United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Participating
Organizations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at, http://www.cdc.gov
Components of
Participating Organizations
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities (NCBDDD/CDC), at http://www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD
Title: Research Initiatives for the Prevention of Complications of Thalassemia (U01)
The policies, guidelines, terms, and conditions of the HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in this announcement may differ from those used by the HHS National Institutes of Health (NIH). If written guidance for completing this application is not available on the CDC website, then applicants will be directed elsewhere for that information.
Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 311, 317(k)(2) and 317 (C) of the Public Health Service Act., (42 U.S.C., Section 243, 247b(k)(2) and 247b-4) as amended.
Announcement
Type:
New
Instructions for Submission of Electronic Research Applications:
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This FOA must be read in conjunction with the application package instructions included with this announcement on Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter referred to as, Grants.gov/Apply.)
A registration process is necessary before submission, and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.
Two steps are required for on time submission:
(1) The application must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the application submission receipt date (see Key Dates below.)
(2) Applicants must complete a verification step in the Electronic Research Administration (eRA Commons) within two business days of notification. Note: Since email can be unreliable, it is the responsibility of the applicant to periodically check on their application status in the eRA Commons.
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: RFA-DD-07-010
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s):
93.283
Key
Dates
Release/Posted Date: April 10, 2007
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: Not Applicable
Application
Submission Receipt Date(s): May 21, 2007
Peer Review Date(s): July 2007
Council Review
Date(s): July 2007
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): August 1, 2007
Additional Information Not Applicable
Expiration Date: May 22, 2007
Due Date for E.O. 12372
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
Additional Overview Content
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Part II - Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
The NCBDDD of CDC within HHS is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010" and to measuring program performance as stipulated by the Government Performance and Review Act (GPRA). This Funding Opportunity Announcement addresses Healthy People 2010 priority area(s) of Maternal, Infant, and Child Health and Disability and Secondary Conditions, and is in alignment with NCBDDD performance goal(s) to prevent birth defects and developmental disabilities and improve the health of people with disabilities. For more information, see www.health.gov/healthypeople and www.whitehouse.gov/omb/mgmt-gpra/
In response to a 1998 Congressional mandate, the Division of Hereditary Blood Disorders, NCBDDD, CDC established a blood safety monitoring surveillance system called the Universal Data Collection (UDC) Project. It was implemented in 135 specialized hemophilia treatment centers throughout the U.S. and its territories where persons with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders receive medical care. Based on these early studies and project operations, Congress also mandated that CDC establish a similar system in specialized centers that treat persons with thalassemia. Thalassemia is the name of a group of genetic blood disorders in which the production of one of the two different proteins that make up hemoglobin is deficient. As a consequence, the red blood cells do not form properly and cannot carry sufficient oxygen. The result is anemia that begins in early childhood and lasts throughout life.
Hence, this current announcement will build upon the findings from previous research activities over the past five years. This research had a focus of providing infrastructure support to treatment centers to facilitate participation in CDC cooperative surveillance programs aimed at monitoring blood safety and providing information about complications associated with thalassemia. Fifty percent of patients receiving care in these centers are enrolled in the surveillance component of this cooperative agreement and blood samples have been banked.
Blood transfusions are the foundation of care for patients with thalassemia, but transfusion-related complications can become a major source of morbidity for this patient population. Because there is no natural way for the body to eliminate iron, the iron in the transfused blood cells builds up and becomes toxic to tissues and organs, particularly the liver and heart. Iron overload can typically result in early death from organ failure. Frequent blood transfusions also expose persons with thalassemia to infectious agents that may be transmitted through blood. Although blood donors are screened for a number of known infectious diseases, it is possible that new infectious agents or those previously not recognized as blood transmissible would be missed by this screening.
The research objectives for the current announcement will be for the cited thalassemia treatment center applicants to implement and coordinate the progress and planning now underway to accomplish the following within their respective catchment areas:
See Section VIII, Other Information Required Federal Citations, for
policies related to this announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
This funding opportunity will use the U01 award mechanism.
The HHS/CDC
U01 is a cooperative agreement assistance instrument. Under the U01 assistance
instrument, the Recipient Organization retains the primary responsibility and
dominant role for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project, and
with HHS/CDC staff being substantially involved as a partner with the Recipient
Organization as described in Section VI.2.A., Cooperative Agreement.
2. Funds
Available
The NCBDDD intends to commit approximately $1,000,000 that includes both direct and indirect costs in FY 2007 to fund four awards for the first 12 month budget period. The applicant may request a project period of up to five years. The anticipated first year budget period funding amount for each of the four funded projects is approximately $250,000, with a range of $200,000 to a ceiling of $300,000. The anticipated start date for new awards is August 1, 2007.
All estimated funding amounts are subject to the availability of funds.
If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range (or $300,000) including both direct and indirect costs, HHS/CDC will consider the application non-responsive and it will not enter into the review process. HHS/CDC will notify the applicant that the application did not meet the submission requirements.
