Cooperative Agreements

Research Projects

Question: Is the Research Pilot Project Program considered a “research project”?
Answer: No, it is a program and must be considered as a component. The funding announcement states, “The Research Pilot Project Program is an optional component and must fit within the overall funding limits of the Research Projects component.” Information about the description of the Research Pilot Project Program is available in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description of the funding announcement under the subtitle, “Structure of TWH Centers: Components, Essential Cores, Programs, and Projects”. 

Question:  Would a center be permitted to run a Research Pilot Project Program only from years 2-5 if it cannot start the program until year 2 due to various factors?
Answer: Yes. Information about the description of the Research Pilot Project Program is available in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description of the funding announcement under the subtitle “Structure of TWH Centers: Components, Essential Cores, Programs, and Projects”. 

Question: For the Research Pilot Program, an itemized budget for the first year of the program is required, should applicants propose specific studies for the first year? Without knowing the specific pilot studies, should applicants complete the clinical trial documents if it is possible that there would be a trial in the future?
Answer: This is an optional component. If you plan to include this component in the application and are planning to announce the pilot projects during the first year of funding, submit an itemized budget for the first year. You may propose how the Pilot Project Program will be managed and operated. This may or may not include specific projects. You can request an amount for the personnel that will manage the program and supplies, for example. In the application, you will submit the description of the Research Pilot Project Program. You don’t need to submit the clinical trial documents for the Research Pilot Project Program with your application if you don’t know the pilot projects. For more information on this component, see Section I. Funding Opportunity Description/Structure of TWH Centers: Components, Essential Cores, Programs, and Projects of the funding announcement under “Research Pilot Project Program (Optional)” This section lists provisions that must be included in the description of this component.

Question: Please clarify the requirements regarding the number and types of research projects (i.e., large/small), as summarized in funding announcement in Table 1. Summary of TWH Center Components.  In particular, are small projects allowed?
Answer: Yes, at least one small project is required. NIOSH expects the Total Worker Health (TWH) Centers of Excellence to have a variety of projects, large and small. Additionally, on Table 1, under the Research Projects component in the “Small Projects” row, the table specifies an “X” under the required column.

Question: Since centers must have a small project, are applicants required to have one of each type of small research project, or one of either type?
Answer: Yes, a small project is required, and applicants may choose either: 1) a small research project type 1,
2) a small research project type 2, or 3) both project types. The number of small projects and types is at the investigator’s discretion. The requirement is to at least have one small project regardless of whether it is type 1 or 2.

Additionally, see these sections of the funding announcement for more information pertaining to this topic:

• Section I. Funding Opportunity Description: Approach/under the Research Projects component
• Section IV. Application and Submission Information: Research Projects

“Small projects with a maximum budget of $50K per year in direct costs and limited scope that use widely accepted approaches and methods within well-established fields,”

and/or

“Small projects with a maximum of a two-year budget total of $275K in direct costs for exploratory and novel research that has the potential to lead to advances in health research”

Question: Can a small project focus on a systematic review or be like a conference grant focused on dissemination?
Answer: Research activities may vary widely. Applicants are not required to propose a project within a specific research category. It is at the investigator’s discretion what the focus of the project will be. The funding announcement provides guidance on the description of the small projects. For each project proposed, it is essential that applicants clearly explain the purpose, specific aims, and how the project fits into the overall strategy and approach of the center.

Question: Can large research projects involve two different occupational cohorts in our TWH proposal?
Answer: Yes. It is essential that applicants clearly explain the purpose, specific aims, and how the project fits into the overall strategy and approach of the center.

Question: Are there any restrictions to involving more than one occupational cohort?
Answer: No

Question: Should a Burden, Need, and Impact (BNI) statement be included in this grant application?  BNI is not mentioned anywhere in the funding announcement.
Answer: While you may choose to include a BNI statement in your proposal, there is no formal requirement to do so.  However, it may serve as a useful way to frame your research questions or proposals. If you include the BNI statement, put it in the overall center description.

Question: Is the Data Management Plan (DMP) the same thing as the Data Sharing Plan (DSP)? Do research projects provide both a Data Sharing Plan and a Data Management Plan (DMP) in the Resource Sharing Plan attachment?
Answer: The DMP is a specific requirement of the funding announcement. The DMP is mentioned in different sections of the announcement under Additional Review Considerations Overall, Cores(s), Program and Research Projects; Additional Policy Requirements; and Funding Restrictions. The requirements of the DMP are described in the funding announcement and at: https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html .
Alternatively, the funding announcement specifies: “It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.” The guide provides a description of the DSP content.
Both the DMP and DSP concepts imply the description of how final research data will be shared. Because both are similar, you can combine them under one title “Data Sharing Plan/Data Management Plan” or have two titles (one for each one).

