Full Text OD-92-02
 
EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
 
RFA:  OD-92-02
 
P.T. 02

Keywords: 
  AIDS 
  Cancer/Carcinogenesis 
  Cardiovascular Diseases 
  Vision 
  INSTRUMENTS/INSTRUMENTATION/DEVICE 

 
National Institutes of Health
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  March 10, 1992
Application Receipt Date:  April 27, 1992
 
PURPOSE
 
Public Law Number 102-170, the Appropriations Act for the Department of
Health and Human Services for Fiscal Year 1992, provides $7,500,000 in
the budget of the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health
(NIH), for extramural facilities construction grants to be awarded
competitively.  In response, the NIH is issuing a Request for
Applications (RFA) for the construction of facilities of urgent
National importance for biomedical research and/or services to support
such research.
 
The main objective of this construction program is to facilitate the
conduct of biomedical research by providing funds for construction of
new facilities and for the purchase of fixed research equipment
essential for the operation of these facilities.  Support may be
requested for the construction of new facilities and additions or
renovations to existing facilities to meet the biomedical research
and/or biomedical research support needs of an institution, or of a
research group at that institution or elsewhere that utilizes the
resources of that institution.  The purpose of the proposed facility
must be within the scope of one of the statutes authorizing the awards.
Those statutes authorize construction grants for the National Cancer
Program (Section 413(b)(6)(B), PHS Act), construction grants for the
National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung and Blood Diseases and Blood
Resources Program (Section 421(b)(2)(B), PHS Act), construction grants
for the vision research program of the National Eye Institute (Section
455, PHS Act), and construction grants for the NIH AIDS research
programs (Section 2351(a)(7)(B), PHS Act).
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Domestic, non-Federal, public and private non-profit institutions,
organizations, and associations that conduct or support biomedical
research are eligible to apply.
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
The award mechanism will be the construction grant award (C06).  Awards
will be administered under Federal Regulation 45 CFR Part 74 -
Administration of Grants, and for cancer construction projects, 42 CFR
Part 52b will also apply.
 
FUNDS AVAILABLE
 
This one-time solicitation based on the Fiscal Year 1992 appropriation
provides $7,500,000 for this initiative.  It is anticipated that four
to five awards will be made.  Up to 50 percent of the allowable costs
of a project may be awarded, not to exceed $2,000,000.  Prior to grant
award, the applicant must provide an assurance of required matching
funds and that additional funds will be secured to meet any projected
costs in excess of the award amount.  Requests of less than $500,000
will not be accepted.  No indirect costs or continuation costs will be
awarded.
 
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
 
Support may be requested for the costs of constructing non-Federal
facilities to meet the biomedical research and/or biomedical research
support needs of an institution or of a research group at that
institution or elsewhere that utilizes the resources of that
institution.  The purpose of the proposed facility must be within the
scope of one of the statutes authorizing the awards.  Those statutes
authorize construction grants that would benefit the fields of cancer,
vision, heart, lung, blood, and AIDS research.  Associated fixed
research equipment necessary for operation of these facilities may also
be requested as part of the application.  Instrumentation that usually
would be requested as part of a research project will not be provided
as part of this construction award.
 
Facility construction that may be supported under this program
includes:
 
o  Construction of new facilities
o  Additions to existing buildings
o  Completion of uninhabitable "shell" space in new or existing
buildings
o  Major alterations and renovations
 
LETTER OF INTENT
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit by March 10, 1992, a letter
of intent to the individual noted below.  The letter, requested for
planning purposes only, is to include the RFA number noted above, the
name of the Principal Investigator, and include a brief title of the
type(s) of research/research support to be conducted in the new
facility.  The letter of intent does not commit the sender to submit an
application, nor is it a prerequisite for submission of an application.
The letter of intent is to be addressed to:
 
Mr. Kenneth Brow
Chief, Research Facilities Branch
Division of Cancer Biology, Diagnosis, and Centers
National Cancer Institute
Executive Plaza North, Room 300
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-8534
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
o  Intergovernmental-Review -- Executive Order 12372
 
Applicants are required to comply with Executive Order 12372 as
supplemented by DHHS 45 CFR Part 100, Intergovernmental Review of
Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities.
Standard Form 424 meets the reporting requirements of Executive Order
12372.  The purposes of this review are to:
 
1.  Identify the relationship of any proposed project to State or
area-wide comprehensive plans and evaluate the significance of these
projects for the plans or programs of particular State agencies or
local governments; and
 
2.  Ensure that public agencies responsible for environmental standards
and civil rights have an opportunity to review and comment upon
proposed projects.
 
