Part I Overview Information


Department of Health and Human Services

Participating Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov/)

Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) ( http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)

Title: RFA-Announcement of a Limited Competition for the Academic-Community Partnership Conference Series (U13)

Announcement Type

This is a re-issue of a previous Letter of Invitation for a Limited Competition

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

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.

APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE SUBMITTED IN PAPER FORMAT.

This FOA must be read in conjunction with the application guidelines included with this announcement in Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter called 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.

Request For Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-HD-06-019

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s)
93.865

Key Dates
Release/Posted Date: July 10, 2006
Opening Date: July 18, 2006 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to Grants.gov)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): July 21, 2006 and September 27, 2006
NOTE: On time submission requires that applications be successfully submitted to Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization).
Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): August 21, 2006 and October 27, 2006
AIDS Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): Not applicable
Peer Review Date(s): October 2006 and January-February 2007
Council Review Date(s): January 2007 and May 2007
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): March 1, 2007 and July 1, 2007
Additional Information to Be Available Date (Activation Date): Not applicable
Expiration Date: October 28, 2006

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Additional Overview Content

Executive Summary

Table of Contents


Part I Overview Information

Part II Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives

Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of Support
2. Funds Available

Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants

A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria

Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Submitting an Application Electronically to the NIH
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements

Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
A. Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award
3. Reporting

Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)

2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations

Part II - Full Text of Announcement


Section I. Funding Opportunity Description


1. Research Objectives

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Extramural Associates Program, invites applications from current EARDA-supported institutions to conduct health disparities-related workshops, meetings, and symposia with the community. The purpose of this project is for NICHD to assess the value of bringing communities and academic institutions together through meetings/workshops/symposia, to conduct health disparities reduction and elimination research within the communities in which they are located. The purposes of these workshops/symposia/meetings will be to identify community partners and community research priorities, and to develop a long-term research agenda and subsequent intervention projects. It is expected that the academic-community partnerships developed through this initiative will lead to grant applications for the support of research projects designed to meet identified community needs. These projects can focus on one or more of the following five areas: infant mortality; childhood, adolescent, and/or adult obesity; literacy; fibroid tumors; and techniques for outreach and information dissemination.

Background

The NIH recognizes the value of supporting academic and community partnerships that are relevant to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention goals of Healthy People 2010" to increase the quality and years of healthy life, and to eliminate health disparities. The program described in this solicitation builds on NICHD’s mission of conducting research to understand the biological, behavioral, and social processes that dictate physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. NICHD creates the knowledge to understand the complex interplay of processes that transform cells into healthy functioning individuals, free of disease and disabilities. When this is not achieved, or is achieved unequally by different segments of the population, (health disparities), NICHD's mission is to understand why and to develop remedies.

NICHD also aims to build bridges to the community through conscious, dedicated, and collaborative efforts to align its research priorities with the community s health needs. Construction of these bridges must be thoroughly and carefully designed with foundations rooted in science, but firmly grounded in the communities to be served. Health disparities do not just occur, they develop over time as natural biological and behavioral forces interact with such factors as poverty and unequal opportunities, and are modified by a variety of community, social, educational, and economic influences. Closing the health disparities gap requires an in-depth understanding of these processes and mechanisms as they interact over time. Finally, it requires the conscientious design of educational and behavioral interventions, rooted in science, but implemented through the acts of individuals and communities working together.

Program Goals

The major goals of this program are to:

(1) Establish partnerships between academic institutions and the local community, including but not limited to schools and school communities;

(2) Identify and document the community’s view of its health problems;

(3) Form an alignment between the identified health problems and the EARDA institution’s research priorities; and

(4) Design and conduct translational research addressing these areas.