Past Performance/Accomplishments for Renewal Applicants and Preliminary Work for New Applicants

Question: If a currently funded center plans to renew a project for the next grant cycle, in what section of the application should the center include information on the past performance? Should past performance be a separate section from what is proposed for the renewal, incorporated into the proposal for the renewal or either way and vary across the sections of the application?
Answer: If a current center plans to include the project for the next grant cycle, it will submit past performance information in both the Research Strategy of the Overall and in the Research Strategy of the Research Project Components. Please follow the instructions specified in this part of the funding announcement: Section IV. Application and Submission Information, in both components (overall and research projects) under the subtitle PHS 398 Research Plan (Research Project) / Research Strategy. Renewal applications can provide past performance/accomplishments in the last project period that address the major scientific achievements.

If the center DOES NOT plan to include the project in its grant renewal application, it will submit past performance information in the Research Strategy of the Overall Component and should follow the instructions specified in the funding announcement: Section IV. Application and Submission Information, in the Overall Component under the subtitle PHS 398 Research Plan (Overall) / Research Strategy. Renewal applications can provide past performance/accomplishments in the last project period that address the major scientific achievements.

It is at the investigator’s discretion to describe the past performance (clearly identified as such) as a separate section or integrated into the content of the Research Strategy. 

Question: Are new projects allowed a section in the grant application for preliminary work?
Answer: You can include this information in the Research Strategy section, respecting the page limit for new projects. It is at the investigator’s discretion what the number of pages for preliminary studies, or work will be within the page limits. Please follow the instructions for new projects in the funding announcement under these sections:
Section IV. Application and Submission Information/Page Limitations,
Section IV. Application and Submission Information/PHS 398 Research Plan
Section IV. Application and Submission Information/ Instructions for the Submission of Multi-Component Applications

Page Limitation

Question: Is there a page limit in the application for past performance information?
Answer: Please follow the instructions specified in the funding announcement under Section IV. Application and Submission Information, Page Limitations. The funding announcement states that past performance/accomplishments should be described in the Research Strategy for each component (Overall, Eval-Plan Core, Outreach Core, Pilot Program, research Project). Renewal applications submitted by current centers can provide past performance/accomplishments in the last project period that address the major scientific achievements. The funding announcement provides additional pages in the Research Strategy (for each component) for renewal applications. The investigator can use his or her discretion to decide what number of pages for past accomplishment will be within the page limitation indicated in the table. The researcher cannot submit more pages than the specified limit in the table for the Research Strategy.

Question: Could you clarify the page limits for the science sections of the application? Specifically, do page limits include specific aims? Is there a one-page limit for the specific aims?
Answer: Yes, the funding announcement specifies a one-page limit for the specific aims. Please follow the instructions specified in the funding announcement in Section IV. Application and Submission Information, Page Limitations.

Question: Is the one-page Specific Aims section in addition to or a part of the page limits given in the funding announcement? For example, for a large grant being renewed, do the 18 pages allocated include the Specific Aims, or are the aims in addition to the 18-page limit?
Answer: The one-page Specific Aims section is in addition to the Research Strategy page-limit. An applicant that will renew a large project can submit up to 18 pages for the Research Strategy and 1 additional page for the specific aims. Please see Section IV. Application and Submission Information of the funding announcement under Page Limitations.

In addition, the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (Multi – Project Instructions for NIH and Other PHS Agencies)pdf iconexternal icon clearly indicates when you apply that Specific Aims and Research Strategy are two separate attachments. In this document, read Page M-94, section M.400 – PHS 398 Research Plan Form which states: “The PHS 398 Research Plan form is used only for research, multi-project, and SBIR/STTR applications. This form includes fields to upload several attachments, including the Specific Aims and Research Strategy.”

Question: The funding announcement states there is a limit of 18 pages for projects being renewed although elsewhere it says 12 pages for the research strategy of a large project. If there is an 18-page total for a renewal project, can the investigator use his or her discretion to distribute the pages between the past performance and the current research plan, or must 12 pages be devoted to the new research plan and 6 pages to the past performance?
Answer: Please follow the instructions specified in the funding announcement under Section IV. Application and Submission Information, Page Limitations. The table in this section indicates the page limit for each component (Overall, Eval-Plan Core, Outreach Core, Pilot Program, research Project). For renewal applicants, two sections of the funding announcement indicate the page limit for the research strategy of a renewal large project is up to 18 pages and is up to 12 pages for a new large project. The distribution of the pages between past performance and the current research plan for renewal projects is at the investigator’s discretion, so long as the investigator stays within the page limit of a small or a large project.

