Demonstration Project - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Pre-application support calls were held on June 27, 2012 and June 29, 2012. A transcript of the scripted portion of the call is available for download now. Additional questions from the support calls have been logged and will appear on this page as they are answered. (PDF–107K)

General

• Should Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) be attached to the Grant Application Package or just referred to in the narrative?
• Is there a minimum target population size or location (for example, neighborhoods, communities, cities, states, multi-state)?
• The Demonstration FOA states that the maximum number of pages for the narrative is 60. Is this correct?
• Will the conference call meeting notes be available to those unable to make the call? Can you email them or will they be posted to the site? Thanks!
• Do intended sub-recipients need to be selected and identified prior to submitting the grant proposal? Do we need to implement a competitive process for selecting sub-recipients?
  
• We are proposing to implement demonstration project activities in 3 distinct, non-contiguous communities, totaling 4 counties. Can we propose to work with a single university partner and a CBO, public health department, and multi-sector coalition in each community for a total of 1 university, 3 CBOs, 3 public health departments and 4 multi-sector coalitions?
• Can we have both a Principal Investigator AND a Program Director?
• Can the local chapter of the American Cancer Society be considered as a local community based organization? Is it required that every partner within the core partnership have the ability to reach 75% of the intervention population individually?
• Are multiple Principal Investigators allowed on one application from one institution?
• Does this project proposal need to address both obesity and hypertension? Or can it address one or the other?
• Can the project narrative be single spaced as indicated in the FOA?
• My organization would like to know if we can be the lead agency, while having a partner agency be the fiscal agent?
• What is the relationship between REACH, the REACH Demonstration Project, and other current or former REACH initiatives, such as REACH 2010, REACH CORE, REACH US, and REACH Minority Serving Organizations?
• Is there an advantage to including multiple racial or ethnic groups in the selected intervention population?
• Do applicants with a large intervention population hold an advantage? Is there a minimum size that is required to be competitive?
  
• What is the purpose of the new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that CDC is issuing for the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Demonstration Project?
• How does the REACH Demonstration Project FOA differ from the REACH FOA, released at the same time?
• Why does the REACH Demonstration Project FOA focus on blood pressure and obesity only?
• What health areas will the funded REACH Demonstration Project awardees target?
• What is the project period of the awards?

Eligibility

• If our organization is a community-based, public non-profit, can we serve as the community-based organization or do we have to partner with a different community based organization?
• Are we required to have a Prevention Research Center to apply?
• Do organizations need to demonstrate a national or multi-state reach through partnerships or program activities for the REACH Demonstration Project FOA?
• Are universities or colleges eligible to apply for this FOA? What are the requirements for a university or college to serve as a core partner organization?
  
• Can we partner with a university/academic institution in another state?
• What if our organization does not have access to accurate census data regarding the selected intervention population? Can local data be used to supplement this data?
• Can an organization choose multiple geographic areas within a state?
• Can the geographic area selected cover multiple states?
• What does the FOA mean when it refers to "including but not limited to" in reference to appropriate racial and ethnic groups that may be affected?
• Can I apply to both the REACH FOA, which is award number DP-12-1209PPHF, and the REACH Demonstration Project FOA, which is award number DP-12-1217PPHF?
• Can a grantee focus on behaviors which are related to obesity and hypertension, for example physical activity, tobacco control, or social determinants of health?
• Can you explain more about the media education efforts? What does this include? Is it a requirement?
• Are there number of members and/or any other specific membership requirements for the multi-sector coalition?
• In my evaluation, can I use indicators of social determinants of health or other predictive health indicators as outcome measures or do I need to use indicators specific to obesity and hypertension?
• Who is eligible for funding under the REACH Demonstration Project FOA?
• Are previous REACH or CTG awardees able to apply?
• Is there a preference in this FOA for organizations that have received funding through REACH programs in the past, given the language in the FOA regarding "existing policy, systems, and environmental improvements"?
• Will funding be provided for capacity building?

Funding and Budget

• Can the 20% of funding which is designated for evaluation activities be used, in part, to fund a baseline assessment?
• What indirect rate should be used by sub-recipients if they do not have a federally negotiated rate?
• On the call, it was mentioned that the activities should be low cost per person and high impact. Is there a dollar to person ratio that is a good rule of thumb to go by? If not, what exactly is considered low cost per person?
  
• Would a proposal with a budget that is under the "floor of individual award range" still be considered?
• Regarding the requirement that 1 full time equivalent (FTE) be budgeted as the project director, can this 1.0 FTE be spread between two people?
• Can computers, cooking demo supplies, and tools for school gardens be included on the budget?
  
• What is the funding available for the REACH Demonstration Program?
• How many awards will be made under this new REACH Demonstration Project FOA?
• What will be the average funding award for REACH Demonstration Project projects?

