Department of Health and Human Services

Part 1. Overview Information
Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Funding Opportunity Title

New Technologies for Viral Hepatitis SBIR (R43/R44)

Activity Code

R43/R44 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant - Phase I, Phase II, and Fast-Track

Announcement Type

New

Related Notices

  • December 18, 2014 - This PA has been reissued as PA-15-077.
  • June 3, 2014 - Notice NOT-14-074 supersedes instructions in Section III.3 regarding applications that are essentially the same.
  • May 12, 2014 ( NOT-OD-14-089) - Updated Grant Application Forms (FORMS-C) Now Available for SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities. Forms-C applications are required for due dates on or after August 5, 2014.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number

PA-12-090

Companion FOA

PA-12-091, R41/R42 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant - Phase I, Phase II, and Fast-Track

Number of Applications

See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)

93.847, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.839, 93.273, 93.855, 93.856, 93.865

FOA Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) that propose to respond to the Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis (Viral Hepatitis Action Plan) which was released on May 12, 2011 (http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/hepatitis/). SBCs are encouraged to propose SBIR grant applications to develop resources, research tools, instrumentations, biomarkers, devices, drugs or new and innovative approaches to diagnosis, monitoring, management, treatment and prevention of viral hepatitis and viral hepatitis associated liver disease.

Key Dates
Posted Date

January 31, 2012

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

March 5, 2012

Letter of Intent Due Date

Not Applicable

Application Due Date(s)

Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Standard dates apply by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Scientific Merit Review

Standard dates apply

Advisory Council Review

Standard dates apply

Earliest Start Date(s)

Standard dates apply

Expiration Date

New Date: December 19, 2014. This PA has been reissued as PA-15-077. January 8, 2015

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2010/nihgps_ch10.htm#construction_grant_intergovernmental_review

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Despite advances in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C, the persistence of these and the emergence of other hepatitis viruses continue to remain a public health challenge in the United States. Currently, it is estimated that 3.5 to 5.3 million persons in the United States are afflicted by viral hepatitis. The consequences of acute and chronic viral hepatitis vary, but can be severe and lead to acute liver failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and predispose afflicted persons to hepatocellular carcinoma. Once liver failure ensues from either acute or chronic viral hepatitis or if liver cancer emerges due to chronic viral hepatitis, liver transplantation becomes the only viable option, a costly and resource intensive therapy. Even with advances in medical care, approximately 12,000 to 15,000 Americans succumb to the complications of acute or chronic viral hepatitis each year.

In January 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report "Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C" (http://www.iom.edu/). This report identified and highlighted viral hepatitis as a national health concern and outlined barriers that hinder health care delivery for viral hepatitis patients. In response to the Institute of Medicine report, the Department of Health and Human Services under the direction of Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, convened a working group that generated the report "Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis" (Viral Hepatitis Action Plan), which was released on May 12, 2011 (http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/hepatitis/). The Viral Hepatitis Action Plan represented an integrated Federal government response to the public health implications of acute and chronic viral hepatitis. Furthermore, the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan provided a framework to coordinate the Federal government wide approach to address the challenges raised in the IOM report regarding the public health implications of acute and chronic viral hepatitis.

Integrated into the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan were several action items germane to the research mission of the National Institutes of Health. The topics ranged from basic, translational, and clinical research to coordination of disseminating research findings into the clinical realm. Specific research topics assigned to the National Institutes of Health can be found in the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan.

This FOA encourages small business establishments to submit applications that address any of the specific research topics in the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan that are assigned to the NIH and germane to the research mission of the respective NIH Institutes and Centers in order to facilitate the development, evaluation, and validation of products that would be implemented in the public health efforts to reduce the burden of viral hepatitis in the United States. Applications that propose clinical trials beyond Phase I studies will be beyond the scope of this FOA..

A sampling of research objectives and strategies appropriate for this FOA from the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan include, but are not limited to:

1. Develop point-of-care rapid screening tests that would allow for screening of patients or individuals for ongoing hepatitis virus infection (HCV, HBV, HDV, HEV) or immunity to infection (particularly hepatitis B) that could be used to screen patients or individuals, including pregnant women, for evidence of acute or chronic hepatitis or presence of immunity.