Question: Are there differences in the page limits for new projects compared to projects that are continuations of current research projects? 
Answer: Yes. Please follow the instructions specified in the funding announcement under Section IV. Application and Submission Information, Page Limitations. For new projects, the page limits are 6 pages for small projects and 12 pages for large projects. For continuations or renewals, the page limits are 12 pages for small projects and 18 pages for large projects.

Application Deadlines and Timelines

Question:  Are all applicants required to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by November 2, 2020, and then a full proposal by February 3, 2021?
Answer: Yes, these dates are the correct submission deadlines for all applicants.

Question: Can you please confirm that February 3, 2021 is the only due date for a new application to be considered for funding by NIOSH?
Answer: Yes, currently February 3, 2021 is the only submission date for new applicants.

Question: After the Feb 3, 2021 due date, will NIOSH accept new applications for future application dates (10/2021, 10/2022, 10/2023)?
Answer: Currently, we will not allow new or renewal applications after the February 3, 2021 deadline.  After this date, only Revision and Resubmission applications from the funded centers will be accepted for research projects that competed and were funded in FY2021. For additional information, see Section II. Award Information under the subtitle “Application Types Allowed” of the funding announcement.

Question: Under the current funding announcement, are resubmissions allowed for new applications submitted on the February 3, 2021 deadline, even if they received a favorable score?
Answer: Currently, no resubmissions will be allowed for new centers after the February 3, 2021 deadline.
Centers (new or renewal) that competed and were funded in FY2021 can resubmit their research projects that were not funded.

Collaboration

Question: Would it contribute to the geographic diversity of the TWH program to have partner institutions in diverse regions leading or collaborating on projects within a center (but not necessarily leading a core), or would it not add to geographic diversity unless a partner was leading a core?
Answer: If a center has projects with Principal Investigators (PIs) at partner institutions and the worker population of interest is located in a different region than the institution applying for the funding,  that would appear to add geographic diversity. Those types of projects must fit cohesively with the proposed Center mission, theme, or focus.
Use of national survey instruments (or those with wide reach into diverse worker populations across the country) or use of national-level interventions or projects could also serve to increase geographic diversity.

Question: What will reviewers expect to see regarding how applicants will engage with other Centers of Excellence for TWH, if funded? What level of engagement would be typical beyond the structured events that NIOSH notes are required in the funding announcement?
Answer: Engagement between funded centers is encouraged and mentioned in the funding announcement in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description/ Structure of TWH Centers: Components, Essential Cores, Programs, and Projects. See the following example from this section: “Partnerships are critical to translate research into practice and encouraged by the NIOSH Research-to-Practice (r2p) program. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaboration among investigators and institutions to share existing expertise and findings is essential in advancing the science of integrating health protection with activities that advance the overall well-being of workers in the work environment.”

You can also find language on center level collaboration in Section VI. Award Administration Information/Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award.

Past examples of engagements between centers include:

• National Total Worker Health Agenda: Centers provided input on this agenda.
• Research Methodologies for Total Worker Health®: Proceedings from a Workshop Edited Volume on Total Worker Health:external icon Staff from five of six centers authored chapters in the book. The work of all centers was cited throughout the book.

For more information about activities of the NIOSH Centers of Excellence TWH and to identify potential areas of interest, see: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/twhcenters.html and https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/annualreports/2018multidisc.html#anchor_1558006577633

Other Questions

Question: Will reviewers for the Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health® applications be required to read appendices submitted by applicants?
Answer: No. NIOSH reviewers are not required to read the appendices.

Question: If my institution already has a grant or a cooperative agreement with NIOSH (e.g., NIOSH-funded Education and Research Center, etc.), can I apply for this announcement?
Answer: Yes. If you have a question about a specific NIOSH-funded grant or cooperative agreement, please contact Dr. Maria Lioce. 

Question: According to the funding announcement, all centers are supposed to have an Associate Director. Can a center have an Associate Director for Research and an Associate Director for Outreach?
Answer: Yes, this is allowed. Clearly describe and explain this in your application.

Question: Do the Centers of Excellence grant application permit a Multi-Principal Investigator (PI) plan?
Answer: Yes. Multi-PI are permitted. You must list one name as the contact PI. The funding announcement specifies “Each applicant institution will name a Director (PD/PI) who will be the key figure in the administration, management and coordination of the grant. The Director will be responsible for the organization and operation of the Center.” Please follow the instructions in Section IV. Application and Submission Information for Overall of the funding announcement under the subtitle “Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Overall)”.

