U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Regional Training Centers

 

Announcement Type: New – Type 1

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-DD08-806  

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Investigations and Technical Assistance

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: May 13, 2008 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: This program is authorized under sections 317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, (42 U.S.C. Section 247b(k)(2)), as amended. 

Background: As part of the fiscal year 2002 appropriations funding legislation, the U.S. Congress mandated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acting through the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Prevention Team and in coordination with the National Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect (NTFFAS/FAE), other federally funded FAS programs, and appropriate nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), would (1) develop guidelines for the diagnosis of FAS and other negative birth outcomes resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol; (2) incorporate these guidelines into curricula for medical and allied health students and practitioners, and seek to have them fully recognized by professional organizations and accrediting boards; and (3) disseminate curricula to and provide training for medical and allied health students and practitioners regarding these guidelines. As part of CDC’s response to this mandate, four FAS Regional Training Centers (RTCs) were established to train medical and allied health students and professionals regarding the prevention, identification, and treatment of FAS and related disorders, now known collectively as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Since 2002, the FAS RTCs have developed, tested, and implemented educational materials and conducted trainings in their regions.  The RTCs have also worked with professional organizations and accrediting boards to ensure that the FAS Guidelines for Referral and Diagnosis and other FASD competencies are incorporated into professional credentialing examinations. In addition, the RTCs collaborated with CDC and the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) in the development of the “FASD Competency-Based Curriculum for Medical and Allied Health Education and Practice” which also provides an opportunity for disseminating these guidelines to health professionals through structured training sessions. 

Purpose: The purpose of this program announcement is to develop, implement, and evaluate new training programs, and/or enhance current training programs for medical and allied health students and practitioners regarding the prevention, identification, and treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), using the “FASD Competency-Based Curriculum for Medical and Allied Health Education and Practice”. While significant accomplishments have been made by the current CDC-funded RTCs, much work remains to be done. Thus, CDC is re-announcing the availability of funds to replicate and build upon these prior efforts. This announcement is open to competition by university or college-based programs. For more information about eligibility, see sections III.1 and III.3. This program addresses the “Healthy People 2010” focus area(s) of Maternal, Infant, and Child Health. 

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities that include establishing new, or enhancing, prevention programs that reduce the prevalence of FAS, reduce prenatal exposure to alcohol, and improve and/or link children who currently have FAS to health services. 

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by CDC.  If research is proposed, the application will not be reviewed.  For the definition of research, please see the CDC Web site at the following Internet address:  http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/regs/hrpp/researchDefinition.htm   

Activities:

Each applicant should describe their experience and capacity in developing and implementing college or university-based education programs regarding the prevention, identification, and treatment of FASDs for medical and allied health students and practitioners as well as their plans to expand upon this work to reach new audiences, geographic areas that have not previously been served, and their plans for evaluation. For more information regarding areas served by the currently funded RTCs and the core competencies upon which the trainings are based, please refer to http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/regional.htm. The applicant should describe their strengths in terms of these five categories in the context of FASDs:

A.     Methods for increasing knowledge, attitudes, and skills of medical and allied health students and practitioners

B.     Training and education materials development and/or enhancement

C.     Training and education delivery, including recruitment of participants and marketing of activities

D.     Evaluation

E.      Collaboration with CDC and other grantees

 

Awardee activities for this program are as follows:

A.  Methods for increasing knowledge, attitudes and skills of medical and allied health students and practitioners.

·        Increase the workforce capacity for prevention, identification, and intervention of FASDs through education and training activities.

·        Increase the proportion of medical and allied health students who achieve core competencies through appropriate education about FASDs.

·        Provide technical assistance to others developing and providing education and training regarding FASDs.  This technical assistance may be provided via telephone, e-mail, written consultation, or on-site.

·        Develop or enhance relationships with targeted state and local public health/social service agencies, non-governmental agencies, private providers, professional organizations, and other partners to expand the capacities for professional and student education and training related to FASDs.

·        Expand the numbers of medical and allied health professional training programs that use the competency-based curriculum, “FASD Competency-Based Curriculum for Medical and Allied Health Education and Practice.”

