3. Section IV. Application and Submission Information, 3. Submission Dates and Times, 3.A.1. Letter of Intent
All amendments are noted in red type
Part I Overview Information
United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Issuing Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (COTPER/CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/maso/pdf/COTPERfs.pdf
Participating
Organizations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/
Components of Participating
Organizations
Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER/CDC), at http://www.cdc.gov/maso/pdf/COTPERfs.pdf
Title: Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers: A Public Health Systems Approach (P01)
The
policies, guidelines, terms, and conditions of the HHS
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in
this announcement might differ from those used by the HHS
National Institutes of Health (NIH). If written guidance
for completing this application is not available on the CDC
website, then CDC will direct applicants elsewhere for that
information.
Authority:
Section 319F(d)(7) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 247d-6(d)(7).
Announcement Type: New
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: RFA-TP-08-001
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number(s):
93.061,
Innovations in Applied Public Health Research
Key Dates
Release/Posted Date:
February 15, 2008
Letter of Intent Receipt
Date:
March 17, 2008
Application Submission
Receipt Date(s):
May 15, 2008
Peer Review Date(s):
June-July, 2008
Secondary/Council
Review Date(s):
August 2008
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): September 30, 2008
Additional Information to Be Available Date: Teleconference for potential applicants: March 7, 2008 from 2:00 -3:00 PM, EST. Call Teleconference Bridge Line number 1-866-741-7636 and use participant pass code number 5168692
Expiration Date: May 16, 2008
Due Date for E.O. 12372
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
Additional Overview Content
Executive Summary
· The Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) invites grant applications from accredited Schools of Public Health for Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers (PERRCs) that investigate the structure, capabilities, and performance of public health systems for preparedness and emergency response activities. The P01 program project grant mechanism will be used to support multidisciplinary, inter-related and interdependent research projects and a core component.
· COTPER /CDC intends to commit a total of approximately $9,000,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2008 funds to this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for payment of applications responsive to this announcement statement.
· Awards issued under this FOA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
· Five to Seven (5-7) awards are anticipated under this announcement. An average award is estimated to be $1,700,000 in total costs (both direct and indirect costs) for a research core and no more than five inter-related and interdependent research projects for the first 12-month budget period over a five (5) year project period.
· Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the activity code, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.
· Eligible Organizations: Eligible applicants for this announcement are accredited Schools of Public Health, as required by section 319F-2(d) of the Public Health Service Act. Only schools accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health are eligible. Eligible applicants may only submit one application under this announcement. Eligible applicants are encouraged to include research that is multidisciplinary and may enter into collaborative relationships that cut across departmental, school/college, or university boundaries. However, the primary responsibility for the conduct of the research remains with the eligible organization which must contribute a majority of the research effort in the program project. An eligible applicant may submit an application that includes inter-related and interdependent research in collaboration with any of the following:
o Non-eligible schools or colleges within the same institution or university
o Public nonprofit organizations;
o Private nonprofit organizations
o For profit organizations;
o Small, minority, and women-owned businesses;
o Universities or colleges
o Research institutions;
o Hospitals or community-based organizations
o Faith-based organizations
o Federally recognized or state-recognized American Indian/Alaska Native tribal governments;
o American Indian/Alaska Native tribally designated organizations
o Alaska Native health corporations
o Urban Indian health organizations; tribal epidemiology centers;
o State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents (this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau); and political subdivisions of states (in consultation with states). A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified and approved by the state to participate as a state governmental entity.
· HHS/CDC Telecommunications for the hearing impaired is available at the following number: TTY 770-488-2783.
Funding Opportunity Announcement Glossary: FOA Glossary Terminology
Table of Contents
Part I
Overview Information
Part II Full Text of
Announcement
Section I. Funding
Opportunity Description
1. Research
Objectives
Section II. Award
Information
1. Mechanism(s) of
Support
2. Funds Available
Section III. Eligibility
Information
1. Eligible
Applicants
A. Eligible
Institutions
2.Cost Sharing or
Matching
3.Other - Special
Eligibility Criteria
Section IV. Application
and Submission Information
1. Request
Application Information
2. Content and Form
of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates
and Times
A. Receipt and
Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of
Intent
B. Submitting an
Application to CDC
C. Application
Processing
4. Intergovernmental
Review
5. Funding
Restrictions
6. Other Submission
Requirements
Section V. Application
Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and
Selection Process
A. Additional
Review Criteria
B. Additional
Review Considerations
C. Sharing
Research Data
D. Sharing
Research Resources
3.
Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Section VI. Award
Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and
National Policy Requirements
A. Cooperative
Agreement
1. Recipient Rights and Responsibilities
2. HHS/CDC
Responsibilities
3.
Collaborative Responsibilities
3.
Reporting
Section VII. Agency
Contact(s)
1.
Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review
Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants
Management Contact(s)
4.
General Questions Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other
Information - Required Federal Citations
Part II - Full Text of
Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
Background
The governmental public health response functions during emergencies that are performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are outlined in Emergency Support Functions (ESF) Annex 8 of the National Response Plan (http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NRP_FullText.pdf ). Within the CDC, the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER; http://www.cdc.gov/maso/pdf/COTPERfs.pdf) has primary oversight and responsibility for all programs that comprise CDC's terrorism preparedness and emergency response portfolio. Through an all-hazards approach to preparedness that focuses on large-scale threats from natural, biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events, COTPER helps the nation prepare for and respond to urgent threats to the public's health. COTPER’s mission is to prevent death, disability, disease and injury associated with urgent health threats by improving preparedness of the public health system, the healthcare delivery system and the public through excellence in science and services.
The CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010" and to measuring program performance as stipulated by the Government Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). This FOA addresses “Healthy People 2010” priority area(s) for Public Health Infrastructure and Environmental Health related to research on public health systems to help communities respond to and recover from disasters and for disaster preparedness plans and protocols, respectively. For more information, see www.healthypeople.gov.
The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), Public Law 109-417 Section 319F(d)(7) directs the Secretary of the DHHS to “…define the existing knowledge base for public health preparedness and response systems, and establish a research agenda based on Federal, State, local and tribal public health preparedness priorities.” This FOA specifically responds to the Congressional mandate in section 319F(d)(7) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by sections 301(d) and (e) of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) (P.L. 109-417 (2006)) by providing funding for research centers at accredited Schools of Public Health to conduct public health systems research for preparedness and emergency response.
The public health system is a complex network that requires the integration of services from both public and private agencies and organizations. The purpose of this research program is to conduct public health systems research on preparedness and response capabilities at the national, state, local, and tribal levels. Preparedness for threats to public health from chemical, radiological, or biological hazards, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and pandemics were among the challenges described in the 2006 U.S. National Security Strategy http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/nss2006.pdf. Program activities within several operating divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services are directed toward preparing for and responding to these threats. Within this overall HHS strategy for responding to terrorism and public health challenges, the CDC is charged with addressing strategic goals for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (http://www.hhs.gov/budget/07plan/sGoal2.html#prog2c).
Pre-Event
1. Increase the use and development of interventions known to prevent human illness from
chemical, biological, radiological agents, and naturally occurring health threats.
2. Decrease the time needed to classify health events as terrorism or naturally occurring in
partnership with other agencies.
3. Decrease the time needed to detect and report chemical, biological, radiological agents in
tissue, food or environmental samples that cause threats to the public’s health.
4. Improve the timeliness and accuracy of communications regarding threats to the public’s
health.
Event
5. Decrease the time to identify causes, risk factors, and appropriate interventions for those
affected by threats to the public’s health.
6. Decrease the time needed to provide countermeasures and health guidance to those affected by threats to the public’s health.
Post-Event
7. Decrease the time needed to restore health services and environmental safety to pre-event levels.
8. Improve the long-term follow-up provided to those affected by threats to the public’s health.
9. Decrease the time needed to implement recommendations from after-action reports following threats to the public’s health.
CDC programs accomplish these goals through five strategic areas which provide a framework to focus agency efforts and include provisions to:
A. Integrate and enhance the existing surveillance systems at the local, state, national, and international levels to detect, monitor, report, and evaluate public health threats.
B. Support and strengthen human and technological epidemiologic resources to prevent, investigate, mitigate, and control current, emerging, and new public health threats and to conduct research and development that lead to interventions for such threats.
C. Enhance and sustain nationwide and international laboratory capacity to gather, ship, screen, and test samples for public health threats and to conduct research and development that lead to interventions for such threats
D. Assure an integrated, sustainable, nationwide response and recovery capacity to limit morbidity and mortality from public health threats.
E. Expand and strengthen integrated, sustained, national foundational and surge capacities capable of reaching all individuals with effective assistance to address public health threats.