Recipient Activities

• The FOA notes that "delivery of direct services is not within the scope of this announcement." Does that mean that we cannot propose to do direct services or that the funding should not be used to reimburse direct services? I guess I also need a definition of direct services.
• Is an assessment of local health policies and barriers/areas of improvement an appropriate activity under this funding? Specifically, we plan to use the Mobilizing Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) process to first define potent activities, then moving forward with those activities.
• In the FOA, it states that recipients will need to conduct a formal and systematic policy and implementation assessment and data analysis. Will CDC provide the recipients with specific guidance on data that need to be included in the policy and implementation assessment and the timeline?
• If our organization receives funding, would we be responsible for mentoring other communities? When do we select mentee communities and how many do we select?
• What are the selection criteria for mentored communities?
• What are the evaluation requirements in this FOA?
• What will be the distinction between the roles of the national evaluation team and the grantee's evaluation staff?
• Who will make up the national evaluation team?
• What are the data collection responsibilities of grantees?
• Will recipients be required to continue evaluation efforts until changes are seen?
  
• Are applicants required to demonstrate a strong partnership?
• If we are a local public health department and are applying as the central coordinating organization, do we need to include a different local public health department as a core partner organization, or does our participation meet the requirement?
• What kinds of activities will REACH Demonstration Project awardees conduct?
• How will the REACH Demonstration Project build on previous REACH initiatives?
• Do we have to address both obesity and hypertension, or can we choose to address only one?
  

Deadlines and Timelines

• For budget and planning purposes, what should applicants list as the start date for proposed strategies?
• What is the implementation timeline for funded projects?
• When are applications due, and when will awards be announced?
  

Technical Assistance for Applicants

• Can you please clarify which partner organizations we need to provide organizational charts from? For example, if our university partner will eventually publish research, do we need an org chart for the University?
• How can people ask questions about the FOA and about the REACH Demonstration Project initiative?

Letters of Intent/Application Process

• Is there a page limit to the resume/vitae information?
• Is it acceptable to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) without submitting an application?
• What methods are acceptable for delivery of the Letter of Intent?
• Are the proposals contained in a Letter of Intent (LOI) binding on the applicant? For example, what if the lead fiduciary agency changes as the proposal is developed, or if the population, geographic area, proposed approach, or outcome measures change as the proposal is developed? Will the applicant's application still be accepted if it does not match what was submitted in the LOI?
• To whom should letters of support be directed?
• Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) required to apply to the REACH Demonstration Project FOA?
• When is the LOI due?
• Will recipients be required to reapply each year for funding?
• What type of review process will occur for this competition?
• Where are the application review criteria in the FOA?
  

Definitions and Terminology

• How does CDC define a community-based organization (CBO)? Would a local community health center or a school district be eligible to serve as one of our core team members under the CBO category?
• What does the requirement to ensure reach of 75% of the selected intervention population mean?
• What are health disparities?
• What is an intervention population?

Other

• The FOA describes convention for file names. Are the brackets meant to be included in the file names? In the first set of brackets should the file name include exactly those words?
• Can graphs, tables, pictures be used to clarify in the narrative?

Should Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) be attached to the Grant Application Package or just referred to in the narrative?

Memoranda of Understanding, letters of support, and other optional documents, should be attached directly to the Grant Application Package on www.grants.gov.

Is there a minimum target population size or location (for example, neighborhoods, communities, cities, states, multi-state)?

While there is no minimum target population size or location, applicants should select one or more specific intervention populations that are disproportionately experiencing obesity and hypertension-related health disparities.

Furthermore, applicants within their proposals should be able to identify the defined geographic area that represents or falls within a larger jurisdiction in which policy and environmental improvements have or will be implemented, the racial or ethnic group(s) of the selected intervention population within the defined geographic area, the percentage and number of individuals that the intervention population(s) represents among the total population, and the estimated reach of program activities within the selected intervention population(s). At least some activities should reach at least 75% of the selected intervention population(s).

The Demonstration FOA states that the maximum number of pages for the narrative is 60. Is this correct?

Yes, the maximum number of pages for the project narrative is 60 pages. Please note that if your narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first 60 pages which are within the page limit will be reviewed.

Will the conference call meeting notes be available to those unable to make the call? Can you email them or will they be posted to the site? Thanks!

Yes, the scripts from the conference calls have been made available online at http://www.cdc.gov/reach/pdf/reach-demo-foa-call-script.pdf [PDF–107K]. Audio recordings are not available.

Do intended sub-recipients need to be selected and identified prior to submitting the grant proposal? Do we need to implement a competitive process for selecting sub-recipients?

