CWMD ARI NOFO FY22_FINAL.pdf

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 1 of 52

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Academic Research Initiative (ARI)

All entities wishing to do business with the Federal Government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). Currently, the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, which is a unique nine-character identification number provided by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) free of charge, is the official UEI. D&B assigns UEI (DUNS) for each physical location of a business. Requesting a UEI (DUNS) takes about 10 minutes. Receiving a UEI (DUNS) takes 1-2 business days (under normal circumstances) when using the D&B web form.

Sam.gov information can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Grants.gov registration information can be found at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Detailed information regarding DUNS and SAM are also provided in Section D of this NOFO.

Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms: On April 4, 2022, the DUNS number will be replaced by a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, SAM.gov. This new identifier will continue to be called the UEI.

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

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Contents A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number

3. Assistance Listings Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Category

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Program Overview

b. Priorities

11. Performance Measures

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO

2. Projected number of Awards

3. Period of Performance

4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s)

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s)

6. Funding Instrument Type

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Other Eligibility Criteria

4. Maintenance of Effort

5. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

2. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identified, and System for Award Management (SAM)

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3. Electronic Delivery

4. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

5. How to Submit an Application to DHS via Grant.gov

6. Submitting the Final Application in [Another Grant System] (if applicable)

7. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

8. Content and Form of Application Submission

9. Other Submission Requirements

10. Intergovernmental Review

11. Funding Restrictions

12. Allowable Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Pass-Through Requirements

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

4. Reporting

5. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

2. Systems Information

H. Additional Information

1. Period of Performance Extensions

2. Other

I. Appendix A: Topic Areas Being Solicited

J. Appendix B: Technology Readiness Level Definitions

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Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Research and Development Division

2. Assistance Listings Number 97.077

3. Assistance Listings Title Homeland Security, Research, Development, Testing, Evaluation, and Demonstration of Technologies Related to Nuclear Threat Detection

4. Funding Opportunity Title CWMD: Academic Research Initiative (ARI)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-22-CWMD-077-001

6. Authorizing Authority for Program Section 1928 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 Pub. L. No. 107-296 as amended by the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018 Pub. L. No. 115-387.

Codified at 6 U.S.C. §§ 592 (a)(6), 596

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-103, Division F, Department of Homeland Security, Title IV, Research Development, Training, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, Federal Assistance

8. Announcement Type Initial

9. Program Category N/A

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Program Overview DHS is committed to using cutting-edge technology and scientific talent in its mission to make the United States safer. On December 21, 2018, the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018, (Pub. L. No. 115-387) was signed into law, amending the Homeland Security Act of 2002, to establish the DHS CWMD Office by consolidating the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and majority of the Office of Health Affairs. The CWMD mission is to counter attempts by terrorists or other threat actors to carry out an attack against the United States or its interests using a

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 5 of 52 weapon of mass destruction, and protect the United States against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. The DHS CWMD Research and Development appropriation provides resources necessary to identify, explore, and demonstrate new technologies and capabilities that will help enable DHS and stakeholders to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate CBRN threats and incidents. The CWMD ARI Program seeks novel cross-cutting research that will enhance the nation’s capabilities to detect and prevent the illicit entry, transport, assembly, or potential use of unauthorized CBRN materials, devices, or agents within the United States, and otherwise help protect against an attack using such materials, devices, or agents. The CWMD ARI Program aligns with and supports the FY2020- 24 DHS Strategic Plan, Goal 1: Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats, and Objective 1.4: Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction and Emerging Threats.

Objectives The ARI Program has two primary objectives: 1) Engage with the academic community to advance fundamental knowledge in CBRN sciences applicable to CWMD with emphasis on basic and applied research to solve long-term, high-risk challenges; and 2) Develop human capital for CBRN science and engineering professions. Furthermore, the program works to sustain a long-term commitment to basic research in these fields and coordinates related research efforts across the Federal Government.

b. Priorities CWMD has prioritized the following research topics for release in this solicitation.