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
Assistance will be provided only to the original four recipients receiving prior cooperative agreements under the previous announcements: (1) Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; (2) Children’s Hospital and Research Center at Oakland; (3) Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; and (4) Weill Medical College of Cornell University. No other applications are solicited.
This current FOA will build upon the findings from the previous announcements in supporting these four projects with a focus upon addressing the major activities and outcomes cited under Research Objectives.
Since this project will be funded for up to five years without further outside competition, CDC feels it is critical that these applicants demonstrate their experience, potential and prognosis for success by providing convincing evidence of their experience and capabilities in addressing the major objectives under the requirements of this announcement.
1.B. Eligible Investigators
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed research is invited to work with their
institution 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 CDC programs.
2. Cost
Sharing or Matching
Cost Sharing, matching funds, or cost
participation is not required under this announcement. The most current Grants
Policy Statement can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/adminis/gpd/index.htm.
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will not enter into the review process.
Note: Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611 states that an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
To download a SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application Instructions for completing the SF424 (R&R) forms for this FOA, link to http://www.grants.gov/Apply/ and follow the directions provided on that Web site.
A one-time registration is required for institutions/organizations at the following:
PD/PIs should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the eRA Commons.
Several additional actions are required before an applicant institution/organization can submit an electronic application, as follows:
(1) Organizational/Institutional Registration in Grants.gov/Get Started
(2) Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons
(3) Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.
Note that if a PD/PI is also an HHS peer-reviewer with an Individual DUNS and CCR registration, that particular DUNS number and CCR registration are for the individual reviewer only. These are different than any DUNS number and CCR registration used by an applicant organization. Individual DUNS and CCR registration should be used only for the purposes of personal reimbursement and should not be used on any grant applications submitted to the Federal Government.
Several of the steps of the registration process could take four weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their organization/institution is already registered in both Grants.gov and the eRACommons. The HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to use the Grants.gov electronic applications process and have organizations and PD/PIs complete all necessary registrations.
1.
Request Application Information
Applicants
must download the SF424 (R&R) application forms and SF424 (R&R)
Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/ApplyGrants.gov/Apply.
Note: Only the forms package directly attached to a
specific FOA can be used. You will not be able to use any other SF424 (R&R)
forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from another FOA), although some of the
"Attachment" files may be useable for more than one FOA.
For further
assistance, contact PGO TIMS: Telephone 770-488-2700, Email: PGOTIM@cdc.gov
HHS/CDC Telecommunications
for the hearing impaired: TTY 770-488-2783.
2.
Content and Form of Application Submission
Prepare
all applications using the SF424 (R&R) application forms and in accordance
with the SF424
(R&R) Application Guide (MS Word).
The SF424 (R&R) Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to HHS/CDC. There are fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components that, although not marked as mandatory, are required by HHS/CDC (e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PD/PI’s assigned eRA Commons User ID). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide.
The SF424 (R&R) application is comprised of data arranged in separate components. Some components are required, others are optional. The forms package associated with this FOA in Grants.gov/Apply will include all applicable components, mandatory and optional. A completed application in response to this FOA will include the following components:
Required
Components:
SF424 (R&R) (Cover component)
Research &
Related Project/Performance Site Locations
Research &
Related Other Project Information
Research &
Related Senior/Key Person
Research &
Related Budget
PHS398 Cover Page
Supplement
PHS398 Research Plan
PHS398 Checklist
Optional
Components:
PHS398 Cover Letter
File
Research &
Related Sub-award Budget Attachment(s) Form
3. Submission Dates and Times
See Section IV.3.A for details
3.A. Submission, Review
and Anticipated Start Dates
Letter
of Intent Receipt Date: Not Applicable
Application Submission Receipt Date(s): May 21,
2007
Peer Review Date (s): July 2007
Council Review Date (s): July 2007
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: August 1, 2007
3.A.1. Letter of
Intent
A letter of intent is not applicable to this
funding opportunity announcement.
3.B. Submitting an Application to CDC
If the instructions in this announcement differ in any way from the 424 R&R instructions, follow the instructions in this announcement.
To submit an application in response to this FOA, applicants should access this FOA via http://www.grants.gov/Apply and follow steps 1-4. If submittal of the application is done electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), the application will be electronically time/date stamped by Grants.gov. Applicants will receive an e-mail notice of receipt from eRA Commons and Grants.gov when HHS/CDC receives the application.
All requested information must be received in the HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
It is especially important that the abstract (Description, PHS 398 form, page 2) of your application reflects the focus and purpose of the overall application. That is important since if your application is funded, your abstract will become public information. The language of the abstract must be simple and easy to understand for a broad audience.
This announcement is the definitive guide on application content, submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in the application instructions. If your application does not meet the deadline described in Section IV.3.A, it will not be eligible for review, and HHS/CDC will discard it. You will receive notification that you did not meet the submission requirements.