While sub-recipients are not required in the response to the REACH Demonstration FOA, applicants are required to demonstrate a strong partnership with a local community-based organization, a local public health department/tribal organization, and a university/academic institution. Funded recipients may, but are not required to, provide funding to these partner organizations. All processes to identify and award funding to sub-recipients should be handled in accordance with the grantee's procurement procedures and CDC's procurement procedures. Potential sub-recipients may be identified on the budget in accordance with the budget guidelines and will need to be approved by CDC's Procurement and Grants Office before any awards are made. Note that while applicants may identify potential sub-recipients prior to the application deadline, selected sub-recipients will not be finalized until approved by the CDC Procurement and Grants Office after the award notification date.

We are proposing to implement demonstration project activities in 3 distinct, non-contiguous communities, totaling 4 counties. Can we propose to work with a single university partner and a CBO, public health department, and multi-sector coalition in each community for a total of 1 university, 3 CBOs, 3 public health departments and 4 multi-sector coalitions?

Yes, partnerships with more than one local community-based organization, local public health department/tribal organization, and university/academic institution are permitted, if applicable. All organizations forming the core partnership are required to work with at least one multi-sector coalition to plan and implement the activities of the proposed project.

Can we have both a Principal Investigator AND a Program Director?

Yes, you are allowed to have both a Principal Investigator and a Program Director.

Can the local chapter of the American Cancer Society be considered as a local community based organization? Is it required that every partner within the core partnership have the ability to reach 75% of the intervention population individually?

Yes, a local chapter of the American Cancer Society may be considered as a local community based organization. It is through the described combined efforts and capabilities of the core partner organizations that the application will demonstrate its ability to reach (i.e., have a potential impact on) at least 75% of the selected intervention population(s) in the geographic area to be served (as defined by the applicant). The comprehensive strategy proposed should be a package of broad and targeted activities. Applicants can propose to pursue environment, systems or policy improvements that could potentially impact 75% of the selected intervention population. Overall, the proposed strategy should have enough potency to ensure that measurable and meaningful reductions in health disparities occur for the intervention population(s).

Are multiple Principal Investigators allowed on one application from one institution?

No, there should be only one principal investigator per application.

Does this project proposal need to address both obesity and hypertension? Or can it address one or the other?

The project proposal is required to develop a comprehensive strategy to impact obesity and hypertension-related health disparities in one or more specific intervention populations disproportionately experiencing these health disparities.

Can the project narrative be single spaced as indicated in the FOA?

Yes, the project narrative should be single spaced.

My organization would like to know if we can be the lead agency, while having a partner agency be the fiscal agent?

Yes, it is acceptable to have different agencies acting as lead and fiscal agents. However, the fiscal agent listed in your Letter of Intent (LOI) is binding and may not be changed in your organization's application.

What is the relationship between REACH, the REACH Demonstration Project, and other current or former REACH initiatives, such as REACH 2010, REACH CORE, REACH US, and REACH Minority Serving Organizations?

The two new FOAs build upon, further disseminate, and expand the evidence base established with previous REACH and other community health programs.

In addition, the two new FOAs continue the focus on engaging community partners to reduce health disparities.

Is there an advantage to including multiple racial or ethnic groups in the selected intervention population?

There are no scoring advantages or disadvantages for applicants that choose to select multiple racial or ethnic groups.

Do applicants with a large intervention population hold an advantage? Is there a minimum size that is required to be competitive?

There is no minimum population size requirement for this FOA. However, strong applicants will be able to demonstrate low costs per expected person reached and strategies that can be easily scaled to large populations.

What is the purpose of the new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that CDC is issuing for the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Demonstration Project?

The REACH Demonstration Project FOA focuses on two major drivers of chronic disease disparities—overweight/obesity and hypertension. Funding will support the implementation of demonstration projects focused on reducing racial and ethnic health disparities. Reducing obesity and hypertension can help to reduce disparities in heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and other chronic conditions. Improving nutrition and increasing physical activity to reduce obesity can have an added benefit of reducing blood pressure.

How does the REACH Demonstration Project FOA differ from the REACH FOA, released at the same time?

The REACH Demonstration Project FOA addresses obesity and hypertension prevention strategies, which are two of the leading risk factors for chronic diseases. Obesity and hypertension result in a high disease burden within racial and ethnic minority populations. A priority of this project is to increase the evidence around effective strategies to reduce obesity and hypertension in populations experiencing health disparities. Evaluation and dissemination activities will be emphasized. Recipients funded through the REACH Demonstration Project will implement program activities to impact selected populations within a geographic area.

Recipients of the REACH FOA may choose to implement strategies to address disparities in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast and cervical cancer, infant mortality, asthma, and child and adult immunization. The FOA focuses on changes in weight, proper nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, and emotional well-being and overall mental health. Funding provided through this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is designed to support recipients to develop and implement comprehensive programs to address health disparities in racial or ethnic groups, through a national or multi-state infrastructure. Applicants for the REACH FOA should demonstrate a national or multi-state reach through partnerships or program activities allowing them to fund local partners. Seventy-five percent of funds must be distributed to these local community-based organizations or partners.