These topics address technical challenges focused on improving capabilities to detect, identify, and provide notifications regarding CBRN threats. The full solicitation research topic descriptions are listed in Appendix A. Summaries of the topics are as follows:

i. Topic 1: High-Performance and Cost-Effective Polycrystalline-Based Semiconductor (PBS) Radiation Detector Development: Identify and develop high-performance and low-cost polycrystalline-based semiconductor radiation detection solutions which overcome the limitations and disadvantages of current technologies, by exploring new or existing materials using new methods of operation, readout, and signal processing.

ii. Topic 2: Untangling Markers of Host/Pathogen Interaction: Investigate and advance the use of biomarkers for disease or syndromic diagnosis in absence of identification of an etiological agent.

iii. Topic 3: Rapid, Sensitive Indicators for Chemical Threat Sensing: Develop and demonstrate novel indicator materials to detect airborne toxic chemical threats at low concentrations, to enable monitoring of public spaces and enhance field end user safety.

iv. Topic 4: Theoretical Classification Methodologies to Enable Detection with Predicted Signatures: Investigation into classification capabilities using

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 6 of 52 theoretical deduction for chemicals and biological materials, rather than previously acquired spectra.

11. Performance Measures The ARI Program adheres to program measurement and evaluation standards in accordance with CWMD and other Government policies and guidance. ARI Program objectives and individual topic goals (see Appendix A) support advancement in state-of-the-art research in performance, cost effectiveness, and/or operational risk reduction in CBRN material detection, identification, and threat tracking.

Government program managers and staff will evaluate progress toward goal achievement through periodic program reviews/evaluations and review of required reports (template provided post-award). Proposal submissions must clearly define intermediate project targets and year end/project end milestones against which project performance can be qualitatively and quantitatively measured. Progress toward project milestones, costs, and schedule will be considered during project reviews and evaluations in determining project continuation.

Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO Up to $7M for the first year of the program. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for incrementally funded multi-year projects with a total duration of up to 5 years (60 months). Each award agreement will be funded in 12-month increments called budget periods. Individual award annual funding limits are stated for each topic in Appendix A.

2. Projected number of Awards 11 to14

3. Period of Performance Up to 60 months

DHS anticipates each program year will be 12 months. Each year, annual funding is subject to the availability of funds, DHS research priorities, and project performance evaluation.

a. Projected Budget Period of Performance Start Date. 09/01/2022

b. Projected Budget Period of Performance End Date. 08/31/2023

An extension to the period of performance may be permitted. Please refer to Extensions in Section H, for the steps award recipients must follow and what information must be included in the justification for consideration of such a request.

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4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s) 09/01/2022

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s) Up to 60 months following the start date

6. Funding Instrument Type Cooperative Agreement

The Program Office will have substantial involvement in the administration of the award(s) associated with this NOFO, as the Program Office maintains regular coordination and engagement with DHS operational components and other federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial stakeholders, in order to inform the strategic direction and capability needs that drive the research conducted in the ARI program. This ongoing engagement with the ultimate end users of technical advances to improve detection and awareness of CBRN threats is key to ensuring that the research undertaken by the awardees is aligned with the Program Office direction and the research topics in this NOFO, and such engagement with expertise in the CWMD mission space would be otherwise unavailable to the awardees. Therefore, the Program Office will have regular involvement with the ongoing management of the projects awarded under this NOFO, to include: close monitoring of research progress toward defined milestones; review and approval of initiation and modification of project phases, sub-tasks, and work plans;

approval of funding levels and modifications thereto; and tracking of project publications, intellectual property, and personnel/student participation. Award recipients will be required to maintain close and regular interaction with the Program Office. This will include periodic meetings and program reviews, monthly reports on progress (including financial status), and an annual report that details the work completed each year.

Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are eligible to apply for this NOFO.

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

c. Organization Limit. The list below are organizations that are eligible and encouraged to submit a proposal:

i. Universities and Colleges. Universities and 2- and 4-year colleges (including community colleges) accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency, and having a campus located in the United States or its territories.

ii. Organizations are referred to as academic institutions for the purposes of this solicitation.

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iii. Non-academic institutions regardless of profit or non-profit status are ineligible to participate as prime offerors. Subawards with non-academic institutions are allowed. All sub-awardees must accept DHS grants terms and conditions as flowed down from the prime offeror. Prime offerors may contract with for-profit entities if the contract follows 2 CFR Part 200 requirements for contracting by grant recipients.