2. Develop new diagnostic tests for viral hepatitis that would aid in clinical management, such as tests that would discriminate between acute and chronic infection, identify viral hepatitis infected infants among infants born to women with viral hepatitis, or would allow for better assessment of need for treatment and monitoring, such as tests for IgM antibodies to hepatitis C, D or E, or means of measurement of HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV levels that are as reliable but less expensive and resource demanding than current molecular assays.

3. Develop non-invasive and practical tests that could be used to monitor patients for complications of chronic viral hepatitis, such as portal hypertension, esophageal varices and hepatocellular carcinoma.

4. Develop practical models of care that would be applicable to the unique issues faced by populations with viral hepatitis.

5. Develop new therapies for viral hepatitis or its complications, particularly interventions that are better tolerated and less expensive than currently licensed or late-stage investigational regimens.

6. Develop therapies that ameliorate the symptoms or complications of viral hepatitis or its antiviral therapies.

7. Develop new and better therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.

8. Develop genetic tests that might help in patient management of viral hepatitis, including tests that assess risk of complications as well as likelihood of success of specific therapies.

9. Develop computer algorithms that would help in the practical diagnosis, management, monitoring and therapy of viral hepatitis.

10. Develop candidate vaccines for hepatitis C or innovative means of prevention.

11. Develop more effective or more practical HAV and HBV vaccines and vaccine strategies.

12. Develop means of pathogen reduction for blood components that might be practical particularly for resource limited countries.

13. Develop vaccines, anti-viral and other strategies that can be safely used in pregnant women and their infants to prevent perinatal transmission of viral hepatitis.

14. Develop more effective or more practical HAV and HBV vaccines and vaccine strategies, candidate vaccines for hepatitis C, and therapies that ameliorate the symptoms or complications of viral hepatitis or its antiviral therapies for infants, children and pregnant women.

15. Develop a model of treatment and medical care that integrates antiviral therapy with alcohol treatment and that could be successfully implemented in a hepatology clinic with significant favorable impact on vitral titers, alcohol use and abstinence among patients with chronic HCV.

16. Develop tests for the frequency of aberrant hypermethylation and hypomethylation of specific genes that are associated with alcohol use, HCV infection and the development of HCC tumors and that may be useful in prognosis and treatment.

Section II. Award Information
Funding Instrument

Grant.

Application Types Allowed

New (Phase I, Fast-Track)
Renewal (Phase II)
Resubmission (all phases)
Revision

The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide provide details on these application types.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations, and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget

According to statutory guidelines, total funding support normally may not exceed $150,000 for Phase I awards and $1,000,000 for Phase II awards. Applicants are encouraged to propose a budget that is reasonable and appropriate for completion of the research project.

Award Project Period

According to statutory guidelines, award periods normally may not exceed 6 months for Phase I and 2 years for Phase II. Applicants are encouraged to propose a project duration period that is reasonable and appropriate for completion of the research project..

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Only United States small business concerns (SBCs) are eligible to submit applications for this opportunity. A small business concern is one that, at the time of award of Phase I and Phase II, meets all of the following criteria:

1. Is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States, which operates primarily within the United States or which makes a significant contribution to the United States economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor;

2. Is in the legal form of an individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, trust or cooperative, except that where the form is a joint venture, there can be no more than 49 percent participation by foreign business entities in the joint venture;

3. Is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States, or it must be a for-profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by another for-profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States, except in the case of a joint venture, where each entity to the venture must be 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States; and;

4. Has, including its affiliates, not more than 500 employees.

SBCs must also meet the other regulatory requirements found in 13 C.F.R. Part 121. Business concerns, other than investment companies licensed, or state development companies qualifying under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, 15 U.S.C. 661, et seq., are affiliates of one another when either directly or indirectly, (a) one concern controls or has the power to control the other; or (b) a third-party/parties controls or has the power to control both. Business concerns include, but are not limited to, any individual (sole proprietorship) partnership, corporation, joint venture, association, or cooperative. The SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide should be referenced for detailed eligibility information.

Foreign Institutions

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations as described in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following registrations.

All Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons account of the applicant organization.

