Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA)

Mission

OPERA provides leadership and oversight in grants management policy and compliance, intellectual property, and OMB clearances to the extramural research community and NIH extramural staff through policy development, expert guidance, analysis, outreach, and related information dissemination in order to promote effective stewardship of NIH extramural funds in support of health research.

Major Responsibilities

• NIH extramural policies and procedures
• NIH Grants Policy Statement
• NIH grant and training application forms
• Intellectual Property
• OMB clearances under the Paperwork Reduction Act
• Grants compliance and oversight
• Financial conflict of interest
• NIH implementation of federal-wide initiatives

Offices/Divisions

Immediate Office of the Director

Director: Michelle Bulls 
Deputy Director: Kristin Ta

• Project Clearance Branch
  The Project Clearance Branch is the NIH control point for the Office of Management and Budget clearance functions concerning public information collection activities. 
   
• Other Transactions
  OPERA is the central point of contact for Other Transactions, and coordinates and manages Other Transactions policies and activities across NIH.
   
• Division of Grants Policy
  The Division of Grants Policy (DGP) develops, executes, and interprets NIH policies for administering financial assistance (grants and cooperative agreements) for the extramural research community. DGP also provides policy guidance for NIH extramural staff and provides leadership and support to address emerging issues and standardize grants administration practices within NIH.
   
• Division of Grant Systems Integration
  Performs analysis and develops business processes and functionality for implementing and automating grants policy business process requirements. Serves as NIH’s central coordination, management, and operations for closeout activities.
   
  • Systems Policy Branch
    The Systems Policy Branch (SPB) serves as the liaison between OPERA and system owners at NIH and across the Federal government. SPB provides leadership and support to implement policies and compliance initiatives in NIH electronic systems.
     
  • Grants Information
    Provides a communications resource service for NIH grant-related inquiries. Information specialists help prospective NIH grantees navigate NIH and identify the appropriate resources, funding opportunities, or offices.
     
  • Closeout Center
    The Closeout Center is a central coordination and receipt location for closeout reports. The center provides closeout services for grants and cooperative agreements for the OD and 24 NIH institutes and centers that make awards.
     

  • OPERA Federal Financial Report Reconciliation and Financial Closeout Support Center 
    The Federal Financial Report Reconciliation and Financial Closeout Support Center (FFRC) oversees the review, acceptance, and ultimate approval of Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) submitted to NIH by grant recipients and supports financial closeout activities.
     

• Division of Grants Compliance and Oversight
  The Division of Grants Compliance and Oversight (DGCO) is the focal point to advance external compliance with policy and legislative mandates and enhance compliance oversight by recipient institutions. DGCO ensures and evaluates the efficient and effective management of extramural resources. DGCO also develops, implements and monitors extramural intellectual property policies and invention reporting under the Bayh-Dole Act.
   
  • Public Access Support Center
    Responds to questions from the public and recipients about the NIH Public Access policy and helps NIH recipients bring their scientific papers into compliance with the policy. 
     
• Division of Compliance of Foreign Interference, Research Misconduct, Harassment and Intellectual Property
  The Division of Compliance of Foreign Interference, Research Misconduct, Harassment and Intellectual Property (FIRMH) advises the NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research and the Director, OPERA, on the direction and management of extramural research compliance activities that cut across the mission of the entire NIH, covering grant policy issues related to foreign government interference, research misconduct and harassment.