CDC-RFA-IP21-2106.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Partnering with National Organizations to Increase Vaccination Coverage Across Different

Racial and Ethnic Adult Populations Currently Experiencing Disparities

CDC-RFA-IP21-2106

Application Due Date: 01/04/2021

Partnering with National Organizations to Increase Vaccination Coverage Across Different

Racial and Ethnic Adult Populations Currently Experiencing Disparities

CDC-RFA-IP21-2106

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I. Overview Information A. Federal Agency Name B. Funding Opportunity Title C. Announcement Type D. Agency Funding Opportunity Number E. Assistance Listings (CFDA) Number F. Dates G. Executive Summary

Part II. Full Text A. Funding Opportunity Description B. Award Information C. Eligibility Information D. Application and Submission Information E. Review and Selection Process F. Award Administration Information G. Agency Contacts H. Other Information I. Glossary

Part I. Overview Information Applicants must go to the synopsis page of this announcement at www.grants.gov and click on the "Subscribe" button link to ensure they receive notifications of any changes to CDC-RFA- IP21-2106. Applicants also must provide an e-mail address to www.grants.gov to receive notifications of changes.

A. Federal Agency Name:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) B. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title:

Partnering with National Organizations to Increase Vaccination Coverage Across Different Racial and Ethnic Adult Populations Currently Experiencing Disparities C. Announcement Type: New - Type 1 This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not be considered. For this purpose, research is defined at https://www.govregs.com/regulations/title42_chapterI_part2_subpartD_section2.52. Guidance on how CDC interprets the definition of research in the context of public health can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html (See section 45 CFR 46.102(d)).

New-Type 1

D. Agency Notice of Funding Opportunity Number:

CDC-RFA-IP21-2106

E. Assistance Listings (CFDA) Number:

93.185 F. Dates:

1. Due Date for Letter of Intent (LOI): [Insert 10 days from date of publication]

2. Due Date for Applications: 01/04/2021, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern

Standard Time, at www.grants.gov.

3. Date for Informational Conference Call:

Potential applicants may participate in a conference call for information on this NOFO. The conference call will be conducted by the Immunization Services Division. The call will be held: December 11, 2020, 2:30-3:30 pm. Please use this link to access the call: Join Zoom Meeting ;

(US: +1 669 254 5252 or 1 646 828 7666; Meeting ID: ; 160 685 1443; Password: ;76292438) ;

International numbers

Join from an H.323/SIP room system

H.323: 161.199.138.10 (US West)

161.199.136.10 (US East)

Meeting ID: 160 685 1443 https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov https://www.govregs.com/regulations/title42_chapterI_part2_subpartD_section2.52 https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html https://www.grants.gov https://cdc.zoomgov.com/j/1613252501?pwd=MVEwTWNOZU5DT0sxNU5zL1dxMURXQT09&from=msft https://cdc.zoomgov.com/j/1613252501?pwd=MVEwTWNOZU5DT0sxNU5zL1dxMURXQT09&from=msft https://cdc.zoomgov.com/j/1613252501?pwd=MVEwTWNOZU5DT0sxNU5zL1dxMURXQT09&from=msft tel:+16692545252,,1606851443#,,,,,,0#,,72692438# https://cdc.zoomgov.com/j/1613252501?pwd=MVEwTWNOZU5DT0sxNU5zL1dxMURXQT09&from=msft https://cdc.zoomgov.com/u/ab4dFQ7YdC

Passcode: 72692438

SIP: 1606851443@sip.zoomgov.com

G. Executive Summary:

1. Summary Paragraph:

CDC seeks to build the evidence base of effective interventions to improve vaccination coverage and to identify and implement strategies to reduce racial and/or ethnic disparities in adult vaccination coverage.