·        Expand the number of states with FASD-related content on their credentialing board exams.

·        Develop and maintain a website containing, at a minimum, a list of courses and materials offered by the RTC, along with ordering materials.  Electronic versions of products should be posted on this website.  Materials developed and distributed by the RTCs must be in the public domain and cannot be copyrighted.  CDC reserves the right to make additional changes to materials or products produced by the RTCs for regional or national distribution.  We encourage proposals that use information technology in a creative, cost-effective way to train and educate health care students and professionals.  This might include plans for the design, development, and evaluation of online training courses, modules, seminars, and/or netmeetings, as well as increased opportunity to access best practices via electronic technology such as PDAs or electronic medical records cueing systems.

·        Develop a sustainability plan for the continuation of the RTC after the cooperative agreement period is completed.

 

B.             Training and education materials development and/or enhancement:

·        Develop scientifically current, innovative, high-quality, culturally appropriate programs and materials for FASD training and education tailored to the needs of the target audiences. Submit proposals to CDC for development of materials that can be used regionally and nationally, including taking into account different cultural and linguistic populations.

·        Incorporate training in health literacy and communication skills so that providers can be better prepared to provide information, counseling, referral, etc.

·        Develop methods to ensure that materials and resources for FASD-related education and training are easily accessible.

 

C.            Training and education delivery:

·        Increase opportunities for regular and ongoing FASD prevention, identification, and intervention training and education to persons within the RTC region.

·        Develop a training plan that integrates the “FASD Competency-Based Curriculum for Medical and Allied Health Education and Practice” developed by the FAS RTCs, CDC, and NOFAS.  The plan must be based on identified target audiences’ learner needs and indicate how the applicant will provide the necessary education and/or training for medical and allied health students and practitioners during the funded project period.

·        Integrate additional curricula on birth defects/developmental disabilities as opportunities and needs arise (Optional)

·        Provide continuing education credits for participants, when possible and appropriate.

·        Develop a plan to increase geographic reach. Demonstrate existing relationships with universities/organizations outside applicant’s state (include letters of support) or describe a plan to develop such relationships.

·        Develop a marketing plan that includes a description of the target audiences and assessment of their training needs, strategies for recruiting participants, and maintaining ongoing communication regarding FASD issues. Existing programs should describe how they will expand/enhance their current training activities.

·        Conduct at least one community-based event per year in coordination with an established event, such as Alcohol Screening Day (April) or International FASD Awareness Day (September 9) and a plan for marketing the event(s).

 

D.  Evaluation:

·        Develop and implement a comprehensive evaluation plan that assesses changes in learner knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors among recipients of the training and education provided.  The plan should also address the degree to which trained providers increase their interactions with other relevant service delivery agencies and providers in the community (for example, increased referrals to alcohol and drug centers and FASD diagnostic clinics).

·        Develop a plan to use evaluation information to provide continuous quality improvement of training/education activities and materials.

·        Develop a tracking system that documents the number of hours of training/education provided, the number of trainees/students, the type of trainees/students (nurses, physicians, psychologists, etc.), the average cost of person trained, and the competencies addressed by individual training courses.

 

E. Collaboration with CDC and other grantees

·        Participate in regular conference calls, listserv discussions, and other forms of communication with CDC and other grantees to provide program updates and share information and materials.

·        Attend annual, two-day grantee meeting coordinated by CDC. All travel expenses should be included in proposed budget.

 

In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring. 

 

CDC activities for this program are as follows:
  • Assist recipients in monitoring program evaluation/performance, setting and meeting objectives, implementing methods, and complying with cooperative agreement requirements and other funding issues, through various methods including telephone consultation, site visits, and site visit reports.
  • Provide technical assistance in assessing and prioritizing training and education needs and in planning, implementing, and evaluating training and education activities.
  • Provide technical assistance in developing and evaluating innovative curriculum approaches, instructional strategies, and materials tailored to meet the FASD curriculum competencies. This will be accomplished through review, comment, and facilitation of communications with other CDC grantees on this project.
  • Provide technical assistance in developing and evaluating marketing and dissemination strategies.
  • Convene regular conference calls and facilitate other forms of communication with grantees to provide updates and share information and materials.
  • Convene annual grantee meetings.