The intent of preparedness and emergency response activities are to prevent the negative impact of a public health emergency on affected communities. Programs to build this capacity at the state level are ongoing and the capacity to respond to an urgent health threat requires that multiple organizations cooperate and function within a fluid and dynamic public health infrastructure. Public health systems research is a relatively new field that COTPER has defined operationally as developing and using methodologies to understand, model, and measure the influence of change in a complex entity comprised of interrelated constituent parts. Within this context, the intent of the program for Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers (PERRCs) is to use the public health systems research approach to examine the organization, function, capacity, and performance of components in the public health system in preparing for and responding to any and all potential threats and hazards. This FOA is not intended to support health services research, clinical research, or research on specific agent characteristics.
Objectives
The goal of this program is to use a public heath systems research approach to strengthen and improve public health preparedness and emergency response capabilities with the following objectives:
1. Respond to Congressional intent to expand the role of Centers for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) at accredited Schools of Public Health to conduct research and improve public health emergency preparedness systems.
2. Initiate a public health research enterprise (in the form of multi-disciplinary centers) that focuses on new knowledge for application in public health practice and that collectively produces improvement in key public health systems in a 5-year time frame.
3. Improve capability assessment for emergency response to rare events and uptake of knowledge-to-practice such that variability in performance is reduced.
4. Improve all-hazards performance as a priority over scenario- or agent-based system performance and target changes that can improve every-day public health practice while improving preparedness for disasters and infrequent emergencies.
5. Leverage the academic research environment at Schools of Public Health (where a broad spectrum of research disciplines resides) to accelerate the development of research methods, standards, best practices, and templates suitable to breakthrough research in public health emergency preparedness systems.
The goal and objectives of this program support efforts to address the national preparedness goals for response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or infectious disease outbreaks and threats, and are consistent with achieving the CDC’s overarching Health Protection Goals for Preparedness (http://www.cdc.gov/osi/goals/preparedness.html). Research on public health systems will be funded in consideration of recommendations from the recent report Research Priorities in Emergency Preparedness and Response for Public Health Systems: A Letter Report prepared by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3740/48812.aspx.
The CDC/COTPER requested that the IOM conduct a study to identify gaps in knowledge about public health systems for preparedness and emergency response and to articulate recommendations for near-term priorities areas for research. The IOM was directed to undertake this study within the context of: ongoing DHHS efforts to develop a broad federal research agenda for public health preparedness and response systems, resident expertise for public health preparedness within Schools of Public Health, and the CDC framework to promote preparedness and public health as described in the report Advancing the Nation’s Health: A Research Guide to Public Health Research Needs, 2006-2015, commonly referred to as “The CDC Research Guide,” http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/PHResearch/cdcra/.
As described in the CDC Research Guide relative to public health systems for preparedness and emergency response, the IOM considered the following;
· Protecting vulnerable populations in emergencies
· Strengthening response systems
· Preparing the public health workforce
· Improving timely emergency communications
· Improving information management to increase use
In addition to recommendations for research priorities, the IOM report provides background information, examples, and references. The IOM report can be obtained free of charge at http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3740/48812.aspx. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to review the report in the development of applications to this FOA. As recommended in the IOM report, COTPER has determined that the following broad themes are priorities for research under this announcement:
1. Enhance the Usefulness of Training
2. Improve Communications in Preparedness and Response
3. Create and Maintain Sustainable Preparedness and Response Systems
4. Generate Criteria and Metrics Applicable to An All-hazard Approach to Preparedness to Measure Effectiveness and Efficiency
COTPER has determined that priorities for research under Theme 1, “Enhance the Usefulness of Training” must be more narrowly focused in order to avoid duplication of ongoing activities in CDC programs. In this regard, proposed research studies to “Enhance the Usefulness of Training” should reflect and build upon (where applicable) the existing body of knowledge of systems engineering, computer science, learning and cognition, educational technology,
performance technology, and instructional systems design. Further, research within this priority theme should result in findings that are generalizable to a larger population. Formative and summative evaluation studies (such as training evaluation, program evaluation, needs assessment or analysis) are not considered within the scope of the intended program under this FOA and will not be accepted. Within the broad theme of research to “Enhance the Usefulness of Training,” only proposals that address one of the following two areas will be considered:
Research on the priority themes should be developed with the following specific considerations in mind:
· Vulnerable populations and workforce themes are considered cross-cutting for each of the themes for priority research. In addition, ethical and legal issues also are pervasive concerns in a system of emergency preparedness and should be referenced or addressed as part of each proposed research project.
