AFPMB-BAA-24-02 (24Apr2024).pdf

DOD FY24 DWFP Program Research Award

I. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Program Announcement for the Department of Defense

Defense Health Program

Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) Program for the Protection of Deployed Military Personnel from Threats

Posed by Arthropod Disease Vectors

Deployed Warfighter Protection Program Award

Announcement Type: Revised

Funding Opportunity Number: AFPMB-BAA-24-02

SUBMISSION AND REVIEW DATES AND TIMES

Pre-Application Submission Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (ET), March 22, 2024

Application Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, April 26, 2024

End of Application Verification Period: 5:00 p.m. ET, April 30, 2024

Peer Review: June 2024

Programmatic Review: August 2024

This program announcement must be read in conjunction with the DWFP General Application Instructions, version 001. The General Application Instructions document is available for downloading at from the Grants.gov funding opportunity announcement by selecting the “Package” tab, clicking “Preview,” and then selecting “Download Instructions.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

II. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

II.A. Program Description

II.A.1. FY24 DWFP Research Areas

II.B. Award Information

II.C. Eligibility Information

II.C.1. Eligible Applicants

ACC-APG Edgewood makes awards to eligible organizations, not to individuals

II.C.2. Cost Sharing

II.C.3. Other

II.D. Application and Submission Information

II.D.1. eBRAP and Grants.gov

II.D.2. Content and Form of the Application Submission

II.D.2.a. Step 1: Pre-Application Submission Content

II.D.2.b. Step 2: Full Application Submission Content

II.D.2.b.i. Full Application Guidelines

Table 1. Full Application Submission Guidelines

II.D.2.b.ii. Full Application Submission Components

II.D.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

II.D.4. Submission Dates and Times

Applicant Verification of Full Application Submission in eBRAP

II.D.5. Funding Restrictions

II.D.6. Other Submission Requirements

II.E. Application Review Information

II.E.1. Criteria

II.E.1.b. Programmatic Review

II.E.2. Application Review and Selection Process

II.E.3. Integrity and Performance Information

II.E.4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

II.F. Federal Award Administration Information

II.F.1. Federal Award Notices

II.F.1.a. PI Changes and Award Transfers

II.F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

II.F.3. Reporting

II.G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

II.G.1. eBRAP Help Desk

II.G.2. Grants.gov Contact Center

II.H. Other Information

II.H.1. Program Announcement and General Application Instructions Versions

II.H.2. Administrative Actions

II.H.2.a. Rejection

II.H.2.c. Withdrawal

II.H.2.d. Withhold

II.H.3. Application Submission Checklist

APPENDIX 1: ACRONYM LIST

II. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING

OPPORTUNITY

II.A. Program Description

Applications to the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) Program are being solicited by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood Contracting Division, Fort Detrick (ACC-APG Edgewood) using delegated authority provided by United States Code, Title 10, Section 4001 (10 USC 4001). The execution management agent for this program announcement is the DWFP Program at the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB).

The DWFP Program’s mission is to protect deployed military personnel from medically relevant pests, including (but not limited to) arthropod disease vectors of mosquito-borne arboviruses and tick-borne pathogens, as well as fly-borne bacterial pathogens. The DWFP Program seeks to fund original and innovative research that supports the Advanced Technology Development of new insecticides, or improved formulations of existing insecticides for vector control, new technology or enhanced modalities of personal protection from biting arthropods, or improved efficacy and sustainability of equipment for application of pesticides.

II.A.1. FY24 DWFP Research Areas

To meet the intent of the FY24 DWFP Program Research Award, applications must address at least one of the five FY24 DWFP Program Research Areas listed below. Bulleted items are provided to indicate additional context regarding programmatic intent but not required to be specifically addressed by applications. Applications consisting solely or primarily of basic research activities may be administratively withdrawn. Selection of the appropriate FY24 DWFP Program Research Area is the responsibility of the applicant.

1. Bite Prevention (DWFP-1): Research will address knowledge gaps in new personal protection tools that prevent contact with medically relevant arthropods.

2. Vector Control (DWFP-2): Research will address new insecticide application techniques, new toxicants or the adaptation of existing toxicants to medically relevant arthropods.

3. Decision Support Tools or Software Applications (DWFP-3): Research will address new tools or software applications that support data-driven decisions (e.g. predictive modeling) for improved arthropod vector surveillance and control strategies, including outbreak responses.

4. Vector surveillance and identification (DWFP-4): Research will address new arthropod vector surveillance tools and technologies that focus on improved vector control outcomes.

5. Vector pathogen diagnostics (DWFP-5): Research will address new vector pathogen diagnostic tools and technologies that focus on rapid detection of multiple arthropod-borne pathogens in a single assay.