 

 

II. Award Information

Type of Award:  Cooperative Agreement

CDC’s involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section above.

Award Mechanism: U84 Cooperative Agreements for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Research Programs

Fiscal Year Funds: 2008

Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $ 1.5 M

Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $ 4.5 M (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds.)  This includes both direct and indirect costs.

Approximate Number of Awards: Up to 5 awards.

Approximate Average Award: $300,000 (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs.) 

Floor of Individual Award Range:  $200,000

Ceiling of Individual Award Range:  $350,000 (This ceiling is for the first 12-month budget period, total costs.) 

Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2008

Budget Period Length: 12 months

Project Period Length: 3 years

Throughout the project period, CDC’s commitment to continuation of awards will be conditioned on 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.

 

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants that can apply for this funding opportunity are listed below:

·        Universities

·        Colleges

 

This project focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating college or university-based education programs regarding the prevention, identification, and treatment of FASDs for medical and allied health students and practitioners.  In 2002, as part of CDC’s response to a U.S. Congressional mandate, four college or university-based Regional Training Centers (RTCs) were established to train medical and allied health students and professionals regarding the prevention, identification, and treatment of FAS and related disorders, now known collectively as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Since 2002, the FAS RTCs have developed, tested, and implemented educational materials and conducted trainings in their regions.  The RTCs have also worked with professional organizations and accrediting boards to ensure that the FAS Guidelines for Referral and Diagnosis and other FASD competencies are incorporated into professional credentialing examinations. In addition, the RTCs collaborated with CDC and the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) in the development of the “FASD Competency-Based Curriculum for Medical and Allied Health Education and Practice” which also provides an opportunity for disseminating these guidelines to health professionals through structured training sessions.   

Universities and Colleges with the following experience are uniquely qualified to conduct the required activities of this announcement: (a) demonstrated experience developing FASD competencies for medical and allied health students and professionals; (b) demonstrated ability to develop educational curricula and training materials based on the FASD competencies; (c) demonstrated expertise and experience in the implementation of FASD-related educational materials with medical and allied health students and practitioners (the target audiences of this work); and (d) demonstrated existing capacity and relationships necessary to conduct evaluation of their efforts. For these reasons, we have limited eligibility for this FOA to universities and colleges with this specific experience.

 

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching funds are not required for this program. 

III.3. Other

If a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range is requested, the application will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process.  The applicant will be notified that the application did not meet the submission requirements.

 Special Requirements:

If the application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will not be entered into the review process.  The applicant will be notified the application did not meet submission requirements.

  • Late applications will be considered non-responsive.  See section “IV.3.  Submission Dates and Times” for more information on deadlines.
  • To be considered responsive to this announcement, the applicant institution must provide:

o        Documentation that the institution’s principal investigator(s) and project team have prior relevant experience, including educational and training experience in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs), documentation of institutional and partner support for the project, documentation of adequate management structure and organizational capacity, and provision of technical assistance in training and education.  This must be evidenced by experience in the field of FASDs and the education of medical and allied health students and practitioners regarding FASDs. Applicant should clearly identify the relevant experience.

o        All institutions applying under this announcement should have (1) experience in the field of FASDs and the education of medical and allied health students and practitioners regarding FASDs; and (2) access to the target audiences for the cooperative agreement.

o        Documentation of effective and well-defined working relationships with any organization and/or outside entities expected to participate in the proposed project will ensure implementation of the proposed activities. This should be evidenced by letters of support detailing the nature and extent of the involvement from the performing organization and outside entities (include in the appendices).

  • 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 a grant, loan, or an award.

 

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

To apply for this funding opportunity use the application forms package posted in Grants.gov.

 

Electronic Submission:

CDC strongly encourages the applicant to submit the application electronically by utilizing the forms and instructions posted for this announcement on www.Grants.gov, the official Federal agency wide E-grant Web site.  Only applicants who apply on-line are permitted to forego paper copy submission of all application forms.  

