U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Immunization Grants and Vaccines for Children Program

Supplemental for Pandemic Flu

Aggregate Reporting of Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Doses Administered

 

Announcement Type: Supplement Announcement to FOA IP08-803 – type 3  

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.268

Application Deadline: June 13, 2008

 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: This program is authorized under section 317 of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. section 247b], as amended.

Purpose: An influenza pandemic has the potential to cause substantial morbidity and mortality as well as extensive social and economic disruption in the U.S.  The overarching mission of CDC’s vaccine planning activities for pandemic influenza is to protect the public’s health and minimize the impact of influenza pandemic by facilitating the manufacture, distribution, and administration of safe and effective pre-pandemic and pandemic influenza vaccines.

            The purpose of this supplemental funding is to allow eligible applicants to enhance preparedness for pandemic influenza by preparing for a specific task related to pandemic influenza preparedness that is a key aspect of managing and monitoring the public health response—tracking pandemic influenza vaccine doses administered. 

This program addresses the “Healthy People 2010” focus area of immunization:

This program also addresses two of CDC’s Health Protection Goals:

·        Healthy People in Every Stage of Life

·        People Prepared for Emerging Health Threats

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the following performance goal for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases:

  • Ensure that two-year olds are appropriately vaccinated.
  • Increase the proportion of adults who are vaccinated annually against influenza and ever vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.

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/ads/opspoll1.htm.

Activities:

Awardee activities for supplemental funding are as follows:

1.  Develop and/or implement program resources (hardware, software and personnel) to update current data systems to meet data collection, reporting needs and requirements for Secure Data Network (SDN) compatible data sharing.

2.  Develop communication and coordination plans with state and local designated pandemic influenza point of dispensing sites (PODs) and those sites involved in capturing doses administered data and to improve address and contact information.

3.  Develop and test strategies to collect and transmit additional information that will be needed during a possible pandemic; for example:  how to modify systems and train staff to collect information on federal guidance for priority groups; or how to enhance systems to provide a reminder notification system; and to promote access to doses administered data for possible use by other organizations in preparation for pandemic vaccine efficacy studies.

4.  Expand data collection assets and reporting techniques to less technically or operationally mature areas.

5.  Enhance tools for participating in the collection of seasonal influenza data as a proxy for the pandemic.  This proxy will be used to further test and examine technical and operational capacity of timely collection and reporting.

6.  Develop evaluation plan describing methods to be used for documenting and reporting, to include resources developed and/or implemented; number of outreach, training sessions and/or table top exercises conducted; and coordinating designated dispensing sites as evidenced by the development of plans, rules and policies connecting doses distributed data with doses administered data.  

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Grant

Award Mechanism: H23

Fiscal Year Funds: 2008

Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $ 2, 600,000.

Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $2,600,000 (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds.)  This includes direct and indirect costs.

Approximate Number of Awards: 8 – 13

Approximate Average Award: $ 200,000

Floor of Individual Award Range: $150,000

Ceiling of Individual Award Range: $300,000.  This includes direct and indirect costs.

Budget Period Length: 5 months

Project Period Length: 5 months

 

III. Eligibility Information

Limited Competition

Only the current 64 grantees currently funded under FOA IP08-803 are eligible applicants for supplemental funding because they have the necessary infrastructure in place to perform the activities required and have the experience needed to successfully complete the required functions.  Included among these grantees are the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.  Competition is limited to the entities listed above because they have the primary responsibility for carrying out the public health assurance functions required to achieve the desired outcomes and performance goals established by CDC. 

III. 4. Cost Sharing or Matching

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

.  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 requires 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. 

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 address them.

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:

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:

  • Maximum of one page.
  • 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: no more than 10 pages per project.  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 pages of the application sequentially from page 1 (Application Face Page) to the end of the application, including charts, figures, tables, and appendices.

Eligible applicants applying for supplemental funds should address activities to be conducted over the five-month project period and must include the following items in the order listed:

  1. Plan
    1. One or more objectives that address the required activity.  Each objective must be specific, measurable, achievable, and realistic and one that can be achieved in the funding period.  For each objective, provide:

1.         The activities to be undertaken to accomplish each objective

2.         The timeline for reaching each objective

3.         The method of evaluating the success or accomplishment of each objective.  The evaluation should include the following measures.

a.       Describe quantity of program resource to update current collection efforts, reporting needs and requirement for Secure Data Network (SDN) compatible sharing.

b.      Number of plans developed which include number of outreach meetings, to whom meetings are provided, etc.

c.       Number of tests developed/participated in; number of system modification enhancements i.e., priority groups, reminder notification systems, and/or vaccine

d.      efficacy studies.

e.       Number of geographic units (zip codes, census tracts, counties, etc.) targeted with the resources to expand data collection assistance.  Clearly identify the assets (computers, training manuals, software upgrades, and other methods of assistance such as data exchange techniques) and quantities provided.

f.        List enhancements to the tools used in the collection of seasonal influenza data.