The goal of this NOFO is to support efforts to increase coverage for adults in racial and/or ethnic populations experiencing disparities in vaccination rates. This NOFO would fund national organizations to do the following:

A. National organizations to build their own infrastructure/capacity for and implement flu vaccination-related activities now and COVID-19 vaccination-related activities, when COVID- 19 vaccines become available; and This NOFO with also fund some organizations to do the following:

B. National organizations to identify and sub-award 15–20 of its local branches, chapters, and/or formal, established affiliates to implement flu and COVID-19 (when appropriate) vaccination activities at the community level. Resources and learnings from these funded entities would be shared across other local entities within the organization, as appropriate. A branch or chapter of an organization is a local division of the national organization. An affiliate is a local organization with a formal, established relationship with the national organization.

a. Eligible Applicants: Single

b. NOFO Type: Cooperative Agreement

c. Approximate Number of Awards: 10

d. Total Period of Performance Funding: $17,500,000

e. Average One Year Award Amount: $500,000 The precise amount of funding will vary depending on the type of organization and whether they are working on part A or both part A and B. National organizations working on only part A of the NOFO will receive different funding compared to national organizations working on parts A and B. National organizations working on both parts A and B will be expected to sub-grant approximately 70% of the award to their local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates. The award amount for national organizations working on parts A and B will vary depending on the number of local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates to which they plan to sub-grant (up to 20).

f. Total Period of Performance Length: 5

g. Estimated Award Date: 01/22/2021

h. Cost Sharing and / or Matching Requirements: N

Part II. Full Text A. Funding Opportunity Description

Part II. Full Text

1. Background

a. Overview Vaccination is considered one of the most important public health achievements of the twentieth century and continues to offer great promise. Vaccines save lives and improve the quality of life by preventing serious infectious diseases and their consequences. However, the benefits of vaccination are not realized equally across the population of the United States. Adult vaccination coverage remains low nationally and significant racial and ethnic disparities exist.

The groups experiencing disparities are also disproportionately affected by COVID 19, at risk for serious illness from COVID 19, and/or at high risk for complications from influenza infection.

Given the expected co-circulation of SARS CoV 2 and influenza, this 2020 2021 influenza season is a critical opportunity to ensure equal uptake of the flu vaccine as well as COVID 19 vaccines, when the data becomes available.

b. Statutory Authorities This program is authorized under Public Health Service Act Section 317(k)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(1)), as amended.

c. Healthy People 2030 This NOFO relates to two Healthy People 2030 topic areas: social determinants of health (https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health) and infectious disease (https://health.gov/healthypeople/objective-and-data/browse-objectives/infectious-desease).

A goal of Healthy People 2030 is to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity.

( https://health.gov/healthypeople/about/healthy-people-2030-framework).

This NOFO addresses the following vaccination objectives:

Increase the proportion of persons who are vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza Increase the proportion of adults age 19 years or older who get recommended vaccines —

IID D03

d. Other National Public Health Priorities and Strategies https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health https://health.gov/healthypeople/objective-and-data/browse-objectives/infectious-desease

This program advances CDC National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity. The programs emphasis on reducing health disparities in immunization through increased vaccination opportunities, vaccination education, and identification of the drivers of vaccine hesitancy directly align with the following goals within the National Strategy Goal 3 Health Systems and Life Experience-Improving Health and Health-care Outcomes Goal 4 Cultural and Linguistic Competency-Improving Cultural and Linguistic Competency and Diversity Goal 5 Data, Research, and Evaluation-Improving Data Additionally, this program also advances the CDC COVID 19 Response Health Equity Strategy:

Accelerating Progress Towards Reducing COVID 19 Disparities and Achieving Health Equity (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community/CDC-Strategy.pdf).

The CDC COVID 19 Response Health Equity Strategy has the intended outcomes:

Reduced COVID19-related health disparities.

Increased testing, contact tracing, isolation options, and preventive care and disease management in populations at increased risk for COVID 19.

Ensured equity in nationwide distribution and administration of future COVID 19 vaccines.

Implemented evidence-based policies, systems, and environmental strategies to mitigate social and health inequities related to COVID 19.

Reduced COVID 19 associated stigma and implicit bias.