3. Other Eligibility Criteria DHS will not consider applications that do not adhere to one or more of the following requirements:

a. Deadlines. DHS will not accept late applications. Without exception, applications posted to Grants.gov after the deadline in this announcement will not be considered.

b. Application Relevance. Applications that do not address the purpose of this announcement will not be considered.

c. Compliance and Completeness. Applications that do not substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements in this announcement will not be considered. Proposals that do not meet eligibility, page length, line spacing, font size, or other administrative requirements, as listed in the NOFO may be returned without review. Proposals containing unsolicited appendices/attachments may be returned without review.

d. Funding Limits. Applications exceeding the funding limits for a given topic will not be considered.

e. Project Period. Applications exceeding the project period of performance will not be considered.

f. Principal Investigator (PI) Limit. None specified

g. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization. None specified

h. Limit on Number of Proposals per PI. One (1). Furthermore, an individual researcher may not be named as a participant on more than one proposal submitted to this solicitation. This limitation includes participation as a PI, co-PI, senior researcher, student, consultant, or any other role for which financial remuneration is requested.

Applications who do not meet the eligibility criteria will be considered ineligible.

4. Maintenance of Effort Not applicable

5. Cost Share or Match Cost share or match is prohibited in this NOFO.

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Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date. 05/03/2022

b. Application Submission Deadlines.

i. Phase I – Preapplication White Paper. Required preliminary submission in advance of potential invitation for full proposal. Submit via Grants.gov. See Section 10 of this NOFO for further information.

• Deadline to submit questions to CWMD Inbox (cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov):

05/17/2022 at 5:59:59PM [UDT]

• White Paper Submission Deadline (required): 06/02/2022 at 5:59:59PM

[UDT]

Note. Late submissions will not be reviewed.

ii. Phase II – Invited Full Proposal. Per invitation after Government review of white papers. Submit via Grants.gov. See Section 10 of this NOFO for further information.

• Invitations to Submit a Full Proposal: Anticipated invitation release date

6/29/2022 at 5:59:59PM [UDT]

• Deadline to submit questions to CWMD Inbox (cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov):

7/6/2022 at 5:59:59PM [UDT]

• Invited Full Proposal Submission Deadline: 07/19/2022 at 5:59:59PM [UDT]

Note. Late submissions will not be reviewed.

Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp when an application is successfully received by Grants.gov. Please see Section D7, “Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission” for additional details on acknowledgement of receipt of white paper and invited full proposal submissions.

c. Anticipated Award Date. No later than 08/31/2022

d. Other Key Dates

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtaining DUNS number NLT 4 weeks before full proposal deadline Obtaining a valid EIN NLT 4 weeks before full proposal deadline Updating SAM registration NLT 4 weeks before full proposal deadline Starting white paper application process in Grants.gov NLT 1 week before white paper submission deadline mailto:cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov

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e. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award When applying, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award

f. Address to Request Application Package Application forms and instructions are available at http://www.grants.gov. For a hardcopy of the full NOFO, please write or fax a request to:

Janet Bailey Grants Officer Grants and Financial Assistance Division Department of Homeland Security Email: janet.bailey@hq.dhs.gov Office: 202-505-8897

2. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identified, and

System for Award Management (SAM) To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:

a. Apply for, update, or verify their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and Employer ID Number (EIN).

b. In the application, provide a valid DUNS number, which is currently the unique entity identifier, or SAM UEI after April 4, 2022.

c. Have an account with https://login.gov/.

d. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application.

e. Create a Grants.gov account.

f. Add a profile to a Grants.gov account.

g. Establish an authorized organizational representative (AOR) in Grants.gov.

h. Submit white paper application in Grants.gov.

i. Submit full proposal in Grants.gov.

j. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information, including information on a recipient’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries.

Also all predecessors that have been awarded a federal contract or grant within the

Starting invited full proposal application in Grants.gov NLT 1 week before proposal submission deadline http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:janet.bailey@hq.dhs.gov https://login.gov/

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 11 of 52 last 3 years, if applicable, at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency.

Applicants are advised that DHS may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when DHS is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before the award, DHS may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

3. Electronic Delivery DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov, depending on the funding opportunity. For this funding opportunity, the CWMD Office requires applicants to submit applications through Grants.gov.

4. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

a. Instruction: Registering in Grants.gov is a multi-step process. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for DHS funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to 4 weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Organizations must have a DUNS number, active SAM registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, then you may begin step 3, Create a Grants.gov account, listed below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but DUNS and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization’s registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity’s ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

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b. Obtain a DUNS Number. All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a DUNS number from D&B. Applicants must enter the DUNS number in the data entry field labeled “Organizational DUNS” on the SF-424.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html.

c. Register with SAM. All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html.

d. Create a Grants.gov Account. The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

e. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account. A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log into one Grants.gov account to access all your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS number for the organization in the DUNS field while adding a profile.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.

f. EBiz Point of Contact (POC) Authorized Profile Roles. After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant’s request for Grants.gov roles and access are sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log into Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.

g. Track Role Status. To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.

h. Electronic Signature. When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 13 of 52 binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

5. How to Submit an Application to DHS via Grant.gov Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each NOFO, you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities using Workspace, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

a. Create a Workspace. Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

b. Complete a Workspace. Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

c. Adobe Reader. If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

Note. Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms. In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

e. Complete SF-424 Fields First. The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant’s name, address, and DUNS number.

To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first.

Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

f. Submit a Workspace. 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 submitting your application package at least 24- 48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

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g. Track a Workspace Submission. After successfully submitting a Workspace application, a Grants.gov tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant to which you are applying.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and obtain a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist DHS with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

6. Submitting the Final Application in [Another Grant System] (if applicable) N/A

7. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission Online Submission. All applications must be received by 5:59:59PM [UTC] on the due dates established for the preapplication white paper submissions and for invited full proposal submissions. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When DHS successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by DHS.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Again, Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 15 of 52 application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

8. Content and Form of Application Submission

Submissions for this NOFO will be conducted in two distinct phases: Phase I, which requires submission of a white paper; and Phase II, based on invitation for submission of full proposal. Phase requirements are described more fully below. Separately submitted collaborative proposals will not be accepted. Funding to partner organizations must be through subawards. When preparing a full proposal for this competition, proposers are advised to review the program description and the proposal review information found in this NOFO.

All submissions (white papers and invited full proposals) must be made in accordance with the submission instructions in this NOFO and submitted through www.grants.gov using the application packages on www.grants.gov. Applicants are responsible for ensuring submission compliance for both white paper and full proposal.

Upon completion of review of the white papers, CWMD will determine those respondents eligible to compete in the full proposal submission phase. The CWMD Office’s decisions regarding full proposal eligibility are final. Only those respondents invited may submit full proposals. The PI and the organization’s Sponsored Projects Office will be electronically notified of CWMD’s decision to invite or decline the invitation to submit a full proposal.

i. Phase I Preapplication White Paper Submission and Content

This NOFO has a two-phase application process. The preapplication white papers are required as the initial response to this solicitation and must be submitted via Grants.gov. All applicants must submit a white paper to be eligible for invitation for a full proposal. White papers are to be submitted electronically to Grants.gov, must be single spaced, should not exceed 4 pages, and should be in 12-point Times New Roman font. DHS will not accept white papers that are not compliant with the guidelines of this NOFO, thus making the proposing team automatically ineligible for submitting a full ARI proposal.

The submitting organization is responsible for ensuring that the white paper is compliant with all applicable guidelines.

DHS reserves the right to reject incomplete application packages and required attachments or to request any missing information via email. Should the applicant fail to provide all the requested information either as part of the Grants.gov submission or in response to email requests from DHS, at their discretion, DHS may not consider the proposal further.

http://www.grants.gov/

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 16 of 52

To be considered complete, each Phase I application package must address only one topic and should contain the following forms and attachments:

Form Attachment Action

SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance (SF- 424-V2.0)

N/A Enter the appropriate information in data fields

Attachments Form

Attachment 1 – White paper Cover Sheet

Use template posted on Grants.gov NOFO announcement, or request from cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov Upload as Attachment 1

Attachment 2 – White paper (up to 4 pages) Upload as Attachment 2

Attachment 3 – Quad Chart

Use template posted on Grants.gov NOFO announcement, or request from cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov Upload as Attachment 3

