STOP STDs NOFO FAQs

FAQs for CDC-RFA-PS23-0007

Per RFP p. 30, applicants are responsible for reporting if this application will result in “programmatic, budgetary, or commitment overlap with another application or award.” Do applications need to show commitment levels for all key personnel? Alternatively, are applicants only required to submit this document if there is a potential duplication?

You are required to explain overlap with any other award in your Budget Narrative. If there’s no overlap, you do not need to provide further explanation. Keep in mind that level of effort for all key personnel should not exceed 100% across projects. Please include the percentage of time allotted for each position in the budget.

Since up to 2 awards may be made per component, is it acceptable to submit a proposal that would emphasize some, but not all, of the activities described under the component?

Yes, but note that applications will not be compared during the objective review. Applicants who have the capacity to implement more activities will likely be scored higher than those who only emphasize some, but not all, of the activities.

With Component D, if you have ideas so special projects, include them in your application, especially since the average award is just a guide. You can write to what you think activities might cost, even if it’s over the average award amount.

Multi-component NOFOs may have a maximum of 15 pages for the “base” (subsections of the Project Description that the components share with each other, which may include target population, inclusion, collaboration, etc.); and up to 4 additional pages per component for Project Narrative subsections that are specific to each component?

Please adhere to the guidance we’ve already given: 15 pages for 1 component, 19 for 2 components, 23 for 3 components, etc.

Can you please confirm the Budget Information submitted is based on one twelve-month budget period for each component?

This is correct.

For the Budget Information Form SF-424A, is the applicant to submit budget information for each component separately or submit the budget information as one budget which combines all individual components budget information?

You should submit one SF-424 that combines all the component budgets. However, applicants should provide separate budget narratives for Components A, B, C, D, and E. Budget information including staff time, consultant costs, travel, and other substantial expenses must be provided for each component applied to.

Can the funder confirm if it is allowable to reallocate the page allocations based on section need? (e.g., 15 pages are allowed for the base of the proposal while 4 are allowed for each section. If an offeror is applying for two components, is it permissible to use 5 pages for the base while using 9 pages to describe the approach for each component, if we don’t go over the 23 allocated pages?)

This is acceptable, as long as you stay within the allowable limit.

Is it allowable to include a cover page with the technical narrative? If so, will this be exempt from the page limit?

If you include a cover page as an attachment, it will not count towards the page limit. If it’s included as a part of the Project Narrative, it will count towards the page limit.

Can the Funder confirm if the Table of Contents should be uploaded in the “Required attachment” section of the portal?

Per page 30, upload Table of Contents in “Other Attachment Forms”.

Does the funder have a preferred style for references/citations?

No, please ensure that the references/citations are legible.

Should the Organizational Chart and Staffing plan, Staff CVs, and Conflict of Interest Statement as Appendices under the “Other Attachment Files” section in the portal? Are these items exempt from the page limit?

Attachments do not count towards the page limit.

Should the Financial Management System description be included in the budget narrative?

“Financial Management System” was written into the NOFO by program. Per the evaluation criteria, this should be described in the Project Narrative.

Is it permissible to use size ten font for graphics, footnotes, tables, figures, and graphs?

Yes, 10-point font should be fine for those items, but please make sure it is legible for ease of review.

Is there a page limit for the budget narrative?

No.

Should the budget narrative be included as part of the Project Description or as an attachment?

The Budget narrative should be uploaded as an attachment. See page 34.

How long can our application be?

Multi-component NOFOs may have a maximum of 15 pages for the “base” (subsections of the Project Description that the components share with each other, which may include target population, inclusion, collaboration, etc.); and up to 4 additional pages per component for Project Narrative subsections that are specific to each component.

Text should be single spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, and number all pages. Page limits include work plan; content beyond specified limits may not be reviewed. Required attachments are not included as part of the page limit. (see page 31 of the NOFO)

For each component your organization is applying to, please ensure that all files/attachments are labeled clearly and correspond with the appropriate component(s).

Is the workplan part of the narrative?

Yes, the workplan is part of the narrative and is included in the page limit.

Is there a minimum or maximum number of components that we can apply for?

No, applicants may apply for multiple components. When applying for multiple components, applicants must submit a separate work plan and budget for each component.

Can we be funded for multiple components - is there a limit on how many we can apply for?

Yes, applicants can be funded for multiple components. There is no limit on how many components an applicant can apply to.

If we apply for multiple components, does each application undergo an objective review and receive a separate score?

Yes, each application will undergo the three phases of the review process and a separate score will be given for each component.

Will proposal reviewers give higher scores to qualified applicants that are equipped to address multiple components of the NOFO?

No, all components will be scored independently.

If my organization applies for multiple components, how do we submit a budget?

Applicants should provide separate budget narratives for each component applied to. Budget information including staff time, consultant costs, travel, and other substantial expenses must be provided for each component applied to. Please ensure that all files/attachments are labeled clearly and correspond with the appropriate component(s).

Can references and other documents be uploaded separately from the main application?

Yes, references, CVs, organizational charts, letters of support, evidence of organizational capacity, etc., can be uploaded as separate files. These individual files do not count toward the application page limit. Please ensure that all files/attachments are labeled clearly and correspond with the appropriate component(s).

Could you elaborate a bit more on the "capacity to implement" piece in relationship to national reach especially for local government agencies?

The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement is to fund organizations with national reach and experience working with and/or representing state, local, and/or territorial STD/HIV public health programs. Applicants must provide a chart to show the geographical location across the U.S. of members, chapters, or networks and programs being implemented to demonstrate national reach, infrastructure, and organizational capacity to conduct activities.

How does the membership chart and organizational chart differ?

The organization chart should show/describe your organizational structure, staffing plan, and project management structure that will be sufficient to achieve the project outcomes and which clearly defines staff roles.

The membership chart should show the geographical location across the U.S. of the organization’s members, chapters, or networks and programs being implemented to demonstrate national reach, infrastructure, and organizational capacity to conduct activities. The chart should also include the type of organization represented by each (e.g., public health program, STI clinic, community organization).

The FAQ is helpful for clarifying the matter of applying for multiple components. To make sure we are accurately understanding the guidance on page limit, will you confirm the following -- If applying for two components, the applicant's Project Narrative can be up to 19 pages long, including separate work plans for each component. If the application is for three components, it could be up to 23 pages, with three separate work plans included in the page count. Is this correct?

Yes, this is correct.

The NOFO states that the average one year award amount is $250,000. Should this amount also be considered the "ceiling" for the proposed budget per component, in order to be responsive to the application? If additional funding were to become available, does writing to $250,000 per component limit what each awarded entity would be able to accept for that component?

Applicants can write to what they think the activities cost, even if it is over the average award amount. The average award amount is just a guide.