Activities relating to these goals will be accomplished through an ongoing series of conferences, meetings, seminars, workshops, focus groups, etc., where the academic and community partners work together to develop a strong working relationship and a set of research goals focused on community priorities in one or more of the following areas:

Scope

Applications responsive to this FOA will propose a series of meetings/workshops/symposia designed to: (1) establish partnerships with the local community, including but not limited to schools and school communities; (2) identify community needs and research priorities, and develop a research agenda relating to the community health needs for specified population subgroups, i.e., children, adolescents, and women. The emphasis should be on one or more of the following: infant mortality, fibroid tumors, childhood, adolescent, and/or adult obesity, literacy, and/or outreach and information dissemination as the focal points for collaborative research projects; (3) prepare a grant application for a translational research project as the first step in addressing the research agenda developed by the partnership. For the purpose of this solicitation, translational research is defined as knowledge gained through basic research that is applied in the community. Research goals developed through this partnership will incorporate existing research findings that are appropriate for implementation in the community setting and for the development of new interventions.

Special emphasis should be placed on:

Applications should propose a comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated plan of activities organized around defined program goals.

Please note: Partnerships with community organizations/leaders do not have to be in place to qualify an institution to apply for these cooperative agreement awards. When appropriate, the cooperative agreement award support may be used to support the formative stages of such partnerships.

Specific examples of collaborative activities within each of the required categories include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Partnerships between the Grantee Institution and Community Organizations

(2) Identification of Community Health Needs

(3) Translational Research

In addition, consideration for support will be given to relevant topics where research is lacking or nascent and where stimulation of such research will meet the expressed needs of the community.

Expected Timeline

It is anticipated that this program will be carried out in two phases:

Phase I: Planning (current solicitation)

Up to three years of support with the U13 at a maximum of $30,000 direct costs per year to:

(1) Develop academic and community research partnerships;

(2) develop a research plan/design that identifies the project's short-term and long-term research goals and intended outcomes/benefits for the community.

Phase II: Implementation (not included in current solicitation)

Up to five years of support with a research project grant (e.g., R01, R03, R15) to:

(1) Implement proposed research plan;

(2) Implement partnership goals.

Although Phase II (research) is not included in the current solicitation, Phase I cooperative agreement (U13) conference awardees, as a result of this FOA, will be encouraged to submit applications for research support (e.g., R01, R03, R15, R21) at any time after the first year of U13 funding.

See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal Citations for policies related to this announcement.

Section II. Award Information


1. Mechanism of Support

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will use the NIH Cooperative Agreement Conference (U13) award mechanism. The applicant will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project.

At this time, it is not known if competing renewal applications will be accepted and/or if this FOA for limited competition will be reissued.

The NIH U13 is a cooperative agreement award mechanism. Under the U13 mechanism, the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) retains the primary responsibility and dominant role for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project, with NIH staff being substantially involved as a partner with the PI, as described in Section VI.2.A., "Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award.

This FOA uses Just-in-Time information concepts. It also uses the non-modular budget format. Applicants must complete and submit a detailed categorical budget as described in Section 4.7 of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

2. Funds Available

Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of the NICHD provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

NICHD intends to commit approximately $240,000 in FY2007 to fund five to eight new applications in response to this RFA for a Limited Competition. An applicant may request a project period of up to three years and a budget for direct costs of up to $30,000 per year.

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.

Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs requested by consortium participants are not included in the direct cost limitation. See NOT-OD-05-004.

Section III. Eligibility Information


1. Eligible Applicants

1.A. Eligible Institutions

You may submit an application(s) if your organization has any of the following characteristics:

1.B. Eligible Individuals

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Principal Investigator (PI) 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.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

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

3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria

An institution may submit only one application in response to this solicitation.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information


To download a SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide 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 both:

PD/PIs should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the eRA Commons.

Several additional separate 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 NIH eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.

Following are the steps to affiliate a PD/PI to an institution:

1) PD/PI gives Commons user ID and email address to the administrator of the new institution. (The email address must be the one that is contained in the Personal Profile for the PI.)

2) Administrator logs into the Commons. (The administrator can be the Signing Official, Administrative Official, or the Accounts Administrator.)

