CDC-RFA-EH-24-0043 NOFO Additional Questions.pdf

State Biomonitoring Programs: Assessing Dispropor�onate Exposure to Environmental Chemicals among Communi�es

Opportunity number: CDC-RFA-EH-24-0043

No�ce of Funding Opportunity Applicant Ques�ons

The purpose of this document is to provide an updated list of ques%ons asked by applicants about the no%ce of funding opportunity. This document is to provide transparency for all programs on the ques%ons asked by applicants.

Project Narra�ve

1. I have a few ques%ons regarding the Project Narra%ve and the associated page limit of 10 pages.

Are all the following intended to be included in the 10-page Project Narra%ve?

Background

Approach

Outcomes

Evalua%on and Performance Measurement

Work Plan

Focus Popula%ons and Health Dispari%es

Organiza%onal Capacity

Collabora%ons

a. Yes, include these sec�ons in the project narra�ve. The project narra�ve has a 10-page limit. Please refer to pages 29 – 30 of the NOFO.

2. The NOFO provides specs for the Project Narra%ve as 10 pages. Does this include the Work Plan as well as the Evalua%on and Performance Measurement Plan? These two plans aren’t listed in the list of separate a5achments.

a. The workplan table can be added as a separate a2achment. The Evalua�on and

Performance Measurement Plan is included in the 10-page narra�ve.

Equipment Purchase – Component C

3. We are currently planning to include about 50K for new lab equipment to support biomonitoring efforts. Is this required to be under Strategy C because it is new equipment even if we don’t exceed the annual funding thresholds?

a. It does not have to be submi2ed under Strategy C. The annual budget does not include a funding threshold for equipment purchases.

4. Can you provide some clarity on what may or may not qualify as eligible equipment in the biomonitoring NOFO?

a. As noted in the NOFO, “awards under this method provide you with funds to strengthen laboratory capability and capacity. Under Strategy C, you may receive funding to purchase laboratory equipment to analyze human biomonitoring samples.”

Only items with a lifespan of more than a year and a per-unit acquisi�on cost of $5k or more are considered equipment (see the defini�ons in h2ps://www.ecfr.gov/current/�tle-45/sub�tle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-A).

5. For Strategy C, do I just include the explana%on and budget with the other Strategy or is it supposed to be separate?

a. The explana�on can be included in the project narra�ve. The budget for Strategy C budget can go in the budget narra�ve but denote separately what is for Strategy C.

6. For Strategy C do I only request the amount that is on the quotes, or can I request the full $350K because I am unsure if the price will change.

a. We will fund based on the equipment quotes.

Biomonitoring Project Design

7. Can we use funding for this study on non-human monitoring (e.g., well tes%ng or drinking water) to help characterize route of exposure?

a. No, the funding cannot be used for non-human monitoring. While programs find it beneficial to offer this tes�ng, you cannot use CDC funds.

8. What kind of incen%ves are we allowed to give to the par%cipants in order to encourage them?

My understanding is that giB card is allowed, is there a limit though? Also, how about food items? Would ice cream trucks be fine to a5ract par%cipants?

a. In general, incen�ves for par�cipants are about $10 per person, depending on the nature of par�cipa�on from the target popula�on and the difficulty in a2emp�ng to recruit par�cipants. For anything over and above $10 per person, you will need to jus�fy significantly higher expenses in the proposal. The budget will be reviewed by objec�ve reviewers, should your applica�on get to that stage of the review. Any expense proposed will be analyzed to ensure it’s reasonable, allocable, allowable, and necessary. It’s up to you to jus�fy your approach and expenses in open compe��on with other poten�al applicants.

9. Is it okay for a proposed workplan to have overlapping sample collec%on sites for both Strategy A

(Community project) and Strategy B (Statewide project)? Do we need to select independent collec%on sites for each of the 2 strategies.

a. Yes, the program can decide how to collect samples for both Strategy A and B.

Organiza�onal Capacity

1. Can you clarify if you need CVs or resumes, or if the terms are being used interchangeably?

a. Applicants may provide either a Curriculum Vitae (CV) or a resume that clearly outlines the skills to complete the proposed project ac�vi�es.