All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at least 4-6 weeks prior to the application due date.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s))

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

Under the SBIR program, for both Phase I and Phase II, the primary employment of the PD(s)/PI(s) must be with the small business concern at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. For projects with multiple PD(s)/PI(s), at least one must meet the primary employment requirement. Occasionally, deviations from this requirement may occur.

The SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide should be referenced for specific details on eligibility requirements. For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PD(s)/PI(s), see Multiple Principal Investigators section of the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide.

2. Cost Sharing

This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

NIH will not accept similar grant applications with essentially the same research focus from the same applicant organization. This includes derivative or multiple applications that propose to develop a single product, process, or service that, with non-substantive modifications, can be applied to a variety of purposes. Applicants may not simultaneously submit identical/essentially identical applications under both this funding opportunity and any other HHS funding opportunity, including the SBIR and STTR Parent announcements.

NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial merit review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. Resubmission applications may be submitted, according to the NIH Policy on Resubmission Applications from the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide.

A Phase I awardee may submit a Phase II application either before or after expiration of the Phase I budget period, unless the awardee elects to submit a Phase I and Phase II application concurrently under the Fast-Track procedure. To maintain eligibility to seek Phase II support, a Phase I awardee should submit a Phase II application within the first six due dates following the expiration of the Phase I budget period.

Contractual/Consortium Arrangements

In Phase I, normally, a minimum of two-thirds or 67% of the research or analytical effort must be carried out by the small business concern. The total amount of all consultant and contractual arrangements to third parties for portions of the scientific and technical effort generally may not exceed 33% of the total amount requested (direct, F&A/indirect, and fee).

In Phase II, normally, a minimum of one-half or 50% of the research or analytical effort must be carried out by the small business concern. The total amount of consultant and contractual arrangements to third parties for portions of the scientific and technical effort generally may not exceed 50% of the total Phase II amount requested (direct, F&A/indirect, and fee).

The basis for determining the percentage of work to be performed by each of the cooperative parties in Phase I or Phase II will be the total of the requested costs attributable to each party, unless otherwise described and justified in Consortium/Contractual Arrangements of the PHS398 Research Plan component of SF424 (R&R) application forms.

Additional details are contained in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

Required and Optional Components

The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, mandatory and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.

Page Limitations

All page limitations described in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

PHS 398 Research Plan Component

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Resource Sharing Plans

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide.

Appendix

Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Note that Phase I SBIR/STTR Appendix materials are not permitted, unless requested specifically by NIH (and specified in this paragraph). The instructions for the Appendix of the Research Plan are described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

3. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit in advance of the deadline to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications via Grants.gov, the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide.

4. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

5. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

6. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Instructions. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.

Important reminders:

All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF 424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.

Post Submission Materials

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115.

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Overall Impact

Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

Scored Review Criteria

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Significance

Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Does the proposed project have commercial potential to lead to a marketable product, process or service? (In the case of Phase II, Fast-Track, and Phase II Competing Renewals, does the Commercialization Plan demonstrate a high probability of commercialization?)

Investigator(s)

Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD(s)/PI(s), do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?

Innovation

Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

Approach

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed?

If the project involves clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?

Environment

Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangement?

Additional Review Criteria

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Phase II Applications

For Phase II Applications, how well did the applicant demonstrate progress toward meeting the Phase I objectives, demonstrating feasibility, and providing a solid foundation for the proposed Phase II activity?

Phase I/Phase II Fast-Track Applications

For Phase I/Phase II Fast-Track Applications, reviewers will consider the following:

1. Does the Phase I application specify clear, appropriate, measurable goals (milestones) that should be achieved prior to initiating Phase II?

2. To what extent was the applicant able to obtain letters of interest, additional funding commitments, and/or resources from the private sector or non-SBIR/STTR funding sources that would enhance the likelihood for commercialization?

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Vertebrate Animals

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

Biohazards

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Resubmissions

For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.

Phase IIB Competing Renewals

Not Applicable.

Revisions

For Revisions, the committee will consider the appropriateness of the proposed expansion of the scope of the project. If the Revision application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in the original application that was not recommended for approval by the committee, then the committee will consider whether the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group are adequate and whether substantial changes are clearly evident.

Additional Review Considerations

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.

Select Agent Research

Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

Resource Sharing Plans

Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).

