An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Here’s how you knowOfficial websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Site branding Solr Header Search Header - CalloutIn Crisis? Call or Text 988
Solr Mobile Search Share Buttons BreadcrumbsYour browser is not supported
Switch to Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari
Page title Post Award Amendments for Discretionary Grants Main page contentIf any information on the grant Notice of Award (NoA) needs to be changed, it will require approval from the federal agency before the grant recipient can implement the modification.
The instances where approval is required are referred to as grant post award amendments. Grant recipients should refer to Part II of the HHS Grants Policy Statement (PDF | 1.32 MB) for guidance for all HHS grant recipients.
Post award amendment types include:
If you have specific questions regarding actions that may require a post award amendment please contact your Grants Management Specialist (GMS) identified on the Notice of Award (NoA).
SAMHSA may approve, deny, or request additional material to further document and evaluate your post award amendment. If the amendment request is approved, a new, amended NoA will be issued. The post award amendment is not authorized until the amended NOA has been issued. Verbal authorization is not approval and is not binding to SAMHSA.
IMPORTANT: All post award amendments are exclusively processed through the eRA system. You must have an eRA Commons account to submit your request.
Video (10 minutes, 33 seconds): a video on how to submit a Post Award Amendment request.
Post Award Amendment Applications: a quick guide on how to initiate post award amendment applications and access in-progress post award amendment applications from inside the eRA system.
Overview of the Post Award Amendment Submission Package: this table displays the minimum required forms based on each amendment type. Please note the SF-424 and SF424a online fillable forms are included in the system.
| AMENDMENT TYPE: | SF-424 Form | SF-424a Form | *Budget Narrative (Line Item and Narrative) | Project Narrative | Add Optional: Other Narrative Attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Revision | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Carryover Request | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Change in Scope | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Key Personnel Changes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Merger, Transfer, etc. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| No-Cost Extension | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Organization Change | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
To expedite review of your application, it is recommended you use the SAMHSA budget template below to complete the Detailed Budget and Narrative Justification for submission with your application.
Note: To download the SAMHSA Budget Template (PDF)":
For SAMHSA to view all of your budget data, you must convert the PDF to a non-editable format by PRINTING TO PDF before submission.
IMPORTANT: For the PDF template to function as designed, it must be opened directly in Adobe Acrobat or Reader instead of the browser.
The following documents provide guidance on using the budget template:
For a Section 508 accessible budget template, please use the MS Word DOCX budget template:
The following PDFs are samples of Detailed Budgets and Narrative Justification:
Submit a Web Ticket: https://public.era.nih.gov/commonshelp (preferred method of contact)
Toll-free: 1-866-504-9552
Phone: 301-402-7469
Hours: Mon-Fri, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time (closed on federal holidays)
Grant recipients must submit a post award amendment in order to reallocate funds to address unexpected program changes.
Re-budgeting involves the transfer of funds to cost categories—such as personnel, fringe, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, other, or indirect —that were not previously approved in the funded application. For example, if no equipment was requested in the approved application, but the recipient now wants to use funds to purchase an item of equipment, then a post award amendment needs to be submitted.
A Post Award Amendment is required for:
Note: If there is a change in the scope or objective of the funded project in addition to a budget revision, then the grant recipient only needs to submit a post award amendment for a Change in Scope. The grant recipient does not need to submit a separate post award amendment for Budget Revision.
If requesting a change in indirect costs, provide your current Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.
Cover Letter:
To expedite review of your Budget Revision request, it is highly recommended you use the PDF budget template to complete your Detailed Budget and Narrative Justification for submission with your request.
Carryover is the process by which an unobligated balance (UOB) remaining at the end of a budget period may be carried forward to the next budget period. Carryover funds must be used for unmet project needs and to support the approved goals and objectives of the grant program. The intent of carryover is not to solely spend down the unobligated balance of funds.
A Federal Financial Report (FFR) must be submitted and accepted for SAMHSA to consider a carryover request.
What are unobligated funds?
Unobligated funds are the cumulative amount of federal funds authorized by SAMHSA for expenditure but not yet obligated by the recipient by the end of a budget period.
There are two types of carryover:
Intent to Carryover (also referred to as Expanded Authority)
Formal Carryover
| AMENDMENT TYPE | Carryover |
| SF-424 Form | ✔ |
| SF-424a Form | ✔ |
| Budget Narrative (Line Item and Narrative) | ✔ |
| Project Narrative | |
| Other Narrative Attachments | Cover Letter |
Grant recipients must submit a post award amendment in order to change the scope or objectives for federally supported projects.
A Post Award Amendment is required for:
Consult your GPO and GMS with questions regarding a potential change in scope. SAMHSA will not approve any requests for additional funding.
Cover Letter:
To expedite review of your Budget Revision request, it is highly recommended you use the PDF budget template to complete your Detailed Budget and Narrative Justification for submission with your request.
