U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY (ATSDR)

Community Health Projects Related to Brownfield/Land Reuse

 

Announcement Type: New – Type 1

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-TS08-803

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.161 - Health Program for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: May 23, 2008

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA or Superfund), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), 42 U.S.C. 9604(i); and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6939a.

 

 

Background: Brownfields are defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as abandoned, idled, or under-utilized industrial and commercial properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived contamination.  Land reuse sites are properties that are being redeveloped from their former use.  EPA estimates that there are approximately 450,000 brownfields sites in the United States.  Addressing public health concerns and issues with restoration of contaminated properties is essential.

 

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2008 funds for a cooperative agreement (as described in Section III.1. of this announcement) in brownfields/land reuse community health projects. These projects will have a particular emphasis on identifying health issues prior to redevelopment and/or assessing changes in community health associated with reuse plans and redevelopment.  Projects could include, but are not limited to, evaluation of environmental contaminant exposures, identification of health indicators of sustainability (pre- and post- redevelopment), conducting risk communication and health education, or conducting geospatial analysis.

 

It is expected that this program will stimulate collaboration among stakeholders, including local governing officials, community-based organizations, the private sector, and State governments to work together in a timely manner to ensure that public health is considered in the earliest phases of remediation and redevelopment of brownfield/land reuse properties.

 

ATSDR is fully committed to implementing the President’s Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice to ensure the full representation and participation on all levels, of minority and low-income population groups.  

Purpose: The purpose of the program is to identify and address public health and issues with brownfield/land reuse plans.  This program addresses one or more of the “Healthy People 2010” focus area(s) of Access to Quality Health Care Services, Educational and Community-Based Programs, Environmental Health, Health Communication, Mental Health and Mental Disorders, Nutrition and Overweight, Occupational Safety and Health, Physical Activity and Fitness, and Public Health Infrastructure.  

 Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the ATSDR:

 This announcement is only for non-research activities.  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:

Awardees’ activities for this program are as follows:
  1. Develop new or enhance existing community public health initiatives related to redevelopment of brownfield or land reuse sites.
  2. Include a strategy for characterizing community/communities (e.g., by gathering community/neighborhood information from key stakeholders, reviewing existing documents and plans, and by direct observation or “windshield surveillance” activities).
  3. Involve stakeholders in proposed strategies, including residents who live in communities adjacent to or within two miles of the target areas.
  4. Incorporate community health status (environmental data, community health concerns, and public health data) or issues assessment in the program plan.
  5. Provide a means for measuring project success and evaluating strategies related to ATSDR performance goals (stated above).
  6. Propose a plan for sustainability once funding period has ended.

 In a cooperative agreement, CDC and ATSDR staffs are substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring. 

CDC and ATSDR activities for this program are as follows:

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.

Award Mechanism: E11 - Grants for Public Health Special Projects

Fiscal Year Funds: 2008

Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $300,000

Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $300,000, with award made in current fiscal year only. (This amount is an estimate and is subject to availability of funds.)  This includes direct and indirect costs. 

Approximate Number of Awards: 4 - 10

Approximate Average Award: $60,000 (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period and includes both direct and indirect costs.) Awards will range from $30,000 - $70,000.

Floor of Individual Award Range: None.

Ceiling of Individual Award Range: $70,000.

Anticipated Award Date: 08-31-08

Budget Period Length: 12 months

Project Period Length: 1 year

Throughout the project period, CDC’s and ATSDR’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 that can apply for this funding opportunity include health departments (or their bona fide agents) of states, 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, the Republic of Palau, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.  In consultation with states, assistance may be provided to political subdivisions of states.

The justification for the limited competition for this cooperative agreement is based on the funding authority of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).  The agency can only fund health departments (or their bona fide agents) of states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and political subdivisions of the states, in consultation with the states.  The recipient must meet one of the above state association criteria to receive funds under ATSDR’s authority. The Agency currently funds a cooperative agreement with state health departments to support the public health assessment activities of ATSDR.  There is no association with any other CDC related project and this announcement.

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.   

  

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

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

 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 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.  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:
  • 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: 25.  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 narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period and must include the following items in the order listed:
  • Overview of plan
  • Purpose and objectives
  • Intended stakeholders and collaborators and their involvement in the project
  • Methods (including proposed strategy(ies), means to measure success and evaluate strategies, and sustainability plan)
  • Staff
  • Proposed timeline

Additional information may be included in the application appendices.  The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative page limit.  This additional information includes:
  • Curriculum vitaes
  • Resumes
  • Organization Charts
  • Letters of Support

Additional information submitted via Grants.gov should be uploaded in a PDF file format, and should be named:
  • Curriculum vitae, Resumes, etc.  These forms will be uploaded through Other Attachments Forms, Mandatory Documents into Grants.gov. 

