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:

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. 

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

Award Mechanism: U58

Fiscal Year Funds: 2008

Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $ 681,250.00

Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $ 2,043,750.00(This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds.). This includes direct and indirect costs.  Approximate Number of Awards: 3 - 6

Approximate Average Award: $175,000.00 - $250,000.00 for project area one; $175,000.00 to $250,000.00 for project area two; $50,000.00 – $150,000.00 for project area three. (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs.) 

Floor of Individual Award Range: None.

Ceiling of Individual Award Range: None (This ceiling is for the first 12-month budget period and is for the total costs). 

Anticipated Award Date: May 1, 2008

Budget Period Length: 12 months

Project Period Length: Four 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.1. Eligible Applicants

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

Project Area One - National non-profit (501C) organizations that consist of requisite memberships representing governors from all 50 states and territories. The applicant organizations must provided information, education, publications, and networking forums to Governors and their staff.

Project Area Two – National non-profit (501C) organizations that work with State Legislators and relevant health committee experts and consist of requisite memberships representing legislatures from all 50 states and territories. The applicant organizations must have provided information, education, publications, and networking forums to state legislatures, relevant legislative committees and their staff.

Project Area Three – National non-profit (501C)organizations that have supported state health programs, including State and territorial health officials, State Medicaid officials, State employee health benefit directors, State health insurance officials, public health educators etc.

Reasons for Limited Competition

National non-profit organizations whose memberships represent Governors from all 50 states and territories, or legislatures from all 50 states and territories, or professionals that support state health programs are the most appropriate groups to conduct the work under this cooperative agreement because they have the:

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.

Applicants submitting applications electronically should upload all documentation in Grants.gov under “other Attachments Forms”. For paper submissions, applicants should submit all supporting documentation in hard copy with the application.

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

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:

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. 

A project narrative must be submitted with the application forms.  All electronic narratives must be uploaded in a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov.  The narrative must be submitted in the following format, if submitting a paper application:

The narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period and must include the following items in the order listed:

Goals and Objectives and Activities– five pages:

Project management and staffing – five pages

For each of the proposed project areas

(a.)Describe the proposed staffing for the project and the experience related to their proposed responsibilities and activities and submit job descriptions illustrating the level of organizational responsibility for professional staff that will be assigned to the project.

Method – five pages

For each of the proposed project areas, submit a plan that describes the methodologies for conducting awardee activities outlined in the Activities sections. Identify strategies and activities for increasing the applicant’s involvement in promoting and supporting public health programs over the next three years.

Evaluation Plan – five pages

For each of the project areas, describe how activities and their impact will be evaluated. Describe how progress toward meeting project objectives will be monitored.

Background and Need – three pages

Describe the need for the proposed activities as it relates to chronic disease prevention, health promotion and wellness and Healthy People 2010 and its two overarching goals and the context in which the work will be conducted. Provide descriptions of the members and stakeholders and how your organization will play a significant role in improving public health efforts, either by direct or indirect impact. Describe your organization’s prior experience and demonstrated work with its members and stakeholders.

Budget and Justification (not scored) – three pages

For each of the project areas, provide a separate detailed line-item budget and narrative justification describing operating expenses consistent with the proposed objectives and planned activities.

Provide a precise description for each budget item and itemize calculations when appropriate. Provide a summary budget for the total requested. The budget and accompanying justification will not be counted in the stated page limit.

Goals and Objectives – two pages

Project management and staffing – two pages

Method – two pages

Evaluation Plan – two pages

Background and Need – two pages

Describe the need for the proposed activities and the context in which the work will be conducted. Provide descriptions of the constituent population and how your organization will play a significant role in improving public health efforts, either by direct or indirect impact.

Budget and Justification (not scored) – two page

Provide a separate detailed line-item budget and narrative justification describing

operating expenses consistent with the proposed objectives and planned activities.

Provide a precise description for each budget item and itemize calculations when appropriate. Provide a summary budget for the total requested.

Additional information may be included in the application appendices.  The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative page limit.  This additional information includes:

Additional information submitted via Grants.gov should be uploaded in a PDF file format, and should be named:

No more than ten 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.”

Application Deadline Date: February 15, 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 may 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.

If submittal of the application is by the United States Postal Service or commercial delivery service, the applicant must ensure that the carrier will be able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time.  The applicant will be given the opportunity to submit documentation of the carrier’s guarantee, if HHS/CDC receives the submission after the closing date due to: (1) carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by the closing date and time; or (2) significant weather delays or natural disasters.  If the documentation verifies a carrier problem, HHS/CDC will consider the submission as having been received by the deadline. 

If a hard copy application is submitted, HHS/CDC will not notify the applicant upon receipt of the submission.  If questions arise on the receipt of the application, the applicant should first contact the carrier.  If the applicant still has questions, contact the PGOTIMS staff at (770) 488-2700.  The applicant should wait two to three days after the submission deadline before calling.  This will allow time for submissions to be processed and logged.

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:

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

Application Submission Address:

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.

V.1. Criteria

The application will be evaluated against the following 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 following evaluation criteria is applicable for all three categories.

Goals and Objectives (30 Points)

For each of the proposed project areas, does the applicant’s plan for achieving the proposed activities appear realistic, feasible and relate to the programmatic requirements and purposes of this program announcement? Are short-term (one year) and long-term (four year) objectives specific, time-phased, measurable, realistic and related to identified needs?

Methods: (20 Points)

Evaluation Plan: (20 Points)

For each of the proposed project areas, does the proposed evaluation plan address progress toward meeting goals and objectives, assess impact, and appear to be reasonable and feasible?

Background and Need: (10 Points)

Does the applicant describe the need for the proposed activities and the context in which the work will be conducted? Does the applicant describe how their organization will play a significant role in promoting an integrated broad national state-based strategy to prevent chronic disease, promote health and wellness among their target constituents? Does the applicant describe their prior experience and demonstrated work with their membership and key stakeholders?

Budget and Justification (not scored)

For each of the proposed project areas, is the budget reasonable and consistent with the purpose and activities of the program? Does the applicant provide a summary budget for all activities?

Evaluation criteria for the Public Health Policy Collaborative Meeting

Goals and Objectives (30 Points)

For each of the proposed project areas, does the applicant’s plan for achieving the proposed activities appear realistic, feasible and relate to the programmatic requirements and purposes of this program announcement? Are short-term (three month – six months) and longer-term (six months or longer) objectives specific, time-phased, measurable, realistic and related to identified needs?

Methods: (20 Points)

Evaluation Plan: (20 Points)

For each of the proposed project areas, does the proposed evaluation plan address progress toward meeting goals and objectives, assess impact, and appear to be reasonable and feasible?

Background and Need: (10 Points)

Does the applicant describe the need for the proposed activities and the context in which the work will be conducted? Does the applicant describe how their organization will effectively engage all necessary partners in conducting the collaborative meeting?

Budget and Justification (not scored)

For each of the proposed project areas, is the budget reasonable and consistent with the purpose and activities of the program? Does the applicant provide a summary budget for all activities?

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 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) 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.

An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive applications according to the criteria listed in the “V.1.  Criteria” section above. The review will be based on the criteria stated above.  The panel will consist of CDC employees with 100% being from outside the funding Office and at least 51% being from outside the funding Center.[The objective review process will follow the policy requirements as stated in the GPD 2.04 at http://198.102.218.46/doc/gpd204.doc.  Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined by the review panel.  CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank order.

Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined by the review panel.

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

V.3. Anticipated Announcement Award Dates

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:

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:

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