• White Paper Package Preparation Instructions o SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424-V2.0) Please complete this form first and in its entirety. This will allow other required forms to automatically populate with basic metadata such as name, address, etc. Signature and date will auto-fill when you submit the application package through Grants.gov. Please pay special attention to the following when completing the form:

Block 1, Type of Submission – Please check “Application” Block 8, Type of Application – Please check “New” Block 12, Proposed Project – Enter Dates of Entire Project Period Block 15a, Estimated Project Funding – This amount should correspond to your R&R Budget form’s total and budget justification total for the requested budget period

Block 16, E.O. 12372 review question – Please check “No” Block 17, By submitting this application, your organization is providing certifications and assurances regarding:

− Drug-Free Workplace Requirements − Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters—

Primary Covered Transactions − Assurance that your organization is not delinquent on any federal debt o Attachments Form Use the attachments form to attach/upload the following three items with the white paper application (SF-424):

Attachment 1 – White Paper Cover Sheet

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 17 of 52

The white paper cover sheet information is shown below. The cover sheet is not included in the 4-page white paper limit. The cover sheet should be uploaded as “Attachment 1” of the attachments form. Note.

For a proposal ID, please follow the following naming convention:

ARINOFO22-XXXX-YYYY-1-T#-0##

XXXX = four letters (maximum 4 letters) character shortcut for organization name YYYY = four letters (maximum 4 letters) character shortcut for department/division name # = Topic number (see Appendix A) ## = number of proposal submission

Example: Organization A, Dept. B’s submission for its first white paper to Topic 1 would have the ID listed: ARINOFO22-ORGA-

DEPB-1-T1-001

The cover sheet should describe:

• Overall project information (Requested budget for this period, project duration, project title).

• Primary Organization Information (Name and address, DUNS+4, TIN/EIN).

• Principal Investigator information (Name and address, phone, email, co-PI information if applicable).

• Contact information for any organization involved in a collaborative effort, if applicable.

A white paper cover sheet template will be posted with the NOFO on Grants.gov. A template may also be requested by emailing cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov.

Attachment 2 – White Paper The white paper should be no more than 4 pages in length and provide sufficient information on the research being proposed (e.g., the hypothesis, theories, concepts, approaches, data measurements and analysis) to allow for an assessment by a technical expert. The white paper should be uploaded as “Attachment 2” of the attachments form.

Any pages submitted for the white paper that exceed the limit of 4 pages will not be read or evaluated. A “page” is defined as 8 ½ x 11 inches, 1-inch margins, single spaced, and 12-point Times New Roman font. The white paper must be provided in portrait layout.

At minimum, the white paper should address the following:

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 18 of 52

• A project abstract, which should be concise (less than 250 words), provide a summary of the proposed work, and demonstrate relevance to the ARI topic being addressed. The abstract should not contain any proprietary data or markings.

• Project overview addressing the scientific context, intellectual merit, relevance to the topic, and potential long-term impact including how the research contributes to the CWMD science needs outlined in the ARI topic. The overview must present a clear and compelling explanation of the cutting-edge nature of the proposed research.

• Estimate of cost, by year and total dollars, required to accomplish the research as presented in the white paper (no detailed breakout of costs is required).

• Potential team and management plan, including details on student involvement. Multidisciplinary white papers should detail each of the institutions/departments involved and the contribution that will be made by each of the institutions.

• DO NOT include institution or personnel qualifications, experience, or any supplemental information with the white paper. References may be included within the 4-page limit at the discretion of the applicant; however, extensive references are not required.

• The ARI topic (see Appendix A) should be included as a header on the white paper attachment and referenced in the text of the white paper.

No other items or appendices are to be included. Information pertaining to “Current and Pending Support,” and “Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources” are not required for white papers and should not be included. White papers containing items other than those required above may be returned without review.

Attachment 3 – Quad Chart The quad chart is not included in the 4-page white paper limit. The quad chart provides a single page summary of the effort and should include a picture, graphic or artist’s conception of the effort in the top left, a summary of scientific and technical merit in the bottom left, a summary of broader impact on the top right, and a summary of schedule and proposed budget in the bottom right. The quad chart must be provided in landscape layout. The quad chart should be uploaded as “Attachment 3” of the attachments form.

