NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Program Guidelines

PART 1: Overview of NCTN Program Section V – Other Administrative Considerations
V. Other NCI Administrative Considerations
A. Program Staff Administration of the NCTN Program
Within NCI/DCTD, major scientific policy and programmatic decisions concerning the NCI National Clinical Trials
Network (NCTN) Program are made only after appropriate consultation with and involvement by the
responsible Lead NCTN Program Director, the Co-Program Directors of the NCTN Program, the Project Scientists,
NCI/DCTD Branch Chiefs and Program Chiefs that are involved in the Program, and the Associate Director, CTEP,
DCTD, as necessary and appropriate. Routine programmatic administration is the responsibility of the
responsible Lead NCTN Program Director, who assures uniformity of implementation across the various key
components in conjunction with the Co-Program Directors of the NCTN Program and the Project Scientists.
The Lead NCTN Program Director or his/her designee has responsibility for addressing and approving noncompetitive
award (Type 5) budget requests, any supplemental budget requests, and new/competitive award
(Type 1) budgets, as well as future Type 2 applications. The responsible Lead NCTN Program Director will
administer these tasks in conjunction with the Grants Management Specialist in the Office of Grants
Administration (OGA) and will be assisted by the Co-Program Directors of the NCTN Program and the Project
Scientists for the key components of the NCTN Program as well as the NCI/DCTD Senior Program Specialist for
the Program.
B. Senior Program Specialist for the NCTN Program
The NCI/DCTD Senior Program Specialist for the NCTN Program works closely with the responsible Lead NCTN
Program Director in reviewing administrative materials supporting Group requests, performing budget analyses,
and facilitating the completion of action items involving coordination between NCI/DCTD, the NCI Office of
Grants Administration (OGA), and the awardees under the Program. The NCI/DCTD Senior Program Specialist
exchanges information with the Network Group Directors of Operations for the key components of the NCTN
Program and OGA staff on administrative changes and priorities.
C. NCI Office of Grants Administration (OGA)
The Grants Management Specialist for the NCI Office of Grants Administration (OGA) is responsible for the fiscal
and administrative aspects of each application and award. The Grants Management Specialist for OGA works
closely with the responsible Lead NCTN Program Director and NCI/DCTD Senior Program Specialist to assure that
appropriate science is funded in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and peer review
recommendations to the extent that the budget allows and NCI priorities dictate.
D. Miscellaneous Budgetary Considerations
1. Carryover Requests
Carry-over requests will be entertained in situations where circumstances prevented funding from being
spent during the budget period for which it was provided and where funding is not replicated in the current
budget year for an ongoing expense.
2. Requests for Non-competing Supplemental Funding
Informal discussions about the possibility of receiving non-competing supplemental funding for special
needs and/or additional funding to cover data collection and management and biospecimen collection on a
per case basis may be initiated by the awardee for the key component of the NCTN Program. However,
formal requests must be made for funding to be received and must always be countersigned by the
business official responsible for the Cooperative Agreement/grant and the Principal Investigator(s).
Electronic facsimile signatures on documents transmitted via email are acceptable. Most requests,
however, will require the use of a Form PHS 398/SF424 or PHS 2590 to capture the details of the requested
budget. The original should be sent to the responsible Lead NCTN Program Director, in care of the
NCI/DCTD Senior Program Specialist.
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