Registering your organization through www.Grants.gov is the first step in submitting applications online. Registration information is located in the “Get Registered” screen of www.Grants.gov. While application submission through www.Grants.gov is optional, we strongly encourage you to use this online tool.  

Please visit www.Grants.gov at least 30 days prior to filing your application to familiarize yourself with the registration and submission processes. Under “Get Registered,” the one-time registration process will take three to five days to complete; however, as part of the Grants.gov registration process, registering your organization with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) annually, could take an additional one to two days to complete. We suggest submitting electronic applications prior to the closing date so if difficulties are encountered, you can submit a hard copy of the application prior to the deadline. 

Paper Submission:

Application forms and instructions are available on the CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/app_and_forms.shtm 

If access to the Internet is not available, or if there is difficulty accessing the forms on-line, contact the CDC Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIMS) staff at 770-488-2700 and the application forms can be mailed.

 

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission

Letter of Intent (LOI): 

A letter of intent is not applicable to this funding opportunity announcement.  

Application:

A Project Abstract must be submitted with the application forms.  All electronic project abstracts must be uploaded in a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov.  The abstract must be submitted in the following format, if submitting a paper application:
  • Maximum of 2-3 paragraphs.
  • Font size: 12 point unreduced, Times New Roman
  • Single spaced
  • Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
  • Page margin size: One inch

The Project Abstract must contain a summary of the proposed activity suitable for dissemination to the public.  It should be a self-contained description of the project and should contain a statement of objectives and methods to be employed.  It should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and insofar as possible understandable to a technically literate lay reader.  This Abstract must not include any proprietary/confidential information.   

Narrative:

A project narrative must be submitted with the application forms. 

Electronic submission of Narrative:

All electronic narratives must be uploaded in a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov. 

Paper Narrative:

The narrative must be submitted in the following format, if submitting a paper application:

  • Maximum number of pages: 25.  If your narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will be reviewed.
  • Font size: 12 point unreduced, Times New Roman
  • Double spaced
  • Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
  • Page margin size: One inch
  • Printed only on one side of page.
  • Number all narrative pages; not to exceed the maximum number of pages.
  • Paper application should be held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not bound in any other way.

The narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period and must include the following items in the order listed:
  • Need: A demonstrated understanding of the problem of FASDs, the importance of educating medical and allied health students and practitioners about these conditions, and evidence of the need for education in the geographic areas and disciplines (types of providers) they propose to serve.
  • Plan: A full, comprehensive, and time-phased description of the proposed project.  The plan should include: (1) a plan for how the work will be accomplished along with a timeline of activities; (2) the process for trainee recruitment; (3) a plan for acquiring continuing education credits appropriate for trainees; (4) a plan to produce, evaluate, market, and disseminate products; (5) proposed training plan based on learner needs; (6) a plan that describes the activities that will be undertaken to expand the number of states with FASD-related content on their credentialing board exams, (7) a description of how the RTC will expand the number of medical and allied health and allied health professional training programs that use the RTC FASD competency-based curriculum; (8) a description of a speaker’s bureau for their region; (9) a description of the plan to provide technical assistance within the RTC region; and (10) a description of plans to collaborate with CDC and other grantees.
  • Methods: A detailed description of project goals and objectives which are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-phased (SMART) (e.g., number of trainings to be held, number of participants to be trained, number of schools to incorporate the curriculum); (2) a detailed plan for evaluating the objectives that includes both process and outcome measures. This includes (a) a comprehensive plan to assess changes in learner knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors among recipients of the training and education provided and to assess changes in patterns of referral by providers to other appropriate facilities and agencies (for example, increased referrals to alcohol and drug centers and FASD diagnostic clinics); (b) a plan for using evaluation information to provide continuous quality improvement of training/education activities and materials; (c) a plan to develop a tracking system that documents the number of hours of training/education provided, the number of trainees/students, the type of trainees/students (nurses, physicians, psychologists, etc.), the average cost of person trained, and the competencies addressed by the training; and (3) an appropriate timeline of the project that outlines key project activities, the responsible person(s) for each activity, and when each activity is to be completed. 
  • Personnel: A description of the applicant’s ability to (1) conduct the activities of the cooperative agreement, including documentation of previous relevant experience, including their history of educational and training experience in FASDs, documentation of institutional and partner support for the project, documentation of adequate management structure and organizational capacity, and provision of technical assistance in training and education; (2) identify qualified personnel, including credentials and appropriate experience, particularly in the area of FASDs, to fill key positions and begin project activities in a timely fashion; (3) a description of all the project staff, regardless of their funding source.  It should include their title, qualifications, experience, percentage of time each will devote to the project, as well as the portion of their salary to be paid by the cooperative agreement; (4) position descriptions for proposed RTC staff; and (5) identify adequate office space for the project as well as facilities and equipment for conducting training and educational educational sessions.
  • Budget Justification: A detailed first year’s budget for the cooperative agreement with future annual projections. Awards will be made for a project period of up to three years. (Budget justification is not included in narrative page limit).