Why does the REACH Demonstration Project FOA focus on blood pressure and obesity only?

Two of the major drivers of chronic disease disparities are overweight/obesity and hypertension. Funding through this FOA will support demonstration projects focused on reducing racial and ethnic health disparities. Reducing obesity and hypertension can help to reduce disparities in heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and other chronic conditions. Improving nutrition and increasing physical activity to reduce obesity can have an added benefit of reducing blood pressure.

What health areas will the funded REACH Demonstration Project awardees target?

This FOA focuses on two major drivers of chronic disease disparities - overweight/obesity and hypertension.

What is the project period of the awards?

The project period is three years.

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If our organization is a community-based, public non-profit, can we serve as the community-based organization or do we have to partner with a different community based organization?

If the central coordinating organization is a local community-based organization, a partnership with a different local community-based organization is not required. Your participation meets the requirement in the FOA. The same is true for a central coordinating organization that is a local public health department, tribal organization, or academic institution/university.

Are we required to have a Prevention Research Center to apply?

While applicants should be able to demonstrate that they have the capacity and structures in place to reduce barriers, a partnership with a Prevention Research Center is not required to apply.

Please note, that applicants are required to have a core partnership with three types of organizations including a local community-based organization, a local public health department/tribal organization, and a university/academic institution. Each of these partner organizations should express explicit commitment to address obesity and hypertension in the selected intervention population(s). In addition, applicants are required to have an active, multi-sector coalition that includes partners with demonstrated success or experience developing or implementing population-wide policy, systems, and environmental improvements.

Do organizations need to demonstrate a national or multi-state reach through partnerships or program activities for the REACH Demonstration Project FOA?

No. That requirement is for the REACH FOA (announcement number DP-12-1209PPHF), not the REACH Demonstration Project FOA (announcement number DP-12-1217PPHF).

Are universities or colleges eligible to apply for this FOA? What are the requirements for a university or college to serve as a core partner organization?

Both universities and colleges are eligible to apply for this FOA. In addition, universities and colleges are both able to meet the requirement for a "university/academic institution" core partner. The FOA does not stipulate additional requirements for eligibility or selection as a core partner organization.

Can we partner with a university/academic institution in another state?

Yes. There are no restrictions on the geographic location of the university/academic institution. However, selection of an appropriate university/academic institution partner should consider the requirements of the core partner organizations and their active involvement in implementing and evaluating the strategies proposed.

What if our organization does not have access to accurate census data regarding the selected intervention population? Can local data be used to supplement this data?

Yes, local population data is an acceptable source of information.

Can an organization choose multiple geographic areas within a state?

The specific geographic area for program activities is selected by the applicant. Multiple geographic areas within a state could be selected.

Can the geographic area selected cover multiple states?

Yes, the geographic area selected could cover multiple states.

What does the FOA mean when it refers to "including but not limited to" in reference to appropriate racial and ethnic groups that may be affected?

The FOA outlines categories for racial and ethnic populations such as African American, Hispanic or Other Pacific Islander. However, there are a number of groups within those racial and ethnic populations. For example, Cambodian and Vietnamese are both groups within the larger category of Asian Americans that could be selected as a racial or ethnic group.

Can I apply to both the REACH FOA, which is award number DP-12-1209PPHF, and the REACH Demonstration Project FOA, which is award number DP-12-1217PPHF?

Yes. Organizations may submit applications to both FOAs, but should be able to meet all requirements and restrictions found in the funding opportunity announcements.

Can a grantee focus on behaviors which are related to obesity and hypertension, for example physical activity, tobacco control, or social determinants of health?

Applicants should work on strategies that are drivers of obesity and hypertension, such as nutrition, tobacco control, physical activity, and social determinants of health. However, any activities selected that do not have a direct, evidence-based link to obesity or hypertension need to be justified and the applicant would need to describe proposed linkages to obesity or hypertension.

Can you explain more about the media education efforts? What does this include? Is it a requirement?

Given the context in the grantee's community, media education efforts may be needed to raise awareness about the importance of policy, systems, and environmental approaches or inform community members about the existence of certain improvements. If the policy scan and implementation assessment determine that media education efforts are needed, then these activities are are acceptable.

If proposed, all efforts should be culturally tailored and culturally affirming to meet the needs of the selected intervention population. Media education efforts are not required.

Are there number of members and/or any other specific membership requirements for the multi-sector coalition?

There are no specific size requirements for the multi-sector coalition. In addition, there are no restrictions limiting involvement in the coalition. The multi-sector coalition should support engagement of partners across multiple sectors, especially those outside of public health (i.e., education, community development, transportation, business, faith-based, aging, academic, environmental health, social justice, health care, housing and urban development, mental health).