3) Administrator selects "Administration" tab and then "Accounts" tab.

4) Administrator selects "Create Affiliation" tab.

5) Administrator enters the Commons User ID and Email address into the appropriate fields and clicks "Submit."

Note that if a PD/PI is also an NIH 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 Commons. The NIH will accept electronic applications only from organizations that have completed 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/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 GrantsInfo: Telephone 301-710-0267, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.

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 or PDF).

The SF424 (R&R) Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to NIH. There are fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components that, although not marked as mandatory, are required by NIH (e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PI’s assigned eRA Commons User ID). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide. For additional information, see Tips and Tools for Navigating Electronic Submission on the front page of Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

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, required 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

Note: While both budget components are included in the SF424 (R&R) forms package, the NIH U13 uses ONLY the detailed Research & Related Budget. (Do not use the PHS 398 Modular Budget.)

Note: Applicants will receive a warning if the cover letter is not attached.

3. Submission Dates and Times

See Section IV.3.A for details.

3.A. Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates
Opening Date: July 18, 2006 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to Grants.gov)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): July 21, 2006
Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): August 21, 2006
AIDS Application Submission/Receipt Date(s): Not applicable
Peer Review Date(s): October 2006
Council Review Date(s): January 2007
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): March 1, 2007

3.A.1. Letter of Intent

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed in Section IV.3.A.

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Julia B. Anderson, Ph.D., Program Official
Extramural Associates Program
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 5E03, MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Telephone: (301) 435-2736
FAX: (301) 480-0393
Email: andersju@mail.nih.gov

3.B. Submitting an Application Electronically to the NIH

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. Note: Applications must only be submitted electronically. PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

3.C. Application Processing

Applications may be submitted on or after the opening date and must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the application submission/receipt date(s). (See Section IV.3.A. for all dates.) If an application is not submitted by the receipt date(s) 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 by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

There will be an acknowledgement of receipt of applications from Grants.gov and the Commons. Information related to the assignment of an application to a Scientific Review Group is also in the Commons.

The NIH will not accept any application in response to this funding opportunity that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. However, when a previously unfunded application, originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is to be submitted in response to a funding opportunity, it is to be prepared as a NEW application. That is, the application for the funding opportunity must not include an Introduction describing the changes and improvements made, and the text must not be marked to indicate the changes from the previous unfunded version of the application.

4. Intergovernmental Review

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. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award if such costs: are necessary to conduct the project, and would be allowable under the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award.

The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing award imposes no obligation on NIH either to make the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred. NIH expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the project objectives in the approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the project. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

6. Other Submission Requirements

The NIH requires the PD/PI to fill in his/her 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 Tips and Tools for Navigating Electronic Submission on the front page of Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

Special Requirements

Research Plan Sections

Research Plan

Use this section of the application to describe the objectives, specific program, and logistical arrangements for the proposed meetings. Describe the format and agenda, including the principal topics to be covered, problems to be addressed, and developments or contributions the meeting might stimulate.

Describe the proposed meetings, including the types of participants (e.g., community, university), goals, and topics to be covered. Detail the objectives, specific programs, and logistical arrangements for the proposed meetings. Describe the format(s) proposed (seminar, workshop, colloquia, town hall meeting, etc.). Address the principal topics to be covered and problems to be addressed related to health disparities; infant mortality; childhood, adolescent, and/or adult obesity; fibroid tumors; literacy; and/or techniques for outreach and information dissemination. Outline the goals of the program, including the developments or contributions the meetings might stimulate.

Applicants should also use this section to describe how these meetings will relate to ongoing research at the institution and the characteristics of the community.

Provide a detailed justification for the meetings, including the scientific need, timeliness, and usefulness of the meeting to the scientific and local community. Specifically, describe how the proposed effort will meet the goals of this initiative as described above under Research Objectives. Describe the composition and role of the organizing and advisory committees, and provide the names and credentials of key participants in the meeting, including the basis for their selection and documentation of their agreement to participate.

