The White House Office of Management and Budget has issued guidance to research agencies that allows for the repurposing of awards to support the COVID-19 response. In clearer terms, the guidance allows agencies to approve requests from grantees to donate personal protective equipment that was acquired with federal funds to a healthcare facility to help with the COVID-19 response.

On Friday, NSF informed grantees of a process to seek agency approval for such donations. NIH explained a similar process in their COVID-19 FAQs. Importantly, OMB and the agencies have indicated that it should not be assumed that supplemental funding will be provided if grant resources ultimately run short.