside the scope of ORI’s grants unless it is directly tied to misconduct prevention or detection.

Section 2: Eligibility

Q7. Who is eligible to apply for ORI grants?

Eligibility varies by program and is specified in each NOFO. Check each NOFO carefully for any restrictions on applicant type.

Q8. Do I need to be affiliated with a PHS-funded institution to apply?

No.

Q9. Can foreign institutions apply?

No, foreign institutions are not eligible to apply for ORI’s FY26 NOFOs.

Q10. Can I apply if my institution does not already have an ORI assurance on file?

Yes. However, if your institution proposes to conduct biomedical or behavioral research, biomedical or behavioral research training, or activities related to that research or research training with funds from an ORI grant, it must establish a research misconduct assurance with ORI under 42 CFR Part 93. If your institution does not yet have one, you can establish a new assurance through the ORI website before or during the application process. Contact ORI for guidance on assurance requirements as they apply to your situation.

Section 3: Funding Amounts and Project Periods

Q11. How much funding can I request?

Funding limits differ by program and are set out in each NOFO.

Q12. What is included in “total costs”?

Total costs include both direct costs (costs directly attributable to your project, such as personnel, supplies, and travel) and indirect costs (also called Facilities and Administrative costs, or F&A). Your institution’s negotiated indirect cost rate will apply. Budget requests must stay within the total cost ceiling specified in the NOFO.

Q13. What if my institution does not have a negotiated indirect cost rate?

A non-Federal entity that does not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement may elect to charge a de minimis rate of up to 15 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC), which may be used indefinitely. This rate must be applied consistently to all Federal awards. Refer to 2 CFR 200.414 (f) for guidance and additional information.

Q14. How long are project periods?

All FY26 ORI grants are one-year awards. Consult the active NOFO for the project period dates for each grant program.

Section 4: The Application Process

Q15. How do I find ORI’s FY26 NOFOs?

ORI announces funding opportunities through several channels. The most reliable way to stay informed is to:

Subscribe to ORI’s grants email list
Monitor the ORI Blog for NOFO announcements
Search Grants.gov using ORI’s NOFO numbers (e.g., IR-ORI-26-001, IR-ORI-26-002, IR-ORI-26-003 for FY2026)
Follow OASH Comms on X (formerly Twitter) at @HEALTHGOV

Q16. Where do I submit my application?

ORI grant applications are submitted through Grants.gov. You must locate the NOFO for the program you are applying to, complete the required application package, and submit electronically by the deadline.

Q17. What are the typical application components?

While requirements vary by NOFO, a typical ORI grant application includes:

Project Abstract — a concise summary of the proposed work
Project Narrative / Research Plan — a detailed description of the problem, objectives, methods, and expected outcomes
Budget and Budget Justification — itemized costs with narrative justification
Biographical Sketches — for all key personnel
Organizational Information / Assurances — information about the applying institution
Statement of Work

Always download and follow the complete application package from the active NOFO on Grants.gov, as requirements can differ across programs and fiscal years.

Q18. Is there a page limit for the application?

Yes. Page limits are specified in each NOFO and vary by program. Exceeding page limits is grounds for rejection without review. Read the instructions regarding page limits and formatting carefully and prepare your application accordingly. Using the required formatting (font size, margins, line spacing) is mandatory.

Q19. Does ORI offer technical assistance to prospective applicants?

Yes. ORI will host a Technical Assistance Webinar (TAW) shortly after releasing its FY26 NOFOs. The webinar covers the programs’ priorities, application requirements, common applicant mistakes, and tips for strengthening proposals. Recordings and slide decks from past webinars are posted on the ORI website. Attending or reviewing the TAW materials before applying is strongly recommended.

Q20. Can I contact ORI program staff with questions before submitting?

Yes. ORI encourages prospective applicants to reach out to the program officer identified in the relevant NOFO with substantive questions about program priorities or project fit. Keep emails focused and specific. Program officers cannot pre-review applications or guarantee funding outcomes.

Q21. What is the application deadline?

Application deadlines are specified in the NOFOs. Start the Grants.gov registration and submission process well in advance (at least 30 days), as technical issues with system registration can cause delays.

Section 5: Review and Selection

Q22. How are applications reviewed?

Applications go through a series of reviews:

Application Qualification: Conducted by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) grants management, Federal program staff, including senior Department officials or other designated Presidential appointees to determine eligibility.
Merit Review: Applications are evaluated by a panel of external peer reviewers with relevant expertise. ORI actively recruits qualified peer reviewers; if you are interested in serving as a reviewer, you can upload your CV to the OASH reviewer database.
Programmatic Technical Review and Risk Assessment: Program staff will review each application for technical (programmatic), budgetary, and grants management compliance.

Q23. What criteria are applications evaluated on?