Describe plans for the appropriate involvement of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in the planning and implementation of the proposed meetings. Estimate the expected size and composition of the audience, as well as the method of selection. Describe plans for publicizing the meetings/symposia/conferences and publication of proceedings. Identify related meetings held on the subject during the past three years. If this is one of a series of periodic meetings held by a permanent sponsoring organization, briefly describe and evaluate the last meeting in the series.

The following instructions are to be used in conjunction with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide accompanying the SF424 (R&R) application form:

SF424 (R&R) Cover Component. Enter the title of the conference or scientific meeting on line item 11.

Research and Related Project/Performance Site Locations. Enter the site of the conference or meeting as the Performance Site.

Research and Related Senior/Key Person: Personnel are defined as the PD/PI and those responsible for the scientific planning and organization of the meeting. Attach a biographical sketch for PD/PI, Co-Chair, key personnel, and confirmed key speakers.

Research and Related Budget: The appropriate IC conference award contact should be consulted for guidance regarding any IC specific budget requirements. Enter the direct costs requested. Provide a narrative justification for each proposed personnel position, including role and proposed level of effort. Include information regarding efforts to obtain funding for this conference/meeting from other sources.

Allowable Costs: Salary (in proportion to the time or effort spent directly on the conference/meeting); rental of necessary equipment; travel and per diem or subsistence allowances; supplies needed for conduct of the meeting (only if received for use during the budget period); conference services; publication costs; registration fees; speakers fees.

Non-allowable costs: Purchase of equipment; transportation costs exceeding U.S. carrier coach class fares; visas; passports; entertainment; tips; bar charges; personal telephone calls; laundry charges; dues; honoraria or other payments for the purpose of conferring distinction or communicating respect, esteem or admiration; patient care; alterations or renovations; facilities and administrative costs/indirect costs. Please also refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information regarding costs.

PHS 398 Research Plan Component. Submit one attachment, which may not exceed 10 pages, under the Research Design and Methods section (line item 5). Note that this section will be called Conference Plan in the system-generated Table of Contents. Letters of agreement from key speakers and participants should be attached at line item 13. Do not complete Sections 2 4 and the Human Subjects Sections (Items 6-10) of the PHS 398 Research Plan.

In the Conference Plan section of the application (uploaded as attachment #5), describe the objectives, specific program, and logistical arrangements for the meeting. Describe the format and agenda, including the principal topics to be covered, problems to be addressed, and developments or contributions the meeting might stimulate. Provide a detailed justification for the meeting, including the scientific need, timeliness, and usefulness of the meeting to the scientific community. Describe the composition and role of the organizing committee, and provide the names and credentials of key participants in the meeting, including the basis for their selection and documentation of their agreement to participate.

Describe plans for the appropriate involvement of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in the planning and implementation of the proposed meeting. Estimate the expected size and composition of the audience, as well as the method of selection. Describe plans for publicizing the meeting and publication of the proceedings. Identify related meetings held on the subject during the past three years. If this is one of a series of periodic meetings held by a permanent sponsoring organization, briefly describe and evaluate the last meeting in the series.

Applications requesting multiple years of support must provide the following additional information for each future year requested, in as much detail as possible: meeting topic(s); tentative dates, locations, and participants; and contingency plans for future meetings dependent upon, for example, the outcome of the first year’s meeting or developments in the field.

A critical part of the application for NIH support of conferences is documentation of appropriate representation of women, racial/ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and other individuals who have been traditionally underrepresented in science. These individuals must be included in all aspects of planning, organization, and implementation of NIH-sponsored and/or supported meetings. Appropriate representation means representation based on the availability of these scientists from these groups known to be working in a particular field of biomedical or behavioral research. If appropriate representation is not apparent, no award will be issued until program staff are assured of concerted recruitment efforts. Organizers of scientific meetings must document compliance with the Guidelines for Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Scientific Meetings Supported by the NIH (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r13/index.htm). This Web site also includes addresses and information for offices at NIH that support conference activities.

