No-Cost Extension

A no-cost extension is the extension of a project period without additional funding from the sponsor. If a project’s end date is approaching but the Principal Investigator (PI) identifies that the research needs to continue, a no-cost extension allows the end date to be extended.  

A no-cost extension request is an amendment to the award agreement and must be formally submitted to the sponsor for official approval through your Grants Officer (GO) in Grants & Contracts Accounting (G&C).

Funds Remaining

Funds remaining in the account is not an acceptable justification for requesting an extension. Extensions may be requested only for programmatic reasons, and sufficient funds must be available to support the project for the additional period, including the support of committed effort. Some sponsors may request information about the amount of funds remaining in the account and others may request a budget indicating how funds remaining at the end of the original project period will be spent during the extension. Please consult the original award notice and your GO for sponsor-specific requirements.

Most federal agencies have delegated the authority for approving a no-cost extension for grants to the grantee institution. This authority permits G&C to internally approve a one-time no-cost extension, extending the end date of the project period up to an additional 12 months. 

Procedure

Follow the No-Cost Extension Procedure to submit your no-cost extension request through G&C, or ask your Grants Officer for assistance.