Update or Renew a Federalwide Assurance (FWA)

OHRP requires institutions to renew or update FWAs on-line, unless an institution lacks the ability to renew or update its FWA on-line. The institution  must update its FWA within 90 days after changes occur regarding the legal name of the institution, the Human Protections Administrator, or the Signatory Official

Obtaining a submission number is the first step to update or renew a FWA.

  1. Go to the site: http://ohrp.cit.nih.gov/efile/FwaRenew.aspx
  2. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on ‘I need a submission number”
  3. Enter
    1. Your institution’s FWA number
    2. The Human Protections Administrator’s (HPA’s) last name, as last provided to OHRP.
    3. The Signatory Official’s (SO’s) last name, as last provided to OHRP.
    4. Your e-mail
    5. A password with a mix of upper and lower case letters and numbers or special characters, and
    6. A password hint that cannot be the same as the password.
  4. Click on the “Submit” button
  5. Once you receive the submission number:
    1. Repeat step 1 above.
    2. Then scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click “I have a submission number”.
    3. Enter the submission number and the password
    4. Click on the “Submit” button
    5. Your institution’s FWA records will be presented to be updated/renewed.

Note: The FWA is effective for 5 years and must be renewed every 5 years, even if no changes have occurred, in order to maintain an active FWA.  Any renewal or update that is submitted electronically, and approved by OHRP, begins a new-5-year effective period

If an Institution lacks the ability to submit its FWA update or renewal electronically, after consulting with OHRP, it must send the FWA update or renewal application to OHRP in writing by: FAX (240-453-6909; email ([email protected]); or mail (Division of Policy and Assurances, Office for Human Research Protections, The Tower Building, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852).

The FWA application form, terms of FWA and instructions can be accessed at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/register-irbs-and-obtain-fwas/forms/index.html

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Assurance Process can be accessed at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/register-irbs-and-obtain-fwas/fwas/assurance-process-faq/index.html.

A short tutorial on the Assurance Process can be accessed at https://youtu.be/N-MmuqHJOnE

Content created by Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP)
Content last reviewed