6.         List evaluation plans developed which should include number of meetings/outreach sessions or table top exercises conducted.

4.         A staffing plan that demonstrates an understanding of the labor needed to accomplish each activity.  Identify staff members by name and title.

5.         Documented letters of support showing cooperation between the immunization, bioterrorism and preparedness activities or vaccine efficacy groups in the organization.

  1. Budget justification (not counted in the 10 page limit); see section IV.5 of this Announcement

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 labeled clearly with the name of the document or a clear descriptive title when uploaded into Grants.gov.

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: June 13, 2008

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 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

The application is subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, as governed by Executive Order (EO) 12372.  This order sets up a system for state and local governmental review of proposed federal assistance applications.  Contact the state single point of contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert the SPOC to prospective applications and to receive instructions on the State’s process.  Visit the following Web address to get the current SPOC list:

 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html

 

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, to include personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, consultant services.  Recipients may elect to use subcontractors for efforts that can not be accomplished with project staff.  However, the direct and primary recipient 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. 
  • 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.
  • Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
  • Funding requests not directly related to immunization activities are outside the scope of these grant programs and will not be funded
  • Recipients may not use funds for construction.

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:

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.   

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

1.         Plan description (60 points) Is the plan adequate to fully address each of the required elements listed in Section I of this Announcement including specific and measurable objectives and activities to meet those objectives?  Is the plan complete, sound, and practical?  Does it include outcome measures?

2.         Capacity (40 points).   Is the staffing planning adequate and does it demonstrate an understanding of the labor needed to accomplish the stated objectives and related activities?  Do staff members have appropriate experience? Are the staff roles clearly defined?  As described, will staff be sufficient to accomplish the identified program goals?  Is there documented evidence such as letters of support showing cooperation between the immunization, bioterrorism and preparedness or vaccine efficacy groups of the organization? 

3.      Budget and Justification (Reviewed, but not scored)] 

V.2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility.  Applicants will be notified the application did not meet submission requirements.

An objective review panel will evaluate complete applications according to the criteria listed in the “V.1.  Criteria” section 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.  

Reviewers will be CDC employees from outside the Immunization Services Division (ISD) of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD).

The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases reserves the right to select or fund out of rank order to ensure geographic, demographic, and/or ethnic diversity among the funded applicants.    It is CDC’s intention to use these considerations to avoid funding a disproportionate number of projects in one geographical (eastern, western, Midwestern and southern states, territories and freely associated states, etc), jurisdictional (state, city) or demographic area (rural, urban).

 

V.3. Anticipated Announcement Award Dates

Anticipated Announcement: May 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 the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.

Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of the application review by e-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 basic and resulting awards will be subject to the requirements of Section 106 (g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended (22 U.S.C. 7104).   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-14                         Accounting System Requirements
  • AR-15                         Proof of Non-Profit Status
  • AR-20                         Conference Support
  • AR-25                         Release and Sharing of Data

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

 

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

A final report will be submitted no later than 60 days after the supplemental activities' project period/end completion date.  This report will detail implementation and/or development efforts to update program resources; measures of project effectiveness; communication and coordination efforts with points of dispensing sites (PODS); plans for strategies to collect and disseminate information during a possible pandemic; and documentation that demonstrates the state health department has meaningfully engaged in cooperative efforts between immunization, bioterrorism and preparedness activities or vaccine efficacy groups.   

This report 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 technical assistance, contact:

            Warren Williams, Project Officer

    Department of Health and Human Services

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

            1600 Clifton Road NE, MS E-52

            Atlanta, GA 30333

            Telephone:  404-639-6236

            E-mail:  wwilliams1@cdc.gov

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

    Peaches Brown, Grants Management Specialist

    Department of Health and Human Services

            CDC Procurement and Grants Office

            2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14

            Atlanta, GA 30341

            Telephone:  770-488-2738

            E-mail:  prb0@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

APPENDIX 1 EVALUATION MEASURES FOR EACH OBJECTIVE

1.         Describe quantity of program resource to update current collection efforts, reporting needs and requirement for Secure Data Network (SDN) compatible sharing.

2.         Number of plans developed which include number of outreach meetings, to whom meetings are provided, etc.

3.         Number of tests developed/participated in; number of system modification enhancements i.e., priority groups, reminder notification systems, and/or vaccine

            efficacy studies.

4.         Number of geographic units (zip codes, census tracts, counties, etc.) targeted with the resources to expand data collection assistance.  Clearly identify the assets (computers, training manuals, software upgrades, and other methods of assistance such as data exchange techniques) and quantities provided.

5.         List enhancements to the tools used in the collection of seasonal influenza data.

6.         List evaluation plans developed which should include number of meetings/outreach sessions or table top exercises conducted.      

 

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