3.C. Application Processing
HHS/CDC must receive applications on or
before 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the application submission date(s) described
above (Section IV.3.A.). If HHS/CDC receives an application after that
submission date and time, the application may be delayed in the review process
or not reviewed.
Once an application package has been successfully submitted through Grants.gov, any errors have been addressed, and the assembled application has been created in the eRA Commons, the PD/PI and the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) have two business days to view the application image.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and responsiveness by NCBDDD and HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO). HHS/CDC will not review incomplete and non-responsive applications.
There will be an acknowledgement of receipt of applications from Grants.gov and the eRA Commons.
4. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
All HHS/CDC awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement: http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/adminis/gpd/index.htm.
Restrictions, which applicants must take into account while writing their budgets, are as follows:
6. Other Submission Requirements
Awardees upon acceptance of Notice of
Award (NoA), must agree to the "Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions
of Award" in Section VI. "Award Administration Information.
Applicants research plan(s) should address activities they will conduct over the entire project period.
Under this FOA, it is critical that these eligible organizations demonstrate that they are in an optimal position to address all the research requirements based on the following:
Applicants must provide status regarding these activities and requirements. In a separate section of the application placed directly behind the face page, applicants must provide documentation of this capacity and capability in a report of a maximum of 2 to 3 pages.
The HHS/CDC requires the PD/PI to fill in his/her eRA Commons User ID in the PROFILE Project Director/Principal Investigator section, Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component. The applicant organization must include its DUNS number in its Organization Profile in the eRA Commons. This DUNS number must match the DUNS number provided at CCR registration with Grants.gov. For additional information, see Registration FAQs Important Tips Electronic Submission of Grant Applications - Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
Research Plan Component Sections
While each section of the Research Plan component needs to be uploaded separately as a PDF attachment, applicants are encouraged to construct the Research Plan component as a single document, separating sections into distinct PDF attachments just before uploading the files. This approach will enable applicants to better monitor formatting requirements such as page limits. All attachments must be provided to HHS/CDC in PDF format, filenames must be included with no spaces or special characters, and a .pdf extension must be used. Do not include any information in a header or footer of the attachments. A header will be system-generated that references the PD/PI. Page numbers for the footer will be system-generated in the complete application, with all pages sequentially numbered; therefore, do not number the pages of your attachments. Your research plan must not exceed 25 pages. If your research plan exceeds the page limitation, your application may be considered unresponsive and ineligible for review. Information contained in the appendix as noted below is not included in this page limitation.
The following materials may be included in the Appendix:
Up to ten publications, manuscripts (accepted for publication), abstracts, patents, or other printed materials directly relevant to the proposed project. Do not include manuscripts submitted for publication. Applicants should refer to instruction guides and specific Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) to determine the appropriate limit on the number of publications that may be submitted for a particular program. Note that not all grant activity codes allow the inclusion of publications.
Do not to use the Appendix to circumvent the page limitations of the Research Plan component. An application that does not observe the relevant policies and procedures may not be considered in the review process. Applicants are reminded to review specific FOAs for any additional program-specific guidance on Appendix material and other application requirements.
Plan for Sharing Research Data
The precise content of the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and how the investigator is planning to share the data. Applicants should describe briefly the expected schedule for data sharing, the format of the final dataset, the documentation they will provide, whether or not any analytic tools also will be provided, whether or not a data-sharing agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such an agreement (including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and whether or not the awardee will place any conditions on their use), and the mode of data sharing (e.g., under their own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data on their institutional or personal website, through a data archive or enclave). References to data sharing may also be appropriate in other sections of the application.
Thus, the applicant must include a plan for sharing
research data in their application. The HHS/CDC data sharing policy is
available at http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm under Additional Requirements 25 Release and
Sharing of Data. Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should
include a description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why
data sharing is not possible.
The reasonableness
of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be
assessed by the reviewers. However, the reviewers will not factor the proposed
data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit of the application
or the priority score.
Sharing Research Resources
HHS policy requires that
grant award recipients make unique research resources readily available for
research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community
after publication (see the HHS Grants Policy Statement at: http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/adminis/gpd/index.htm.)
Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for
sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be
shared or explain why sharing is not possible.
The adequacy of the
resources sharing plan and any related data sharing plans will be considered by
the HHS/CDC Program staff of the funding organization when making
recommendations about funding applications. The effectiveness of the resource
sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each
non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm. See Section VI.3.
Reporting.
Section V. Application Review Information
1.
Criteria
Only the review criteria described below will be
considered in the review process.
2.
Review and Selection Process
Applications
that are complete and responsive to the FOA will be evaluated for scientific and
technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the CDC
Office of Public Health Research (OPHR) in accordance with the
review criteria stated below.