Appendix. The appendix is limited to announcements and reports of previous meetings under the same sponsorship. No other information or material should be submitted as appendices.

PHS 398 Checklist Component. The checklist is required; however, no information regarding F&A should be included as this is not an allowable cost for this mechanism.

Budget Requirements

Allowable Costs: All salaries in proportion to the time or effort spent directly on the meeting; salary for a community representative based on the percentage of time the community representative will be required to work; rental of necessary equipment; travel and per diem or subsistence allowances; supplies needed for conduct of the meeting, only if received for use during the budget period; conference services; publication costs; registration fees; speakers' fees.

Non-allowable Costs: Purchase of equipment; transportation costs exceeding coach class fares; visas; passports; entertainment; tips; bar charges; personal telephone calls; laundry charges; organization dues; honoraria or other payments for the purpose of conferring distinction or communicating respect, esteem or admiration; patient care; alterations or renovations; facilities and administrative costs.

Appendix Materials

The appendix is limited to announcements and reports of previous meetings under the same sponsorship. No other information or material should be submitted as appendices.

Plan for Sharing Research Data

Not applicable

Sharing Research Resources

Not applicable

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 NICHD in accordance with the review criteria stated below.

As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

Applications submitted in response to this funding opportunity will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

In their critiques, reviewers will be asked to comment on each of the following criteria, which will be addressed and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. Note that an application does not need to be strong in all categories to deserve a high priority score.

Significance: Does this conference/scientific meeting address an important health problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these endeavors on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

Approach: Is the format and agenda for the meeting appropriate for achieving the goals of the conference? Is the meeting timely for the subject matter? How well do the plans for inclusion of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities provide for their appropriate representation in the planning, organization, and implementation of the proposed meeting?

Innovation: Does the meeting employ novel approaches or methods to fulfill its purpose?

Investigators: Is the PD/PI well suited for organizing and fulfilling the goals of this conference? Are the qualifications of the PD/PI appropriate and past performance adequate? Are the key personnel and selected speakers appropriate and well suited for their described roles in the conference?

Environment: How appropriate is the meeting site? Does the applicant organization have the ability to contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed meetings, exhibits, interactions, etc., take advantage of unique features of the environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?

2.A. Additional Review Criteria:

In addition to the above criteria, the following item will continue to be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score:

Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in NIH-Supported Conference Grants: (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-066.html)

NIH affirms that the value of scientific meetings is enhanced by including participants from all segments of the scientific population and, when appropriate, members of the lay community, in both the planning and conduct of such meetings. The adequacy of plans to include women, minorities and persons with disabilities in the planning and execution of a scientific meeting or conference is important to its success and relevance and will be assessed.

2.B. Additional Review Considerations

Budget: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed plan. The priority score should not be affected by the evaluation of the budget.

2.C. Sharing Research Data

Not applicable

2.D. Sharing Research Resources

Not applicable

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Not applicable

Section VI. Award Administration Information


1. Award Notices

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

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For details, applicants may refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General.

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 is the authorizing document. Once all administrative and programmatic issues have been resolved, the NoA will be generated via email notification from the awarding component to the grantee business official.

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. See Section IV.5., Funding Restrictions.

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.

The following terms and conditions will be incorporated into the NoA and will be provided to the PD/PI and the appropriate institutional official at the time of award.

2.A. Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

The following special 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 NIH grant administration policies.

The administrative and funding instrument used for this program will be the cooperative agreement (U13), an "assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition" mechanism), in which substantial NIH programmatic involvement with the awardees is anticipated during the performance of the activities. Under the cooperative agreement, the NIH 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 reside with the awardees for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities may be shared among the awardees and the NIH as defined above.