Representation from all possible sectors is not required. The applicant should determine relevant sectors based on proposed activities. It is acceptable to develop additional partnerships after awards are made if the existing coalition does not include all appropriate partners. The coalition should include representation from groups or community members that have demonstrated experience and capacity working with populations experiencing health disparities.

In my evaluation, can I use indicators of social determinants of health or other predictive health indicators as outcome measures or do I need to use indicators specific to obesity and hypertension?

Applicants may use social determinants of health or other predictive health indicators in their evaluation activities; however, they must be used in combination with indicators for obesity and hypertension health outcomes.

Who is eligible for funding under the REACH Demonstration Project FOA?

Eligible applicants that can apply for this funding opportunity are listed below.

• Nonprofit organizations
  
• For-profit organizations
  
• Small, minority, and women-owned businesses
  
• Colleges and Universities
  
• Research institutions
  
• Hospitals
  
• Community-based organizations
  
• Faith-based organizations
  
• Federally recognized or state-recognized American Indian/Alaska Native tribal governments
  
• American Indian/Alaska Native tribally designated organizations
  
• Alaska Native health corporations
  
• Urban Indian health organizations
  
• Tribal epidemiology centers
  
• 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)
  
• Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with States)

Are previous REACH or CTG awardees able to apply?

Applicants that meet the eligibility requirements of the FOA are eligible, regardless of their previous receipt of a separate CTG or REACH award.

However, funds from this FOA may not be used to replace or supplant funding received under any other CDC cooperative agreement. Applicants awarded a 2012 REACH Demonstration Project cooperative agreement must meet all of the requirements as noted in the FOA.

Is there a preference in this FOA for organizations that have received funding through REACH programs in the past, given the language in the FOA regarding "existing policy, systems, and environmental improvements"?

No, this competition is not limited to, nor provides preference for, organizations funded through REACH programs in the past. When discussing existing policy, systems, and environmental improvements, the FOA refers to any improvements that have been made regardless of funding source or group responsible.

Will funding be provided for capacity building?

No. Funding will be provided to recipients with demonstrated capacity in place. Applicants should have the following experience, capacity, and support:

• A solid partnership with at least one local community-based organization, one local public health department/tribal organization, and one university/academic institution (the "core partner" organizations).
  
• An existing, active, multi-sector coalition that includes partners with demonstrated success or experience developing or implementing population-wide policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies.
  
• Ability to address disparities in obesity, hypertension, and/or social determinants of health.
  
• Explicit commitment from all core partner organizations to address obesity and hypertension in the selected intervention population(s).
  
• Ability to meet reporting requirements as well as programmatic, financial, and management benchmarks.
  

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Can the 20% of funding which is designated for evaluation activities be used, in part, to fund a baseline assessment?

Yes, that is an acceptable use of REACH Demonstration funds.

What indirect rate should be used by sub-recipients if they do not have a federally negotiated rate?

Organizations should charge indirect costs in accordance with their established indirect cost rate agreement. Indirect costs may be paid by the recipient on sub-recipient awards in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award and the cost principles applicable to the sub-recipient unless the sub-recipient has its own indirect cost rate agreement for federal awards.

On the call, it was mentioned that the activities should be low cost per person and high impact. Is there a dollar to person ratio that is a good rule of thumb to go by? If not, what exactly is considered low cost per person?

There is no rule of thumb about dollar per person. The intent of this FOA is to develop interventions that are scalable, replicable and effective at decreasing health disparities within the context of overall PSE improvements within a jurisdiction. If the interventions are too costly per person, even if effective, it will not be possible to replicate them to have broad impact in communities across the nation. This should be considered carefully when developing interventions.

In addition, to further assess cost-effectiveness of interventions, awardees will collect specific information about the cost of their interventions. CDC and its national evaluation team of contractors will provide extensive support in this area, including which data would be best to collect, determining methods for data analysis and assistance with data analysis, if requested. However, the local evaluation team should have adequate skills to collect the actual cost data.

Would a proposal with a budget that is under the "floor of individual award range" still be considered?

Yes, a proposal with a budget that is under the floor of the individual award range of $3,000,000 will be considered. However, please remember that the floor of the individual award of $3,000,000 is for the entire 3 year project period.

Regarding the requirement that 1 full time equivalent (FTE) be budgeted as the project director, can this 1.0 FTE be spread between two people?

Yes, it is acceptable for two part-time staff members to serve as Lead Staff and ensure the completion of the milestone activities.

Can computers, cooking demo supplies, and tools for school gardens be included on the budget?

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.

What is the funding available for the REACH Demonstration Program?

Approximately $12 million is available for the full three-year project period.

How many awards will be made under this new REACH Demonstration Project FOA?

Approximately 2-4 awards will be made.

What will be the average funding award for REACH Demonstration Project projects?