Budget and Period of Support

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) , in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Review assignments will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the appropriate national Advisory Council or Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD(s)/PI(s) will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, CCR Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

Not Applicable.

3. Reporting

NIH requires that SBIR/STTR grantees submit the following reports within 90 days of the end of the grant budget period unless the grantee is under an extension.

Failure to submit timely final reports may affect future funding to the organization or awards with the same PD(s)/PI(s).

For details about each specific required report, see the section on Award Guidelines, Reporting Requirements, and Other Considerations, in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Application Submission Contacts

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading or navigating forms)
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov

eRA Commons Help Desk(Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, tracking application status, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: commons@od.nih.gov

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Christine L. Densmore, M.S.
Program Director
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707 Democracy Blvd, Rm 649
Bethesda, MD 20892-5450
Phone: (301) 402-8714
Fax: (301) 480-8300
Email: cd121z@nih.gov

Edward Doo, M.D.
Program Director
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
6707 Democracy Blvd, Room 651
Bethesda, MD 20892-5450
Phone: (301) 451-4524
Fax: (301) 480-8300
Email: ed56o@nih.gov

Greg Evans, PhD
Team Leader, Imaging/Cancer Biology/Control
SBIR Development Center
National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd
Suite 402, Room 4146, MSC 8332
Bethesda, MD 20892-8332
Phone 301-594-8807
Fax 301-480-4082
E-mail: evansgl@mail.nih.gov

Rajen Koshy, Ph.D
EHDB, DMID, NIAID
5601 Fishers Ln
RM 8F49
Rockville, MD 20852
Tel: 301-496-7051
Email: rkoshy@niaid.nih.gov

Shimian Zou, PhD
Health Scientist Administrator
Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapeutics Branch
DBDR, NHLBI, National Institutes of Health
Rockledge II, MSC 7950
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 9144
Bethesda, MD 20892-7950
Tel: 301-435-0074
Fax: 301-480-0867
shimian.zou@nih.gov

George K Siberry, MD, MPH
Medical Officer
Pediatric, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS (PAMA) Branch
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 4B11H
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Phone: 301-496-7350
Fax: 301-496-8678
Email: sibberyg@mail.nih.gov

Gary J. Murray, Ph.D.
Program Director
Division of Metabolism and Health Effects
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda MD 20892
Office Phone: (301) 443-9940
email: murrayg@mail.nih.gov

Peer Review Contact(s)

Examine your eRA Commons account for review assignment and contact information (information appears two weeks after the submission due date).

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Gene McGeehan
Senior, Grants Management Specialist
Democracy Plaza II, Room 732
6707 Democracy Blvd. MSC 5456
Bethesda, MD 20892 (express mail zip 20817)
301-594-0417
Fax: 301-594-9523
McGeehanE@mail.nih.gov

Rosemary Ward
Office of Grants Administration
National Cancer Institute
6120 Executive Blvd, EPS Room 243, MSC 7150
Bethesda, MD 20892-7150
Phone: 301-496-3182
Fax: 301-496-8662
E-mail: wardros@mail.nih.gov

Ms. Deanna L. Ingersoll
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH
Tele: (240) 669-2989
Fax: 301-493-0597

Ms. Artisha Eatmon
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH
Phone: (240) 669-2989
Fax: 301-493-0597

Andre D. Walker
Grant Management Specialist
NHLBI, NIH
Rockledge 2, Office 7146
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
Office: 301-435-0151
Fax: 301-451-5462
Email: walkera@mail.nih.gov

Bryan S. Clark, M.B.A.
Chief Grants Management Officer
Grants Management Branch
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health
Phone: 301-435-6975
Fax: 301-451-5510
Email: clarkb1@mail.nih.gov

Frann Gallogly
Grants Management Specialist, NIAAA
5635 Fishers Lane, Rm. 3120
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304 (Regular Mail)
Rockville, MD 20852-1705 (Overnight Mail)
Phone: (301) 443-4706
Fax: (301) 443-3891
Email: fgallogl@mail.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Authority and Regulations

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.

The SBIR Program is mandated by the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-219), reauthorizing legislation (P.L. 99-443) and P.L. 102-564 (Small Business Research and Development Act).The basic design of the NIH SBIR Program is in accordance with the Small Business Administration (SBA) SBIR Policy Directive.


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