Examples
Worked examples
- Is an instance
The year-2 segment of a 5-year R01 grant is released as a non-competitive continuation.
- Is an instance
UK QR (Quality Related) block funding allocated to universities by REF formula is non-competitive.
Counter-examples
Looks similar, but isn't
- Not an instance
An open call for proposals with peer review is competitive.
- Not an instance
A new application that competes against others for funding is competitive.
Editorial commentary
Non-competitive grants include continuation segments of multi-year awards (where year-2 and year-3 funding is released subject to satisfactory progress, not re-competed against other applicants), formula-based block grants to institutions (for example UK QR funding allocated to universities by the Research Excellence Framework’s formula), and directed or sole-source awards to a designated entity chosen for a unique capability rather than through comparative review.
Non-competitive does not mean unaccountable
Removing peer-reviewed competition from how an award is initiated does not remove the accountability mechanisms that apply once it is active: progress reporting, rebudgeting controls, and audit requirements (see Single Audit and the underlying cost-allowability rules) apply to non-competitive awards on the same basis as competitively won ones. A continuation segment can still be reduced, held, or terminated if progress reporting reveals a problem — non-competitive describes how the funding decision was made, not the ongoing oversight regime.
Where it sits relative to other funding-timing terms
A non-competitive continuation is distinct from bridge funding, which is institutional money covering a genuine gap between two separate awards, and from a no-cost extension, which extends the period of performance of an existing award using its own remaining funds rather than releasing a new continuation segment. It is also distinct from a milestone payment, which releases funds contingent on a specific deliverable rather than the passage of a budget period.
Worked example
An NIH R01 is awarded for five years with year-1 funding obligated at the notice of award. Years 2 through 5 are released as non-competing continuation awards, contingent on the annual Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) showing satisfactory progress — the institution does not resubmit a new competing application for each year.
Counter-example
A renewal application submitted at the end of a project period, which is peer-reviewed and scored alongside new applications for the same funding pool, is a competitive renewal, not a non-competitive continuation — the distinguishing factor is whether the funding decision goes through comparative peer review again.
References
- US NIH Grants Policy Statement, continuation/non-competing renewal provisions.
- Research England, QR funding methodology (REF-formula block grant allocation).
Also known as
Continuation funding (non-competitive) · Formula grant · Directed grant
Machine-readable encodings
Use in your systems
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