Full Text RR-94-003 EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS NIH GUIDE, Volume 23, Number 1, January 7, 1994 RFA: RR-94-003 P.T. 02 Keywords: Biomedical Research, Multidiscipl National Center for Research Resources Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 18, 1994 Application Receipt Date: April 8, 1994 PURPOSE The National Center for Research Resources is authorized under Sections 481A and 481B of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act, Public Law (PL) 103-43, to "make grants to public and nonprofit private entities to expand, remodel, renovate or alter existing research facilities or construct new research facilities" for biomedical and behavioral research and research training. The Appropriations Act for the Department of Health and Human Services for Fiscal Year 1994 (PL 103-112) provides $7,000,000 in the budget of the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for extramural facilities construction grants, to be awarded competitively. The NCRR is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) RR-94-003 for support of construction and renovation of facilities for biomedical and behavioral research and research training. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Under Section 481A of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, domestic, non-Federal, public and private non-profit institutions, organizations, and associations that conduct or support biomedical/behavioral research are eligible to apply. An institution of emerging excellence must have been so designated under Section 739 of the PHS Act as revised in PL 102-408, and received a PHS Centers of Excellence grant award in Fiscal Year 1993 to be eligible to apply. Under Section 481B of the PHS Act, Regional Primate Research Centers are also eligible to apply. In addition to any applications submitted from Regional Primate Research Centers or recipients of 1993 PHS Centers of Excellence awards an institution may submit only one application in response to this specific announcement. For example, a medical school and a dental school of the same institution, even if separated geographically, may not submit separate applications. 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. Matching funds from non-Federal sources will be required. FUNDS AVAILABLE This one-time solicitation is based on the Fiscal Year 1994 appropriation that provides $7,000,000 for this initiative, with up to 25 percent of these funds targeted for institutions of emerging excellence. Up to 50 percent of the necessary and allowable costs of a project may be awarded, or 40 percent of costs proportionate to use in a multipurpose facility, not to exceed $2,000,000. Because the nature and scope of the activities proposed in response to this RFA may vary, it is anticipated that four to ten awards at different levels will be made. 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. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The main objective of this program is to facilitate the conduct of PHS-supported biomedical and behavioral research by providing funds for construction of basic and clinical research facilities and for the purchase of associated fixed research equipment essential for the operation of these facilities. Support also may be requested for the costs of designing and constructing non- Federal facilities to meet the biomedical/behavioral research, research training, and research service needs of an institution or a research group at that institution. Support for instrumentation or equipment that usually would be requested as part of a research project grant will not be provided. In addition, neither land acquisition nor off site improvements will be supported. Applications proposing to broaden the scope of research and research training programs of the institution by promoting interdisciplinary research, research on emerging technologies, or other novel research programs are particularly encouraged, as are applications from institutions of emerging excellence as defined in the PHS Act, Section 739 as amended by PL 102-408. 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 February 18, 1994, a letter of intent to the individual noted below. The letter, requested for planning purposes only, should identify the RFA number noted above, the Principal Investigator, and include a brief title of the type(s) of research or research support to be conducted in the new facility. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains allows NIH staff to estimate the potential workload and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be addressed to: Dr. Charles L. Coulter Research Facilities Improvement Program National Center for Research Resources Westwood Building, Room 8A15 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 594-7952 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 NCRR fiscal contact given below. If comments are provided by the SPOC, the applicant may wish to submit to the NIH a statement of its reaction to the comments and any appropriate changes to its 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. 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 should 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 development, review, and evaluation of all drawings and specifications. Application 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 contact official noted below. Those responsible for preparing the application are advised to consult with appropriate institutional officials before completing the application forms. In addition to any applications from Regional Primate Research Centers or recipients of 1993 PHS Centers of Excellence awards an institution may submit only one application in response to this specific 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 at NIH by April 8, 1994. To insure 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 Applications will be reviewed by DRG staff for completeness and by NCRR staff to determine administrative and programmatic responsiveness to this RFA. Those judged to be incomplete or nonresponsive will be returned to the applicant without review. Those considered complete and responsive may be subjected to a triage review to determine their scientific merit relative to the other applications submitted in response to this RFA. This triage review will be done by the Biomedical and Behavioral Research Review Committee or a subgroup thereof, established for the purpose of initial peer review by the NCRR. The NIH will withdraw from competition those applications judged by the triage peer review group to be noncompetitive for award and will so notify the applicant investigator and the institutional business official. Those applications judged to be competitive for award will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit by the Biomedical and Behavioral Research Review Committee to be convened by the Office of Review, NCRR. The second level of review will be provided by the National Advisory Research Resources Council in September 1994. 