As
part of the initial merit review, all applications will:
The goals of HHS/CDC-supported research are to advance the understanding of health promotion and the prevention of disease, injury, and disability, and enhance preparedness. In the written comments, evaluate the application to judge the likelihood the proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will be addressed by the reviewers and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them and weighted, as appropriate for each application:
Note that
an application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely
to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score. For
example, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its
nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.
Significance: Does
this study address an important problem? If the applicant achieves the aims of
the application, how will it advance scientific knowledge or clinical practice?
What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods,
technologies, treatments, or preventative interventions that drive this field?
Approach: Are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
Innovation: Is the
project original and innovative? For example: Does the project challenge
existing paradigms or clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or
critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ
novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this
area?
Investigators: Are the investigators
appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work
proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and
other researchers? Does the investigative team bring complementary and
integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?
Environment: Does the scientific
environment in which the applicant will do the work contribute to the
probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of
the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful
collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
2.A. Additional
Review Criteria
In
addition to the above criteria, the following items will be considered in the
determination of scientific merit and the priority score:
Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk: When human subjects are involved, HHS/CDC will assess the available protections from research risk that relate to their participation in the proposed research. [see the Research Plan, Section 2, item 8 on Human Subjects in the SF424 (R&R)] http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm. Additional HHS/CDC Requirements under AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements are available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm
Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Research:
Does the application adequately address the HHS/CDC Policy requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the proposed research? This includes: (1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation; (2) The proposed justification when representation is limited or absent; (3) A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate to measure differences when warranted; and (4) A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and outreach for study participants include the process of establishing partnerships with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits (see Section 2, item 9 Inclusion or Women and Minorities of the Research Plan component of the SF424 (R&R). .
Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If
applicants plan to use vertebrate animals in the project, HHS/CDC will assess
the five items described under Section 2, item 12 Vertebrate Animals of the
Research Plan component of the SF424 (R&R). Additional HHS/CDC
Requirements under AR-3 Animal Subjects Requirements are available on the
Internet at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.
Biohazards: If applicants propose materials
or procedures that are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the
environment, HHS/CDC will determine if the proposed protection is adequate.
2.B. Additional
Review Considerations
Budget and Period of Support: The
reasonableness of the proposed budget and the appropriateness of the requested
period of support in relation to the proposed research may be assessed by the
reviewers. Is the number of person months listed for the effort of the PD/PI
appropriate for the work proposed? Is each budget category realistic and
justified in terms of the aims and methods? The evaluation of the budget
should not affect the priority score.
2.C. Sharing
Research Data
Data Sharing Plan: HHS/CDC
will assess the reasonableness of the data sharing plan. However, reviewers
will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of
scientific merit or the priority score. The presence of a data sharing plan
will be part of the terms and conditions of the award. The funding organization
will be responsible for monitoring the data sharing policy.
Reviewers
will be asked to assess the adequacy of the research sharing plan as proposed
in the application.
2.D. Sharing
Research Resources
HHS/ PHS policy requires that
recipients of grant awards make unique research resources readily available for
research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community
after publication. Please see the HHS Grants Policy Statement at: http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/adminis/gpd/index.htm. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/gps/8postnew.htm#phs Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan on
sharing research resources.
Reviewers
will be asked to assess the adequacy of the mechanism described for sharing
research resources as proposed in the application.
The
adequacy of the resources sharing plan will also be considered by Program staff
of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding levels.
The effectiveness of the resource sharing will also be evaluated as part of the
administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (HHS/PHS 2590,http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm. See Section
VI.3 Reporting.
3.
Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
The CDC
Procurement and Grants will notify successful applicants in a pre-award
conference call and by providing the notice
of award.
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1.
Award Notices
After
the peer review of the application is completed, the applicant organization
will receive a written critique called a Summary Statement. The applicant
organization and the PD/PI will be able to access the Summary Statement via the
eRA Commons.
HHS/CDC will contact those applicants under consideration for funding for additional information.
A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the Grants Management Officer (GMO) is the authorizing document. HHS/CDC will mail and/or e-mail this document to the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.
Selection of the application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any cost incurred before receipt of the NoA is at the recipient’s risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See also Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
The
Code of Federal Regulations 45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92 have details about
requirements. For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
Additional requirements are available Section VIII. Other Information of this
document or on the HHS/CDC website at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.
These will be incorporated into the NoA by reference.
The following terms and conditions will be incorporated
into the NoA and will be provided to the appropriate institutional official and
a courteous copy to the PD/PI at the time of award.
2.A. Cooperative Agreement
The following terms of award are in addition to, and not
in lieu of, otherwise applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
administrative guidelines, HHS grant administration regulations at 45 CFR Parts
74 and 92 (Part 92 is applicable when State and local Governments are eligible
to apply), and other HHS/PHS, and HHS/CDC grant administration policies.
