NIH Projects with International Components: What are they? How do I submit a proposal?

Note this FAQ will continue to be updated as we learn more. Updated 3/26/2026

On September 12, 2025, NIH issued NOT-OD-25-155: New Application Structure for NIH-Funded International Collaborations.

For competing applications requesting funding for one or more foreign components, NIH requires applicants to submit to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that supports their new PF5 and UF5 Activity Codes.

As of February 2026, there is one Parent NOFO that supports International Collaborations: PA-26-002 – NIH Collaborative International Research Project (Parent PF5 Clinical Trial Optional).

Projects with International Component / Subprojects

  • NIH award to a domestic entity with independent foreign award(s) linked to the prime award
  • NIH issues (subproject) award directly to foreign entity
  • Supports collaborations that would have been subawards from UW to non-US entities in the past

Applications with International Components: PF5 & UF5 Activity Codes

  • Submit applications with international components as one application. NIH will review as a whole.
  • Primary applicant organization must be domestic and must have at least one foreign subproject.
  • Prior to award, all international subprojects will be disaggregated and awarded directly to the foreign organization as separate awards.

Do not use International Subprojects for:

  • Foreign consultants.
  • Purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors.
  • International collaborations that do not involve NIH funding or any foreign component that would not have resulted in a foreign subaward.

Multi-Component Application Requirements

  • Apply to the appropriate activity code that allows international subprojects.
  • PA-26-002: NIH Collaborative International Research Project (Parent PF5 Clinical Trial Optional)
  • Parent UF5 opportunity not released yet (as of 3/09/2026)
  • Follow guidance from NIH in NIH Multi Project Forms guidance & NIH How to Apply Guide. Minimum requirements for proposal:
    • Overall Component: address project’s collaborative objectives
    • Research Project Component: address the scientific & technical directions of the project
    • International Project Component(s): address foreign collaborator’s role on the project.
      • Include a project narrative, facilities, budget, justification, research plan (specific aims, research strategy), and required letter of support signed by the international entity’s authorized official.
    • Each foreign component needs a unique International Project component.
    • Include a letter from each foreign organization’s AOR acknowledging that they will fill the role of recipient organization for the disaggregated award.

Letters of Support

For each International Project component, a letter of support must be provided from an AOR of the foreign organization.

The AOR must clearly indicate in the letter of support that they understand that, should the application be selected for funding, the foreign organization will fill the role as a recipient organization for the disaggregated award, and therefore will have all the necessary registrations completed, prior to award.

Review “Required Registrations” portion of the Funding Opportunity Announcement  for details on registration requirements.

SAGE & UW Information – PF5 Proposals

SAGE Budget totals should reflect only the funding that the UW will receive. SAGE Budget Subaward worksheets are not required and should not be included for the international components of an NIH PF5 proposal eGC1.

The overall requested total budget in the SF424 forms will not match the total in SAGE Budget because SAGE Budget should not include the international components. NIH will disaggregate the international components from the UW portion of the Award. There will be no funds awarded to UW for the international component.

What should you include on an eGC1 for a PF5 proposal?

  • Include a comment in the Additional Information section on the Certify & Route page of the eGC1 that this is a PF5 with international components.
  • Attach letters of support from the international components.

Managing International Components​

  • Before award issuance: international entities must register in systems described in the application guide.​
  • Split responsibility for international component​
    • NIH = Financial​
    • Prime Recipient (UW) = Programmatic​
    • Each component responsible for their own RPPRs​
      • International project entity RPPRs must include attestation from domestic prime (UW)
      • UW procedures for this requirement are under development and will be shared when established.

NIH has not provided additional details. We will share more information as we have it. ​

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