A no-cost extension allows work to continue on a project beyond the project’s end date as long as the project does not need additional funding from the sponsor. No-cost extensions help to ensure all sponsored project activities can be completed. No-cost extensions should not be requested for the sole purpose of expending remaining unencumbered funds.
It is important to be familiar with the award’s terms and conditions regarding no-cost extensions. Sponsors may require that a request for extension be submitted well in advance of the project end date.
No-Cost Extension Procedures
Most sponsors require a no-cost extension request be submitted by your SAM administrator. Some agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) allow for one grantee-approved no-cost extension. Additional extensions require agency approval. For all projects, review the terms and conditions of your award for information regarding no-cost extensions. Requests for no-cost extensions should be initiated by the PI/PD and/or the associated departmental business administrator. All no-cost extension requests should be submitted as a Post-Award Action in USCeRA . Your USCeRA request must include a proposed end date for the project and a justification for the extension. Please upload your justification as a PDF document. Your SAM administrator will prepare and submit the request for the no-cost extension to the sponsor. Upon receipt of approval by the sponsor, SAM will extend the project.
- NSF No-Cost Extension Requests: The request has to be submitted by your SAM administrator. The PI can initiate the
request in Research.gov, under Awards & Reporting > Notifications & Requests. NSF will not approve requests
if the award balance is zero. Refer to the current version of the NSF Proposal & Award
Policies & Procedures Guide for additional information. No-cost extensions should
be submitted 45 days prior to the end of the award.
- NIH No-Cost Extension Requests: The request must be submitted via eRA Commons by your SAM administrator. Refer to the current version of the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information. No-cost extensions can be submitted up until the last day of the project end date.