Expanded cultural responsiveness and application of health equity principles among an increasingly diverse COVID 19 responder workforce.

e. Relevant Work This award builds on the work done through a supplement to CDC Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. Currently, NCIRD is deploying funding to REACH recipients to implement focus areas aiming to increase flu vaccination coverage and COVID, when appropriate among racial and ethnic groups experiencing disparities. As a complement to the REACH work, CDC is also standing up two supportive resources: the Learning and Data Hubs. The Learning Hub offers technical assistance, coaching, learning opportunities, and synthesized, organized resources. The Data Hub allows CDC and other partners to synthesize multiple data sources to inform decisions on identifying focus areas, segmenting populations, and tracking interventions and community level progress. National partners will build on REACH learnings and based on their expertise, experience, and nationwide influence, will contribute to information and insights to both platforms.

2. CDC Project Description

a. Approach

Bold indicates period of performance outcome.

CDC-RFA-IP21-2106 Logic Model: Partnering with National Organizations to Increase https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

Vaccination Coverage Across Different Racial and Ethnic Adult Populations Currently Experiencing Disparities National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Bold indicates period of performance outcome

Strategy and Activities

Outputs Short Term Outcomes

Long Term Outcomes

Part A

Coordinate sub-awarded local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates

Deploy educational campaign

Enhance the resource and evidence base

Part B

Provide data and insights to CDC detailing barriers to vaccine uptake

Equip influential messengers

Increase vaccination opportunities and enhance provider partnerships

- Coordination, technical assistance, and other support for local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates

- Educational campaign

- Established criteria for an impactful influencer

- User-tested and culturally and linguistically appropriate messages, visual assets, and other communications materials

- Education and communications campaigns

- Recruitment campaigns and training for influencers

- Educational modules, events, webinars, and convenings

- MoU and partnership agreements with providers and community organizations

- Mobile

- Increased range of trusted community voices supporting vaccine education and delivery

- Increased availability of community or population-specific messages

- Increased number and diversity of vaccination opportunities

- Increased number of partnerships or collaborative activities between providers and community organizations

- Increased acceptance of flu vaccine among priority populations (i.e., African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino American, Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander)

- Increased access to immunization services among priority populations and/or communities experiencing disparities vaccination clinics and activities

i. Purpose CDC seeks to build the evidence base of effective interventions to improve vaccination coverage and to identify and implement strategies to reduce racial and/or ethnic disparities in adult vaccination coverage.

ii. Outcomes By the end of the performance period, recipients are expected to achieve the following outcomes:

Increased range of trusted community voices supporting vaccine education and delivery.

Increased availability of community or population-specific messages.

Increased number and diversity of vaccination opportunities.

Increased number of partnerships or collaborative activities between providers and community organizations.

iii. Strategies and Activities A. National Organizations: Focus Areas During the performance period, the national organization applicant is expected to build and implement infrastructure/capacity for flu and COVID-19 vaccination activities and carry out those activities. This involves the identification of individual(s) within the applicant organization to address the following focus areas:

Coordinate sub-awarded local branches, chapters, or affiliates: Coordinate and advise on vaccination activities with local entities;

Deploy educational campaign: Develop and implement a vaccination educational campaign targeting adults in racial or ethnic populations experiencing disparities as part of the applicant's other communications strategies; and

Enhance the resource and evidence base: Collaborate with the Learning Hub, Data Hub, and Media Center to review, modify, and improve resources that can be more broadly shared, as appropriate (see Appendix for additional information).

B. Local Branches, Chapters, or Affiliates: Focus Areas During the performance period, applicants with local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates are expected to identify and fund local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates to implement flu vaccination-related activities now and COVID 19 vaccination-related activities, when COVID 19 vaccines become available. All funded local entities are expected to implement activities in each of the following focus areas:

Provide data and insights to CDC detailing barriers to vaccine uptake: Work with communities to identify and address drivers of vaccine hesitancy, influential community messengers and partners, and community-acceptable approaches for improving vaccination availability, accessibility, and acceptability

Equip influential messengers: Educate and empower "trusted voices" in the community to support vaccine education and delivery

Increase vaccination opportunities and enhance provider partnership: Build partnerships between vaccination providers (e.g., pharmacies) and the community to increase the number, range, and diversity of opportunities for vaccination.