No more than 10 electronic 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

Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline Date: Not applicable.  

 

Application Deadline Date:  May 23, 2008.  

 

Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. 

 

Applications may be submitted electronically at www.Grants.gov.  Applications completed on-line through Grants.gov are considered formally submitted when the applicant organization’s Authorizing Organization Representative (AOR) electronically submits the application to www.Grants.gov.  Electronic applications will be considered as having met the deadline if the application has been successfully submitted electronically by the applicant organization’s AOR to Grants.gov on or before the deadline date and time.

 

When submission of the application is done electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), the application will be electronically time/date stamped and a tracking number will be assigned, which will serve as receipt of submission.  The AOR will receive an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the application.

 

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

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, 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.
  • The applicant may contract with other organizations under this program; however the applicant must perform a substantial portion of the activities (including program management and operations, and delivery of prevention services for which funds are required.)

 

 

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 for this announcement electronically at www.Grants.gov (and in this application, electronic submission is required).  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.

BACK-UP Paper Submission:

Applicants should submit two hard copies of the BACK-UP application by mail or express delivery service to:

            Technical Information Management – TS08-803

            Department of Health and Human Services       

CDC Procurement and Grants Office

2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14

            Atlanta, GA 30341

 The paper submission must be clearly marked: “BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.”

 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:

Plan/Methods (60 percent)

Can the applicant address the following?

 
  • Demonstrate a plan to develop new or enhance existing community health initiatives related to redevelopment of brownfield or land reuse sites.
  • Incorporate a framework or strategy for characterizing communities.
  • Involve stakeholders in proposed strategies, including community residents, with a plan for continued involvement.
  • Incorporate community health status or issues assessment in plan.
  • Provide a means for measuring project success and evaluating strategies.
  • Plan for sustainability once funding period has ended.

 

In addition, the following will be considered: Does the plan meet the applicant’s stated objectives; is the plan adequate for the entire project period in addition to long-term sustainability; are the methods realistic; will the methods meet the overall objectives; and can the plan be understood by and implemented within the targeted community/communities?

 

Program Evaluation (20 percent)

Is the program adequate to measure related outcomes?  For example, will the program have effects on stakeholders, particularly residents of target communities in terms of their knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors? Does the program provide a means to assess or track future changes in communities? 

 

Applicant Capability/Personnel (20 percent)

Can the applicant demonstrate that staff has the basic knowledge and experience required to perform the applicant’s responsibilities in the project?  Does the applicant demonstrate how staff will apply expertise to meet project goals and responsibilities? (E.g., are staff roles to perform community outreach, risk communication, surveillance, data collection, data analysis, and other project activities clearly defined?) Does the applicant describe the commitment and adequacy of institutional resources/staff to administer the program?

Program Budget (SF424A) 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 ATSDR 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.  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.  The applications will be reviewed by a panel of   National Center of Environmental Health (NCEH)/ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and federal employees from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Each grant will be reviewed by a primary and secondary reviewer and presented to the panel. The panel will vote and score each application.)

 

Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined by the review panel. However, the following factors may affect the funding decision:

  • Maintaining geographic diversity
  • Preference to organizations that focus on environmental justice issues
  • Preference to applicant strategies to avoid gentrification and incorporate census-based affordable housing commitments and access to services, if applicable

 

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

 

V.3. Anticipated Announcement Award Dates

August 31, 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-14                         Accounting System Requirements
  • AR-15                         Proof of Non-Profit Status
  • AR-17                         Peer and Technical Reviews of Final Reports of Health Studies-

ATSDR
  • AR-18                         Cost Recovery-ATSDR
  • AR-19                         Third Party Agreements-ATSDR
  • AR-21                         Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business
  • AR-23                         States and Faith-Based Organizations
  • AR-24                         Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Requirements
  • AR-25             Release and Sharing of Data

(Public Law 89-665, 80 Stat. 915)
  • 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 annual interim progress report via www.grants.gov:
  1. The interim progress report is due 120 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:
  1. Semi-annual progress report, due 120 before the end of the budget period.  This report must contain:

a.       Progress towards objectives

b.      Program successes

c.       Obstacles or lessons learned, if any

d.      Feasibility of reaching goals/completing project within project period

e.       Status report on budget and approximate expenditures

  1. Financial status report no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period.
  2. 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:

            Tina Forrester

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ATSDR Division of Regional Operations

1600 Clifton Road

M/S E-29

Atlanta, GA 30333

            Telephone: 404-498-0106

            E-mail: txf5@cdc.gov

 

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

LaKasa Wyatt, Grants Management Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services

            CDC Procurement and Grants Office

            2920 Brandywine Road, MS   

Atlanta, GA 30341

            Telephone: 770-488-2728.

            E-mail: lgw5@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. Information about ATSDR can be found at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/.

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