RFA-OD-26-034: Building Sustainable Software Tools for Open Science (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Forecast
This forecast is out of date. Its expected dates have passed and the agency has not posted the opportunity on Grants.gov. It may be delayed or cancelled; check the program's other opportunities below.
National Institutes of Health plans to offer grants to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It is a forecast: the notice is expected around April 15, 2026, with applications due around June 16, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed February 5, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
About this NIH notice
- Activity codeR03
- Clinical trialsNot allowed
- R03, Small Grant. A small, short project such as pilot work, a feasibility study, secondary data analysis or a new method, usually for up to two years. Other open R03 notices.
Application due dates, page limits and budget limits are set in the notice. Read RFA-OD-26-034 in the NIH Guide.
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFA-OD-24-010 | July 17, 2024 | Closed May 23, 2025 | Closed |
Key dates
| Forecast posted | February 5, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Expected posting | April 15, 2026 |
| Expected deadline | June 16, 2026 |
| Expected award date | April 13, 2027 |
Add the deadline to your calendar or it to My grants.
Who can apply
This opportunity is open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 15 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (72% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS) along with other NIH Institutes and Centers NEI, NHLBI, NHGRI, NIA, NIAAA, NIAMS, NIBIB, NICHD, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIDDK, NIDA, NIEHS, NIMH, NINDS, NIMHD, NLM, NCCIH, and NCI intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for renewal of the funding opportunity for Building Sustainable Software Tools for Open Science (RFA-OD-24-010). This funding opportunity is intended to provide a flexible mechanism to support the use of best practices and design principles for scientific software development/engineering and to promote community engagement for open science. Successful grants will enable and/or enhance biomedical, clinical, behavioral, social, and health-related research endeavors by (1) developing robust, sustainable, scalable, and reproducible research software tools and workflows, (2) extending the impact of research software by broader dissemination to the scientific community, (3) supporting collaborations between scientists and software engineers to leverage modern, best practices in research software development, and (4) enhancing software skills of the research workforce. This initiative is aligned with the NIH Strategic Plan for Data Science, which describes actions aimed at building a better data infrastructure and a modernized data ecosystem. No applications are being solicited at this time. Given the early expiration of RFA-OD-24-010, this notice will allow for potential applicants the opportunity to continue developing high-impact research software projects. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of research software development are encouraged to consider applying for this new NOFO that will use the R03 activity code.
Who has won Trans-NIH Research Support grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Trans-NIH Research Support (93.310) awarded $5.9 billion across 4,433 grant awards, an average of $1.3 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | North Carolina | 66 | $219 million |
| The Leland Stanford Junior University | California | 104 | $176 million |
| University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education | Pennsylvania | 82 | $154 million |
| The Johns Hopkins University | Maryland | 95 | $152 million |
| Yale Univ | Connecticut | 85 | $149 million |
How to apply
- Read the full notice and attachments on Grants.gov. The notice is the official source for deadlines and requirements.
- Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; registration can take several weeks.
- Register on Grants.gov and submit through Workspace before the deadline and time given in the notice. Our application guide walks through each step.
Questions go to Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS), sustainablesoftware@nih.gov, Please contact via email.
Questions people ask
Is RFA-OD-26-034 still open?
Not yet. It is a forecast: expected deadline June 16, 2026.
Who can apply for Building Sustainable Software Tools for Open Science (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
National Institutes of Health accepts applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Building Sustainable Software Tools for Open Science (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
Expected deadline June 16, 2026. Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.
Who has won Trans-NIH Research Support grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Duke University, The Leland Stanford Junior University, University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education. The program made 4,433 awards worth $5.9 billion in that time.
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