The proposed research should include:

Support for the Advanced Technology Development of new insecticides, or improved formulations of existing insecticides for vector control, new technology or enhanced modalities of personal protection from biting arthropods, or improved efficacy and sustainability of equipment for application of pesticides (for more information, see “Budget Activity 3” in the DOD Financial Management Regulation Volume 2B, Chapter 5 at https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/archive/02barch/CHAPTER05.PDF).

Product-oriented research, consisting of advanced research related to a particular technology or new capability, field evaluation of products, or research directed towards the development of an existing prototype product for commercialization.

Semi-field and/or field evaluation of prototype products.

Research outcomes that are relevant for both military and civilian uses.

Research outcomes that are designed for operation in the relevant military environment, to include austere military operational environments with limited logistical support as applicable.

A focus on multiple target arthropod genera and/or species.

A strategy for subsequent registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as applicable for end use products releasing a pesticide(s).

The proposed research may include:

Research Involving Animals. Awards funded by the DOD require a second tier review and written authorization from the Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO) in the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) prior to beginning research involving animals. Therefore, applications must address all pertinent issues relating to the use of animals in the proposed work effort. Include the required assurances, approvals, forms and description in the proposal addenda entitled “Research Involving Animals,” as specified on the ACURO website: https://mrdc.health.mil/index.cfm/collaborate/research_protections/acuro.

Written approval from ACURO to proceed is also required for any subawardee that will use funds from an award to conduct research involving animals. Full applications may be submitted without protocols for research involving animals; however, protocols and required institution approvals must be submitted not later than 60 days after award to ensure continuation of payments. Exceptions may be granted in situations where animal use is not expected to occur until after the first year of the project. In such cases, a time frame for submission of the appropriate protocols should be established during award negotiations.

Research Involving Humans. For any research involving the use of human subjects, to include research involving the use of human biospecimens and/or human data (including household questionnaires), Project Manager is required to submit all requisite approvals, forms and information requested on the USAMRDC’s Office of Human Research Oversight (OHRO) website (https://mrdc.health.mil/index.cfm/collaborate/research_protections/hrpo) in order to obtain written approval from OHRO to proceed with research. Written approval to proceed from the USAMRDC OHRO is also required for any subawardees and collaborators that will use funds from an award to conduct research involving human subjects, human biospecimens, and/or human data. Full applications may be submitted without protocols for research involving humans; however, protocols and required institution approvals must be submitted not later than 60 days after award to ensure continuation of payments. Exceptions may be granted in situations where research involving the use of human subjects is not expected to occur until after the first year of the project. In such cases, a time frame for submission of the appropriate protocols should be established during award negotiations.

The proposed research may not include:

Fundamental basic research.

Vector pathogen research.

Clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic or vaccine research in humans, to include clinical trials and oral treatment.

Testing to measure acute oral, dermal and/or inhalation toxicity.

EPA registration costs.

Testing and evaluation of products previously registered with the EPA, unless they are being developed for a new use.

Testing and evaluation of commercial products, unless they are included in the testing of prototype products.

Manufacturing, packaging and production costs.

II.B. Award Information

This announcement is intended to solicit pre-proposals for those parts of development not related to a specific system or hardware procurement in accordance with Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200 CFR. The purpose of this announcement is to identify the best available science, and as such, there are no set-asides associated with any awards resulting from this announcement. Specific areas of interest are described in the DWFP Research Areas. This Announcement provides a general description of project areas, including specific areas of interest, general information, evaluation and selection criteria, and application preparation instructions. All documentation and or attachments that are required with the submission of a full application, if requested, are described in Section II.D.2 of this announcement.

Extramural awards are typically made under grants; however, other funding mechanisms may be considered.

Grants and Cooperative Agreements

Consistent with statutory authority, funds may be awarded by ACC-APG Edgewood to stimulate or support a public purpose consistent with the broad AFPMB objectives. These efforts should be intended for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding, rather than focusing on a specific system or product. By submitting a proposal and accepting an award, the recipient organization is certifying that the Principal Investigator and other investigators’ credentials have been examined and verified to ensure that the investigators are qualified to conduct the proposed study, and if applicable, to use humans or animals as research subjects in accordance with all federal and institutional guidelines and regulations. A Cooperative Agreement is used to enter into the same kind of relationship as a grant, except that substantial involvement is expected between the DOD and the recipient when carrying out the activity contemplated by the cooperative agreement. The term “Cooperative Agreement” does not include “Cooperative Research and Development Agreements” as defined in

15 USC 3710a.

No fee or profit is allowed on Grants or Cooperative Agreements awarded by the Department of Defense. ACC-APG Edgewood provides contracting support to the DWFP Research Program.

