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No-cost extension (lifecycle context)

A formal extension of the project's period of performance beyond the original end date, with no additional sponsor funds, used to complete the funded scope when execution has been delayed or remaining funds support continued work.

ByCASRAI Editorial Board
· Last updated 21 May 2026

Examples

Worked examples

  • Is an instance

    A project is granted a 6-month NCE to complete final analyses, shifting closeout activities into the extended period.

  • Is an instance

    A second 12-month NCE is requested with detailed justification due to ongoing pandemic-related delays.

Counter-examples

Looks similar, but isn't

  • Not an instance

    A supplemental funding request that adds funds is not an NCE.

  • Not an instance

    An early termination of a project is the opposite of an NCE.

Editorial commentary

In the project lifecycle context, a no-cost extension (NCE) shifts the project end date and changes the closeout timeline. It does not alter the total budget or add scope. The NCE request is typically a type of change request, submitted before the original end date and justified by remaining unspent funds and a viable plan to complete the original aims. NCEs are most often used to complete a final aim, finish writing publications, or train remaining personnel. Excessive use of multiple NCEs on a single award is unusual and typically requires escalating justification.

References

  • US Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.308; UKRI Terms and Conditions of grants.

Also known as

NCE · No-cost time extension · Project extension

Machine-readable encodings

Use in your systems

JATS XML <role> element
xml
<role vocab="credit"
      vocab-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/"
      vocab-term="No-cost extension (lifecycle context)"
      vocab-term-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/no-cost-extension-lifecycle" />
Schema.org DefinedTerm (JSON-LD)
json
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  "@type": "DefinedTerm",
  "@id": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/no-cost-extension-lifecycle",
  "name": "No-cost extension (lifecycle context)",
  "identifier": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/no-cost-extension-lifecycle",
  "description": "A formal extension of the project's period of performance beyond the original end date, with no additional sponsor funds, used to complete the funded scope when execution has been delayed or remaining funds support continued work.",
  "inDefinedTermSet": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/domain/research-lifecycle#set",
  "url": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/no-cost-extension-lifecycle",
  "sameAs": [
    "NCE",
    "No-cost time extension",
    "Project extension"
  ],
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "publisher": {
    "@id": "https://casrai.org/#organization"
  },
  "dateModified": "2026-05-21T02:23:00",
  "inLanguage": "en"
}

Referenced across the research world

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