Question: Is it okay for someone to serve on the advisory board of more than one Center of Excellence?
Answer: When an individual is being considered for service on multiple Center external advisory committees, that person should officially inform each of those Center Directors about this. This ensures transparency for all Centers involved. The person should also declare any and all conflicts of interest (COI) to each Center Director. If in doubt, the issue(s) should be discussed with the Center Directors. NIOSH does not make determinations about COIs that are the responsibility of grantees (grantee institutions or Center Directors).

Additionally, any persons serving, or under consideration for serving, on Center advisory boards must declare if they are contacted by NIOSH to be a peer reviewer for TWH Center applications for funding.

Question: Is it necessary to include some aspect of occupational medicine or public health, or is there a minimum expectation from reviewers that they would see MDs strongly represented in some way in the application?
Answer: The extent to which any type of expertise is included in any application depends the specific research or other activities proposed in the application and is the applicant’s decision. The involvement of multidisciplinary team and expertise is mentioned in the funding announcement in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description/Structure of TWH Centers: Components, Essential Cores, Programs, and Projects and  Section V. Application Review Information/ Scored Review Criteria – Overall TWH Center of Excellence/Investigator(s).

Question: Do Center Directors need to lead one of the larger projects? Can Center Directors be present overall without any specific project, or perhaps lead a smaller project?
Answer: The Center Director should be:

• The key figure in the administration, management and coordination of the Overall Center and for the grant and;
• The Evaluation and Planning Core Project Lead and must commit at least 1.2 person-months effort (direct and/or in-kind) to the Core.

It is the Center Director’s/Principal Investigator’s (PI) decision to be the lead on any specific projects. For more information on the role of the PI, review the funding announcement under Section IV. Application and Submission Information/Overall (Overall TWH COE Component) under Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Overall) and Section IV. Application and Submission Information/Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Evaluation and Planning Core) and under Budget (Evaluation and Planning Core).

Question: What format should applicants use to prepare a Core unit proposal? 
Answer: Please follow the funding announcement instructions in Section IV. Application and Submission Information for each Core. For example, the Outreach Core under PHS 398 Research Plan (Outreach Core) in the funding announcement specifies: Outreach Strategy, Specific Aims, Resource Sharing Plan among others.

Question: Regarding NIOSH’s perspective on TWH, is it health promotion and intervention or more combination of Occupational and Environmental Health?
Answer: The funding announcement specifies the definition of TWH in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description as: “TWH is defined as policies, programs and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being.”. Learn more via the TWH webpage. Applicants must address the research objectives of the most critical issues from the TWH-related goals that are found in the NIOSH Strategic Plan: FY’s 2019-2023  (specifically in the NIOSH Priority Goals for Extramural Research); the TWH Priority Areas and Emerging Issues; and the specific strategic, intermediate, and activity/output goals of National TWH Agenda (2016-2026)pdf icon.

In Section I of the funding announcement, you can find more information about TWH in these areas: TWH Research and Translation Topic Areas, TWH High Priority Topic Areas and Structure of TWH Centers: Components, Essential Cores, Programs, and Projects.

Question: A needs assessment is mentioned in the funding announcement, but where should applicants include this information? Do applications typically include an explicit section describing needs of the major industry sectors or most unique industries or occupations in the region within the overall center document or under evaluation/planning core, significance or approach? Alternatively, is this something that is included throughout the application documents?
Answer:  According to the funding announcement, you can mention this information in several sections:

• Overall center description under significance.
• Description of the outreach core and the outreach logic model in the description of “Implementation Activities”. You can submit the information under significance.
• Description of the planning and evaluation logic model.

Please see additional information in the funding announcement under the following: Section I. Funding Opportunity Description/ Structure of TWH Centers/Evaluation and Planning Core, Section I. Funding Opportunity Description/ Structure of TWH Centers/ Outreach Core, Section I. Funding Opportunity Description/ Structure of TWH Centers/ Outreach Core/Implementation Activities, Section V. Application Review Information/ Scored Review Criteria – Overall TWH Center of Excellence/ Significance, and Section V. Application Review Information/ Outreach Core/ Significance.

Question: This inquiry pertains to if an applicant develops a logic model for the evaluation and planning core which includes ways of assessing the center’s impact on three kinds of activities: research, research to practice, and outreach. Should the center also include that in several components, or have different logic models for the overall center, evaluation and planning core, and outreach core?
Answer: The funding announcement requires the inclusion of a logic model for the planning and evaluation core and recommends including a logic model for the overall center and outreach component. The principal investigator may include additional logic models to enhance understanding of the proposed goals, outputs and outcomes.