Offerors may identify the type of instrument that they feel best suits the proposed effort. An Offeror’s suggestion regarding suitable type of instrument does not obligate the government to employ the suggested instrument type.

Awards may not be used to support fundamental basic research. For this announcement, basic research is defined as research directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications toward process or products in mind.

II.C. Eligibility Information

II.C.1. Eligible Applicants

II.C.1.a. Organization: All organizations, including foreign organizations, foreign public entities, and international organizations, are eligible to apply.

To protect the public interest, the Federal Government ensures the integrity of Federal programs by only conducting business with responsible recipients. ACC-APG Edgewood uses the System for Award Management (SAM) to exclude recipients ineligible to receive federal awards. Grant funds are generally awarded via cost-reimbursement or periodic scheduled payments, in accordance with the negotiated payment schedule included in the award document. Funding may be provided incrementally during the life of the award. Under cost-reimbursement type awards, payments are made in response to monthly vouchers or invoices submitted by the awardee.

Recipient organizations should meet certain minimum standards pertaining to institutional support, financial resources, prior record of performance, integrity, organization, experience, operational controls, facilities and conformance with safety and environmental statutes and regulations in accordance with Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200 CFR. Organizations must be able to access .gov and .mil websites in order to fulfill the financial and technical deliverable requirements of the award and submit invoices for payment.

Investigators are cautioned that awards are made to organizations, not individuals. A Project Investigator (PI) must submit a proposal through, and be employed by, an organization in order to receive support. Should the PI of a funded project leave the recipient institution, both the PI and institution must contact the ACC-APG Edgewood Contracting/Grants Officer as soon as possible to discuss options for continued support of the project. Every effort should be made to notify ACC- APG Edgewood prior to the PI leaving the institution.

Organizations located outside of the U.S. may submit in response to the BAA; however, it is the organizations’ responsibility to ensure that project staff are able to complete the work without intercession by the DOD for a J-1 Visa Waiver on behalf of a foreign national in the United States. In addition, the U.S. Government will not provide funds to support scientists from countries which support Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) as defined by the U.S.

Department of State.

The primary basis for the selection of applications is based upon evaluation of technical merit, programmatic relevance, and the availability of funds. Detailed information on application evaluation and selection is located in Section II.E below.

Government Agencies Within the United States: Local, state, and federal government agencies are eligible to the extent that applications do not overlap with their fully funded internal programs. Such agencies are required to explain how their applications do not overlap with their internal programs. As applications for this program announcement may be submitted by extramural and intramural organizations, these terms are defined below.

Extramural Organization: An eligible non-DOD organization. Examples of extramural organizations include academic institutions, biotechnology companies, foundations, federal government organizations other than the DOD, and research institutes.

Intramural DOD Organization: A DOD laboratory, DOD military treatment facility, and/or DOD activity embedded within a civilian medical center. Intramural Submission: An application submitted by a DOD organization for an intramural investigator working within a DOD laboratory or other DOD activity.

ACC-APG Edgewood makes awards to eligible organizations, not to individuals.

II.C.1.b. Principal Investigator

Independent investigators at all academic/career levels (or equivalent) may be named by organizations as the PI on the application. Postdoctoral fellows are not considered independent investigators unless documentation is provided by the applicant’s organization.

An eligible PI, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship status, must be employed by or affiliated with an eligible organization.

II.C.2. Cost Sharing

Cost sharing/matching is not an eligibility requirement.

II.C.3. Other

Conflict of Interest There are certain post-employment restrictions on former Federal officers and employees as defined in 18 USC 207 and FAR 3.104-4(c). If a submitter believes a post-employment restriction or conflict of interest exists, the situation should be discussed with the ACC-APG Edgewood legal staff prior to expending time and effort in preparation of a proposal. Contact can be made through the general mailbox email address.

Disclosure of Information Outside The Government

Proposals may be disclosed outside of the U.S. Government to subject matter experts for the sole purpose of technical and programmatic evaluation. The AFPMB obtains a written agreement from the evaluators that information in the proposal will only be used for evaluation purposes and will not be further disclosed. Proposals for funded projects will be subject to public release under the Freedom of Information Act to the extent that they are incorporated into an award document; proposals that are not selected for funding will not be subject to public release.

U.S. Government Obligation Only a warranted Grants or Agreements Officer may obligate the U.S. Government to the expenditure of funds for awards under this announcement. The U.S. Government does not fund preparation of proposals or support work efforts or tasks that are inferred from discussions with technical project officers.