Each applicant is encouraged to discuss projects with the Single Point
of Contact (SPOC) at the earliest time possible and to provide the SPOC
with required information in a timely manner.  (The State Single Point
of Contact List is included as an attachment in the special
instructions accompanying the application Standard Form 424 package.)
 
The SPOC must be given 60 days to review a construction grant
application.  Applications submitted to NIH in response to this
solicitation must contain either SPOC comments or documentation
indicating the date on which the application was submitted to the SPOC
for review.
 
The SPOC comment period ends 60 days after the application receipt
date.  Applicants are to provide the SPOC with a copy of the
application NOT LATER THAN the time the application is submitted to the
Division of Research Grants, NIH.
 
Applicants required to submit applications for review to a Health
Systems Agency (HSA), or Statewide Health Planning and Development
Agency (SHPDA), must contact the SPOC/HSA/SHPDA to determine what
coordination has been agreed to by those agencies.
 
NIH is required to notify the SPOC when an application is received
without an indication that the application has been provided to the
SPOC for review.
 
All SPOC comments must be forwarded to both the applicant and to the
NIH Institute to which the application is assigned.  If comments are
provided by the SPOC, the applicant may wish to submit to the NIH a
statement of its response to the comments and any appropriate changes
to the application.  If no response is received from the SPOC by the
end of the 60 days allotted for review of the application, the
applicant must notify the NIH that no response was received.
 
o Public Disclosure
 
Applicants must also make a public disclosure of the project by
publication and describe its environmental impact at the time the SPOC
is notified.  It is suggested that the notice be published in a
large-circulation newspaper in the area.  This public disclosure is
required by Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
of 1969 and by Federal Executive Order 11514.
 
One example of a suitable disclosure statement follows:
 
"PUBLIC NOTICE
 
"Notice is hereby given that the Uptown Medical School proposes to
construct additional space, partially utilizing Federal funds.  The
proposed construction project is the addition of 2,700 square feet
connected to the existing Allen Building, which is located at 5333 Main
Street, Downtown, Ohio."
 
"The Medical School has evaluated the environmental and community
impact of the proposed construction.  There will be construction noise
and increased construction traffic during the construction period,
1992-1993.  No significant permanent environmental impacts are
foreseen.  All building permits and zoning approvals have been
obtained."
 
"In accordance with Federal Executive Order 11514, which implements the
NEPA of 1969, any individual or group may comment on, or request
information concerning, the environmental implications of the proposed
project.  Communications must be addressed to the Office of Planning,
Uptown Medical School, and be received by (date).  The Federal grant
application may be reviewed at the Office of the Dean, School of
Medicine, 5333 Main Street, during working hours."
 
o  Design Standards
 
Design requirements are imposed to protect the health and safety of
persons using the proposed facility, control the project's impact on
the natural environment, conserve energy resources, achieve economy in
construction costs, and protect against natural disasters such as
earthquake and flood. Therefore, the documents listed under REFERENCES
at the end of the RFA must be consulted, and the design requirements
incorporated in the review and evaluation of all drawings and
specifications.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
 
Applicants must use Standard Form 424, "Application for Federal
Assistance."  Application forms and special instructions for completing
the forms relevant to this RFA must be requested from the staff contact
official noted below.
 
Those responsible for preparing the application are advised to consult
with appropriate institutional officials before completing the
application forms.
 
An institution may submit only one application in response to this
announcement.
 
An original and two copies of the application including appendices must
be submitted to:
 
Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**
 
Applications must be received by April 27, 1992.  To ensure against
carrier delays, retain a legible proof-of-mailing receipt from the
carrier, dated no later than one week prior to the receipt date.
Applications received after the receipt date will not be accepted for
review in this competition and will be returned to the applicant.
 
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
 
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by NIH staff for
completeness and responsiveness and to verify application and award
eligibility.  Those applications judged to be unresponsive, incomplete,
or ineligible will be returned to the applicant.  Applications that are
complete and responsive will be reviewed for scientific and technical
merit by an appropriate special peer review group(s) that will be
convened by the Division of Research Grants, NIH.  The second level of
peer review will be conducted by the National Advisory Board or
National Advisory Council appropriate for the statutory authority that
is applicable to the application, (i.e., the National Cancer Advisory
Board, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council, the
National Advisory Eye Council, or the National Advisory Research
Resources Council) in September 1992 to assess the relevance of all
applications to the objectives described above.  In addition, each
application that receives a priority score will be reviewed by NIH
staff and consultants for adherence to Government regulations and sound
engineering practice.  Final award decisions will be made by the
Director, NIH.  Awards will be made on or before September 30, 1992.
 
