U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Central Cancer Registry Standards and Certification Program

Announcement Type: New – Type 1

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-DP08-810  

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: June 24, 2008

I. Funding Opportunity Description

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

 

Purpose:

Through the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), the CDC has funded the support and the establishment of and/or enhancement of the operations of United States statewide, territorial and jurisdictional population-based central cancer registries since 1994.   The purposes of the Central Registry Standards and Certification Program are to support the aforementioned population-based central cancer registries in the following ways:

·        To support efforts in the development, promotion, maintenance, and communication of uniform data standards for population-based central cancer registration.

·        To improve the completeness, timeliness and quality of cancer data through the certification of population-based central cancer registries.

·        To improve central cancer registry operations through the development of best practices.

 

This program addresses the “Healthy People 2010” focus area(s) of 3-14:  Increase the number of States that have a statewide population-based cancer registry that capture case information on at least 95 percent of the expected number of reportable cancers.

 

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion:
  • Enhance National and Worldwide cancer surveillance; improve accessibility and use of population-based, cancer surveillance data; and develop and disseminate standards for cancer data completeness, timeliness and quality.

 

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  

 

Recipient Activities:

Recipient activities for this program are as follows:

·        Facilitate, manage and support committees and associated workgroups that through consensus develop and promote best practices for registry operations and uniform data standards for cancer registration in the United States.   Performance will be measured by the extent to which the applicant is successful in developing and promoting consensus among cancer registry standard-setting organizations, central cancer registries, hospital cancer registries, and software developers.

  • Facilitate, manage and support the certification of population based cancer registries in the United States. Performance will be measured by the extent to which the applicant demonstrates a process for evaluating and certifying population based cancer registries in the United States.
  • Establish and maintain relationships with national organizations to promote recognition and support of population based central cancer registries in the United States.  Performance will be measured based on the extent the program uses these relationships in developing and implementing, population based central cancer registry promotion and recognition activities.   
  • Maintain and disseminate the standard EDITS metafiles, conversion programs across all coding and data exchange versions. Performance will be measured by the extent the program maintains and disseminates the standard EDITS metafiles, conversion programs. 

·        Participate in the bi-annual CDC Cancer Conference.  Performance will be measured by the extent to which the applicant attends and participates in CDC Cancer Conference.

·        Participate in an annual post-award meeting in Atlanta, Georgia to share information, clarify expectations, and establish regular conference calls to discuss issues and report progress.  Performance will be measured by the extent to which the program attends and participates in the post-award meeting.

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:
  • Participate in the annual post-award meeting to exchange information and clarify expectations.
  • Monitor recipient’s progress in achieving goals and objectives through participation in conference calls, conducting site visits, and review of interim progress reports.
  • Actively participate on committees and related workgroups that develop and promote best practices for registry operations and uniform data standards for cancer registration in the United States.
  • Monitor the process of population based cancer registry certification.

 

II. Award Information

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: $ 500,000

Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $ 2,500,000 (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds. This includes direct and indirect costs)

Approximate Number of Awards: 1

Approximate Average Award: $ 500,000 (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:  $500,000

Anticipated Award Date: September 3, 2008

Budget Period Length: 12 Months

Project Period Length: 5 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 are non-profit, non-governmental organizations with a nationwide organizational infrastructure and the capacity to bring together cancer registry standard-setting organizations, central cancer registries, hospital cancer registries, and software developers in order to attain consensus on data item definitions, codes, format, transmission record layouts, and time line for implementation of new standards.

Applicants ideally should have constituencies representing all U.S. states and territories/jurisdictions.

 

A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified by the state as eligible to submit an application under the state eligibility in lieu of a state application.  If applying as a bona fide agent of a state or local government, a letter from the state or local government as documentation of the status is required.  Attach with “Other Attachment Forms” when submitting via www.grants.gov.   

 

Reasons for Limited Competition

A national non-profit organization whose membership consist of central cancer registries representing all U.S. states and territories/jurisdictions is the most appropriate group to conduct the work under this cooperative agreement because they have the:

·        Unique ability to bring together cancer registry standard-setting organizations, central   cancer registries, hospital cancer registries, and software developers.

·        Ability to utilize their member’s cancer registration subject matter expertise to develop data item definitions, codes, format, transmission record layouts, and time line for implementation of new standards.

·        Ability to organize their members into committees and workgroups which through consensus develop and promote best practices for registry operations and uniform data standards for cancer registration in the United States.  

·        Ability to harness resources among the members to implement agreed upon agendas.

 

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.
  • 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. 

 

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:

  • Maximum number of pages:  30.   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 project narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period and must include the following items in the order listed:

Existing Resources and Need

Describe the current activities, networks, communication mechanisms, infrastructure, and relevant databases related to each of the recipient activities. 

Describe the need for this program.

Management and Staffing Plan

Describe how the recipient activities will be effectively managed including the following:
  • Management structure including lines of authority and plans for fiscal control
  • Qualifications and experience of the designated staff
  • Proposed staff functions and responsibilities

Collaborative Relationships

Describe collaborative relationships and activities with national organizations relative to each of the recipient activities, including relationships with other non-governmental, volunteer and non-profit organizations.