· Although the IOM report refers specifically to current Centers for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) programs, application to this FOA is open and competitive for all accredited Schools of Public Health.
· Research questions included in the IOM report under each recommendation should be considered examples and are not intended to be prescriptive. Applicants should think creatively in developing proposals to address the themes for priority research. All research questions included by the IOM under each recommendation may not be readily framed as such.
· Public presentations provided at the IOM Public Workgroup Meeting and present on the IOM website (http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3740/48812.aspx) represent individual or organizational viewpoints and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of COTPER. Information in these presentations should only be used as a resource and for informational purposes.
FOA Assistance Mechanism
This announcement uses the research program project grant mechanism to fund research for promoting and enhancing the preparedness and emergency response capabilities of the public health infrastructure at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels. The program project grant is intended to support an organized group of investigators with differing areas of expertise who collaborate to conduct research that is synergistic and addresses a major theme. Applications responsive to this announcement should describe research focused on a particular aspect of the public health system in regard to preparedness and emergency response capabilities. The application is expected to contain a core component and up to 5 multidisciplinary and interdependent research projects that are designed to focus on various components of a well-defined program project theme. Successful program projects generally bring together scientists in diverse fields, who would not otherwise collaborate, to apply complementary approaches to work on a well-defined problem. In this regard the burden of proof is on the principal investigator, and on the leader for each individual research project, to demonstrate in the written application that the program project would be much less effective if parceled out as a set of independent research grants. Each research project in the program is expected to contribute and be directly related to the total research effort on public health systems in regard to preparedness and emergency response capabilities.
The program project grant application should demonstrate an essential element of unity and interdependent research activities with a core component. Each program project is expected to be under the leadership of an established, senior scientist designated by the applicant institution. This principal investigator is expected to bear responsibility for the overall scientific leadership and fiscal management of the program project grant. Each of the collaborating scientists responsible for the individual research projects is expected to be an independent investigator. Multidisciplinary research projects from investigators across departments, administrative units, institutions or universities (through a subcontract mechanism) are encouraged. Investigators located at a proposed PERCC or who are proposing to collaborate with a PERCC should include a complete description of how the proposal in response to this FOA will utilize the core facilities funded through the PERCC. Investigators who are not directly affiliated with a PERCC may form collaborations with such centers in order to utilize the core resources. The program project grant is not intended to be a vehicle for departmental support, nor is the research support of a single senior investigator and several postdoctoral and research associate-level scientists appropriate under this mechanism. In addition, the program project and each individual research project must represent a significant effort on the part of the participating scientists and be distinct from their other funded efforts. If individuals have substantial support in areas closely related to the program project, their support should be folded into the program project. If their support cannot be folded in, they may participate as associate members. Associate members have full use of, for example, core facilities, and contribute to the overall collegiality of the project, but derive no financial support from it.
See
Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal
Citations, for policies related to this announcement.
Section II. Award
Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
This funding opportunity will use the P01 activity code for research program project grants.
2. Funds Available
CDC/COTPER intends to commit approximately $9,000,000 in FY2008 dollars to fund five to seven (5-7) applications. The average award amount will be $1,700,000 total for both direct and indirect costs for the first 12-month budget period. An applicant may request a project period of up to five years (60 months). An applicant may request up to $2,000,000 for the first 12-month budget period for a research program core and no more than five interrelated research projects. Applicants may request funds for a research core for up to $300,000 (to include direct and indirect costs) and individual research projects for up to $350,000 each (to include direct and indirect costs) for the first 12-month budget period. The approximate total project period funded amount is $45,000,000. The anticipated start date for new awards is September 30, 2008.
All estimated funding amounts are subject to availability of funds.
If an applicant requests a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range (2 million), HHS/CDC will consider the application non-responsive, and it will not enter into the review process. HHS/CDC will notify the applicant that the application did not meet the submission requirements.
Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. Although the financial plan of the COTPER is to provide support for initiating this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. The ongoing support for this program and any awards made pursuant to this funding opportunity is contingent upon 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.
Indirect costs requested by all components in the program project grant are to be included within the total cost limitation.
Use of Funds
The program project grant is not intended to be a vehicle for departmental support, nor is the research support of a single senior investigator and several postdoctoral and research associate-level scientists appropriate under this mechanism.