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 expand, improve, or maintain biomedical/behavioral research? 2) How will the proposed project meet national unmet health needs for biomedical/behavioral research, research training and/or research support facilities? Thus reviewers will consider the following factors: o The overall scope of the ongoing PHS-supported biomedical and behavioral research and/or research support activities that will be impacted by the proposed construction, as well as the expanded or proposed future biomedical/behavioral research and/or research support activities. o Appropriateness and suitability of the proposed facilities for the research to be conducted and/or research support to be provided. o The applicant's 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 Impact of proposed project on current and future research activities, particularly for institutions of emerging excellence. o The appropriateness of the proposed physical location and layout of the new facility. o Reasonableness of the proposed time-course, cost and sequence for the construction. o Adequacy of the proposed administrative arrangements with respect to: --Institutional commitment to use the space for biomedical/behavioral research and/or research support. --Institutional safety and biohazard issues. --Capabilities of the Principal Investigator and staff for scientific and fiscal administration of the facility. AWARD CRITERIA Factors considered in making awards include the merit of the proposal, the needs of the institution, with special consideration for institutions designated as institutions of emerging excellence, the commitment of the institution, the availability of funds and the overall program priorities. Awards will be made on or before September 30, 1994. Award Conditions Advertisement for construction bids and construction can be initiated only after receipt of the construction grant award and subsequent approval of the working drawings and specifications by NIH staff. Therefore, no requests to initiate construction, consistent with Public Health Service policy, will 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 should 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/behavioral research and research training addressed in the submitted application. The facility must be utilized for the specific biomedical/behavioral research purposes for which it was constructed for at least twenty (20) years beginning ninety (90) days following completion of the construction project. The NIH staff will evaluate use of the facility periodically to assure its continued use for the approved purposes. Failure to comply with the twenty (20) year utilization requirement will result in recovery of the Federal share of the value of the facility in accordance with Federal regulation 45 CFR Part 74, Subpart O. INQUIRIES Inquiries for further information or clarification regarding this RFA are encouraged. For information concerning programmatic issues, please contact: Dr. Charles L. Coulter Research Facilities Improvement Program National Center for Research Resources Westwood Building, Room 8A15 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 594-7952 For application Standard Form 424, special application instructions, and information on fiscal matters contact: Ms. Katherine A. Springmann Office of Grants and Contract Management National Center for Research Resources Westwood Building, Room 849 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 594-7955 REFERENCES A. PHS Policy. The project shall meet the PHS policies as described in the "Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement, "DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 90-50,000 (rev.) October 1, 1990 as updated. B. The design of facilities to be constructed or altered with PHS grant funds will be evaluated for compliance with design requirements contained in the most recent edition of Technical Handbook 2.1, "Information for Project Applicants and State Agencies on Design and Construction Related Activities." The Handbook is part of the Department's Facilities Engineering and Construction Manual and is available from the Office of Engineering Services. Applicants from Regions I, II, III, and V should write to: Director of the Regional Office of Engineering Services Office of the Regional Health Administrator, PHS Jacob K. Javits Federal Building 26 Federal Plaza New York, New York 10278 Applicants from Regions IV, VI, and IX should write to: Director of the Regional Office of Engineering Services Office of the Regional Health Administrator, PHS 1200 Main Tower Dallas, Texas 75202 Applicants from Regions VII, VIII, and X should write to: Director of the Regional Office of Engineering Services Office of the Regional Health Administrator, PHS Blanchard Plaza Building 2201 6th Avenue Seattle, Washington 98121 Where State and local codes or requirements exceed the design requirements set forth in Technical Handbook 2.1 or standards incorporated in it, the more stringent requirement will be applied. State or local codes may be used as a basis for facility design in lieu of the design requirements in Technical Handbook 2.1, but a prior determination must be made by HHS that the specific State or local code is equivalent to, or exceeds, HHS requirements. AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS All awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act and administered under the PHS grant policies as outlined in the Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 90-50,000 (Rev.) Department of Health and Human Services, OASH, October 1, 1990, and Federal Regulation 45 CFR Part 74. Applicants are required to comply with Executive Order 12372 as supplemented by DHHS 45 CFR Part 100, Intergovernmental Review of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities. This program will be described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, number pending. .
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