ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REVISED PHS 398 AND PHS 2590 FORMS

Release Date:  October 10, 2001 (See Addendum NOT-OD-02-027 and NOT-OD-02-059)

NOTICE:  NOT-OD-02-002

National Institutes of Health

This notice is an addendum to NOT-OD-01-049, entitled “REVISED PHS 398 AND PHS 
2590 NOW AVAILABLE”, which was previously published on July 10, 2001 in the NIH 
Guide for Grants and Contracts 
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-01-049.html).

In response to comments and suggestions from the research community on how NIH 
can enhance the application forms to make them more user-friendly, NIH is 
offering the PHS 398 and PHS 2590 forms as Rich Text Format files as well as 
Portable Document Format files.

** Rich Text Format (RTF) is a standardized way to encode various text 
formatting properties, such as bold characters and typefaces, as well as 
document formatting and structures.  RTF is supported across a number of 
platforms.  RTF files can be opened in many word processors and other RTF-aware 
software packages with much of its formatting left intact.  In addition, many 
word processing programs will also allow users to save a document in RTF when 
you select "Save As..."

Some fields on the RTF Form Pages have been "protected" to minimize the chances 
that applicants will attempt to alter the forms.  Format Pages, however, have 
been left "unprotected" to allow applicants to format text and/or insert 
graphics, diagrams, or tables.  Please note:  These format pages are intended to 
assist applicants in the development of specific sections of the application.  
TYPE SIZE AND FORMAT SPECIFICATIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED OR THE APPLICATION WILL BE 
DESIGNATED AS INCOMPLETE AND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT ORGANIZATION 
WITHOUT PEER REVIEW.

 **Portable Document Format (PDF) is a fillable format which requires Adobe 
Acrobat Reader Software. This software is free and may be accessed at 
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.  If you have any questions 
about using the new forms and the Adobe Acrobat Reader Software process see 
“INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOWNLOADING DOCUMENTS AND ELECTRONIC FORMS” at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/edocs.htm.

NOTE:  Other software packages for completing these applications may be 
available from other sources; however, it is essential that the type size and 
format specifications are met or the application will be returned without review.

DISCLAIMER:  Reference to these software packages neither constitutes nor should 
be inferred to be an endorsement or recommendation of any product, service, or 
enterprise by the National Institutes of Health, any other agency of the United 
States Government, or any employee of the United States Government.  No 
warranties are stated or implied.

By implementing electronic versions of the PHS 398 and PHS 2590 application 
kits, NIH will continue to consider and incorporate additional suggestions from 
the public prior to mandatory use (applications received on or after January 10, 
2002) as well as after the mandatory implementation date.  After the January 
2002 implementation date, the PHS 398 and PHS 2590 documents will be updated, as 
necessary, to reflect changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules and 
policies.  NIH will continue to inform the public of notable changes to the 
documents and forms through the “NIH Guide” and the “NIH Forms and Applications 
Page” (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.)  Applicants are urged to always 
check the PHS 398 and PHS 2590 websites to download the most current versions of 
the instructions and forms prior to submission of an application to NIH.

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