Review criteria are specified in each NOFO but generally include:

Significance: Does the project address an important problem in research integrity?
Innovation: Does it offer novel approaches, tools, or knowledge?
Approach: Are the methods sound and feasible within the proposed timeline and budget?
Team qualifications: Do the investigators have the expertise to carry out the work?
Tangible outcomes: Will the project produce concrete, disseminable products or findings?

Q24. How long does the review process take?

Review timelines vary, but applicants should expect several months between the submission deadline and notification of funding decisions. ORI communicates award decisions through the Grants.gov system and via direct contact with applicants. Monitor your application status in Grants.gov. ORI anticipates making FY26 awards in late September 2026, but timelines can vary.

Q25. Will I receive reviewer feedback if my application makes it to merit review, but is not funded?

ORI typically provides applicants with reviewer feedback (summary statements) following the review. This feedback can be valuable for strengthening future submissions. If you do not receive feedback automatically, contact the ORI program officer listed in the NOFO.

Q26. Will my application receive feedback if it does not make it to merit review?

You will be notified in writing if your application does not make it to merit review, and what the disqualifying factor was. If you do not receive feedback, contact the OASH grants management specialist listed in the NOFO.

Section 6: Writing a Strong Application

Q27. What makes a competitive ORI application?

Strong applications typically:

Clearly articulate the research integrity problem being addressed and why it matters for PHS-funded research
Propose methods that are appropriate for the scope of the award
Identify specific, concrete, and publicly accessible outcomes or deliverables
Demonstrate that the project team has the expertise and institutional capacity to succeed
Stay tightly within the scope and budget floor and budget ceiling of the specific program
Align explicitly with the thematic priorities stated in the NOFO

Q28. What are common weaknesses that lead to low scores or rejection?

Common weaknesses identified in ORI grant reviews include:

Proposals that are too broad or ambitious for the funding amount and project period
Vague or unmeasurable outcomes — reviewers look for specific, tangible deliverables
Poor fit with ORI’s stated priorities or unclear relevance to PHS-funded research
Budgets that are not well-justified or that exceed the budget ceiling or fall below the budget floor
Insufficient detail in the methods section to assess feasibility
Biographical sketches that do not clearly demonstrate relevant expertise
Failure to address evaluation — how will you know if your project succeeded?
Failure to attach relevant attachments in the proper sections
Failing to follow the period of performance listed in the NOFO

Q29. Should my proposal reference prior ORI-funded research?

Yes, especially for RRI and PDE applications. ORI’s programs are designed to build a cumulative evidence base. Demonstrating familiarity with prior ORI-funded work and explaining how your proposed project extends or applies that work, strengthens the case for significance and innovation.

Section 7: Post-Award Requirements

Q30. What reporting is required if I receive an ORI grant?

Grantees are required to submit progress reports and financial reports in accordance with the terms and conditions of their award. Specific reporting requirements, formats, and deadlines are communicated in the Notice of Award. Reports are typically submitted through the grants management system used by OASH. All publications and products resulting from ORI-funded research must acknowledge ORI support and, where applicable, be made publicly accessible.

Q31. Are there requirements for disseminating results?

Yes. ORI places a strong emphasis on public dissemination of grant-funded work. Grantees are expected to make their findings, tools, and resources broadly available to the research integrity community. For conference grants, this typically means making event materials (presentations, proceedings, summary reports) publicly accessible after the event.

Q32. Can awarded grants be extended or renewed?

No-cost extensions may be available if a project runs into unexpected delays and needs additional time to complete its objectives without additional funding. Requests must be submitted in advance of the project end date and are subject to grants management approval. Refer to your NOA for more information.

Section 8: Resources and Contact

Q33. Where can I find the FY26 NOFOs?

FY26 NOFOs are posted on:

Grants.gov — search by funding opportunity number or by “ORI” as the agency
The ORI Extramural Research page
The ORI Blog

Q34. Where can I see examples of previously funded projects?

ORI publishes award data on its website, including project titles, abstracts, and grantee institutions. Reviewing funded projects is one of the best ways to calibrate the scope, topic areas, and deliverables that ORI considers competitive.

Q35. How do I register my institution on Grants.gov?

Grants.gov registration involves several steps and can take several weeks to complete, especially for first-time applicants. Your institution must register with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) first, then complete Grants.gov registration. Grants.gov provides detailed step-by-step instructions for applicant registration. Begin this process as early as possible.

Q36. Who do I contact at ORI with questions?

Contact information for ORI program staff is provided in each NOFO. For general and technical inquiries about the grant programs, please contact Armineh Ghazarian at Armineh.ghazarian@hhs.gov.

Stay connected: Subscribe to ORI’s grants email list to receive announcements about new funding opportunities, webinars, and program updates directly in your inbox.

This document is intended as a general guide and should not be used as official guidance. If this document conflicts with a NOFO, the NOFO will govern.