The administrative
and funding instrument used for this program will be the cooperative agreement
U01 an "assistance" instrument (rather than an
"acquisition" instrument), in which substantial HHS/CDC programmatic
involvement with the awardees is anticipated during the performance of the
activities. Under the cooperative agreement, the HHS/CDC purpose is to support
and stimulate the recipients' activities by involvement in and otherwise
working jointly with the award recipients in a partnership role; it is not to
assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activities.
Consistent with this concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility
resides with the awardees for the project as a whole, although specific tasks
and activities may be shared among the awardees and the HHS/CDC may share
specific tasks and activities, as defined above.
2.A.1. Recipient Rights and Responsibilities
The Recipient will have the primary responsibility for the oversight of all management, administrative, and scientific aspects of the research including all data, resources, and operations.
The recipient organization will retain custody of and have
primary rights to the information, data and software developed under this
award, subject to U.S. Government rights of access consistent with current HHS,
HHS/PHS, and applicable HHS/CDC policies.
2.A.2. HHS/CDC Responsibilities
An HHS/CDC Project Scientist will have substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as described below:
There are two separate CDC scientific roles Scientific Collaborator and Scientific Program Administrator
In this cooperative agreement, a CDC Scientist (Scientific Collaborator) within the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) is an equal partner with scientific and programmatic involvement during the conduct of the project through technical assistance, advice, and coordination.
Scientific Collaborators will:
1. Use their experience in studies of this nature to advise the project on specific questions regarding the project-developed protocol;
2. As requested, assist the project in responding to inquiries regarding such areas as data management, data analysis, intervention design, formats for presenting research findings, and in comparing project-developed evaluation formats with other research projects and activities known to CDC;
3. Provide scientific consultation and technical assistance as requested on questions related to epidemiology, statistical and power calculations, and data storage and tracking formats used in other CDC sponsored research that could be advantageous to the project; and
4. Suggest to the project upon request; processes for analysis, interpretation, and reporting of findings in the literature that can serve a broad range of scientific interests.
CDC Scientific Program Administrator (SPA)
The CDC NCBDDD Office of Extramural Research (OER) will appoint a SPA, apart
from the NCBDDD Scientific Collaborator who will:
1. Serve as the Program Official for the funded research institutions.
2. Carry out continuous review of all activities to ensure objectives are being met.
3. Provide scientific consultation and technical assistance in the conduct of the project as requested.
4. Conduct site visits to recipient institutions to monitor performance against approved project objectives.
Additionally, an HHS/CDC agency program official or CIO program director will be responsible for the normal scientific and programmatic stewardship of the award and will be named in the Notice of Award.
2.A.3. Collaborative Responsibilities
The planning and implementation of the cooperative aspects of the study will be effected by a Coordinating Committee consisting of the Principal Investigator from organizations receiving awards under this announcement and the CDC Scientific Collaborator; and will address issues of common concern throughout the life of the project. Organizations serving as sub-contractors under awarded projects are not considered members of the Coordinating Committee.
At periodic Coordination Committee meetings among recipients, the group will: (1) make recommendations on the study protocol and data collection approaches; (2) discuss common protocols as they relate to all data; (3) discuss the target populations that have been or will be recruited; (4) identify and recommend solutions to unexpected study problems; and (5) discuss ways to efficiently coordinate study activities and best practices.
Each
full member will have one vote. Awardee members of the Coordinating Committee
(including a CDC member) should accept and implement policies approved by the
Committee. The Committee decisions are used to implement the objectives of the
project activities in a consistent way.
3.
Reporting
The
recipient organization must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard
copies of the following reports:
1. Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, (use form PHS 2590, posted on the HHS/CDC website, http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/forms.htm and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm, The progress report will serve as the non-competing continuation application.
2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period.
3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days after the end of the project period.
The recipient organization must forward these reports by the U.S. Postal Service or express delivery to the Grants Management Specialist listed in the Agency Contacts section of the NoA. Progress reports may be made electronically while Financial status reports should be provided in hard copy format.
Although the financial plans of the HHS/CDC CIO(s) provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds, evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports) and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal government.
HHS/CDC encourages your inquiries
concerning this FOA and welcomes the opportunity to answer questions from
potential applicants. Inquiries can fall into three areas: scientific/research,
peer review, and financial or grants management issues:
1.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Dr. Don Lollar
Acting Director, Office of Extramural Research
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E87
Atlanta, GA 30333
Telephone: (404) 498-3041
Fax: (404)-498-3050
E-Mail: dcl5@cdc.gov
2. Peer
Review Contacts:
Dr. Christine Morrison
Office of Public Health Research (OPHR)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop D-72
Atlanta, GA 30333
Telephone: (404) 639-3098
Fax: (404) 639-4903
E-Mail: cmorrison@cdc.gov
3. Financial or
Grants Management Contacts:
Tracey
Sims
Grants Management Specialist
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service
CDC Procurement and Grants Office
2920 Brandywine Road
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: (770) 488-2739
Fax:
(770) 488-2777
E-Mail: lgw5@cdc.govlgw5@cdc.gov
4.
