Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, NRSA, institutional research training grants, training grants, payback, service payback, time commitment, initiation of payback service, source of funding, timing of service obligation, financial payback, policy and principal calculation, interest and interest rate calculation, extensions of payback, extensions of the 2-year period to initiative payback, basis for extensions or break in service, waiver, policy, waiver criteria
Once a Termination Notice has been submitted and accepted, the NIH awarding IC The NIH organizational component responsible for a particular grant program or set of activities. The terms "NIH IC," or "awarding IC" are used throughout this document to designate a point of contact for advice and interpretation of grant requirements and to establish the focal point for requesting necessary prior approvals or changes in the terms and conditions of award. determines if a payback obligation exists. When a trainee or fellow must pay back, the Termination Notice and related documents are forwarded to the NIH Kirschstein-NRSA Payback Service Center (PSC). PSC personnel are NIH's experts in Kirschstein-NRSA payback requirements. The PSC administers the payback activities of all NIH ICs. The authorities related to payback normally delegated to the IC The NIH organizational component responsible for a particular grant program or set of activities. The terms "NIH IC," or "awarding IC" are used throughout this document to designate a point of contact for advice and interpretation of grant requirements and to establish the focal point for requesting necessary prior approvals or changes in the terms and conditions of award. are delegated to the Chief, Kirschstein-NRSA PSC. The PSC retains all records until an obligation is satisfied, and then transfers closed records to the Federal Records Center.
Most Kirschstein-NRSA recipients eventually fulfill their payback obligation by engaging in activities that are determined to be acceptable service. Some recipients fulfill their obligation via financial payback. On rare occasions, the payback obligation is waived.
As indicated in Payback Reporting Requirements-Implementation in this subsection, the amount of a payback obligation incurred is solely dependent on the total period of support and the laws in effect when the Kirschstein-NRSA support was received.
11.4.3.1 Service Payback
11.4.3.1.1 Definitions
For fulfilling the Kirschstein-NRSA service payback obligation, the following definitions apply:
- Research. Research is defined as an activity that involves designing experiments, developing protocols, and collecting and interpreting data. In addition, review of original research or administration of original research that includes providing scientific direction and guidance to research may be acceptable if a doctoral degree and relevant research experience is required for individuals filling such positions. Such research can be conducted in an academic, government, for-profit, or other environment in either a foreign or domestic setting. In addition, when consistent with the cumulative amount, type, and frequency of research or research training experiences, functions that involve analytic or other technical activities conducted in direct support of research, as defined above, will also satisfy the service payback obligation.
- Teaching. Teaching is an instructional activity that takes place in an organized educational or other instructional environment. Activities classified as teaching are generally carried out in a formal didactic setting, but other activities will be considered if they are consistent with the certifying institution's policy on the definition of teaching responsibilities. Such teaching can be conducted at universities, professional schools, research institutes, teaching hospitals, primary schools, secondary schools, or colleges. When calculating hours of teaching per week, it is permissible to include 3 hours of preparation time for each hour of direct instruction. Acceptable teaching activities must have a biomedical or health-related relevance.
- Health-Related . "Health-related" means related to the description, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease. Fields other than those usually considered to be directly related to human disease, such as agriculture, environmental sciences, biotechnology, and bioengineering, also will be considered health-related.
11.4.3.1.2 Time Commitment
All acceptable activities must be undertaken for periods that average at least 20 hours per week. Total employment in such activities averaging less than 20 hours per week cannot be counted toward fulfilling the obligation except in cases of disability or other pressing personal or family circumstances, such as childcare or elder care responsibilities. It is not permissible for individuals otherwise engaged in full-time employment to engage in service payback activities at effort levels below 20 hours per week.
If less than 20 hours commitment per week is permitted, the total period of service obligation will be prorated. For example, an individual who owes 12 months of service and can devote only 10 hours per week to service payback activities due to a disability will be required to engage in such service for 24 months. These exceptions are rare and must receive prior approval Written approval by an authorized HHS official, e.g., a designated IC GMO, evidencing prior consent before a recipient undertakes certain activities or incurs specific costs (see Administrative Requirements-Changes in Project and Budget-Prior Approval Requirements). from the PSC.
11.4.3.1.3 Initiation of Payback Service
Service payback obligations for postdoctoral recipients may be discharged by
- receiving an equal number of months of postdoctoral Kirschstein-NRSA support beginning in the 13th month of such postdoctoral Kirschstein-NRSA support, or
- engaging in an equal number of months of health-related research, health-related research training, or health-related teaching (or any combination thereof) that averages more than 20 hours per week.
11.4.3.1.4 Source of Funding
There is no restriction on the source of funds supporting an individual's service payback activity. An individual could be supported by a PHS grant or any non-Kirschstein-NRSA Federal or non-Federal source. Unpaid service also is permitted.