Additional information may be included in the application appendices.  The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative page limit.  This additional information includes:
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letters of Support
  • Organizational Charts

Additional information submitted via Grants.gov should be uploaded in a PDF file format, and should be named:
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letters of Support
  • Organizational Charts
  • Other Appendices

No more than 15 electronic attachments should be uploaded per application.   

The agency or organization is required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the Federal government.  The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.  Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge.  To obtain a DUNS number, access the Dun and Bradstreet website or call 1-866-705-5711.   

Additional requirements that may request submission of additional documentation with the application are listed in section “VI.2.  Administrative and National Policy Requirements.”

 

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

Application Deadline Date: May 13, 2008 

Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. 

 

Applications must be submitted electronically at www.Grants.gov.  Applications completed on-line through Grants.gov are considered formally submitted when the applicant organization’s Authorizing Organization Representative (AOR) electronically submits the application to www.Grants.gov.  Electronic applications will be considered as having met the deadline if the application has been successfully submitted electronically by the applicant organization’s AOR to Grants.gov on or before the deadline date and time. 

When submission of the application is done electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), the application will be electronically time/date stamped and a tracking number will be assigned, which will serve as receipt of submission.  The AOR will receive an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the application. 

This announcement is the definitive guide on LOI and application content, submission address, and deadline.  It supersedes information provided in the application instructions.  If the application submission does not meet the deadline above, it will not be eligible for review.  The application face page will be returned by HHS/CDC with a written explanation of the reason for non-acceptance.  The applicant will be notified the application did not meet the submission requirements. 

 

IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

 

IV.5. Funding Restrictions

Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing the budget, are as follows:
  • Recipients may not use funds for research.
  • Recipients may not use funds for clinical care.
  • Recipients may only expend funds for reasonable program purposes, including personnel, travel, supplies, and services, such as contractual.
  • Awardees may not generally use HHS/CDC/ATSDR funding for the purchase of furniture or equipment.  Any such proposed spending must be identified in the budget.
  • The direct and primary recipient in a cooperative agreement program must perform a substantial role in carrying out project objectives and not merely serve as a conduit for an award to another party or provider who is ineligible.
  • Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.

If requesting indirect costs in the budget, a copy of the indirect cost rate agreement is required.  If the indirect cost rate is a provisional rate, the agreement should be less than 12 months of age.  The indirect cost rate agreement should be uploaded as a PDF file with “Other Attachment Forms” when submitting via Grants.gov.

 

The recommended guidance for completing a detailed justified budget can be found on the CDC Web site, at the following Internet address:

http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

 

IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

A letter of intent is not applicable to this funding opportunity announcement.

 

Application Submission Address:

Electronic Submission:

HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to submit applications electronically at www.Grants.gov.  The application package can be downloaded from www.Grants.gov.  Applicants are able to complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov Web site.  E-mail submissions will not be accepted.  If the applicant has technical difficulties in Grants.gov, customer service can be reached by E-mail at support@grants.gov or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS).  The Customer Support Center is open from 7:00a.m. to 9:00p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. 