Grant recipients must submit a post award amendment in order to change approved key staff or level of effort (LOE) of approved key staff for federally supported projects.
A Post Award Amendment is required for:
Key personnel include roles that are required by the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), specified in the approved application, or on the Notice of Award (NoA), such as the Project Director (PD).
A change in the LOE of the PD requires a post award amendment if there is a separation from the project for more than three months or a 25% reduction in the PD’s time devoted to the project. For example, a proposed change from 40% effort to 30% or less effort by the Project Director would represent a significant change in LOE.
Cover Letter:
Key Personnel (Required by the NOFO): Budget
Key Personnel (Required by the NOFO)
Grant recipients must submit a post award amendment as soon as possible so that SAMHSA can determine whether the organization will continue to meet the grant program’s eligibility requirements and take the necessary action to reflect the change in advance of the change in status. Recipients are encouraged to contact SAMHSA Division of Grants Management (DGM) to explain the nature of the change in organizational status and receive guidance on whether it will be treated as a name change or successor-in-interest.
A Post Award Amendment is required for the following types of changes in organizational status:
| AMENDMENT TYPE | Merger, Successor-In-Interest, Transfer |
| SF-424 Form | ✔ |
| SF-424a Form | ✔ |
| Budget Narrative (Line Item and Narrative) | |
| Project Narrative | |
| Other Narrative Attachments | ✔ |
| Additional Instructions | Please consult with your GMS for guidance. |
To expedite review of your Budget Revision request, it is highly recommended you use the PDF budget template to complete your Detailed Budget and Narrative Justification for submission with your request.
Grant recipients may submit a one-time post award amendment to request an extension of up to 12 months on their project. A no-cost extension (NCE) is to ensure completion of the originally approved project, or to permit an orderly phase-out of a project that will not receive continuation support.
A NCE of up to 12 months, with no additional federal funds, may be granted for a federally supported project based on one of the following situations:
The NCE request must be submitted 60 days prior to the end of the project period. SAMHSA will not approve late requests or requests for additional funding, or authorize changes to the project scope or objectives (such as new positions or new services), with a NCE request. SAMHSA will not approve a NCE request if the primary purpose is to permit the use of an unobligated balance of funds.
Cover Letter: An explanation as to why project goals were not completed during the award project period.
The requested duration of the NCE. The time frame requested cannot exceed 12 months. The request must reflect the number of months it will take to reasonably complete the remaining work, and is subject to SAMHSA review.
Identification of the remaining program goals will be accomplished during the NCE period.
The estimated amount of remaining funding that will be used during the NCE.
To expedite review of your Budget Revision request, it is highly recommended you use the PDF budget template to complete your Detailed Budget and Narrative Justification for submission with your request.
An Organization Change is when the name and/or EIN of an organization is changed without otherwise affecting the rights and obligations of that organization as a grant recipient.
When there is a name and/or EIN change to an organization, an advance request is required to ensure that the recipient still is able to meet its legal and administrative obligations to HHS and payments are not interrupted. Recipients are encouraged to contact the GMS to explain the nature of the change in organizational status and receive further guidance.
If deemed appropriate by SAMHSA, the grant recipients must submit a post award amendment as soon as possible so that the organization will continue to meet the grant program’s eligibility requirements.
Letter outlining the grant number, request, justification, IRS documentation, articles of incorporation, etc.
1. A copy of the legal instrument that authorized the name and/or EIN change and authenticated by a proper official of the state or government agency having jurisdiction, such as:
a. If the organization is incorporated: a copy of the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, and proof of filing with the appropriate state authority.
b. If the organization is a trust: A copy of the amendment to the trust instrument, or a resolution to amend the trust instrument, showing the effective date of the change of name and signed by at least one trustee.
c. If the organization is an unincorporated association: A copy of the amendment to the Articles of Association, constitution, or other organizing document, showing the effective date of the change of name and signed by at least two officers, trustees or members.
d. If the organization is a government entity, political subdivision, instrumentality of government: Documentation from the governmental unit that created the entity showing the (new) name of the entity and a letter signed by a person authorized by the creating governmental unit.
The required documentation that an organization submits to SAMHSA for reporting a name change is the same as the supporting documentation the organization uses when reporting a name change to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
2. Legal opinion that includes a statement that says the name change was properly effected in accordance with applicable law.
Please consult with your GMS for guidance.
Once SAMHSA has determined that the documentation for the organization change is complete, the GMS will:
a) Notify the recipient by email to acknowledge the organization change; and
b) Issue an amended NoA at any time, but no later than the next award action.
Submit a Web Ticket: https://public.era.nih.gov/commonshelp (preferred method of contact)
Toll-free: 1-866-504-9552
Phone: 301-402-7469
Hours: Mon-Fri, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time (closed on federal holidays)
