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Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)

Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)

What is it?

This is a federal-wide uniform progress report format for use by all federal agencies that provide sponsored funding. It will end up replacing other interim performance progress report formats currently used. The RPPR has been mandated by the federal Office of Management and Budget and coordinated by the National Science Foundation.

NIH Webcast on RPPR NSF Webcast on RPPR

When do I need to use the RPPR instead of the progress report format I am used to?

Each federal agency has a different implementation timeline. These timelines are available on the RPPR site hosted by NSF.

What kind of information does the RPPR collect?

The RPPR asks for data and compliance information that you may not have needed to provide previously at the interim report stage. The draft format provides the questions and fields required for the RPPR.

This includes:

  1. Basic institutional and project identifying data
  2. Accomplishments from past activity period and goals for the upcoming activity period
  3. Outcomes or "products" from the activity such as technologies and publications
  4. Participants, including all persons that have contributed significantly to the activity, the role, their activity and their funding support. This section also asks about collaborators, including foreign collaborators
  5. Impact of the project and major contributions: e.g. to the discipline, human resources (e.g. teaching, training), public knowledge, social conditions
  6. Changes to the project: delay in plans, changes in approach, compliance (animal use, human subject involvement, biohazards), project expenditures

I have an NIH grant that is eligible to submit progress reports under the Streamlined Non-Competing Award Process (SNAP). Will I now be required to use the RPPR format?

All PIs with SNAP eligible awards and fellowships (F-series) may choose to submit the progress report via the RPPR format in eRA Commons. The requirement to use the RPPR format for all awards will be announced in the NIH Guide.

When I begin my progress report in eRA Commons, what should I do?

When clicking on the "eSNAP" tab in eRA Commons, the PI will have two choices: to click on the RPPR link or the eSNAP link. Once the RPPR link is chosen, the PI is taken into the fields to complete the RPPR and route to the Signing Official (OSP).

What does OSP do to submit the NIH RPPR report?

The process within SAGE has not changed. As with current NIH progress reports, OSP requires that an eGC1 be prepared and routed to OSP with the budget period information included and a copy of the progress report attached. As with the current eRA Commons system, OSP will receive notification that the RPPR has been routed to the Signing Official and be able to view the RPPR in eRA Commons in order to submit on behalf of the University of Washington.

What if I start the RPPR in eRA Commons and decide I would rather use the eSNAP format?

According to NIH, once the RPPR link is chosen, the user cannot click cancel and start over with an eSNAP format. If you begin an RPPR, and decide to start the progress report over again via eSNAP, please contact Scarlett Gibbs at NIH (gibbs@od.nih.gov). NIH can re-set the eRA Commons system to allow you to start over using the eSNAP format.

What if I start the RPPR in eRA Commons and decide I would rather use the eSNAP format?

According to NIH, once the RPPR link is chosen, the user cannot click cancel and start over with an eSNAP format. If you begin an RPPR, and decide to start the progress report over again via eSNAP, please contact Scarlett Gibbs at NIH (gibbs@od.nih.gov). NIH can re-set the eRA Commons system to allow you to start over using the eSNAP format.

What is NSF's timeline for adopting the RPPR?

NSF is implementing a new reporting service on Research.gov that adopts the RPPR format. This will replace NSF's annual, final and interim project reporting on Fastlane. As of February 1st, 2013, progress reports will not be submitted via Fastlane. Instead, reports will be prepared and submitted via Research.gov. NSF intends to have Research.gov reporting capabilities available as of March 18th.

NSF has extended the overdue date:

  • By 45 days for reports due between January 31st and March 31st
  • By 30 days for reports due between April 1st and April 30th

Please check the NSF webinar posted above or your NSF program officer for more information.

I have feedback to convey on the RPPR format/system. Where do I send this feedback?

Please direct your feedback to Carol Rhodes , Associate Director, OSP, or Kristina Hyman , Program Operations Specialist, Learning and Business Support Team, OSP. This information is shared with our research community on a regular basis and within the Helpful Hints posted above.