2.A.1. Principal Investigator (PI) Rights and Responsibilities

The PI will have the primary responsibility for:

Awardees will retain custody of and have primary rights to information, data, and software developed under the cooperative agreement, subject to Government rights of access consistent with the current HHS, PHS, and NIH policies. Publication and copyright agreements and the requirements for financial status reports, retention of records, and terminal progress reports will be as stated in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

2.A.2. NIH Responsibilities

An NIH Project Scientist will have substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as described below. Substantial involvement as a partner would include, for example, assisting in such activities as planning the agenda, selecting speakers, organizing a symposium, determining the content of the meeting, or determining the acceptability of submitted papers. Substantial involvement would not include serving as an invited speaker or providing limited advice.

Additionally, an NICHD Program Officer will be responsible for the normal scientific and programmatic stewardship of the award and will be named in the NoA. The Program 0fficer will be responsible for assessing the progress of multi-year conferences toward the accomplishment of specified milestones, and for recommending if further funds should be released to the project.

2.A.3. Collaborative Responsibilities

PD/PIs will participate in periodic meetings or conference calls to share progress and experiences with other Academic-Community Partnership programs.

2.A.4. Arbitration Process

Any disagreements that may arise in scientific or programmatic matters (within the scope of the award) between award recipients and the NIH may be brought to arbitration. An Arbitration Panel composed of three members will be convened. It will have three members: one chosen by the awardee, a second member selected by the IC, and the third member with expertise in the relevant area who is chosen by the other two. This special arbitration procedure in no way affects the awardee's right to appeal an adverse action that is otherwise appealable in accordance with PHS regulations 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart D and HHS regulations 45 CFR Part 16.

3. Reporting

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts


We encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management issues:

1. Scientific/Research Contacts:

Julia B. Anderson, Ph.D., Program Officer
Extramural Associates Program
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 5E03, MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Telephone: (301) 435-2736
FAX: (301) 480-0393
Email: andersju@mail.nih.gov

2. Peer Review Contacts:

Robert Stretch, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Scientific Review
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 5B01, MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Telephone: (301) 496-1485
FAX: (301) 402-4104
Email: stetchr@mail.nih.gov

3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:

Victoria Bishton
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
6100 Executive Boulevard, 8A01B, MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 451-5510
Email: bishtonv@mail.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information


Required Federal Citations

NIH Public Access Policy:
NIH-funded investigators are requested to submit to the NIH manuscript submission (NIHMS) system (http://www.nihms.nih.gov) at PubMed Central (PMC) an electronic version of the author's final manuscript upon acceptance for publication, resulting from research supported in whole or in part with direct costs from NIH. The author's final manuscript is defined as the final version accepted for journal publication, and includes all modifications from the publishing peer review process.

NIH is requesting that authors submit manuscripts resulting from 1) currently funded NIH research projects or 2) previously supported NIH research projects if they are accepted for publication on or after May 2, 2005. The NIH Public Access Policy applies to all research grant and career development award mechanisms, cooperative agreements, contracts, Institutional and Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards, as well as NIH intramural research studies. The Policy applies to peer-reviewed, original research publications that have been supported in whole or in part with direct costs from NIH, but it does not apply to book chapters, editorials, reviews, or conference proceedings. Publications resulting from non-NIH-supported research projects should not be submitted.

For more information about the Policy or the submission process, please visit the NIH Public Access Policy Web site at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/ and view the Policy or other Resources and Tools, including the Authors' Manual.

URLs in NIH Grant Applications or Appendices:
All applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet site.

Healthy People 2010:
The 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.

Authority and Regulations:
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. 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. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and discourage the use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

Loan Repayment Programs:
NIH encourages applications for educational loan repayment from qualified health professionals who have made a commitment to pursue a research career involving clinical, pediatric, contraception, infertility, and health disparities related areas. The LRP is an important component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the next generation of researchers by providing the means for developing a research career unfettered by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is not required for eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications are encouraged. The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing the LRP recipient with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP awardees must commit at least 50% of their time (at least 20 hours per week based on a 40 hour week) for two years to the research. For further information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov.


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