Focus Area Activities Implementation: Implementation will focus on improving flu vaccination coverage now and COVID 19 vaccination coverage when COVID 19 vaccines are available among adults in racial and ethnic groups experiencing disparities. Recipients should execute work in the focus areas described in this section, using and/or adapting a subset of the accompanying activities listed below. They may also enhance or add relevant activities to focus areas, as appropriate.

Applicant organizations are expected to undertake activities for the second two focus areas for Part A. If applicant organizations have local branches, chapters, or affiliates, applicants are expected to undertake the first focus area in Part A (coordinate local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates).

Applicant-funded branches, chapters, or affiliates are expected to undertake activities for all focus areas for Part B.

The following list includes examples of possible activities but is not an exhaustive list of all permissible activities.

Focus Area Potential Activities

Part A: National organizations applicant is expected to build and implement infrastructure/capacity for flu vaccination-related activities now and COVID19 vaccination-related activities, when COVID19 vaccines become available, and carry out those activities

Coordinate local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates:

Coordinate and advise on vaccination activities with local entities

Regularly convene project leaders from funded entities to provide technical assistance, discuss project goals and progress, address common challenges, and identify and mitigate risks in consistent and collaborative manner

Facilitate regular information updates (situational awareness) with, or on behalf of, CDC and the applicant organization to branches, chapters, or affiliates to ensure consistent awareness both at a high level and in the field

Ensure funded branches, chapters, or affiliates are carrying out focus area activities, as identified in Part B

Establish a protocol for collecting communications materials, successful messaging strategies, and other resources developed at local level and sharing across the organization (including non funded chapters, branches, and affiliates), with CDC and with the Learning Hub, Data Hub, or Media Center, as appropriate

Adapt practices and resources developed/used by some funded entities to practices and resources that non funded entities can use

Conduct data calls to collect information from local entities, as needed

Provide regular updates to CDC with lessons learned, recommendations, or common challenges

Deploy educational campaign:

Develop and implement a vaccination educational campaign as part of the applicants other communications strategies

Identify and execute on opportunities to incorporate health, flu, COVID 19, and flu/COVID 19 vaccination messaging into existing organization communications campaigns and strategy, extending the reach of messaging beyond audiences targeted for vaccination-specific communications

Organize events and educational campaigns until the end of the influenza vaccination season or for as long as the flu vaccine is available, including during National Influenza Vaccination Week December. This may be expanded to include COVID19 vaccines, as appropriate (https ://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/nivw/index.htm)

Support and leverage CDCs flu, COVID19, flu/COVID19 vaccination, and other health materials for relevant groups

Enhance the resource and evidence base:

Collaborate with

Modify or enhance resources such as tool kits, checklists, quick guides, etc., in collaboration with CDC, as appropriate

Collaborate with CDC to develop new materials and resources, as https://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/nivw/index.htm https://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/nivw/index.htm the Learning Hub, Data Hub, and Media Center to review, modify, and improve resources that can be more broadly shared, as appropriate needed, based on observed common challenges and practices associated with flu vaccination implementation and uptake that have been or are likely to be successful

Develop and synthesize strategies and messaging for working with community-level organizations to understand vaccine needs, perceptions, and community-acceptable approaches for reducing racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination, including:

o Synthesizing practices, materials, and resources that have been or are likely to be successful across local entities' efforts for inclusion in the Learning Hub o Drawing on expertise, experience, and evidence base in racial equity, health equity, and/or community-level interventions, identify, document, and share the following:

Practices in messaging to and communicating with racial and ethnic groups experiencing vaccination disparities that have been or are likely to be successful;

Practices in identifying and working with community-level organizations that have been or are likely to be; and Learnings and insights from project implementation to inform CDCs long-term strategy in addressing disparities in vaccination rates