The average award for the three-year project period will be approximately $4 million. The smallest award will be approximately $3 million and the largest will be approximately $8 million. Funding levels will vary based on the size of the intervention population(s) that will be reached with implementation activities, the scale and complexity of the proposed activities, estimated intervention costs per person reached, and the needs of each community

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The FOA notes that "delivery of direct services is not within the scope of this announcement." Does that mean that we cannot propose to do direct services or that the funding should not be used to reimburse direct services? I guess I also need a definition of direct services.

The FOA requires that proposed interventions must be related to policy, systems and environmental improvements that increase the evidence around effective strategies to reduce obesity and hypertension in intervention populations experiencing health disparities. Delivery of direct services is not within the scope of this FOA.

To identify whether a programmatic activity is considered a direct service, it may also be useful to evaluate whether the use of funds primarily results in one-on-one or one-on-small group services, or whether the activity results in policy, environmental and systems improvements.

Funds which are used to directly fund one-on-one or one-on-small group services are likely direct services. For instance, using REACH Demonstration Project funds to pay a health worker to provide clinical services (taking blood pressure) to individuals would be considered a direct service. The use of REACH Demonstration project funds to provide incentive payments, or free transportation to individuals for participating in a program would also be considered examples of direct services, and would be an inappropriate use of federal funds under the current FOA.

It is acceptable to use REACH Demonstration Project funds to develop policy, systems and environmental improvements. For example, using REACH Demonstration Project funds to develop a system of community health workers (i.e., identify appropriate training for community health workers, set up policies by which workers are hired, create or strengthen referral systems, and work with partners to identify sustained funding for the implementation of the system) would be an appropriate use of funds, as long as REACH Demonstration Project funds were not used to pay staff for conducting one-on-one or one-on-small group interventions.
Payment of program staff to conduct evaluations of interventions (including baseline and post-intervention assessments) is not considered a direct service.

Is an assessment of local health policies and barriers/areas of improvement an appropriate activity under this funding? Specifically, we plan to use the Mobilizing Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) process to first define potent activities, then moving forward with those activities.

Yes. Recipients are required to conduct a formal systematic policy and implementation assessment. The policy and implementation assessment should identify and prioritize evidence-based and practice-based strategies and associated barriers experienced by the selected intervention population. It should include an assessment of cultural biases and barriers in policy, system and environmental strategies. The assessment should be completed within the first six months of funding.

In the FOA, it states that recipients will need to conduct a formal and systematic policy and implementation assessment and data analysis. Will CDC provide the recipients with specific guidance on data that need to be included in the policy and implementation assessment and the timeline?

Yes, CDC will provide additional guidance on the policy and implementation assessment, as needed. The policy and implementation assessment should identify and prioritize evidence-based and practice-based strategies and associated barriers experienced by the selected intervention population. It should include an assessment of cultural biases and barriers in policy, system, and environmental strategies. This assessment should be completed within the first six months of funding. Additional information about the assessments can be found in Section One of the FOA: Funding Opportunity Description in the Recipient Activities.

If our organization receives funding, would we be responsible for mentoring other communities? When do we select mentee communities and how many do we select?

The FOA requires all grantees to participate in mentoring activities. This is likely to take place after completion of at least some implementation and evaluation activities. Lessons learned relating to implementation of strategies should be shared with up to five mentee communities. Additional guidance on mentoring will be available for successful applicants.

What are the selection criteria for mentored communities?

Mentoring activities should reflect lessons learned from experience in addressing barriers to implementation and enforcement of existing policy, systems, and environmental improvements. Recipients may propose selection criteria for mentored communities in their applications. Post award, CDC will work with grantees to align selection criteria across grantees.

What are the evaluation requirements in this FOA?

Recipients will evaluate the population-wide and targeted policy, systems, and environmental strategies they implement to reduce health disparities in their selected intervention populations. In collaboration with CDC and its national evaluation team contractors, recipients will develop and implement a local Evaluation Plan that describes a rigorous health impact outcome evaluation for approximately three to five of the strategies developed in their work plan. All evaluation activities must include a sufficient sample of the selected intervention population to ensure that changes in the selected intervention population can be adequately measured through statistical analysis. At least 20% of the recipient's budget should be devoted to evaluation efforts, including work done in support of the national evaluation.

What will be the distinction between the roles of the national evaluation team and the grantee's evaluation staff?

The grantee's evaluation staff will be responsible for developing and implementing a local evaluation plan and supporting the national evaluation efforts. They will do these activities in collaboration with and with assistance from the national evaluation team. In addition, they must involve community members in data collection, identify appropriate local sources of data, and collect data.

The national evaluation team, which will be funded through a separate contract, will provide technical assistance in: assessing the impact and effectiveness of strategies implemented, determining methods for data analysis, completing data analysis, and dissemination activities. In addition, the national evaluation team will conduct a broad national evaluation plan for this project and its implementation, with collaboration from awardees.

Who will make up the national evaluation team?