General Questions Contacts:
Technical
Information Management Section
CDC Procurement and Grants Office
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2920 Brandywine Road
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: 770-488-2700
E-Mail: PGOTIM@cdc.gov
Section VIII. Other Information
Required
Federal Citations
Human Subjects Protection
Federal regulations
(45 CFR Part 46) require that applications and proposals involving human
subjects must be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the
adequacy of protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the
research to the subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained
or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm). Additional HHS/CDC
Requirements under AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements can be found on the
Internet at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.
Obtain appropriate assurances as required by
the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP), the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS). Develop and maintain strict policies on protecting the
confidentiality of patients, and ensure the security of databases and other
records through controlled access to areas with confidential information,
database password protection, locking file cabinets, and other security
features
Requirements for
Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Research
It is the policy of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) to ensure that individuals of both sexes and the various racial and
ethnic groups will be included in CDC/ATSDR-supported research projects
involving human subjects, whenever feasible and appropriate. Racial and ethnic
groups are those defined in OMB Directive No. 15 and include American Indian or
Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native
Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Applicants shall ensure that women, racial
and ethnic minority populations are appropriately represented in applications
for research involving human subjects. Where clear and compelling rationale
exist that inclusion is inappropriate or not feasible, this situation must be
explained as part of the application. This policy does not apply to research
studies when the investigator cannot control the race, ethnicity, and/or sex of
subjects. Further guidance to this policy is contained in the Federal Register,
Vol. 60, No. 179, pages 47947-47951, and dated Friday, September 15, 1995.
INCLUSION OF PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 21 IN RESEARCH
The policy of CDC is that persons under the age of 21 must be included in all
human subjects research that is conducted or supported by CDC, unless there are
scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This policy applies to all
CDC-conducted or CDC-supported research involving human subjects, including
research that is otherwise exempt in accordance with Sections 101(b) and 401(b)
of 45 C.F.R. Part 46, HHS policy for the Protection of Human Subjects. Therefore, proposals for research involving human
subjects must include a description of plans for including persons under the
age of 21. If persons under the age of 21 will be excluded from the research,
the application or proposal must present an acceptable justification for the
exclusion.
In an extramural research plan, the investigator should create a section titled "Participation of persons under the age of 21." This section should provide either a description of the plans to include persons under the age of 21 and a rationale for selecting or excluding a specific age range, or an explanation of the reason(s) for excluding persons under the age of 21 as participants in the research. When persons under the age of 21 are included, the plan must also include a description of the expertise of the investigative team for dealing with individuals at the ages included, the appropriateness of the available facilities to accommodate the included age groups, and the inclusion of a sufficient number of persons under the age of 21 to contribute to a meaningful analysis relative to the purpose of the study. Scientific review groups at CDC will assess each application as being acceptable or unacceptable in regard to the age-appropriate inclusion or exclusion of persons under the age of 21 in the research project, in addition to evaluating the plans for conducting the research in accordance with these provisions.
The inclusion of children (as defined by the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the research will be conducted) as subjects in research must be in compliance with all applicable subparts of 45 C.F.R. Part 46, as well as with other pertinent federal laws and regulations.
The policy of inclusion of persons under the age of 21 in CDC-conducted or CDC-supported research activities in foreign countries (including collaborative activities) is the same as that for research conducted in the United States.
Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, projects that involve the collection of information from 10 or more individuals and funded by a grant or a cooperative agreement will be subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
HHS/CDC strongly encourages all recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote abstinence from all tobacco products. Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children.
Healthy People 2010The Public Health Service (PHS) is
committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives
of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting
priority areas. This FOA is related to one or more of the priority areas.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
Lobbying
Restrictions
Applicants should be aware of restrictions on the use of HHS funds for lobbying of Federal or State legislative bodies. Under the provisions of 31 U.S.C. Section 1352, recipients (and their sub-tier contractors) are prohibited from using appropriated Federal funds (other than profits from a Federal contract) for lobbying congress or any Federal agency in connection with the award of a particular contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or loan. This includes grants/cooperative agreements that, in whole or in part, involve conferences for which Federal funds cannot be used directly or indirectly to encourage participants to lobby or to instruct participants on how to lobby.
In addition no part of HHS/CDC appropriated funds, shall be used, other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships, for publicity or propaganda purposes, for the preparation, distribution, or use of any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, radio, television, or video presentation designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress or any State or local legislature, except in presentation to the Congress or any State or local legislature itself. No part of the appropriated funds shall be used to pay the salary or expenses of any grant or contract recipient, or agent acting for such recipient, related to any activity designed to influence legislation or appropriations pending before the Congress or any State or local legislature.
