From the NIH Press Release (March 3, 2020):

Certificates of Confidentiality protect identifiable, sensitive research information from disclosure. While Certificates of Confidentiality are issued automatically for NIH-funded research, non-NIH funded research that collects identifiable, sensitive information can request a certificate.

NIH has updated its Certificate of Confidentiality request process for non-NIH funded research through a new online system. The new system simplifies the request process by using self-certification statements and shortened text fields,...