A separate evaluation contract will be funded. This contract will provide assistance with evaluation and staff for the national evaluation team, along with CDC staff. Additional information about the evaluation contract is not public at this time.

What are the data collection responsibilities of grantees?

The applicant should be able to demonstrate capacity to collect quantitative and qualitative data locally and collaborate with national evaluators to evaluate program activities and outcomes. The applicant, an organization funded by the applicant, a core partner, or a member of the multi-sector coalition should be able to conduct these activities as part of the program. Determination of which data to collect will be done in collaboration with CDC and the national evaluation team to ensure alignment with other grantees. CDC and its contractors will also provide support in determining methods for data analysis and provide assistance with data analysis and dissemination, as needed.

Will recipients be required to continue evaluation efforts until changes are seen?

Grantees will not be required to continue evaluation efforts beyond the project period of this award.

Are applicants required to demonstrate a strong partnership?

Yes. This FOA requires a partnership with several core organizations to capitalize on multiple strengths and ensure sustainability. All applicants will be required to demonstrate that at least one local community-based organization, at least one local public health department/tribal organization, and at least one university/academic institution are engaged in the partnership and willing to take on program efforts and implementation activities.

Additionally, a partnership with an existing multi-sector coalition is required. The coalition must also indicate their willingness to participate in program efforts and implementation activities.

If we are a local public health department and are applying as the central coordinating organization, do we need to include a different local public health department as a core partner organization, or does our participation meet the requirement?

If the central coordinating organization is a local public health department, a partnership with a different local public health department is not required. Your participation meets the requirement in the FOA. The same response is true for a central coordinating organization that is considered a community-based organization, tribal organization, or academic institution/university.

What kinds of activities will REACH Demonstration Project awardees conduct?

While population-wide strategies often maximize health impact because of their broad coverage, they are not often designed to reduce health disparities within the population. Some groups within a community may face barriers that limit the benefits they can realize from population-wide strategies. Recipients funded through this FOA will strengthen and expand existing policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) improvements in their communities. Specific activities include:

• Assessing the context of any PSE improvements made that may reduce the prevalence of obesity or hypertension.
  
• Ensure the effective implementation of these PSE improvements for the benefit of the intervention population by reducing barriers.
  
• Implementing additional targeted evidence-based or practice-based strategies to further reduce health disparities experienced by the intervention population.
  

All recipients are required to fully participate in evaluation activities, including collection of local data. Recipients will then disseminate their lessons learned and mentor other communities, as appropriate.

How will the REACH Demonstration Project build on previous REACH initiatives?

REACH initiatives have served as a cornerstone of CDC's commitment to reduce health disparities. The REACH Demonstration Project will continue REACH's efforts addressing disparities among racial and ethnic minorities, with a focus on strategies addressing obesity and hypertension that can be replicated and are scalable to large populations. Obesity and hypertension are two of the leading risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, and result in high disease burden in racial and ethnic minorities. A priority of this project is to increase the evidence around effective strategies to reduce obesity and hypertension in populations experiencing health disparities. Evaluation and dissemination activities will be emphasized. The REACH Demonstration Project will impact populations within a geographic area identified by the applicant.

Do we have to address both obesity and hypertension, or can we choose to address only one?

Applicants are required to address both obesity and hypertension.

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For budget and planning purposes, what should applicants list as the start date for proposed strategies?

The budget start date will be identified in the Notice of Award that successful applicants will receive. The anticipated start date is September 30, 2012.

What is the implementation timeline for funded projects?

The FOA includes specific timelines for some activities, including the following:

• A permanent program manager should be in place within 45 days of notice of award.
  
• All staff should be in place within 90 days of notice of award.
  
• The work plan should be finalized within 120 days of notice of award.
  
• A local evaluation plan should be completed within 150 days of notice of award.
  
• A formal and systematic policy and implementation assessment should be completed within the first six months of funding.
  

The implementation timeline beyond these requirements is at the discretion of the applicant.

When are applications due, and when will awards be announced?

Applications are due on August 7, 2012, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Savings Time. Awards will be announced by September 30, 2012.

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Can you please clarify which partner organizations we need to provide organizational charts from? For example, if our university partner will eventually publish research, do we need an org chart for the University?

The identified core partner organizations should include at least one local community-based organization, one local public health department/tribal organization, and one university/academic institution. Applicants should provide an organizational chart for each core partner organization that shows the location of any staff funded under this cooperative agreement, as well as in-kind staff with responsibilities central to carrying out the work plan for this award. An organization chart is not required for additional partners.

How can people ask questions about the FOA and about the REACH Demonstration Project initiative?

Information about this initiative can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/reach/demoproject/index.htm. This website will provide both a link to frequently asked questions and a submission form for potential applicants to make inquiries. The direct link to the frequently asked questions is:
http.//www.cdc.gov/reach/demoproject/faq/index.htm. The direct link to the question submission form is: http.//www.cdc.gov/reach/demoproject/submitquestions/index.htm.