Contribute to and leverage Data Hub resources supporting outreach to and vaccine uptake among groups experiencing disparities

Document lessons learned related to sub-awarded branches or chapter activities, including recommendations and/or common challenges

Evaluate the resources developed, incorporating input from key stakeholders

Part B: National organizations to identify and fund local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates to implement vaccination activities. Resources and learnings from these funded entities would be shared across other local entities within the organization, as appropriate. All funded local entities are expected to implement activities in each of the following focus areas:

Provide data and insights to CDC detailing barriers to vaccine uptake:

Work with communities to identify and address drivers of vaccine hesitancy, influential community messengers and partners, and community-acceptable approaches for improving vaccination availability, accessibility, and acceptability

Conduct surveys, interviews, town halls, or focus groups to identify drivers of vaccine hesitancy, influential messengers, and community-acceptable approaches

Document and share relevant learnings from events, conversations, or convenings with applicant organization (to share with CDC)

Respond to applicant organization's data calls to identify common drivers of vaccine hesitancy and collect other key information

Based on community interactions and learnings, share tangible insights, common challenges, and key lessons learned with organization leadership to inform CDCs and organization's strategies in addressing racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination

Equip influential messengers:

Educate and empower trusted voices in the community to support vaccine education and delivery

Support and leverage CDCs seasonal flu materials and COVID19 resources in outreach to relevant groups and communities

Develop and implement community-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate messages that focus on the following:

1) Flu spread, symptoms, prevention, and treatment;

2) Flu vaccine safety and efficacy;

3) Flu vaccination purpose, need, and opportunities/locations;

4) Similarities and differences between flu and COVID 19 (https https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm#anchor_1595599456

://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm#anchor_159 5599456); and

5) COVID 19 spread, symptoms, prevention and treatment.

Identify and train trusted community-level spokespersons (e.g., faith leaders, teachers, community health workers, radio DJs, local shop owners, barbers) to communicate the burden of flu and importance of flu and COVID 19 vaccination through local media outlets, social media, faith-based venues, community events, and other community-based, culturally appropriate venues

Support non funded local entities by sharing learnings and materials

Increase vaccination opportunities and enhance provider partnership:

Build partnerships between vaccination providers (e.g., pharmacies) and

Connect vaccination providers with places of worship, community organizations, recreation programs, food banks/pantries, schools and colleges/universities, grocery stores, salons/barber shops/beauticians, major employers, and other key community institutions to set up temporary and/or mobile flu and COVID-19 vaccination sites, especially in high-disparity communities

Connect local health departments, community health centers, and/or trusted healthcare organizations including pharmacies with communities through mobile flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics in communities facing disparities the community to increase the number, range, and diversity of opportunities for vaccination

Advocate for dialysis centers, prenatal care centers, well-baby care clinics, family planning clinics, dentists, nursing homes, COVID-19 testing sites, and other specific providers or programs to deliver flu vaccines where patients are already seeking care for themselves or their family members

Organize events and mobile and/or temporary flu vaccination sites for as long as the flu vaccine is available, including during National Influenza Vaccination Week in December. This may be expanded to include COVID-19 vaccines, as appropriate https://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/nivw/index.htm

Build partnerships with health care providers to increase provider understanding of the populations of interest and interventions to increase vaccination rates for these populations

Work with vaccination service providers to expand the types of health professionals (e.g., community health workers, patient navigators, patient advocates) and administrative staff (e.g., front desk workers) engaged in promoting vaccination and increasing referrals of individuals to flu and COVID-19 vaccination sites

1. Collaborations

a. With other CDC programs and CDC-funded organizations:

This award builds on the work done through a supplement to CDC's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. Currently, NCIRD is deploying funding to REACH recipients to implement focus areas aiming to increase flu vaccination coverage (and COVID, when appropriate) among racial and ethnic groups experiencing disparities. As a complement to the REACH work, CDC is also standing up two supportive resources:

the Learning and Data Hubs. The Learning Hub offers technical assistance, coaching, learning opportunities, and synthesized, organized resources. The Data Hub allows CDC and other partners to synthesize multiple data sources to inform decisions on identifying focus areas, segmenting populations, and tracking interventions and community-level progress.

