Direct comparison
NIH FORMS-I vs. FORMS-H Compared
FORMS-I replaced FORMS-H for NIH due dates on/after Jan 25, 2025. See exactly what changed, form by form, plus the 2025 FORMS-I revisions.
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How do FORMS-I, FORMS-H compare side by side?
The table below compares FORMS-I, FORMS-H across 8 procurement-relevant dimensions, from required for due dates through status as of last verification (aug. 2026).
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | FORMS-I | FORMS-H |
|---|---|---|
| Required for due dates | On or after January 25, 2025 | January 25, 2023 – January 24, 2025 |
| Announcing NIH Guide Notice | NOT-OD-24-086 (April 4, 2024) | NOT-OD-22-195 (2022) |
| Peer review framework used | Simplified Review Framework — 3 factors (2 scored, 1 assessed for sufficiency) | Original 5-criteria framework, each criterion individually scored |
| PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form | Restructured: renamed “Candidate Section,” streamlined Research Training Plan items, sponsor/environment sections merged into one “Commitment to Candidate, Mentoring, and Training Environment” section | Prior structure: separate "Fellowship Applicant Section," separate Sponsor/Co-Sponsor and Organizational Environment sections |
| PHS Assignment Request Form | Funding Opportunity Number/Title fields removed as redundant; reviewer-exclusion fields reordered | Included Funding Opportunity Number/Title fields |
| Senior/Key Person Profile (biosketch) | Credential field updated for ORCID iD; instructions reference the phased-in NIH Biosketch/Other Support Common Forms | Used NIH's legacy biosketch and Other Support formats; no Common Form references |
| Terminology | Updated to 2 CFR 200 terms (e.g., “recipient” instead of “grantee”) throughout | Used pre-2 CFR 200-aligned terminology in places |
| Status as of last verification (Aug. 2026) | Current version (last revised December 2025) | Retired — not accepted for current due dates |
Common questions
Common questions about FORMS-I vs FORMS-H
What is NIH FORMS-I?
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FORMS-I is the version of NIH's standard grant application forms and instructions (built on the SF-424 Research and Related package) required for applications with due dates on or after January 25, 2025. It replaced FORMS-H.
Is FORMS-H still accepted?
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No. NIH does not accept FORMS-H application packages for current due dates. FORMS-H applied only to due dates from January 25, 2023 through January 24, 2025.
What is the difference between NIH FORMS-I and the Common Forms for biosketch?
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They're separate changes on separate timelines. FORMS-I is the overall application forms version (effective January 25, 2025). The Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Forms are a distinct, cross-agency standardization effort phased in for due dates and RPPR submissions on or after May 25, 2025, under NOT-OD-24-163.
Has FORMS-I changed since it was introduced in 2024?
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Yes. NIH revised the FORMS-I Application Guide in March 2025 and again in December 2025, updating specific form instructions (including fellowship attachments and indirect-cost-base calculations) without changing the version letter. There is no FORMS-J as of this page’s last-verified date.
How do I know which forms version my application needs?
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Check the application package linked directly from your specific funding opportunity announcement on Grants.gov or NIH ASSIST rather than reusing a previously downloaded package — the required version is determined by your application's due date, not by when you started drafting.
Going deeper