Information about all REACH programs, including currently funded awardees, can be found at www.cdc.gov/reach.

For assistance with submission difficulties, contact Grants.gov. Contact Center Phone: 1-800-518-4726 Email: support@grants.gov Hours of Operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Closed on Federal holidays.

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Is there a page limit to the resume/vitae information?

No, there is no page limit for the resume/vitae.

Is it acceptable to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) without submitting an application?

Yes, submitting an LOI does not obligate you to submit an application. However, if an applicant fails to submit an LOI, their application will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process.

What methods are acceptable for delivery of the Letter of Intent?

CDC will accept Letters of Intent (LOIs) which are submitted via express mail, delivery service, first-class mail, or hand-delivery. The correct CDC address to send LOIs to is found in section 4 of the FOA. All LOIs must be received by CDC by July 11, 2012, 5:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time. Electronic submissions via email, fax, CD or thumbdrives are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Are the proposals contained in a Letter of Intent (LOI) binding on the applicant? For example, what if the lead fiduciary agency changes as the proposal is developed, or if the population, geographic area, proposed approach, or outcome measures change as the proposal is developed? Will the applicant's application still be accepted if it does not match what was submitted in the LOI?

The proposals in the Letters of Intent (LOI) are not binding. An applicant may change their approach after their LOI has been submitted. However, the lead/fiduciary agent that submitted the LOI is the only applicant that can respond to the FOA with an application.

To whom should letters of support be directed?

Letters of support should be directed to the applicant and reference the specific funding opportunity and specify the role the supporter intends to contribute to the applicant's plan and proposed activities. They can be included as part of the appendices with the application. They should not be sent directly to CDC.

Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) required to apply to the REACH Demonstration Project FOA?

Yes. Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to be eligible to apply for this program. Failure to submit a LOI will result in non-responsiveness and the applicant will be deemed non-responsive. Electronic submissions via email, fax, CD or thumbdrives are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

When is the LOI due?

CDC's Procurement and Grants Office must receive the Letter of Intent by express mail, delivery service, first-class mail, or hand delivery by 5:00 pm, July 11, 2012, Eastern Daylight Savings Time. See Section IV of the Funding Opportunity Announcement for the CDC address.

Will recipients be required to reapply each year for funding?

No. There will not be a reapplication process each year. The project period for these one-time cooperative agreement awards is three years. The funding awarded this year should cover the entire three year period.

What type of review process will occur for this competition?

All eligible applications will be initially reviewed for completeness by the Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff. In addition, eligible applications will be jointly reviewed for responsiveness by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and PGO. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process. Applicants will be notified the application did not meet eligibility and published submission requirements.

An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive applications according to the criteria listed in Section V. Application Review Information, subsection entitled "Evaluation Criteria". The review panel will be conducted by federal employees from within and outside the funding center.

Where are the application review criteria in the FOA?

The application and review process can be found in Section 5 (Section V) of the FOA.
Eligible applications will be evaluated based on criteria within the following categories:

• Background and Need
  
• Organizational Capacity and Infrastructure
  
• Partnership and Community Leadership
  
• Strengthen and Expand Policy, System, and Environmental Strategies to Reduce Health Disparities
  
• Data Collection and Evaluation
  
• Dissemination and Mentoring
  
• Budget (SF 424A) and Budget Narrative (Reviewed, but not scored).

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How does CDC define a community-based organization (CBO)? Would a local community health center or a school district be eligible to serve as one of our core team members under the CBO category?

A community-based organization (CBO) is a public or private nonprofit organization at the local level that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community; and provides educational or related services to individuals in the community they serve. A local community health center or a public school district is eligible to serve as a core partner organization under the CBO category.

What does the requirement to ensure reach of 75% of the selected intervention population mean?

Grantees should ensure that at least some of the strategies implemented can reach at least 75% of the selected intervention population within their selected geographic area. Overall, proposed strategies should contribute to reducing health disparities for as many people as possible and have high impact.

What are health disparities?

Health disparities represent preventable differences in the burden of disease, disability, injury, or violence, or in opportunities to achieve optimal health. In their plans, recipients will describe the intervention population(s) selected, including relevant health disparities, and how selected interventions will improve health and reduce or eliminate one or more identified health disparities.

What is an intervention population?

An intervention population is the population within the selected geographic area that applicants will reach with proposed program activities.

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The FOA describes convention for file names. Are the brackets meant to be included in the file names? In the first set of brackets should the file name include exactly those words?

Brackets should not be included in the file names - the following example shows the correct format for the Table of Contents attachment: TOC_Applicant Oranization Name.pdf

Can graphs, tables, pictures be used to clarify in the narrative?

Yes, graphs, tables, and/or pictures may be used in the narrative. Please note that no more than 10 electronic attachments should be uploaded per application.

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