Information Service Submitters may use the technical reference facilities of the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) to acquire information of U.S. Government funded projects to avoid duplication of scientific and engineering effort. DTIC is responsible for collecting all scientific or technological observations, findings, recommendations, and results derived from DOD endeavors. Requests for eligibility and registration information should be addressed to DTIC-BC Registration, 8725 John J.

Kingman Road, Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-6218, or may be obtained at https://discover.dtic.mil/.

II.D. Application and Submission Information

Inclusion of classified research data within the application and/or proposing research of which the anticipated outcomes may be classified or deemed sensitive to national security concerns may result in application withdrawal. This includes, but is not limited to, research involving directed energy (e.g., photonic, radio frequency, acoustic energy, other non-kinetic sources), Anomalous Health Incidents, Havana Syndrome, and associated neurological syndromes/injuries. Refer to the General Application Instructions Appendix 2, Section E.

Refer to Section II.H.2, Administrative Actions, for a list of administrative actions that may be taken if a pre-application or application does not meet the administrative, eligibility, or ethical requirements defined in this program announcement.

II.D.1. eBRAP and Grants.gov

The electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) (https://ebrap.org) is a secure web-based system that allows extramural PIs to submit their pre-applications, view and verify extramural full applications submitted to Grants.gov (https://grants.gov), receive communications from the DWFP Program, and submit documentation during award negotiations and throughout the period of performance. eBRAP also allows intramural organizations to submit full applications following pre-application submission.

Grants.gov is a federal system required to be utilized by agencies to receive and process extramural grant applications. Full applications may only be submitted to Grants.gov after submission of a pre-application through eBRAP.

Contact information for the eBRAP Help Desk and the Grants.gov Contact Center can be found in Section II.G, Federal Awarding Agency Contacts.

Extramural Submission:

Pre-application content and forms must be accessed and submitted at eBRAP.org.

Full application packages must be accessed and submitted at Grants.gov.

Intramural DOD Submission:

Pre-application content and forms must be accessed and submitted at eBRAP.org.

Full application packages must be accessed and submitted at eBRAP.org.

The Firefox browser is recommended at eBRAP.org. Using Chrome or MS Edge may limit certain functionality due to eBRAP security settings.

Note: Applications from an intramural DOD organization submitting through a research foundation, or from an extramural federal government organization, may be submitted to Grants.gov.

II.D.2. Content and Form of the Application Submission

Submission is a two-step process requiring both pre-application (eBRAP.org) and full application (eBRAP.org or Grants.gov) as indicated below. The submission process should be started early to avoid missing deadlines. There are no grace periods. Full application submission guidelines differ for extramural (Grants.gov) and intramural (eBRAP.org) organizations (refer to Table 1, Full Application Guidelines below).

The application title, eBRAP log number, and all information for the PI, Business Official(s), performing organization, and contracting organization (if applicable) must be consistent throughout the entire pre-application and full application submission process. Inconsistencies may delay application processing and limit or negate the ability to view, modify, and verify the application in eBRAP. If any changes need to be made, the applicant should contact the eBRAP Help Desk at help@eBRAP.org or 301-682-5507 prior to the application submission deadline.

II.D.2.a. Step 1: Pre-Application Submission Content

During the pre-application process, eBRAP assigns each submission a unique log number.

This unique eBRAP log number is required during the full application submission process.

To begin the pre-application process, first select whether the submitting organization is extramural or intramural, then confirm your selection or cancel. Incorrect selection of extramural or intramural submission type will delay processing.

If an error has been made in the selection of extramural versus intramural and the pre-application submission deadline has passed, the PI or Business Official must contact the eBRAP Help Desk at help@eBRAP.org or 301-682-5507 to request a change in designation.

All pre-application components must be submitted by the PI through eBRAP

(https://eBRAP.org/).

The applicant organization and associated PI(s) identified in the pre-application should be the same as those intended for the subsequent application submission. A change in PI or organization after submission of the pre-application may be allowed after review of a submitted written appeal and at the discretion of the ACC Grants Officer. If any changes are necessary after submission of the pre-application, the applicant must contact the eBRAP Help Desk at help@eBRAP.org or 301-682-5507.

The pre-application consists of the following components, which are organized in eBRAP by the following six tabs:

Tab 1 – Application Information

Submission of application information includes assignment of primary and secondary research classification codes, which may be found at https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review and confirm the codes prior to making their selection.

Tab 2 – Application Contacts

Enter contact information for the PI(s). Enter the organization Business Official(s) responsible for sponsored program administration (the “person to be contacted on matters involving this application” in Block 5 of the Grants.gov SF424 Research & Related Form).

The Business Official must be either selected from the eBRAP list or invited in order for the pre-application to be submitted.

