OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS

Answer:     A “no-cost extension” is the mechanism by which a principal investigator or project director obtains from the sponsor additional time to complete a project where no additional funding is required.

Question:  When can I request a no-cost extension?

Answer:     If the award in question falls under the expanded authorities granted to award recipients by the federal government, submission of your request 30 days in advance of the end of the award period is sufficient. Requests on awards not governed by expanded authorities must go to the sponsor for approval and therefore must be requested at least 60 days in advance of the end of the award period.

Question:  Who approves my no-cost extension?

Answer:     If the award in question falls under the expanded authorities granted to award recipients by the federal government, then OSP has the approval authority for the first no-cost extension request on your award. Subsequent requests and requests on awards not governed by expanded authorities must go to the sponsor for approval.     

Question:  When is a no-cost extension warranted?

Answer:     In general, one or more of the following conditions should exist to make a strong argument for a no-cost extension request:

1. Additional time beyond the established expiration date is required to assure adequate completion of the originally approved project;
2. Continuity of grant support is required while competing continuation application is under review;
3. The extension is necessary to permit an orderly phase out of a project that will not receive continued support;
4. A late start to the project due to circumstances beyond the control of the principal investigator necessitates an extended due date.

Note:  A no-cost extension for the purpose of spending down remaining grant funds is not appropriate.

Question:  Do I have to have a remaining balance in my grant account to get a no-cost extension?

Answer:     Yes.

Question:   Why do I have to commit effort on a no-cost extension?

Answer:      You are still working on a funded project, so your effort has to be tracked and included in the whole of your effort report certification. The terms and conditions of your original award – including your original commitment of effort - continue unless amended. In the real world it is acknowledged that effort commitments during no-cost extensions when funding and other resources are limited may vary.

Send the completed form to the appropriate Senior Research Administrator.

Arts & Sciences – Lisa Nelsen lnelsen@boisestate.edu
Engineering – Linda Georgiev lgeogiev@boisestate.edu
Business & Economics, Education, Health Science, Social Sciences and Public Affairs and Other Units – Robert Buel robertbuel@biosestate.edu.

Click here to download a request for no-cost extension