The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a recent notice that outlines the plan the Institutes will implement should sequestration take effect on March 1. Under the plan, NIH will operate under a Continuing Resolution, which currently allows all "noncompeting continuation awards to continue to be funded at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90% of the previously committed level)." The notice goes on to say that 2013 funding levels may be reduced by the sequestration. NIH may reduce the FY 2013 funding levels of noncompeting continuation grants and expects to make fewer competing awards to allow the agency to meet lowered budget allocations. The NIH notice stipulated that each NIH Institute and Center will assess allocations within their portfolio to "maximize" the scientific impact. Moreover, the "noncompeting continuation awards that have already been made may be restored above the current level as described in NOT-OD-13-002, but likely will not reach the full FY 2013 commitment level described in the Notice of Award."