2. Most of this proposal is very structured/forma5ed, but is there a preferred format for resumes?

a. No, we do not have a preferred format for resumes.

3. Can you please clarify for me the CLIA Lab cer%ficate requirement for this grant applica%on?

a. Since results could be returned to par�cipants, the methods used must be CLIA compliant. And the laboratories must have a current CLIA cer�ficate, even if the program decides not to report results back to par�cipants. CLIA auditors do not always evaluate every method a laboratory uses, so the laboratory director would sign off that their method is CLIA compliant.

4. Will there be any required travel for the grant like to the Na%onal Biomonitoring Network mee%ng? Just wondering for budget purposes.

We will require one program lead travel to the Kickoff mee%ng in Year 1.

5. Regarding the eligibility, will all the organiza%ons listed in the NOFO be eligible for applica%on or are only the state government that is highlighted in yellow eligible?

a. All organiza�ons listed in the eligibility sec�on are eligible to apply.

6. The NOFO states that proof of nonprofit status must be submi5ed. As a government en%ty, do we need to include anything to show that our agency is not-for-profit? Or can we skip this step?

a. You must provide proof that you are a nonprofit.

b. How to prove nonprofit status.

i. Under some programs, an applicant must show that it is a nonprofit organiza�on. (See the defini�on of nonprofit in 34 CFR 77.1.)

ii. An applicant may show that it is a nonprofit organiza�on by any of the following means:

1. Proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organiza�on to which contribu�ons are tax deduc�ble under sec�on 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;

2. A statement from a State taxing body or the State a2orney general cer�fying that:

a. The organiza�on is a nonprofit organiza�on opera�ng within the State; and

b. No part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual;

3. A cer�fied copy of the applicant's cer�ficate of incorpora�on or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant;

or

4. Any item described in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this sec�on if that item applies to a State or na�onal parent organiza�on, together with a statement by the State or parent organiza�on that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.

7. My ques%on is whether it would be acceptable to propose using another state’ Public Health

Laboratory capability, even though the study would be conducted in a different state?

a. You will need to apply as a consor�um with the state you propose to do laboratory analysis. Keep in mind that consor�ums can only propose 2 inves�ga�ons.

8. Would the list of laboratory equipment available to analyze samples for the inves%ga%on be included as an A5achment, just like the CV’s and CLIA cer%ficate are?

a. Yes, list the analy�cal instrumenta�on for the methods you are proposing as an a2achment.

Applica�on Guidance

9. The NOFO says that footnotes and text in graphics may be 10-pt font. Does that include text in tables (like Outcomes table, PMs table, etc.)?

a. It does not include the tables you men�oned. These tables should follow the standard

11-point font formaNng found on page 28 of the NOFO.

10. Is the budget jus%fica%on supposed to span over the three budget periods in one narra%ve, 3 separate budget periods, or merely focus on the first budget period for this applica%on?

a. The narra�ve is for the first budget period only.

11. I don’t see under required forms any men%on of CDC Assurances and Cer%fica%ons or Risk

Assessment Ques%on and Suppor%ng Documents. In past CDC grant submissions, we’ve included these but since I don’t see anything in this NOFO, we’re leaning towards not including. Can you confirm that we do not need these forms?

a. Applicants need to have an updated Assurances/Certs in sam.gov

(h2ps://www.cdc.gov/grants/applying/applica�on-resources.html) prior to the award being made. If they haven’t already completed them on SAM.gov they are required to have those completed manually and a2ached.

b. In grants.gov, for this opportunity (h2ps://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/350695), click on the package tab to see the package details. The following forms are mandatory:

• Applica�on for Federal Assistance (SF-424) [V4.0]

• Project Abstract Summary [V2.0]

• Disclosure of Lobbying Ac�vi�es (SF-LLL) [V2.0]

• Budget Informa�on for Non-Construc�on Programs (SF-424A) [V1.0]

• Budget Narra�ve A2achment Form [V1.2]

• Project Narra�ve A2achment Form [V1.2]

c. Op�onal forms:

• Other A2achments Form [V1.2]