Overall 5 Year Plan (submit in narrative format)

Describe in detail the overall plan for the entire project period relevant to the recipient activities.  The plan for the entire project period must include the following components in the order listed: 

  • Goals (Outcomes applicant intends to accomplish – the big picture)
  • Objectives (Big steps to achieve goals)
  • Activities (Tasks planned to accomplish objectives)
  • Measures of Effectiveness (How to know if goal is achieved)
  • Data (Information used for evaluation and direction of program)
  • Timeframe for Assessing Progress
  • Staff responsible for each activity

 

Work Plan for Year 1 (submit in template format)

Submit a detailed work plan and timeline for year 1 using the attached Work Plan Guidance and Template (see Appendix A – Work Plan Guidance).  The work plan should include the following components in the order listed:
  • Goals
  • Objectives
  • Activities
  • Measures of Effectiveness
  • Data
  • Timeframe for assessing progress
  • Staff responsible for each activity

 

Budget Justification:

Provide a detailed budget request and line item justification of all proposed operating expenses. The budget should be directly related to the Recipient Activities in Section I.

The budget justification will not be counted as part of the page limit for the narrative.

Appendices

Additional information may be included in the application appendices.  The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative page limit.  This additional information includes:
  • Curricula Vitae or Resumes,
  • Organizational Charts

Additional information submitted via Grants.gov should be uploaded in a PDF file format, and should be named:
  • “Other Attachments #...”

No more than 10 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

Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline Date: Not applicable 

Application Deadline Date:  June 24, 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.
  • Recipients may not use funds for international travel and expenses, including registration fees.  International travel is defined as travel to areas outside the 50 United States.  An exception will be granted if the recipient organization’s annual meeting is held in Canada.
  • Recipients may not use funds for reproduction and/or distribution costs for any publications or printed materials with the exception of the publications currently known as Standards for Cancer Registries, Volume II, Data Standards and Data Dictionary.
  • Recipients may not use funds for support of recipient organization’s annual meeting/conference, with the exception of travel expenses for personnel funded through this cooperative agreement.
  • Recipients may not use funds for travel expenses, including registration fees, for personnel not funded under the cooperative agreement.
  • Recipients may not use funds for promotional items
  • Recipients may not use funds for cell phones, blackberries, palm pilots, or any other personal electronic device
  • Automobiles
  • Construction

 

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 requires 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. 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:

Overall Five Year Project Plan (30 points)

·        Is the plan adequate to carry out the proposed goals and objectives for the entire project period? 

·        How complete and comprehensive is the plan for the entire project period? 

·        Does the plan relate directly to the Recipient Activities?

·        Does the plan include all of the following components:  goals, objectives, activities, measures of effectiveness, data, timeframe for assessing progress and staff responsible for each activity?

Work Plan for Year 1 (20 points)

·        Is the plan adequate to carry out the proposed goals and objectives for Year 1? 

·        How complete and comprehensive is the plan for Year 1? 

·        Does the plan relate directly to the Recipient Activities?

·        Does the plan include all of the following components:  goals, objectives, activities, measures of effectiveness, data, timeframe for assessing progress and staff responsible for each activity?

Management and Staffing Plan (20 points)

·        Is the staffing plan reasonable?

·        Do the qualifications of staff match the requirements of the activities?

·        Is there adequate and appropriate coordination and oversight of the activities?

Collaborative Relationships (20 points)

·        Do the relationships described adequately support the recipient activities?

·        What mechanisms are described for establishing and/or maintaining collaborative relationships?

Existing Resources and Need (10 points)

·        Do the existing resources described adequately support the recipient activities?

·        Does the applicant describe the need for the program clearly?

Budget (SF 424A) and Budget Narrative (Reviewed, but not scored)

 

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 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 above.  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.

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

  • Currently funded recipient.
  • If funds were received in the past, success in accomplishing goals and associated objectives and activities.

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

 

V.3. Anticipated Announcement Award Dates

September 3, 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-7               Executive Order 12372
  • AR-8               Public Health System Reporting Requirements
  • AR-9               Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
  • AR-10                         Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
  • AR-11                         Healthy People 2010
  • AR-12                         Lobbying Restrictions
  • AR-15             Proof of Non-profit Statue
  • AR-21             Small, Minority, And Women-owned Business
  • AR-26             National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
  • 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 Interim Progress Report (IPR) due no later than March 31 of each year via www.grants.gov.  This progress report will also serve at the non-competing continuation application, and must contain the following elements:

a.         Current Budget Period Objectives/Activities Progress.

b.         Current Budget Period Financial Progress.

c.         New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.

d.         Budget.

e.         Measures of Effectiveness.

f.           Additional Requested Information, if requested.

2.      Annual progress report, due no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period. 

3.      Financial status 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 overall project period.

 

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:

            Frances Michaud, Project Officer

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

            4770 Buford Highway NE, Mailstop K-53

Atlanta, GA 30341

            Telephone:  770-488-4378

            E-mail:  fhm2@cdc.gov

 

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

Stephanie Lankford, Grants Management Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services

            CDC Procurement and Grants Office

            2920 Brandywine Road

            Atlanta, GA 30341

            Telephone:  770-488-2936

            E-mail: fzi8@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