Agency Update: PF5 Mechanism for International Collaborations at NIH

by Sheryl Soucy-Lubell, Christina Bartee, and Stephanie Etting, Proposal Development Services, [email protected]
October 15, 2026

Quick Summary

NIH now requires applications with a foreign subaward to use the PF5 mechanism.
The PF5 is a multi-component application, that includes an Overall Component, Research Project Component, and International Component(s).
Navigating this large, complex application can feel overwhelming, so PDS has provided guidance and resources to support UC Davis investigators applying using the PF5.

In September 2026, NIH announced that funding applications with a foreign subaward will now need to be submitted using the PF5 mechanism. Navigating this complex application can feel overwhelming, so here we provide guidance on when to use this mechanism, how to approach the different components, and tips and resources for UC Davis affiliates to help prepare a PF5 application.

Should I use the PF5 mechanism?

The PF5 mechanism (PA-26-002) should be used for any proposal with an international subaward.

You SHOULD use the PF5 mechanism for:

Applications to unsolicited Parent Announcements - In this case, use the PF5 mechanism while following standard due dates, guidelines, and generic review criteria. The PF5 can be adapted for projects with international collaborations of varying sizes and types, from individual projects to centers to training grants.
Applications to specialized NOFOs-of-interest - In this case, first verify that the NOFO you are responding to is listed as participating in the PF5 leveraging model. When preparing your application, use the PF5 structure while following the specialized NOFO's scientific and review requirements including eligibility, page limitations, due date, and review criteria.

You should NOT use the PF5 mechanism for:

Projects that include foreign elements that are NOT subawards - In this case, submit your proposal through the standard Parent Announcement or NOFO of interest and disclose the foreign elements in your proposal. See our analysis on reporting foreign components for more details.

What is the format of the PF5?

The PF5 mechanism is a single, integrated multi-component application consisting of at least three required parts, each serving a specific purpose (more detail below):

An Overall Component that gives a general overview of the project's international collaboration
A Research Project Component that focuses on the technical aspects of the research
International Component(s) that describe the role of each foreign collaborator

Each component requires a set of documents that should reflect that component's purpose. Some documents are required by more than one component (e.g., each of the three components requires its own Specific Aims, Project Summary, and Research Strategy document), while other documents may be unique to particular components (e.g., only the Overall Component requires a Project Narrative). While there will likely be overlap in content submitted across the many documents, the materials for each section should be customized to align with the focus of their respective components.

Overall Component

This section focuses on the general overview of the international collaboration, including:

Overarching objectives of the collaborative project
A justification for the foreign collaboration
A description of the project management and coordination
A dispute resolution plan in the Research Strategy
Biographical documents for PI/PD/MPI

Research Project component

This section includes the standard proposal sections regardless of the nature of the collaborating individuals, including:

All activities proposed for the project, both domestically and with international collaborators
The overall technical and scientific approach of the project
Biographical documents for domestic personnel (except PI/PD/MPI)
Domestic budgetary and administrative elements

International Project component(s)

This section describes the elements that are unique to the international subawardee(s), and should include:

A separate International Project component for each foreign subawardee
More detail about the contributions of each international subawardee
Biographical documents for international collaborators
Budgetary information for each international subawardee

For a detailed checklist of all required documents for each component, download our PF5 Summary Checklist.

Other components

Larger, multi-project submissions such as Centers or Program Projects may require additional components. Reach out to Proposal Development Services if you need help with a multi-project submission ([email protected]).

How will the PF5 be evaluated?

The Overall and Research Strategy components will be evaluated as part of peer review for the primary mechanism to which you're applying. The International component is not individually scored.

When preparing your proposal, frame your project for the primary mechanism that you're applying to, focusing on the themes and objectives of that program. The Overall and International Components should be written as extensions of the Research Strategy Component that explain how foreign collaborations are vital to the project that you're proposing.

Learn more about NIH's Simplified Peer Review Framework here.

PDS Tips for preparing a PF5

With all the different documents required for a PF5 application, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Below are some tips from our team:

Download our help documents:
- PF5 Summary Checklist - Review which tasks you will be responsible for with UC Davis as the lead institution and which tasks your collaborators should work on.
- PF5 Detailed Checklist - This document will be particularly helpful as you prepare for submission as it covers all of the relevant guidance for page limits, formatting, etc.
- Bookmark our PF5 Documents Folder - Our PF5 Box folder includes templates and links to relevant help documents.
Start early - The PF5 requires a significant number of documents that need to be coordinated across multiple individuals and institutions, so make a plan for completing the application early on.
Begin with the Research Project component - Remember, this component should reflect a standard proposal for the primary mechanism you are interested in (e.g., R01, R21) and serve as the core of your application by focusing on the framework and technical aspects of the research you are proposing.
Develop the documents for the International Project component with your collaborators - Some of the documents for this component must be prepared by the foreign partner, while others should be worked on collaboratively. All files must be uploaded by the U.S. Institution on behalf of the foreign organization. Our Box folder of PF5 help documents includes documents for foreign collaborators.
Write the Overall Component last - The Overall Component should provide a bigger picture of how the international collaboration enhances the research plan. So, much like writing an abstract for a paper, we recommend writing this component last so that it can tie the other parts of the proposal together for your reviewers.
Review steps for submitting - In our NIH PF5 Proposal Guidance document, you'll find instructions for submitting a PF5 in Cayuse 424. Final submission of all application materials must be done by the lead institution (i.e., UC Davis).