Applications will be evaluated on the basis of criteria intended to
assess the following overall questions:  1) How will the proposed
change in the research environment facilitate the applicant's ability
to conduct or support biomedical research?  2) How will the proposed
project meet National needs for biomedical research and/or research
support facilities?  Thus, the reviewers will consider the following
factors:
 
o  Appropriateness and suitability of the proposed facilities for the
research to be conducted and/or research support to be provided.
 
o  The overall scope and quality of the ongoing biomedical research or
research support programs of the applicant institution, and the
expanded or proposed future biomedical research and/or research support
activities.
 
o  Consideration of safety and biohazard issues in planning the
construction and administering the facilities.
 
o Specific deficiencies in the existing research facilities that would
be remedied.
 
o The proposed physical location and layout of the new facility.
 
o Reasonableness of the proposed time-course and sequence for the
construction.
 
o Adequacy of the proposed administrative arrangements with respect to:
 
(a) Institutional commitment to use the space for biomedical research
and/or biomedical research support.
 
(b) Safety and biohazard issues.
 
(c) Capabilities of the Principal Investigator and staff for scientific
and fiscal administration of the facility.
 
AWARD CONDITIONS
 
Advertisement for construction bids and construction may only be
initiated after receipt of the construction grant award and subsequent
approval of the working drawings and specifications by NIH staff.
Therefore, requests to initiate construction, consistent with Public
Health Service policy, will not be entertained prior to receipt of a
construction grant award from NIH and subsequent approval of working
drawings and specifications by NIH staff.
 
The Principal Investigator must be a highly placed institutional
official, at the level of Dean or equivalent, who has the
responsibility for allocation of space for the program(s) of biomedical
research/research support addressed in the submitted application.
 
The facility must be utilized for the specific biomedical research
and/or biomedical research support purposes for which it was
constructed for at least 20 years beginning 90 days following
completion of the construction project.  The NIH staff will
periodically evaluate use of the facility to assure its continued use
for the approved purposes.
 
INQUIRIES
 
For additional application information and application Standard Form
424 materials, contact:
 
Mr. Kenneth Brow
Chief, Research Facilities Branch
Division of Cancer Biology, Diagnosis, and Centers
National Cancer Institute
Executive Plaza North, Room 300
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-8534
 
For information concerning programmatic issues related to the
construction program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), contact:
 
Mr. Kenneth Brow
Chief, Research Facilities Branch
Division of Cancer Biology, Diagnosis, and Centers
National Cancer Institute
Executive Plaza North, Room 300
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-8534
 
For information concerning fiscal matters related to NCI construction
programs, contact:
 
Mrs. Kathy Hancock
Grants Administration Branch
Office of Administrative Management
National Cancer Institute
Executive Plaza South, Room 242
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7800, Extension 23
 
For information concerning programmatic issues related to the
construction program of the National Heart, Lung and, Blood Institute
(NHLBI), contact:
 
Dr. Ronald G. Geller
Director, Division of Extramural Affairs
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Westwood Building, Room 7A17
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7416
 
For information concerning fiscal matters related to the NHLBI
construction program, contact:
 
Mr. Thomas G. Turley
Chief, Grants Operations Branch
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Westwood Building, Room 4A12B
Bethesda, MD.  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7255
 
For information concerning programmatic issues related to the
construction program of the National Eye Institute (NEI), contact:
 
Dr. Jack A. McLaughlin
Associate Director, Extramural and Collaborative Program
National Eye Institute
Building 31, Room 6A04
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-9110
 
For information concerning fiscal matters related to the NEI
construction program, contact:
 
Ms. Gaye Lynch
Chief, Grants Management Section
Extramural Services Branch
National Eye Institute
Building 31, Room 6A52
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-5884
 
For information concerning programmatic issues related to the AIDS
Infrastructure Construction Program that will be administered by the
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), contact:
 
Dr. Charles L. Coulter
Director, Research Facilities Improvement Program
National Center for Research Resources
Westwood Building,Room 8A15
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-8482
 
For information concerning fiscal matters related to the AIDS
Infrastructure Construction Program, contact:
 
Ms. Lacey J. Durham
Director, Office of Grants and Contracts Management
National Center for Research Resources
Westwood Building, Room 853
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-9840
 
REFERENCES
 
A.  Policy
 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.  PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
GRANTS POLICY STATEMENT.  DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 90-50,000 (Rev.).
Department of Health and Human Services, OASH, October 1, 1990.
 
B.  Design Standards
 
American Institute of Architects, GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND
EQUIPMENT FOR HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL FACILITIES.  Washington, DC:  AIA
Press, 1987.  (This publication is updated annually; use the current
publication.)
 
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning
Engineers.  Laboratories.  In ASHRAE HANDBOOK.  New York:  ASHRAE,
1991.
 