A quad chart template will be posted with the NOFO on Grants.gov. A template may also be requested by emailing cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov

DO NOT SEND other separate documents, including letters of commitment from partner organizations; current and pending support

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 19 of 52 statements; facilities, equipment and other resources; budget and budget justification; data management plan; postdoctoral and/or graduate mentoring plan, with white papers.

White papers submitted in response to this solicitation will be reviewed in accordance with Section D.10 of this NOFO. Once the review is complete, applicants will either receive an invitation to submit a full proposal or notified that they will not.

ii. Phase II – Full Proposal Submission and Content

The full proposal will be formally requested after review of the Phase I white papers. Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov. Only invited applicants may submit a full proposal. Proposals are to be submitted electronically to Grants.gov, must be single spaced, and should be in 12-point Times New Roman font. Specific page limit is discussed later in this section.

DHS reserves the right to reject incomplete application packages and required attachments or to request any missing information via email. Should the applicant fail to provide all the requested information either as part of the Grants.gov submission or in response to email requests from DHS, at their discretion, DHS may not consider the proposal further.

The submitting organization is responsible for ensuring that the proposal is compliant with all applicable guidelines. Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the Grants.gov Application Instruction.

To be considered complete, each Phase II application package must address only one topic and should contain the following forms and attachments:

FORM ATTACHMENT ACTION

SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance Form

(SF-424-V2.0)

N/A Enter the appropriate information in data fields

Research & Related (R&R) Budget Form

Budget Justification for the entire performance period

Attach to Section K in budget period one

R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form (if applicable)

Individual subaward budgets

Attach a separate budget with justification for each subaward

R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s)

N/A Enter the appropriate information in data fields

Assurances for Non- Construction Programs Form

N/A Enter the appropriate information in data fields

Certification Regarding Lobbying (GG_Lobbying Form-V1.1)

N/A Enter the appropriate information in data fields

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 20 of 52

Research & Related Senior/Key Personnel Profile Form

PI Biographical Sketch Attach to Biographical Sketch field

PI Current/Pending Support Attach to Current & Pending Support field

Key Personnel Biographical Sketches

Attach to Biographical Sketch field for each senior/key person

Key Personnel Current/Pending Support

Attach to Current & Pending Support field for each senior/key person

Research & Related Other Project Information Form

Publicly Releasable Proposal Summary/Abstract

Attach to Block 7 Project Summary/ Abstract

Project Narrative/Technical Proposal (up to 16 pages)

Attach to Block 8 Project Narrative

Attachments Form Attachment 1 – Full Proposal Cover Sheet

Use template posted on Grants.gov NOFO announcement, or request from cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov Upload as Attachment 1

Attachment 2 – Quad Chart Use template posted on Grants.gov NOFO announcement, or request from cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov Upload as Attachment 2

• Full Proposal Package Preparation Instructions

Each Phase II full proposal must address only the topic for which it was invited. Those applicants recommended to submit a full proposal must submit the package via Grants.gov no later than 7/19/2022 at 5:59:59PM

[UDT].

o SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424-V2.0)

Please complete this form in its entirety. If you fill this form out first, other required forms will populate with basic data such as name, address, etc. Signature and date will auto-fill when you submit the application package through Grants.gov. Please pay special attention to the following when completing this form:

Block 1, Type of Submission – Please check “Application” Block 8, Type of Application – Please check “New” Block 12, Proposed Project – Enter Dates of Entire Project Period Block 15a, Estimated Project Funding – This amount should correspond to your R&R Budget form’s total and budget justification total for the requested budget period

Block 16, E.O. 12372 review question – Please check “No” Block 17, By submitting this application, your organization is providing certifications and assurances regarding:

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 21 of 52

− Drug-Free Workplace Requirements − Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters—

Primary Covered Transactions − Assurance that your organization is not delinquent on any federal debt o Attachments Form The attachments form should be used to include the following two items with the application:

Attachment 1 – Full Proposal Cover Sheet The full proposal cover sheet information is shown below. The full proposal cover sheet is not included in the 16-page full proposal page limit. The full proposal cover sheet should be uploaded as “Attachment 1” of the Attachments form. Note. For a full proposal ID, please follow the following naming convention:

ARINOFO22-XXXX-YYYY-2-T#-0##

XXXX = four letters (maximum 4 letters) character shortcut for organization name YYYY = four letters (maximum 4 letters) character shortcut for department/division name # = Topic number ## = number of proposal submission.