11.4.3.1.5 Timing of Service Obligation
An individual must begin to undertake the payback service requirement within 2 years after the termination date of the individual's Kirschstein-NRSA support unless an extension of time to begin payback has been approved by the PSC (see Payback-Extensions of Payback-Extensions of the 2-Year Period to Initiate Payback below).
11.4.3.2 Financial Payback
11.4.3.2.1 Policy and Principal Calculation
If an individual does not perform payback service, the Federal government shall be entitled to recover certain costs. The amount the United States is entitled to recover depends on when support was received. Calculation formulas take into account the total amount paid the individual (see Interest and Interest Rate Calculation below), less any obligation already fulfilled through service or legislative allowance when applicable. The total paid an individual under an institutional research training grant or individual fellowship award at a domestic, non-Federal sponsoring institution is considered to be the stipend A payment made to an individual under a fellowship or training grant in accordance with pre-established levels to provide for the individual's living expenses during the period of training. A stipend is not considered compensation for the services expected of an employee. only. The total paid an individual under a fellowship award at a foreign sponsoring institution includes the payment for the round-trip travel costs. The total paid an individual under a fellowship award at a Federal sponsoring institution includes any money expended from the institutional allowance provided for such purposes as health insurance, travel, tuition, and fees.
11.4.3.2.2 Interest and Interest Rate Calculation
NIH computes interest on the principal amount beginning on the date the United States became entitled to recover stipends A payment made to an individual under a fellowship or training grant in accordance with pre-established levels to provide for the individual's living expenses during the period of training. A stipend is not considered compensation for the services expected of an employee. . The interest rate is the rate fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury after considering prevailing consumer rates of interest. Accordingly, interest may accrue on any Kirschstein-NRSA obligation if the 2-year grace period has passed, if deferment has expired, or if service has terminated before completion of the payback obligation. The Department of the Treasury certifies Kirschstein-NRSA interest rates quarterly. Interest is computed on a 360 day-a-year basis and is applied through the date of receipt. Any outstanding amount will continue to bear interest at the initial rate set by the Secretary of the Treasury until financial payback is complete.
The date that sets the applicable rate of interest depends on the type of Kirschstein-NRSA account received for collection. If financial payback is voluntary, the signature date of the notification of voluntary payback is the date that determines the interest rate as well as the initiation of the 3-year repayment period. If financial payback is involuntary, the date that sets the interest rate and the 3-year repayment period is the date of expiration of the 2-year period following the completion date or termination of Kirschstein-NRSA support. For example, if during June 2021, OFM received an account reflecting January 31, 2019, as the termination date of NRSA support, the Federal government, lacking any documentation to the contrary, becomes entitled to financial payback effective February 1, 2019. The rate of interest applicable is determined based on the February 1, 2019, date, and the total NRSA obligation is required to be fulfilled by January 31, 2022.
The amount to be recovered financially, as determined from the Termination Notice plus applicable interest, shall be paid to the United States within the 3-year period following such date.
11.4.3.3 Extensions of Payback
The authorizing legislation and the implementing regulations (42 CFR Part 66) permit exceptions to certain requirements under the Act.
11.4.3.3.1 Extensions of the 2-Year Period to Initiate Payback
An extension of the 2-year period to initiate payback may be requested in the Annual Payback Activities Certification form. Indication of valid plans to initiate payback soon after the 2-year grace period may be good reason to grant an extension.
11.4.3.3.2 Basis for Extensions or Break in Service
The PSC may extend the period for undertaking payback service or permit breaks in continuous service. These determinations are based on the following criteria:
- An extension or break in service is necessary so the individual may complete their non-health related research or clinical training.
- An extension or break in service is necessary so the individual may participate in the NIH Loan Repayment Program.
- The individual is unable to complete the requirements within the specified period because of a temporary disability.
- Completion by the individual of the requirement within the specified period would involve substantial hardship to the individual, and failure to extend the period would be against equity and good conscience.
Reasons for an extension or break in service include, for example, completing residency training where clinical teaching or research are not an integral part of the training, or seeking employment that would fulfill the payback requirements.
Participation in LRP will result in an automatic deferral of the NRSA obligation because concurrent payback under both LRP and NRSA is not permissible. Payback service cannot begin until after LRP has ended.
11.4.3.4 Waiver
11.4.3.4.1 Policy
The authorizing legislation and the implementing regulation (42 CFR Part 66) permit exceptions to certain requirements under the Act. NIH may waive, in whole or in part, the payback obligation, upon determination that compliance by the individual is impossible or would involve substantial hardship, and enforcement of the individual's obligation would be against equity and good conscience.
11.4.3.4.2 Waiver Criteria
Requests for waivers should be made in writing to the PSC and should include an explanation of the need for the waiver according to the following criteria:
