FAQs for TECPHI NOFO – CDC-RFA-DP22-2206 Tribal Epidemiology Centers Public Health Infrastructure

Question: Has the NOFO changed since it was originally posted?
Answer: On April 5, 2022, the TECPHI NOFO was amended to increase the award ceiling. The ceiling for Component B is now $600,000 per budget period, subject to the availability of funds.

Question: Who is eligible to apply for this funding?
Answer: TECPHI DP22-2206 is an open competition Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). A list of eligible entities and additional information on eligibility is noted on pages 21-22 of the NOFO.

Question: Do Component B applicants need to provide Letters of Support?
Answer: No. Component B applicants do not need to provide any type of Letters of Support.

Question: Can applicants apply for both Component A and Component B awards?
Answer: Yes, applicants may apply for both Component A and Component B. If applying for both Component A and Component B, a separate application must be submitted for each.

Question: Is a letter of intent required?
Answer: No, a letter of intent is not required.

Question: Are the CDC Risk Assessment Questionnaire and supporting documentation a requirement of the grant application submission?
Answer: Yes, the risk assessment is required for new awardees under a new program announcement. Prior to making an award, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) evaluates the degree of risk posed by an applicant. In filling out the Risk Questionnairepdf icon, each question should be answered as completely as possible, using extra pages if necessary.

Question: How do I fill out the Lobbying registration form, and who is the Lobbying Registrant?
Answer: The Lobbying Registration Form is completed to disclose lobbying activities pursuant to 31 U.S.C.1352. (from grants.gov) Title 31, United States Code, Section 1352, entitled “Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions,” generally prohibits recipients of Federal grants and cooperative agreements from using Federal (appropriated) funds for lobbying the Executive or Legislative Branches of the Federal Government in connection with a SPECIFIC grant or cooperative agreement. Section 1352 also requires that each person who requests or receives a Federal grant or cooperative agreement must disclose lobbying undertaken with non-Federal (non-appropriated) funds. These requirements apply to grants and cooperative agreements EXCEEDING $100,000 in total costs (45 CFR Part 93). Instructions for completion of the applicable Lobbying Form can be found here: INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF SF-LLL, DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIESpdf iconexternal icon (grantsolutions.gov). The “lobbying registrant” is the person that is registered as a lobbyist.

Question: If we are applying to both Component A and Component B, how do we fill out the SF-424, SF-424A and the Project Abstract Summary because there is only one form in Grants.gov?
Answer: If applying for both Component A and Component B, separate applications must be submitted for each. Therefore, there will be separate SF-424, SF-424A and the Project Abstract Summaries for each application in grants.gov.

Question: If we apply for both Component A and Component B, can we upload the indirect cost rate agreement and non-profit status form once?
Answer: If applying for both Component A and Component B, your indirect cost rate agreement and non-profit status form must be uploaded with each application.

Question: To whom do we address the LOS?
Answer: Letters of support (LOS) may be addressed to your organization and uploaded with your application.

Question: Does CDC have training and technical assistance available to assist applicants in applying for this TECPHI award?
Answer: CDC is unable to provide training and technical assistance to any potential applicant other than the informational call that was held on March 16, 2022. The call script can be accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/healthytribes/tecphi/funding-opportunities/TECPHI-NOFO-2206-call-script.htm.

Question: Is the abstract included in the 20-page project narrative page limit?
Answer: No, the abstract is not included in the 20-page project narrative page limit.

Question: What type of review process will occur for this competition?
Answer: All applications will be reviewed initially for completeness and responsiveness by CDC Office of Grant Services staff. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the responsiveness criteria, as noted in the Additional Information on Eligibility section on page 22 of the NOFO, will not advance to Phase II review. Applicants will be notified that their applications did not meet eligibility or published submission requirements. During Phase II, an objective review panel will evaluate complete, responsive applications in accordance with the criteria described for “Approach,” “Evaluation and Performance Measurement,” and “Organizational Capacity.” During the Phase III review, CDC reserves the right to fund applications out of rank order to achieve geographic diversity for Component A applicants as only one Component A recipient will be selected per IHS Area and the Urban Area as defined on page 54 in the glossary of the NOFO. For Component B, CDC will fund in score and rank order. Only one Component B recipient will be selected.

Question: What is the maximum amount of money applicants can apply for with this NOFO?
Answer: Component A applicants: As stated on page 10 of the NOFO, “Component A award amounts will be based, in part, on the number of federally recognized Indian tribes or villages or Urban Indian Organizations in the applicant’s IHS Area. Applicants must serve their entire IHS Area, or if proposing to serve the Urban Area, the applicants must serve all Urban Indian Organizations that currently receive funding from the IHS under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.” Please see the funding strategy table on page 10 of the NOFO for specific maximum funding amount information. The amounts are per budget period, subject to availability, and include both direct and indirect costs.

Component B applicants: The maximum amount of money a Component B applicant can apply for is $600,000 per budget period, subject to availability, including both direct and indirect costs.

Question: Are matching funds required?
Answer: No, matching funds are not required for this NOFO. However, leveraging other resources and ongoing efforts to promote sustainability of the project are strongly encouraged.

Question: How many awards will be made?
Answer: As stated on page 10 of the NOFO, “CDC expects to fund up to 12 Component A recipients and only one (1) Component B recipient. Only one Component A recipient will be selected per IHS Area and the Urban Area. The IHS Areas include the following: Alaska Area, Albuquerque Area, Bemidji Area, Billings Area, California Area, Great Plains Area, Nashville Area, Navajo Area, Oklahoma City Area, Portland Area, and Phoenix/Tucson Area. There is also an Urban Area for the purposes of and defined in the glossary of this NOFO.”

Question: Is there a page limit for the project narrative?
Answer: Yes, the narrative can be no more than 20 pages, single space, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins. This includes the work plan. Project narrative content beyond 20 pages will not be reviewed.

Question: Are resumes included in the narrative page limit?
Answer: No. Attachments required by this NOFO are not included in the 20-page project narrative limit.

Question: Is there an example work plan?
Answer: An example work plan can be found on page 17-18 of the NOFO. Page 17 states, “An example work plan is provided below. If another format is used for the application, the work plan must include all information contained in the example work plan. Applicants should refer to the Logic Model when developing the work plan. CDC will provide feedback and technical assistance to recipients to finalize the work plan activities post-award.”

Question: Is the intent that TECs become public health accredited or assist tribes in their accreditation process given the focus on building the capacity and infrastructure of TECS and the tribes and UIOs they serve to meet national public health accreditation standards and deliver the 10 Essential Public Health Services?
Answer: The strategies and activities are built around the public health accreditation standards and 10 Essential Public Health Services because they are nationally recognized public health standards and competencies which provide a basis for evaluation and impact assessment. It is not the intent of the NOFO to require public health accreditation, however the implementation of activities through TECPHI can assist TECs and tribes to become accredited if desired.

Question: How do applicants use the NOFO logic model? Should applicants change it for the proposal or add to it?
Answer: The logic model illustrates the relationship between the NOFO’s activities and its intended outcomes. Applicants’ strategies must align with the NOFO logic model, and applicants should refer to the logic model when developing the work plan. CDC will provide feedback and technical assistance to recipients to finalize the work plan activities post-award. Applicants may use the example work plan template for the proposal on pages 17 and 18 of the modified NOFO. If applicants use another work plan format, it must include all information contained in the example work plan.

Question: Are examples of performance measures for the work plan available?
Answer: CDC is unable to provide technical assistance on performance measures during the application phase. If funded, CDC will work with recipients in the first 6 months of the award to finalize these measures as needed.

Question: Should a detailed budget be submitted for the total period of five years, or just for the first 12 months?
Answer: Applicants only need to submit a budget for the first 12 months of the project period.

Question: Is the budget included as part of the total page limit for applications?
Answer: No, the budget is not part of the 20-page narrative limit.

Question: Does the statement “Recipients may not use funds to purchase giveaway items for the purpose of promoting their program” on page 33 of the NOFO apply to both Component A and Component B recipients?
Answer: Yes, the restriction on giveaway items to promote the program applies to all recipients under the DP22-2206 cooperative agreement.

Question: What does “giveaway items” mean on page 33 of the NOFO? For example, does it include free giveaway items at a meeting or exhibit booth?
Answer: Giveaway items are any “items for the purpose of promoting their program [TECPHI], e.g., pens, bags, clothing” regardless of the venue.

Question: Can recipients use funds to purchase giveaway or incentive items for any purpose?
Answer: Although funds cannot be used for giveaway items to promote the program, funds may be used for incentive items for the collection of evaluation data. There are guidelines for the use of incentive items for evaluation, so if funded, the recipient should work with their project officer to describe the need, e.g., what incentive item, value, quantity, accountability.

Question: Can Component A applicants apply for more funding than the maximum amount based on the number of tribes served?
Answer: Component A applicants should align their budgets with the funding strategy table listed on pages 10-11 of the modified NOFO. Recipients will receive no more than the maximum funding amount listed for the number of tribes they serve.

Question: If a Tribal Epidemiology Center’s (TEC) Board of Directors (BOD) represents all tribes/villages in the TEC’s IHS Area, would a resolution of approval for TECPHI DP22-2206 from the BOD qualify as a ‘blanket Tribal Resolution’ as required in the NOFO?
Answer: A TEC Board of Directors (BOD) resolution approving of an application for TECPHI DP22-2206 qualifies as a blanket tribal resolution as mentioned on page 16 of the NOFO since the BOD represents all tribes/villages in the TEC’s IHS Area.

Question: Is there other documentation Component A applicants could provide if a tribal resolution as described on page 16 of the NOFO is not attainable by the application due date? Is there a substitute process that could be used?
Answer: Please note that the documentation may already exist and can be used for this application (i.e., blanket Tribal Resolution for a TEC). Also note that tribal letters of support from tribal leaders and letters of support from urban Indian clinic directions and/or chief executive officers in the IHS area are acceptable if tribal resolutions cannot be attained before the application deadline. No other substitute process is available.

Question: What are the period of performance dates?
Answer: The period of performance is from September 30, 2022 – September 29, 2027. The first budget period is September 30, 2022 – September 29, 2023.

Question: How many years will this project be?
Answer: The period of performance is 5 years, subject to the availability of funds.

Question: What’s the approximate start date of the awards?
Answer: The start date will be September 30, 2022.

Question: Will the conference call meeting notes be available to those unable to make the call?
Answer: The script from the conference call is available on the NOFO webpage. Audio recordings are not available.

Question: Where can any updates made to the NOFO be found?
Answer: On the NOFO webpage on grants.govexternal icon, locate and click the “subscribe” button next to the “apply” button. By subscribing, alerts for any changes to the NOFO will be received. CDC will also announce any updated versions on the TECPHI NOFO webpage.

Question: Is it possible to schedule a phone conversation to talk about an application or ask questions?
Answer: CDC is unable to speak to individual applicants about their applications. CDC will respond to questions sent to TECPHI2206@cdc.gov.

Question: What is the communication protocol for asking questions regarding this NOFO?
Answer: CDC will respond to questions sent to TECPHI2206@cdc.gov.

Question: What are the IHS Areas?
Answer: The IHS Areas include the following: Alaska Area, Albuquerque Area, Bemidji Area, Billings Area, California Area, Great Plains Area, Nashville Area, Navajo Area, Oklahoma City Area, Portland Area, and Phoenix/Tucson Area.

Question: What is the Urban Area as defined by this NOFO?
Answer: As stated in the Glossary of the NOFO on page 54, “For the purposes of this NOFO, the Urban Area includes the 41 Urban Indian Organizationspdf iconexternal icon nationwide that make up the IHS Urban Indian Health Program.”

Question: Is there a list of currently funded TECs?
Answer: A list of TECsexternal icon can be found hereexternal icon.