A competitive revision is a type of application (Type 3, specifically) in which a grant recipient requests additional funds during an ongoing project period to support new or additional activities which are not identified in the current Notice of Award and represent an expansion of the ongoing award’s scope. Note that competitive revision applications undergo peer review.
If the application is successful and an award is made, the award is also referred to as a competitive revision.
Administrative supplements are also Type 3 awards, but they are noncompeting, i.e., the application is not subject to peer review and all requested costs must be for unforeseen research needs within the scope of the ongoing award.