Select the performing organization (site at which the PI[s] will perform the proposed work) and the contracting organization (organization[s] submitting on behalf of the PI[s], which corresponds to Block 5 on the Grants.gov SF424 Research & Related Form), and click on “Add Organizations to this Pre-application.” The organization(s) must be either selected from the eBRAP drop-down list or invited in order for the pre-application to be submitted.

It is recommended that PIs identify an Alternate Submitter in the event that assistance with pre-application submission is needed.

Tab 3 – Collaborators and Key Personnel

Enter the name, organization, and role of all collaborators and key personnel associated with the application.

Tab 4 – Conflicts of Interest

List all individuals other than collaborators and key personnel who may have a conflict of interest in the review of the application (including those with whom the PI has a personal or professional relationship).

Tab 5 – Pre-Application Files

Letter of Intent (LOI) (one-page limit): Provide a brief description of the research to be conducted. Identify the sub-area within one of the five FY24 DWFP Research Area(s) under which the application will be submitted. Include keywords appropriate to the scope of the proposed research. LOIs are not screened, are used for program planning purposes only (e.g., reviewer recruitment), and will not be reviewed during either the peer or programmatic review sessions. An invitation to submit is required. Full applications may be submitted after a completed LOI pre-application submission is accepted.

Tab 6 – Submit Pre-Application

This tab must be completed for the pre-application to be accepted and processed.

II.D.2.b. Step 2: Full Application Submission Content

Applications will not be accepted unless a complete pre-application package (LOI) has been received and processed. The DWFP Program cannot make allowances/exceptions to its policies for submission problems encountered by the applicant organization using system-to-system interfaces with Grants.gov.

Each application submission must include the completed full application package for this program announcement. The full application package is submitted by the Authorized Organizational Representative through Grants.gov (https://grants.gov/) for extramural organizations or through eBRAP (https://ebrap.org/) for intramural organizations. See Table 1 below for more specific guidelines.

II.D.2.b.i. Full Application Guidelines

Extramural organizations must submit full applications through Grants.gov. Extramural applicants must create a Grants.gov Workspace for submission, which allows the application components to be completed online and routed through the applicant organization for review prior to submission. Applicants may choose to download and save individual PDF forms rather than filling out webforms in Workspace. A compatible version of Adobe Reader must be used to view, complete, and submit an application package consisting of PDF forms. If more than one person is entering text into an application package, the same version of Adobe Reader software should be used by each person. Check the version number of the Adobe software on each user’s computer to make sure the versions match. Using different versions of Adobe Reader may cause submission and/or save errors – even if each version is individually compatible with Grants.gov. Refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III, and the “Apply For Grants” page of Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html) for further information about the Grants.gov Workspace submission process.

Submissions of extramural applications in eBRAP may be withdrawn.

Do not password protect any files of the application package, including the Project Narrative.

Table 1. Full Application Submission Guidelines

Extramural Submissions Intramural DOD Submissions

Application Package Location

Download application package components for AFPMB-BAA-24-02 from Grants.gov (https://grants.gov) and create a Grants.gov Workspace. Workspace allows online completion of the application components and routing of the application package through the applicant organization for review prior to submission.

Download application package components for AFPMB-BAA-24-02 from eBRAP (https://ebrap.org).

Full Application Package Components

SF424 Research & Related Application for Federal Assistance Form: Refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.1, for detailed information.

Tab 1 – Summary: Provide a summary of the application information.

Tab 2 – Application Contacts: This tab will be pre-populated by eBRAP; add Authorized Organizational Representative.

Extramural Submissions Intramural DOD Submissions

Descriptions of each required file can be found under Full Application Submission Components:

Attachments Research & Related Personal Data Research & Related Senior/Key Person

Profile (Expanded) Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form Research & Related Budget Research & Related Subaward Budget

Tab 3 – Full Application Files: Upload files under each Application Component in eBRAP.

Descriptions of each required file can be found under Full Application Submission Components:

Attachments Research & Related Personal Data Research & Related Senior/Key

Person Profile (Expanded) Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form Budget

Tab 4 – Application and Budget Data:

Review and edit proposed project start date, proposed end date, and budget data pre-populated from the Suggested DOD Military Budget Format.

Application Package Submission

Create a Grants.gov Workspace.

Add participants (investigators and Business Officials) to Workspace, complete all required forms, and check for errors before submission.

Submit a Grants.gov Workspace Package.

An application may be submitted through Workspace by clicking the “Sign and Submit” button on the “Manage Workspace” page, under the “Forms” tab. Grants.gov recommends submission of the application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to allow time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

Note: If either the Project Narrative or the budget fails eBRAP validation or needs to be modified, an updated Grants.gov application package must be submitted via Grants.gov as a “Changed/Corrected Application” with the previous Grants.gov Tracking ID prior to the application submission deadline. Do not password protect any files of the application package, including the Project Narrative.