HHS/CDC recommends that submittal of the application to Grants.gov should be prior to the closing date to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline.  Applicants may also submit a back-up paper submission of the application.  Any such paper submission must be received in accordance with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. of the grant announcement. The paper submission must be clearly marked:  “BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.”  The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-electronic submissions.  If both electronic and back-up paper submissions are received by the deadline, the electronic version will be considered the official submission. 

The applicant must submit all application attachments using a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov.  Directions for creating PDF files can be found on the Grants.gov Web site.  Use of file formats other than PDF may result in the file being unreadable by staff.

AND/OR 

Paper Submission:

Applicants should submit the original and two hard copies of the application by mail or express delivery service to:

            Technical Information Management - CDC-RFA-DD08-806  

            Department of Health and Human Services       

CDC Procurement and Grants Office

2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14

            Atlanta, GA 30341

 

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

Applicants are required to provide measures of effectiveness that will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of the cooperative agreement.  Measures of effectiveness must relate to the performance goals stated in the “Purpose” section of this announcement.  Measures must be objective and quantitative and must measure the intended outcome.  The measures of effectiveness must be submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation. 

The application will be evaluated against the following criteria: 

1. Plan: (30 Points)
  • The extent to which the applicant provides a full, comprehensive, and time-phased description of the project they propose to undertake.  The plan should include: (1) a plan for how the work will be accomplished along with a timeline of activities; (2) the process for trainee recruitment; (3) a plan for acquiring continuing education credits appropriate for trainees; (4) a plan to produce, evaluate, market, and disseminate products; (5) proposed training plan based on learner needs; (6) a plan that describes the activities that will be undertaken to expand the number of states with FASD-related content on their credentialing board exams, (7) a description of how the RTC will expand the number of medical and allied health and allied health professional training programs that use the RTC FASD competency-based curriculum; (8) a description of a speaker’s bureau for their region; (9) a description of the plan to provide technical assistance within the RTC region; and (10) a description of plans to collaborate with CDC and other grantees.

2.  Methods: (30 Points)

The extent to which the applicant provides (1) a detailed description of project goals and objectives which are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-phased (SMART) (e.g., number of trainings to be held, number of participants to be trained, number of schools to incorporate the curriculum); (2) a detailed plan for evaluating the objectives that includes both process and outcome measures. This includes (a) a comprehensive plan to assess changes in learner knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors among recipients of the training and education provided and to assess changes in patterns of referral by providers to other appropriate facilities and agencies (for example, increased referrals to alcohol and drug centers and FASD diagnostic clinics); (b) a plan for using evaluation information to provide continuous quality improvement of training/education activities and materials; (c) a plan to develop a tracking system that documents the number of hours of training/education provided, the number of trainees/students, the type of trainees/students (nurses, physicians, psychologists, etc.), the average cost of person trained, and the competencies addressed by the training; and (3) an appropriate timeline of the project that outlines key project activities, the responsible person(s) for each activity, and when each activity is to be completed. 

3.  Personnel: (20 Points)
  • The extent to which the applicant has provided information to support its ability to: (1) conduct the activities of the cooperative agreement, including documentation of previous relevant experience, including their history of educational and training experience in FASDs, documentation of institutional and partner support for the project, documentation of adequate management structure and organizational capacity, and provision of technical assistance in training and education; (2) identify qualified personnel, including credentials and appropriate experience, particularly in the area of FASDs, to fill key positions and begin project activities in a timely fashion; (3) a description of all the project staff, regardless of their funding source.  It should include their title, qualifications, experience, percentage of time each will devote to the project, as well as that portion of their salary to be paid by the cooperative agreement; (4) position descriptions for proposed RTC staff; and (5) identify adequate office space for the project as well as facilities and equipment for conducting training and educational sessions.

4. Need: (20 Points)

The extent to which the applicant describes (1) an understanding of the problem of FASDs and the importance of educating medical and allied health students and practitioners about these conditions; (2) the need for education in the geographic areas and disciplines (types of providers) they propose to serve.