Research program project grant funds are to be designated for two types of activities. One type is the core component, which, at a minimum, supports each of the following activities:
· An operational Plan for program project and administrative/grant management and support for the research projects
· Provide funding and oversight for the development of up to 4 New Research Investigators
· Provide funding, support, and oversight for up to 4 Pilot Projects for innovative research on public health systems research on preparedness and emergency response capabilities
· Establish and convene an advisory group to support the program project. The advisory group should include; representatives from state, local, and/or tribal organizations, and may include medical or health care facilities that are involved in preparedness and emergency response activities, public health leaders, community liaisons, etc.
· Strategies and methods to evaluate and translate results from research efforts to assure relevance to public health practice, to help achieve national preparedness goals, and for enhanced, improved, or expanded preparedness and emergency response capabilities.
Multidisciplinary, interdependent, research projects constitute the second type of activity funded. Each individual project must represent a significant effort on the part of the participating scientists and be distinct from their other funded efforts. If researchers have substantial support in areas closely related to the program project, their support should be folded into the program project. If their support cannot be folded in, they may participate as associate members. Associate members have full use of, for example, core facilities, and contribute to the overall collegiality of the project, but derive no financial support from it.
Eligible applicants may enter into subcontracts, including consortia agreements (as set forth in the HHS Grants Policy Statement (http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/docs/HHSGPS_107.doc), as necessary to meet the requirements of the program project for public health systems research on preparedness and emergency response capabilities and to strengthen the overall application.
Funding Preferences
At the discretion of the Director, COTPER, additional consideration may be given to funding research program projects that: address one or more Federal, state, local, or tribal public health preparedness research priority themes determined by COTPER, help to achieve a balance for addressing preparedness research needs in both urban and rural communities, and achieve a geographical or regional distribution of awarded programs. The COTPER priority themes are based upon recommendations from the IOM report, and described under Section I. Funding Opportunity Description, Objectives.
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible
Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
· Eligible applicants for this announcement are accredited Schools of Public Health, as required by section 319F-2(d) of the Public Health Service Act. Only schools accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health are eligible. Eligible applicants may only submit one application under this announcement. Eligible applicants are encouraged to include research that is multidisciplinary and may enter into collaborative relationships that cut across departmental, school/college, or university boundaries. However, the primary responsibility for the conduct of the research remains with the eligible organization which must contribute a majority of the effort to the overall program project and the individual research projects. An eligible applicant may submit an application that includes inter-related research in collaboration with any of the following:
A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified and approved by the state to participate as a state governmental entity.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost sharing is not required.
The most current HHS
Grants Policy Statement is available at:
http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/docs/HHSGPS_107.doc
3. Other-Special Eligibility
Criteria
Applicants must provide documentation of current
accreditation by the Council on Education for Public
Health.
Attach this documentation as “Appendix 1” and label as
appropriate in your application form.
Eligible applicants (an accredited School of Public Health) may only submit one application under this announcement.
If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will not enter into the review process.
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 an award, grant, or loan.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Request Application Information
The PHS 398 application instructions are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. Applicants must use the currently approved version of the PHS 398. For further assistance, contact Grants Info, Telephone (301) 435-0714, E-mail GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
HHS/CDC Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 770-488-2783.
If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section, (PGO-TIM) at: Telephone 770-488-2700, Email: PGOTIM@cdc.gov. Application forms can be mailed to you.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Applications must be prepared using the most current PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms. Applications must have a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System number for as the universal identifies when applying for Federal grants and cooperative agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711 or through the web site at http://www.dnb.com/us/. The D&B number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 firm.
The title and number of this funding opportunity must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the Yes box must be checked.
The page limit for each major component of the grant (i.e., the overall program project description including the core component, and each individual research projects) is no more than 25 pages, each, exclusive of budget and biosketches.
Abstract (Overall Application Summary and Relevance)
It is especially important that the abstract (Description, PHS 398 form page 2) of your grant application reflect the overall application’s (both core and research) focus, because if your application is funded, your abstract will become public information.
The language of the abstract must be simple and easy to understand for a broad audience. For more information on how to write an abstract please see “Structured Abstracts” section at: http://jama.ama-assn.org/ifora-current.dtl.
Program Project Description (Maximum 25 pages)
An overview section must contain justification for the program project grant mechanism and describe those goals that are not readily attainable through individual research project grants. This section should include information detailing activities to be conducted for the first budget year and describe more briefly activities to be conducted over the entire five-year project period. A description of the administrative arrangements for overall scientific leadership, quality control, and management of the program project grant should be provided in the overview as well as a description of facilities available, including major equipment or instruments and special program resources that will support the program project. Applications should include the following:
· Face page
· Description (abstract)
· Table of contents
· A clear statement of the preparedness and emergency response system research priority theme on which the project program is based. The goals and objectives of the program in addressing this theme as a whole and a description of the relationship of the individual research projects to the entire program project should be described. The special benefits and synergism to be achieved by funding as a program project grant rather than as a series of individual research grants should be discussed.