Submit package components to eBRAP (https://ebrap.org).

Tab 5 – Submit/Request Approval Full Application: After all components are uploaded and prior to the full application submission deadline, enter your password in the space provided next to “Enter Your Password Here” and press the “Submit Full Application” button. eBRAP will notify your Resource Manager/Comptroller/Task Area Manager or equivalent Business Official by email. Do not password protect any files of the application package, including the Project Narrative.

Application Verification Period

The full application package submitted to Grants.gov may be viewed and modified in eBRAP until the end of the application verification period. During the application verification period, the full application package may be modified with the exception of the Project Narrative and Research & Related Budget Form.

After eBRAP has processed the full application, the organizational Resource Manager/ Comptroller or equivalent Business Official and PI(s) will receive email notification of this status and will be able to view and modify application components in eBRAP. During the application verification period, the full application package may be modified with the exception of the Project Narrative and Budget Form. Your Resource Manager/Comptroller or equivalent Business Official should log into eBRAP to review and to approve prior to the application verification deadline.

Further Information Tracking a Grants.gov Workspace Package.

After successfully submitting a Workspace package, a Grants.gov Tracking Number is automatically assigned to the package. The number will be listed on the “Confirmation” page that is generated after submission.

Refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III, for further information regarding Grants.gov requirements.

Refer to the General Application Instructions, Section IV, for further information regarding eBRAP requirements.

The full application package must be submitted using the unique eBRAP log number to avoid delays in application processing.

II.D.2.b.ii. Full Application Submission Components

Extramural Applications Only

SF424 Research & Related Application for Federal Assistance Form: Refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.1, for detailed information.

Extramural and Intramural Applications

Attachments:

Each attachment to the full application components must be uploaded as an individual file in the format specified and in accordance with the formatting guidelines listed in the General Application Instructions, Appendix 4. For extramural applicants, attachments are uploaded to the Attachments form submitted via Grants.gov. For intramural applicants, attachments are uploaded in eBRAP.

For all attachments, ensure that the file names are consistent with the guidance. Attachments will be rejected if the file names are longer than 50 characters or have incorrect file names that contain characters other than the following: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, hyphen, space, and period. In addition, there are file size limits that may apply in some circumstances.

Individual attachments may not exceed 20 megabytes (MB), and the file size for the entire full application package may not exceed 200 MB.

○ Attachment 1: Project Narrative (12-page limit): Upload as “ProjectNarrative.pdf”.

The page limit of the Project Narrative applies to text and non- text elements (e.g., figures, tables, graphs, photographs, diagrams, chemical structures, drawings) used to describe the project. Inclusion of URLs (uniform resource locators) that provide additional information to expand the Project Narrative and could confer an unfair competitive advantage is prohibited and may result in administrative withdrawal of the application.

Describe the proposed project in detail using the outline below.

– Background/Rationale: Describe in detail the scientific rationale for the study and include a literature review, unpublished data and/or preliminary data that support the development of the proposed project. The background section should clearly support the choice of study variables and should explain the basis for the study questions and/or hypotheses. Establish the relevance and applicability of the proposed research and findings to the intent of the mechanism and address at least one of the five DWFP Research Areas. If applicable, describe any stakeholder engagement that was performed and how it helped to formulate the hypothesis/objective and research strategy.

– Objectives/Specific Aims/Hypothesis: Provide a description of the purpose and objectives of the study with detailed specific aims and hypotheses. Specific aims should be independent and not depend on the successful completion of prior aims. If the proposed research project is part of a larger study, present only those tasks that this funding opportunity would fund. The aims should align with the associated tasks described in the SOW (Attachment 4).

– Research Strategy and Feasibility:

Identify and describe how the study design, methods, models, and analyses will meet the project’s goals and milestones. Describe how the proposed project is feasible and will be completed within the proposed performance period.

Describe the statistical model(s) and data analysis plan (i.e. how results will be analyzed) with respect to the study objectives. Include a complete power analysis (including method by which it was derived) to demonstrate that the sample size is appropriate to meet the objectives of the study and all proposed correlative studies.

Address potential problem areas and pitfalls and provide alternative methods and approaches.

If the proposed research involves the use of animals, justify how the animal study is (or studies are) designed to achieve the objectives, including the choice of model and endpoints/outcome measures to be used. In addition, describe IACUC and ACURO review as appropriate.