Any activity designed to influence action in regard to a particular piece of pending legislation would be considered "lobbying." That is lobbying for or against pending legislation, as well as indirect or "grass roots" lobbying efforts by award recipients that are directed at inducing members of the public to contact their elected representatives at the Federal or State levels to urge support of, or opposition to, pending legislative proposals is prohibited. As a matter of policy, HHS/CDC extends the prohibitions to lobbying with respect to local legislation and local legislative bodies.
The provisions are not intended to prohibit all interaction with the legislative branch, or to prohibit educational efforts pertaining to public health. Clearly there are circumstances when it is advisable and permissible to provide information to the legislative branch in order to foster implementation of prevention strategies to promote public health. However, it would not be permissible to influence, directly or indirectly, a specific piece of pending legislation
It remains permissible to use HHS/CDC funds to engage in activity to enhance prevention; collect and analyze data; publish and disseminate results of research and surveillance data; implement prevention strategies; conduct community outreach services; provide leadership and training, and foster safe and healthful environments.
Recipients of HHS/CDC grants and cooperative agreements need to be careful to prevent CDC funds from being used to influence or promote pending legislation. With respect to conferences, public events, publications, and "grassroots" activities that relate to specific legislation, recipients of HHS/CDC funds should give close attention to isolating and separating the appropriate use of HHS/CDC funds from non-CDC funds. HHS/CDC also cautions recipients of HHS/CDC funds to be careful not to give the appearance that HHS/CDC funds are being used to carry out activities in a manner that is prohibited under Federal law.
Accounting System Requirements
The services of a certified licensed public accountant or the equivalent must be retained throughout the project as a part of the recipient's staff or as a consultant to the recipient's accounting personnel. These services may include the design, implementation, and maintenance of an accounting system that will record receipts and expenditures of Federal funds in accordance with accounting principles, Federal regulations, and terms of the cooperative agreement or grant.
Capability Assessment
It may be necessary to conduct an on-site evaluation of some applicant organization's financial management capabilities prior to or immediately following the award of the grant or cooperative agreement. Independent audit statements from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for the preceding two fiscal years may also be required.
Proof of Non-profit Status
Proof of nonprofit status must be submitted by private nonprofit organizations with the application. Any of the following is acceptable evidence of nonprofit status: (a) a reference to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code; (b) a copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate; (c) a statement from a State taxing body, State Attorney General, or other appropriate State Official certifying that the applicant organization has a nonprofit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals; (d) a certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes nonprofit status; (e) any of the above proof for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate.
Security Clearance Requirement
All individuals who will be performing work under a grant or cooperative agreement in a HHS/CDC-owned or leased facility (on-site facility) must receive a favorable security clearance, and meet all security requirements. This means that all awardee employees, fellows, visiting researchers, interns, etc., no matter the duration of their stay at HHS/CDC must undergo a security clearance process.
Small, Minority, And Women-Owned Business
It is a national policy to place a fair share of purchases with small, minority and women-owned business firms. The Department of Health and Human Services is strongly committed to the objective of this policy and encourages all recipients of its grants and cooperative agreements to take affirmative steps to ensure such fairness. In particular, recipients should:
Research Integrity
The signature of the institution official on the face page of the application submitted under this Funding Opportunity Announcement is certifying compliance with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) regulations in Title 42 Part 93, Subparts A-E, entitled PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE POLICIES ON RESEARCH MISCONDUCT.
The regulation places requirements on institutions receiving or applying for funds under the PHS Act that are monitored by the DHHS Office of Research Integrity (ORI) (http://ori.hhs.gov./policies/statutes.shtml).
For example:
Section 93.301 Institutional assurances.(a) General policy. An institution with PHS supported biomedical or behavioral research, research training or activities related to that research or research training must provide PHS with an assurance of compliance with this part, satisfactory to the Secretary. PHS funding components may authorize [[Page 28389]] funds for biomedical and behavioral research, research training, or activities related to that research or research training only to institutions that have approved assurances and required renewals on file with ORI. (b) Institutional Assurance. The responsible institutional official must assure on behalf of the institution that the institution- (1) Has written policies and procedures in compliance with this part for inquiring into and investigating allegations of research misconduct; and (2) Complies with its own policies and procedures and the requirements of this part.