Centers for Disease Control.  BIOSAFETY IN MICROBIOLOGICAL AND
BIOMEDICAL LABORATORIES.  DHHS Publication No. (CDC) 88-8395.
Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 1988.
 
General Services Administration.  Uniform Federal Accessibility
Standards.  49 FR 31528-31617, August 1984.
 
International Conference of Building Officials.  UNIFORM CODE (for
earthquake protection).  Whittier, CA:  ICBO.  (Use current edition).
 
National Fire Protection Association.  LIFE OF SAFETY CODE.  NFPA
Publication No. 101.  Quincy, MA:  NFPA.  (Use current edition).
 
National Fire Protection Association.  STANDARD ON FIRE PROTECTION FOR
LABORATORIES USING CHEMICALS.  NFPA Publication No. 45.  Boston:  NFPA,
1991.
 
National Institutes of Health.  NIH GUIDELINES FOR THE LABORATORY USE
OF CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS.  DHHS Publication No. (NIH) 81-2385.
Department of Health and Human Services, NIH, May 1981.
 
National Institutes of Health.  Recombinant DNA Research.  Revised
Guidelines.  51 FR 16958-16985, 1986.
 
National Research Council.  PRUDENT PRACTICES FOR HANDLING HAZARDOUS
CHEMICALS IN LABORATORIES.  Washington, DC:  National Academy Press,
1981.
 
National Sanitation Foundation.  NATIONAL SANITATION FOUNDATION
STANDARD NO. 49 FOR CLASS II (LAMINAR FLOW) BIOHAZARD CABINETRY.  Ann
Arbor, MI: NSF, 1987.
 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  Occupational Exposures
to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR Part 1910).  Department
of Labor, OSHA, 1990.
 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  Safety and Health
Standards (29 CFR 1900-1910, 1910-end).  Department of Labor, OSHA,
1989.
 
C.  Animal Care
 
National Research Council, GUIDE FOR THE CARE AND USE OF LABORATORY
ANIMALS.  DHHS Publication No. (NIH) 85-23 (Rev.).  Department of
Health and Human Services, NRC, Committee on Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, 1985.
 
"Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals."  Revised as of September 1986.  Prepared by the Office for
Protection from Research Risks (OPRR), National Institutes of Health.
 
D.  Facility Design and Safety
 
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.  INDUSTRIAL
VENTILATION, A MANUAL OF RECOMMENDED PRACTICES.  (Use current edition).
 
National Fire Protection Association.  HEALTH CARE FACILITIES HANDBOOK,
2nd ed. Boston (now Quincy, MA):  NFPA, 1986.
 
National Fire Protection Association.  NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE.  NFPA
Publication No. 70.  Boston (now Quincy, MA):  NFPA.  (Use current
edition).
 
National Fire Protection Association.  STANDARD FOR NONFLAMMABLE
MEDICAL GAS SYSTEMS.  NFPA Publication No. 99.  Quincy, MA:  NFPA.
(Use current edition).
 
E.  ADDRESSES
 
Publications cited may be obtained from the addresses below:
 
American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists
6500 Glenwood Avenue
Cincinnati, OH  45211
 
American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20006
 
American National Standards Institute
1430 Broadway
New York, NY  10018
 
American Society for Testing and Materials
1916 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA  19103
 
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning
1791 Tullie Circle, NE
Atlanta, GA  30329
 
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
General Services Administration
18th and F Streets, NW, Room 3044
Washington, DC  20405
(accessibility standards)
 
Compressed Gas Association
1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 501
Arlington, VA  22202
 
International Conference of Building Officials
5360 South Workman Road
Whittier, CA  90601
 
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
180 South Washington Street
Falls Church, VA  22046
 
National Center for Research Resources
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD  20892
(animal care)
 
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 800
Bethesda, MD  20814
 
National Fire Protection Association
P.O. Box 9146
Quincy, MA  02269
 
National Institutes of Health
Division of Safety
Bethesda, MD  20892
(facility design standards)
 
National Sanitation Foundation
3475 Plymouth Road
P.O. Box 1468
Ann Arbor, MI  48106
 
U.S. Department of Labor
OSHA Publications Office
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N3101
Washington, DC  21210
 
Whenever State and local codes or requirements exceed the design
requirements described above or standards incorporated in them, the
more stringent requirements will be applied.  State or local codes may
be used as a basis for facility design in lieu of the above design
requirements if a prior determination has been made by the DHHS that
the specific State or local code is equivalent to, or exceeds, DHHS
requirements.
 
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
All awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health
Service Act, Title IV, Sections 413(b)(6)(B), 421(b)(2)(B) and
administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 45 CFR
Part 74 and 42 CFR Part 52b for cancer construction only.  This program
is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Number
93.392, Cancer-Construction.
 
.

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