Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)

The Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) is used by grantees to submit annual progress reports. Most federal granting agencies (including but not limited to: the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), and Office of Naval Research (ONR), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) require grantees to submit a progress or technical report on an annual basis or other frequency as determined by the federal sponsor. Once an award is received, review the grant’s terms and conditions to determine how to submit the RPPR and reporting frequency. Questions related to RPPRs can be forwarded to the appropriate GCAT.

These reports:

  • Document accomplishments and compliance with the terms of awards.
  • Are often required on an annual basis, though a sponsor may request them at different intervals.
  • When required annually, reports should: describe scientific progress, identify significant changes, report on personnel and plans for next budget period.

Review the award and sponsor terms & conditions to determine frequency, content, and other requirements.

Late or missing progress reports can lead to delayed funding. In most cases, funding agencies will not release incremental funding without timely submission of a progress report.

Most sponsors allow the Principal Investigator (PI) to submit their annual progress reports directly to the sponsor.

Examples:

Information needed to complete an RPPR

  • Basic institutional and project identifying data
    • If your RPPR requires a Signing Official (SO), you should list your OSP award manager
  • Accomplishments from past activity period and goals for upcoming activity period
  • Outcomes or “products” from the activity such as technologies and publications
  • Effort of all personnel, including all collaborators
  • Impact of the project and major contributions
    • for example: to the discipline, human resources (teaching, training), public knowledge, social conditions
  • Changes to the project: delay in plans, changes in approach, compliance (animal use, human subject involvement, biohazards), other support, etc.
  • Budget information (if required)
  • If applicable: protocol for Animal Subjects or Human Subjects Enrollment data
  • Specific to NIH RPPRs - review NIH Public Access Policy guidance

We recommend PIs reach out to their departmental Grant / Research Administrators for help completing the RPPR or locating more details for personnel calendar months, unobligated balances etc.

Consider delegating the ASST role in eRA Commons to someone who can help initiate or complete the RPPR in eRA Commons.

NIH Only

The Third-Party Agreements Library

Recently updated NIH federal policy related to research and science security requires copies of contracts, grants, or any other agreement specific to senior/key personnel foreign appointments and/or employment for a foreign institution, to be submitted as part of the Other Support PDF (along with other required data and artifacts) effective 1/25/2022. If not in English, copies must be translated prior to submission. To meet these requirements, Yale needs to collect these documents, review them, and return to the originator for inclusion in the Other Support documentation to be submitted to the NIH.

The Third-Party Agreements Library provides a mechanism to support and facilitate this process. Please access the Library according to your role.

NIH Progress Report Due Dates

NIH requires use of the RPPR module to submit progress reports for Streamlined Non-competing Award Process (SNAP), fellowship, and multi-year funded awards. The NIH will require all grantee institutions to use the RPPR for non-SNAP progress reports submitted on or after October 17, 2014.

SNAP progress reports are due the 15th of the month preceding the month in which the budget period ends (e.g., if the budget period ends 11/30, the SNAP progress report due date is 10/15).

Please note that the due dates for non-SNAP RPPRs have not changed. The non-SNAP progress report is due the first of the month preceding the month in which the budget period ends (e.g., if the budget period ends 11/30, the due date is 10/1).

Generate a list of pending NIH progress report due dates using Yale’s Institutional Profile File (IPF) number. Use IPF number 9420201.

NIH Resources

SNAP Eligible RPPR Submit Delegation

SNAP eligible awards are submitted directly to NIH via eRA Commons by the PI. OSP, as the Yale Signing Official (SO), will delegate submission authority for SNAP eligible RPPRs to all active PIs affiliated with Yale in eRA Commons. If your PI needs delegated submit authority, forward an email from your PI to Tracy Coston (tracy.coston@yale.edu) with the PI’s acknowledgment of the following certification:

“In submitting this RPPR, the SO (or PD/PI with delegated authority), certifies to the best of his/her knowledge that the grantee organization is in compliance with the terms and conditions specified in the Notice of Award and Grants Policy Statement, and verifies the accuracy and validity of all administrative, fiscal, and scientific information in the progress report. The SO (or PD/PI with delegated authority) further certifies that the grantee organization will be accountable for the appropriate use of any funds awarded and for the performance of the grant-supported project or activities resulting from the progress report. Deliberate withholding, falsification, or misrepresentation of information could result in administrative actions such as withdrawal of a progress report, suspension and/or termination of an award, debarment of individuals, as well as possible criminal penalties. The grantee institution may be liable for the reimbursement of funds associated with any inappropriate or fraudulent conduct of the project activity.”