5.  Budget Justification (not scored)

 

The budget will be evaluated for the extent to which it is reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of the cooperative agreement funds. 

 

V.2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness jointly by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and PGO. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process.  Applicants will be notified the application did not meet submission requirements. 

An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive applications according to the criteria listed in the “V.1.  Criteria” section above.   The objective review panel will consist of CDC employees outside of the funding division who will be randomly assigned applications to review and score. 

 

In addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:

Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined by the review panel as well as geographical region to maintain geographic diversity.

 

CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank order.

 

V.3. Anticipated Announcement Award Dates

September 30, 2008

 

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) from the CDC Procurement and Grants Office.  The NoA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC.  The NoA will be signed by an authorized Grants Management Officer and emailed to the program director and a hard copy mailed to the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.

Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of the application review by mail.

 

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Successful applicants must comply with the administrative requirements outlined in 45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92, as appropriate.  The following additional requirements apply to this project:

  • AR-9               Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
  • AR-10                         Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
  • AR-11                         Healthy People 2010
  • AR-12                         Lobbying Restrictions
  • AR-26             National Historic Preservation
  • AR-27             Conference Disclaimer and Use of Logos

Additional information on the requirements can be found on the CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/Addtl_Reqmnts.htm.  

CDC Assurances and Certifications can be found on the CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/foamain.shtm

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

 

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

The applicant must provide CDC with an annual interim progress report via www.grants.gov:

1.      1.  The interim progress report is to be submitted 220 days after award.  The progress report will serve as the non-competing continuation application, and must contain the following elements:

a.       Standard Form (“SF”) 424S Form.

b.      SF-424A Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs.

c.       Budget Narrative.

d.      Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

e.       Project Narrative.

 

Additionally, the applicant must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the following reports:

2.         2.  Financial status report and annual progress report, no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period.

  1. Final performance and Financial Status reports, no more than 90 days after the end of the project period.

These reports must be submitted to the attention of the Grants Management Specialist listed in the “VII. Agency Contacts”section of this announcement.

 

VII. Agency Contacts

CDC encourages inquiries concerning this announcement.

For general questions, contact:

            Technical Information Management Section

Department of Health and Human Services

            CDC Procurement and Grants Office

            2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14

            Atlanta, GA 30341

            Telephone: 770-488-2700

 

For program technical assistance, contact:

            Kendall Anderson, Project Officer

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

            Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

            1600 Clifton Road, NE (Mailstop E-86)

            Atlanta, GA 30333

            Telephone: 404-498-3950

            E-mail: kra0@cdc.gov

 

For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:

William J. Ryan, Jr., Grants Management Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services

            CDC Procurement and Grants Office

            2920 Brandywine Road, MS E14

            Atlanta, GA 30341

            Telephone: (770) 488-2717

            E-mail: wfr4@cdc.gov

 

CDC Telecommunications for the hearing impaired or disabled is available at: TTY 770-488-2783.

 

VIII. Other Information

Other CDC funding opportunity announcements can be found on the CDC Web site, Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm.

 

Applicants may access the application process and other awarding documents using the Electronic Research Administration System (eRA Commons).  A one-time registration is required for interested institutions/organizations at http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/preparing.htm

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the eRA Commons.

1.      Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons

2.  Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.

  • The individual designated as the PD/PI on the application must also be registered in the eRA Commons. It is not necessary for PDs/PIs to register with Grants.gov.
  • The PD/PI must hold a PD/PI account in the eRA Commons and must be affiliated with the applicant organization. This account cannot have any other role attached to it other than the PD/PI.
  • This registration/affiliation must be done by the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) or their designee who is already registered in the eRA Commons.
  • Both the PD/PI and AOR/SO need separate accounts in the eRA Commons since both hold different roles for authorization and to view the application process.

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 check with their business official to determine whether their organization/institution is already registered in the eRA Commons.  HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to register to utilize these helpful on-line tools when applying for funding opportunities.

 

  

CDC Home Page: http://www.cdc.gov

CDC Funding Web Page: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm  

CDC Forms Web Page: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/app_and_forms.shtm