Enforcement (active NIH timeline)

NIH enforces Common Forms via eRA system validations:

• Common Forms are required for applications, JIT, RPPR, and Prior Approval submissions on/after Jan 25, 2026.
• For application due dates and JIT, RPPR, and Prior Approval submissions on/after May 8, 2026, system validations stop submissions not using compliant Common Forms.
• The practical fix for an eRA Common Forms error is to replace the attachment with a compliant, digitally certified SciENcv PDF.

stateDiagram-v2
    state "eRA validates Common Forms" as Validate
    state "Submission-stopping error" as Error
    state "Compliant SciENcv Common Forms" as Compliant
    [*] --> Validate: Submit package
    Validate --> Compliant: Certified SciENcv PDFs pass validation
    Validate --> Error: Legacy or non-compliant forms
    Error --> Compliant: Replace before submission can proceed
    Compliant --> [*]

See NIH notices NOT-OD-26-018 and NOT-OD-26-079.

Operational implication: you need dedicated individual certification steps in your internal submission timeline. Delegates cannot certify for the named individual.