If human subjects, human biological samples, or datasets will be used, describe the population(s) of interest, access to these populations, and a viable plan for recruitment, consent, screening, and retention of appropriate subjects. If applicable, describe the degree to which data collection instruments are appropriate to the proposed research. In addition, describe ethical and OHRO review as appropriate.

If the research will support the development of pesticide products, describe how the data will be appropriately reported and documented to support a regulatory filing with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – and international equivalent agency as applicable. However, this award may not be used to fund registration costs and associated tests.

○ Attachment 2: Supporting Documentation: Combine and upload as a single file named “Support.pdf”. Start each document on a new page. If documents are scanned to PDF, the lowest resolution (100 to 150 dpi) should be used. The Supporting Documentation attachment should not include additional information such as figures, tables, graphs, photographs, diagrams, chemical structures, or drawings. These items should be included in the Project Narrative.

There are no page limits for any of the components listed below unless otherwise noted.

Include only those components described below; inclusion of items not requested or viewed as an extension of the Project Narrative will result in the removal of those items or may result in administrative withdrawal of the application.

References Cited: List the references cited (including URLs, if available) in the Project Narrative using a standard reference format that includes the full citation (i.e., author[s], year published, title of reference, source of reference, volume, chapter, page numbers, and publisher, as appropriate).

List of Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols: Provide a list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols.

Facilities, Existing Equipment, and Other Resources: Describe the facilities and equipment available for performance of the proposed project and any additional facilities or equipment proposed for acquisition at no cost to the award. Indicate whether government-furnished facilities or equipment are proposed for use. If so, reference should be made to the original or present government award under which the facilities or equipment items are now accountable. There is no form for this information.

Publications and/or Patents: Include a list of relevant publication URLs and/or patent abstracts. If articles are not publicly available, then copies of up to five published manuscripts may be included in Attachment 2. Extra items will not be reviewed.

Letters of Organizational Support (2-page limit per letter): Provide a letter (or letters, if applicable) signed by the Department Chair or appropriate organization official, confirming the laboratory space, equipment, and other resources available for the project. Letters of support not requested in the program announcement, such as those from members of Congress, do not impact application review or funding decisions.

Letters of Collaboration (if applicable) (2-page limit per letter): Provide a signed letter from each collaborating individual or organization that demonstrates that the PI has the support or resources necessary for the proposed work. If an investigator at an intramural organization is named as a collaborator on an application submitted through an extramural organization, the application must include a letter from the collaborator’s Commander or Commanding Officer at the intramural organization that authorizes the collaborator’s involvement.

○ Attachment 3: Technical Abstract (1-page limit): Upload as “TechAbs.pdf”. The technical abstract is used by all reviewers. Abstracts of all funded research projects will be posted publicly on the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) website for public viewing. Do not include proprietary or confidential information. Use only characters available on a standard QWERTY keyboard. Spell out all Greek letters, other non-English letters, and symbols. Graphics are not allowed.

Technical abstracts should be written using the outline below. The technical abstract should provide an appropriate description of the project’s key aspects; clarity and completeness within the space limits of the technical abstract are highly important.

Describe the proposed research project, including the following elements:

– Background/Rationale: Present the ideas and reasoning behind the proposed research project, including sufficient scientific evidence to support the proposed stage of research.

– Objective/Hypothesis: State the objective(s) to be reached or the hypothesis(es) to be tested.

– Specific Aims: State the specific aims of the proposed research project.

– Study Design: Briefly describe the experimental design, including model system(s) and appropriate controls.

– Impact: Describe how the proposed research outcome represents a novel approach that will significantly impact at least one of the five DWFP Research Areas and, if successful, how the anticipated research outcomes and/or products (intellectual and/or tangible) will not only improve Force Health Protection by protecting military Service members from arthropod disease vectors, nuisance biting arthropods and/or other arthropods of medical relevance, but also benefit the civilian population.

○ Attachment 4: Statement of Work (5-page limit): Upload as “SOW.pdf”. The suggested SOW format and examples specific to different types of research projects are available on the eBRAP “Funding Opportunities & Forms” web page (https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm).

Refer to the “Suggested SOW Strategy Generic Research” and use the blank SOW format titled “Suggested SOW Format”. The SOW must be in PDF format prior to attaching.

The SOW should state the specific aims described in the Project Narrative and include a list of major tasks and subtasks that support the completion of the stated aims, including milestones for completing the aims during the period of performance. The SOW should describe only the work for which funding is being requested by this application.

○ Attachment 5: Study Personnel and Organization (1-page limit): Upload as

“Personnel.pdf”.

Discuss the qualifications and experience/expertise of the research team and each individual’s specific contributions to the project, including how the appropriate experience is incorporated to address the research question and enable the success of the proposed project.