Example: Organization A, Dept. B’s submission for its first full proposal to Topic 1 would have the ID listed: ARINOFO22-ORGA-

DEPB-2-T1-001

The cover sheet should include:

• Overall project information (Requested budget for this period, project duration, project title).

• Primary Organization Information (Name and address, DUNS+4, TIN/EIN).

• Principal Investigator information (Name and address, phone, email, Co-PI information if applicable).

• Contact information for any organization involved in a collaborative effort, if applicable.

A Full Proposal Cover Sheet template will be posted with the NOFO on Grants.gov. A template may also be requested by emailing cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov

Attachment 2 – Quad Chart The quad chart is not included in the 16 page full proposal page limit.

The quad chart provides a single page summary of the effort and

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 22 of 52 should include a picture, graphic or artist’s conception of the effort in the top left, a summary of scientific and technical merit in the bottom left, a summary of broader impact on the top right, and a summary of schedule and proposed budget in the bottom right. The quad chart must be provided in landscape layout. The quad chart should be uploaded as “Attachment 2” of the Attachments form.

A quad chart template will be posted with the NOFO on Grants.gov.

A template may also be requested by emailing cwmd.tsi@hq.dhs.gov.

e. Research & Related (R&R) Budget Form

An R&R budget is required for ALL Phase II full proposal applications. Please ensure that the total amount requested corresponds to Block 15a on the SF-424 R&R.

Include up to 3 to 5 annual budgets, one for each year of the duration of the project; a cumulative budget will be automatically generated by Grants.gov. A detailed budget justification (up to 3 pages) should document proposed expenses. Multi-institutional proposals should use the award/sub-award proposal mechanisms.

f. Budget Justification A budget justification is required for ALL applications. Please ensure that items listed in the budget justification correspond to the funds requested on the R&R Budget form. Attach the Budget Justification to the R&R Budget form. If you need to attach more than one file to fully capture your budget justification, you may use the optional “Attachments” form.

Please use the following cost categories to group items of cost in your budget justification:

i. Personnel

ii. Fringe benefits

iii. Travel

iv. Equipment

v. Supplies

vi. Contractual

vii. Other direct costs

viii. Indirect costs

If you wish to display your budget justification by task, please ensure that you supply a total for each of the cost categories listed above for the proposed budget period in your application.

The budget justification should note if any Government-furnished equipment (GFE, e.g., specific radioactive sources to calibrate or test detector systems) is required.

Attach an expanded equipment list (see item C on R&R Budget form) if necessary.

An annual grantees review will enable the investigators of grants awarded through this solicitation to review progress, exchange information, and promote

FY 22 ARI NOFO Page 23 of 52 collaborations. The PI, all co-PIs, and at least one of the students supported from each funded award will be required to participate. Representatives of CWMD, other DHS Components, other federal agencies, and various federal laboratories are also expected to be present at this annual review to provide an expanded opportunity for collaboration and information sharing. Funds must be included in each year of the proposal budget for attendance at this annual workshop, should public health conditions allow for an in-person workshop. For budgetary purposes, the workshop may be assumed to be in the United States during a 3-day duration. This workshop will be a primary mechanism for the CWMD PMs to assess progress and thus to adjust the future funding profiles for individual projects.

g. Research and Related Project/Performance Site Location(s) Please provide information for every site (including subcontractors and outside vendors, with subawards or subcontracts of $25,000 or more) in your project.

h. Assurances for Non-Construction Programs Form Submit this form. It will be electronically signed upon submission to Grants.gov as part of your application.

i. Certification Regarding Lobbying (GG_Lobbying Form-V1.1) Submit this form. It will be electronically signed upon submission to Grants.gov as part of your application.

j. Research and Related Senior/Key Personnel Profile Form Applicants must complete a profile for the principal investigator(s) and other senior key personnel identified for the project. Provide a biographical sketch for each senior/key person that includes education and research activities and accomplishments, and each individual’s role in the proposed project. Each biographical sketch may not exceed 2 pages.