· List of all key research personnel and critical core staff and the percent effort to be devoted to activities described in the proposed program project
· Detailed budget for the first budget period and estimated budgets for the entire five-year project period (direct and indirect costs). The budget should reflect the composite figures (core plus individual projects) for the grant application. In addition, separate budgets (direct and indirect costs) and justifications should be provided for the following categories of activities.
The core component, which, at a minimum should include:
· An operational Plan for program project activities and administrative/grant management and support for the research projects
· Provide funding and oversight for training in public health systems research and preparedness and emergency response systems , or related areas to develop up to 4 New Research Investigators in this field at up to $30,000 per new investigator
· Provide funding, support, and oversight for up to 4 Pilot Projects for innovative research on public health systems research on preparedness and emergency response capabilities at up to $30,000 per pilot project
· Establish and convene an advisory group to support the program project. The advisory group should include representatives from state, local, and/or tribal organizations, and may include medical or health care facilities that are involved in preparedness and emergency response activities, public health leaders, community liaisons, etc.
· Strategies and methods to evaluate and translate results from research efforts to help achieve national preparedness goals and for enhanced, improved, or expanded preparedness and emergency response capabilities
· Up to $300,000 (to include direct and indirect costs) for the first budget period
The discussion of activities and function of the core component should include information on where the program project will reside within the organizational structure of the applicant institution and the clear lines of authority for the principal investigator and individual project lead investigators. Clear institution-wide support should be documented for program project activities that involve collaborating scientists from multiple departments, university schools, or institutions so as to ensure oversight for interdisciplinary activities. Program project grant applications that include individual research projects from varying disciplines, such as engineering, business, medicine, social science, law, religion, computer science, government, etc., are strongly encouraged.
Collaboration with and the participation of public health agencies and other public and private sector organizations engaged in public health system preparedness and emergency response in proposed program project activities is strongly encouraged. Letters of commitment or support should be provided for each agency to document agreed collaboration or participation and indicate expected roles and activities.
Applicants should discuss how the application compliments efforts to build or enhance a base in public health preparedness and emergency response systems research.
Individual research projects (Maximum 25 pages for each project):
Each research project in the program project grant should represent both an independent and an interdependent research effort, and should be prepared in the format of an individual research grant application. The cover page, abstract, budget pages, biographical information, description of the research to be conducted, and any justification for research involving human subjects, if applicable, should be included as noted below. A detailed research plan (design and methods), including aims, hypothesis, expected outcomes, and measurable and time-framed objectives, should be included. The focus of the research should be consistent with efforts to achieve public health preparedness priorities for federal, state, local, and tribal public health systems. Where applicable, anticipated results that will have immediate application in public health practice in preparedness and emergency response systems should be described. The special benefits and synergism to be achieved from the program project must also be discussed. Individual research projects should be:
· Up to $350,000 (to include direct and indirect costs) for the first budget period.
· Focused on various aspects of the research theme and contribute to a total research program investigating some element of the public health system for preparedness and emergency response capabilities
· Essential elements of a unified and interdependent research program
Individual research project applications should include:
· Budget for the entire proposed project period, including budgets for each individual research project and any consortium/contractual arrangements.
· The detailed budget request must be provided in the form, format, and to the level of detail as indicated in the CDC Budget Guidelines located at http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/Budget_Guidelines.doc
· Biographical sketches of key personnel, consultants, and collaborators, including the Principal Investigator and lead investigators for each research project
· Listing of other (pending or currently available) support in relation to the proposed program project and a description of planned modifications in the event of funding, The source of funding for each grant or contract should be indicated as well as the amount of funding and date of funding (start and end dates).
· A description of resources and environment that will support the proposed project program.
3. Submission Dates and Times
See Section IV.3.A for details
3. A. Submission, Review and
Anticipated Start Dates
Letter
of Intent Receipt Date:
March 17, 2008
Application Submission Receipt Date(s): May 15, 2008
Peer Review Date (s): June –July, 2008
Council Review Date (s): August 2008
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September 30, 2008
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
· Number and title of this funding opportunity
· Title and brief description and of the proposed research program project
·