Clearly state if key personnel are not receiving salary from the award. If applicable, provide assurances that the unpaid personnel will contribute the required level of effort to complete the project.

Describe the PI’s record of accomplishment and their ability to lead the research team to accomplish the proposed research project. Describe previous experience most pertinent to this project.

If applicable, describe how the study team composition is able to provide military-relevant subject matter expertise to the proposed research.

For intramural applicants only: If applicable, describe a research continuation plan for active duty military PIs who might receive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders during the project and how it will be transitioned to a new PI.

○ Attachment 6: Transition Plan (3-page limit): Upload as “Transition.pdf”.

Describe/discuss the methods and strategies proposed to move the intervention to the next phase of development (including EPA registration, commercialization, and/or delivery to the civilian or military market) after successful completion of the award. Applicants are encouraged to work with their organization’s Technology Transfer Office (or equivalent) to develop the transition plan. PIs are encouraged to explore developing relationships with industry and/or other funding agencies to facilitate moving the product into the next phase of development. The transition plan should include the components listed below.

For the purposes of this funding opportunity Regulatory Agency refers to the EPA or other relevant international regulatory agency unless otherwise noted.

– Details of the funding strategy to transition to the next level of development and/or commercialization (e.g., specific industry partners, specific funding opportunities to be applied for). Include a description of collaborations, specific industry partners, specific funding opportunities to be applied for, and other resources that will be used to provide continuity of development after the proposed research ends.

– For knowledge products, a description of collaborations and other resources that will be used to provide continuity of development, including proposed development or modification of vector control guidelines and recommendations, scientific journal publications, models, simulations, and software applications. (A “knowledge product” is a non-materiel product that addresses an identified need, topic area, or capability gap; is based on current evidence and research; aims to transition into training, or tools or to support materiel solutions [systems to develop, acquire, provide, and sustain entomological solutions and capabilities].) For knowledge products, include proposed development or modification of vector control guidelines and recommendations, scientific journal publications, models, simulations, and applications.

– A brief schedule and milestones for transitioning the intervention after the proposed research ends, including an EPA registration strategy (or documentation and/or relevant policy citations that the product is exempt from EPA regulation), commercialization, delivery to the military or civilian market, etc.

– A risk analysis (including anticipated issues) for cost, schedule, manufacturability, and sustainability.

○ Attachment 7 (extramural submissions only) (if applicable): Suggested Collaborating DOD Military Facility Budget Format: Upload as “MFBudget.pdf”.

If a military facility (DOD research laboratory or other DOD agency) will be a collaborator in performance of the project, complete a separate budget, using “Suggested Collaborating DOD Military Facility Budget Format”, available for download on the eBRAP “Funding Opportunities & Forms” web page (https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm), including a budget justification, for each military facility. The costs per year should be included on the Grants.gov Research & Related Budget Form under subaward costs. Refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.8, for detailed information.

To evaluate compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 USC 1681[a] et seq.), the DOD is collecting certain demographic and career information to be able to assess the success rates of women who are proposed for key roles in applications in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM) disciplines. To enable this assessment, each application must also include the following forms completed as indicated.

Research & Related Personal Data: For extramural submissions (via Grants.gov), refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.3, and for intramural submissions (via eBRAP), refer to the General Application Instructions, Section IV.A.2, for detailed

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded): For extramural submissions (via Grants.gov), refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.4.

For intramural submissions (via eBRAP), refer to the General Application Instructions, Section IV.A.3, for detailed information.

○ PI Biographical Sketch (6-page limit): Upload as “Biosketch_LastName.pdf”. The suggested biographical sketch format is available on the “Funding Opportunities & Forms” web page (https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm) in eBRAP. The NIH Biographical Sketch may also be used. All biographical sketches should be submitted in uneditable PDF format.

○ PI Previous/Current/Pending Support (no page limit): Upload as “Support_LastName.pdf”.

– For extramural submissions, refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.4, for detailed information.

– For intramural submissions, refer to the General Application Instructions,

○ Key Personnel Biographical Sketches (6-page limit each): Upload as

“Biosketch_LastName.pdf”.

○ Key Personnel Previous/Current/Pending Support (no page limit): Upload as “Support_LastName.pdf”.

– For extramural submissions, refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.4, for detailed information.

– For intramural submissions, refer to the General Application Instructions, Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form: For extramural submissions (via Grants.gov), refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.6, and for intramural submissions (via eBRAP), refer to the General Application Instructions, Section IV.A.5, for detailed information.

Extramural Applications Only

Research & Related Budget: For extramural submissions (via Grants.gov), refer to the General Application Instructions, Section III.A.5, and for…