U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL SURVEILLANCE COLLABORATIVES

Announcement Type: New-Type 1  

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-HK08-802

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:  93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness  

Key Dates:

Letter of Intent Deadline: N/A

Application Deadline: July 21, 2008 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: Section 301(a) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 USC 241(a); Section 311, 42 USC 243; and Section 319D, 42 USC 247d-4. 

Background:

According to a recent survey by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), 20 to 30 states and territories have real-time state surveillance systems. Of these, approximately 20 were willing to self-identify themselves to CDC. The BioSense system has the capability to receive data from the different types of surveillance systems used in states (Essence, RODSS, and purpose-built systems).  Many states and several large cities have used DHS and HHS preparedness funds to create their own systems which they are now vested in and have integrated into routine workflows. The risks of participating in a national system include threats to autonomy of the state (the threat of Federal detection of an outbreak and intervention without request from the State), political issues (the initial design of BioSense by-passing state and local public health departments) and as well as the maintenance costs of connections with a national monitoring authority such as the CDC.

Therefore CDC in accordance with White House Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21) is exploring alternative approaches to a nationwide health situational awareness capability that has the following characteristics:

·        Allows biosurveillance data to remain local where it is best understood, managed and controlled

·        Leverages and maintains existing relationships between local public health and data providers

·        Builds local, regional, and nation-wide views of population health

·        Allows for information to flow from a local/state level to a regional level to a nationwide perspective

·        Utilizes existing infrastructure and PHIN/NHIN standards for information flow

·        Provides for the building of an infrastructure that supports not only biosurveillance information flows but supports a wide variety of public health needs in the areas of case notification, electronic lab reporting, registry interfaces

·        Utilizes a collaborative approach involving local/state, regional and national partners working in consort

The task of monitoring the entire United States and following up on aberrations in patterns of health detected using syndromic surveillance approaches is simply too large to centralize in one Federal agency. Even if a comprehensive picture of health were available to a Federal agency such as CDC, analysis of that data is an overwhelming task. Each region of interest requires analysis at a hospital specific level for changes in patterns and subsequent investigation. The resulting manpower needs are quite large. Moreover, this work would often be redundant with analyses performed by state and local officials in the same regions. These state and local officials, if equipped with different data, might reach different conclusions about outbreaks, sowing confusion. A systematic approach to surveillance is needed where Federal resources are partners with state and local officials in regional efforts. 

Purpose: The purpose of this announcement is to plan, develop, and evaluate the concept of a regional surveillance collaborative using technology that federates existing federal, State, and local surveillance systems.  These collaborative will improve the public’s health through earlier detection of potential outbreaks and enhanced situational awareness.  This program addresses the “Healthy People 2010” focus area(s) of Public Health Infrastructure (#23). 

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance area(s) for the Coordinating Center for Health Information and Services and the National Center for Public Health Informatics:  Partnerships and Integrated Data and Information for Population Health Assessment and Monitoring.

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:

Awardee activities for this program are as follows:

§         Establish a collaborative of Federal, State, and local public health agency leadership from each State within the region to develop a regional surveillance plan. 

§         Engage agencies within the region to develop a plan that includes:  identification of the entity that will provide analytical services to the other State public health agencies; definitions of data to be shared; data use agreements; analysis and staffing plans that ensure daily scanning of the region, technologies and standards being used; and linkages to regional health information exchanges, the nationwide health information network, and CDC’s Biosense program.

§         Engage federal, State, and local public health agency leadership to define a plan and timeline for pilot testing and implementation.

§         Evaluate the capabilities of the collaboration.

§         Develop Data Use Agreements among states in a region for sharing of BioSurveillance data across jurisdictional boundaries

§         Determine what data/information will be shared at a local/state, regional and nation-wide level

§         Develop requirements for health situational awareness at the local/state, regional and nation-wide level

§         Explore data models and technologies that would allow for data to remain local yet information to be passed up the chain to regional and national systems; i.e a fedrated approach to data/information sharing

§         Design systems that work for not only health situational awareness but routine public health needs as well

§         Complete one exercise of the system with regional partners and CDC

 

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:

§         Providing subject matter expertise in federated surveillance systems and the technology and standards used to support them.  Specifically, share unpublished lessons learned in the development and implementation of the Biosense and NEDSS programs, which will inform this effort.

§         Provide the consultation of subject matter experts who have conducted CDC’s research in the areas of national surveillance systems, grid technologies and distributed queries.  The results of this research have not yet been published and are not publicly available.  The individuals who have conducted this research are national experts in the field whose services will be of direct benefit to the collaborative.

§         Ensure national experts participate in workgroups convened by the primary State to define plans for the collaborative.

 

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement

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

Award Mechanism: U38 - Cooperative Agreements to Develop or Improve Facets of the Public Health Information

Fiscal Year Funds: 2008

Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $ 100,000 – 500,000

Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $ 1,000,000 including direct and/or indirect costs.

Approximate Number of Awards: 1

Approximate Average Award: $250,000 (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 total cost (This ceiling is for the first 12-month budget period.) 

Anticipated Award Date: August 29, 2008

Budget Period Length: 12 months

Project Period Length: 2 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

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility is limited to, nonprofit organizations, For-profit organizations (other than small business), Universities, Colleges, Research institutions, State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents, Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with States), because these organizations are the only ones with the authority by State statutes and local ordinances  to collect personally identifiable information for the purposes of tracking notifiable diseases, intervening to prevent the spread of such diseases, and for prevention activities.  Applicants must provide documentation that they have the legal authority to collect personally identifiable information for the purposes described above.

For the purpose of this announcement, regions will be defined as groups of public health agencies (or authorized organizations) that represent populations in multiple geo-political areas (e.g., multiple States within a contiguous geographic area of the US, multiple localities within a geographic area that crosses State borders).

 

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching funds are not required for this program.  Letters of commitment from other agencies/organizations participating in the regional collaborative must be included.

III.3. Other

CDC will accept and review applications with budgets greater than the ceiling of the award range. 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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:

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:

 If your narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will be reviewed.

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

 

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

No more than 15 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:  July 21, 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:

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.

 

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:

 

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 NCPHI 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.  CDC employees within NCPHI and from other centers with informatics expertise will perform and objective review of the applications.  NCPHI biosurveillance experts will conduct a technical review.

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

It’s anticipated that awards will be made on or about August 29, 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

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.      The interim progress report is due no less than 90 days before the end of the budget period.  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.      Semi-annual progress report, due 180 days before the end of the budget period.  The progress report should contain a project narrative.

a.       Annual progress report, due 90 days after the end of the budget period and should include: 

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

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

                                                            iii.      Budget Narrative.

                                                           iv.      Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

                                                             v.      Project Narrative.

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 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:

     Lynn Gibbs Scharf, Project Officer

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

     1600 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30333

     Telephone:  404-498-6331

     E-mail: lscharf@cdc.gov

 

Subject Matter Expert:

Barry Rhodes

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

     1600 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30333

     Telephone:  404-498-6839

     E-mail: BRhodes@cdc.gov

 

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

Pamela Baker, Grants Management Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services

     CDC Procurement and Grants Office

     2920 Brandywine Road, MS

     Atlanta, GA 30341

     Telephone:  770-488-2689

     E-mail: PYBaker@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.

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