Managing Sponsored Project Funds: SNAP

If you manage sponsored project funds, find out what you need to know about the SNAP process for NIH awards.

Background

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) implemented the Streamlined Non-Competing Award Process (SNAP) program to simplify the requirements of the non-competing application and financial reporting processes. One of SNAP's main benefits is that it requires financial status reports (FSRs) only at the end of the competitive segment, rather than annually.

Criteria

SNAP is effective for all competing and non-competing grants with start dates of July 1, 1995, or later. It applies to all mechanisms routinely covered under expanded authorities, except Program Project Grants (PO1s) and Outstanding Investigator Grants (R35s). Terms and conditions on the Notice of Grant Award may specifically include or exclude awards from SNAP.

Summary of reporting requirements

• FSRs are no longer required annually.
• FSRs are required 90 days after the end of the competitive segment or project period.
• FSRs should reflect cumulative support provided for the entire competitive segment.
• FSRs must be submitted whether or not the grant receives funding for a competitive renewal.
• FSRs must be submitted if a grant terminates early.
• FSRs must be submitted if a grant is transferred to a new institution.

Caution

Although SNAP is intended to streamline requirements, it does not diminish the importance of effective monitoring of grant funds. NIH will monitor the quarterly Federal Cash Transaction Report breakdown of transactions, submitted by Sponsored Projects Finance (SPF), to determine if the pattern of expenditures indicates possible problems. Fund managers for federal awards must assure that federal funds are expended for the purpose for which the grant was awarded and in compliance with federal regulations.