Compliance with Executive Order 13279
Faith-based organization are eligible to receive federal
financial assistance, and their applications are evaluated in the same manner
and using the same criteria as those for non-faith-based organizations in
accordance with Executive Order 13279, Equal Protection of the Laws for
Faith-Based and Community Organizations. All applicants should, however, be
aware of restrictions on the use of direct financial assistance from the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for inherently religious
activities. Under the provisions of Title 45, Parts 74, 87, 92 and 96,
organizations that receive direct financial assistance from DHHS under any DHHS
program may not engage in inherently religious activities, such as worship,
religious instruction, or proselytization as a part of the programs or services
funded with direct financial assistance from DHHS. If an organization engages
in such activities, it must offer them separately, in time or location, from
the programs or services funded with direct DHHS assistance, and participation
must be voluntary for the beneficiaries of the programs or services funded with
such assistance. A religious organization that participates in the DHHS funded
programs or services will retain its independence from Federal, State, and
local governments, and may continue to carry out its mission, including the
definition, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs, provided that it
does not use direct financial assistance from DHHS to support inherently
religious activities such as those activities described above. A faith-based
organization may, however, use space in its facilities to provide programs or
services funded with financial assistance from DHHS without removing religious
art, icons, scriptures, or other religious symbols. In addition, a religious
organization that receives financial assistance from DHHS retains its authority
over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its
organization=s name, select its board members on a religious basis, and
include religious references in its organization=s mission
statements and other governing documents in accordance with all program
requirements, statutes, and other applicable requirements governing the conduct
of DHHS funded activities. For further guidance on the use of DHHS direct
financial assistance see Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 87, Equal Treatment
for Faith-Based Organizations, and visit the internet site: http://whitehouse/gov/government/fbci/
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Requirements
Recipients of this grant award should note that pursuant to the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (45 CFR Parts 160 and 164) covered entities may disclose protected health information to public health authorities authorized by law to collect or receive such information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, including, but not limited to, the reporting of disease, injury, vital events such as birth or death, and the conduct of public health surveillance, public health investigations, and public health interventions. The definition of a public health authority includes a person or entity acting under a grant of authority from or contract with such public agency. HHS/CDC considers this project a public health activity consistent with the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information and HHS/CDC will provide successful recipients a specific grant of public health authority for the purposes of this project.
Release and Sharing of Data
The Data Release Plan is the Grantee's assurance that the dissemination of any and all data collected under the HHS/CDC data sharing agreement will be released as follows:
April 16, 2003, http://www.cdc.gov/od/foia/policies/sharing.htm, and in full compliance with the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), (where applicable), The Office of Management and Budget Circular A110, (2000) revised 2003, Data and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) www.4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/5/552/html.
Applications must include a copy of the applicant's Data Release Plan. Applicants should provide HHS/CDC with appropriate documentation on the reliability of the data. Applications submitted without the required Plan may be ineligible for award. Award will be made when reviewing officials have approved an acceptable Plan. The successful applicant and the Program Manager will determine the documentation format. HHS/CDC recommends data is released in the form closest to micro data and one that will preserve confidentiality.
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
(Public Law 89-665, 80 Stat. 915)
The grantee’s signature on the grant application attests to their: (1) knowledge of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665, 80 Stat. 915); and (2) intent to ensure all grant related activities are in compliance with referenced public law, as stated:
a. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) states:
The head of any Federal agency, having direct or indirect jurisdiction over a proposed Federal or Federally assisted undertaking in any State and the head of any Federal department or independent state agency having authority to license any undertaking, shall, prior to the approval of the expenditure of any Federal funds on the undertaking or prior to the issuance of any license, as the case may be, take into account the effect of the undertaking on any district, site, building, structure, or object that is included in or is eligible for inclusion in the National Register. The head of any such Federal agency shall afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation established under Title II of this ACT a reasonable opportunity to comment with regard to such undertaking.
b. Additionally, the NHPA also contains the following excerpt that forbids anticipatory demolition:
Each Federal agency shall ensure that the agency will not grant a loan, loan guarantee, permit, license, or other assistance to an applicant who, with intent to avoid the requirements of Section 106 of this Act, has intentionally, significantly, adversely affected a historic property to which the grant would relate or, having legal power to prevent it, allowed such significant adverse effect to occur, unless the agency, after consultation with the Council, determines that circumstances justify granting such assistance despite the adverse effect created or permitted by the applicant.
Conference Disclaimer and Use of Logos
Disclaimer: Where a conference is funded by a grant or cooperative agreement, a subgrant or a contract the recipient must include the following statement on conference materials, including promotional materials, agenda, and internet sites:
Funding for this conference was made possible [in part] by [insert grant or cooperative agreement award number] from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) . The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Logos: Neither the HHS nor the CDC ( CDC includes ATSDR) logo may be displayed if such display would cause confusion as to the source of the conference or give the false appearance of Government endorsement. A non-federal entity’s unauthorized use of the HHS name or logo is governed by U.S.C. 1320b-10, which prohibits the misuse of the HHS name and emblem in written communication. The appropriate use of the HHS logo is subject to the review and approval of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (OASPA). Moreover, the Office of the Inspector General has authority to impose civil monetary penalties for violations (42 C.F.R. Part 1003). Neither the HHS nor the CDC logo can be used on conference materials under a grant, cooperative agreement, contract or co-sponsorship agreement without the expressed, written consent of either the Project Officer or the Grants Management Officer. It is the responsibility of the grantee (or recipient of funds under a cooperative agreement) to request consent for the use of the logo in sufficient detail to assure a complete depiction and disclosure of all uses of the Government logos, and to assure that in all cases of the use of Government logos, the written consent of either the Project Officer or the Grants Management Officer has been received.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
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