National partners will build on REACH learnings and, based on their expertise, experience, and nationwide influence, will contribute to information and insights to both platforms.

Applicants must describe intentions to collaborate with CDC in improving technical and program guidance and evaluation.

b. With organizations not funded by CDC:

Partnerships have been critical in the REACH work in addressing disparities and will continue to be so for this current project. Without them, ISDs capacity to build trust and amplify messages in these communities would be severely hampered.

Applicants are required to build and/or continue strategic partnerships and collaborations with immunization stakeholders that have a role in achieving the NOFO outcomes and proposed activities.

Applicants must also describe capacity to participate in stakeholder meetings and other collaborative efforts with public health partners to provide expert consultation to CDC and CDC funded programs (as requested).

2. Target Populations Applicants will select up to two of the five priority populations listed for work on this award:

African American/Black American Indian/Alaska Native Asian American Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx American Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

Applicants must provide specific information on disparities experienced by the proposed priority population(s) and a justification for the proposed geographical area, particularly for part B activities with sub-recipients (i.e., local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates).

Applicants must cite the data sources used to define and describe the priority population(s).

a. Health Disparities Adult vaccination coverage remains low nationally and significant racial and ethnic disparities exist. The groups experiencing disparities are also disproportionately affected by COVID-19, at risk for serious illness from COVID-19, and/or at high risk for complications from influenza infections. Given the expected co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, this 2020–2021 influenza season is a critical opportunity to ensure equal uptake of the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, when the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.

Achieving health equity requires valuing everyone equally with focused and ongoing efforts to address avoidable inequities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and healthcare disparities. The population health impact of COVID-19 has exposed long-standing inequities that have systematically undermined the physical, social, economic, and emotional health of racial and ethnic minority populations and other population groups that are bearing a disproportionate burden of COVID-19.

Persistent health disparities combined with historic housing patterns, work circumstances, and other factors have put members of some racial and ethnic minority populations at higher risk for COVID-19 infection, severe illness, and death. As we continue to learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on the health of different populations, immediate action is critical to reduce growing COVID-19 disparities among the populations known to be at disproportionate risk.

The goal of this NOFO is to support efforts to increase coverage for adults in racial and/or ethnic populations experiencing disparities in vaccination rates.

This project is in direct support of the CDC strategy to address disparities in influenza and COVID-19 vaccination on the basis of race and ethnicity. Work with these organizations will enable national organizations and their local branches, chapters and/or affiliates to promote vaccination among communities of color.

iv. Funding Strategy This project will be supported with funding for response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is likely to continue to be supported with funds intended to control spread of COVID-19. Current funding may not allow funding of all applicants initially. Those that cannot be funded will be designated as approved but unfunded and will likely be prioritized for funding when additional resources become available. Decisions on which applicants will be funded initially will be based on the strength of the application, the breadth of the proposed scope of work, and size of the populations that will be reached.

b. Evaluation and Performance Measurement

i. CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement Strategy CDC seeks to gather data on performance measures that can inform understanding of activity outputs and impacts. The following outlines a set of measures to be collected monthly:

Equip Influential Messengers

Messengers

Number and types of community-level spokespersons trained

Messages

Number and types of audience-tested and culturally and linguistically appropriate communication products developed to promote influenza vaccinations (e.g., social media post, email, radio spot)

Type(s) of communications vehicles or outlets used (e.g., social media platform, radio, television)

Events and Campaigns

Number and types of events or campaigns held to promote influenza vaccination

Number of people who attended promotional events

Successes and Challenges

Major successes for equipping influential messengers

Major challenges for equipping influential messengers

Provider Partnerships

Partnerships

List of partners and their notable contributions

Mobile Clinics

Number of temporary and/or mobile flu vaccination sites established because of partnerships

Number of people vaccinated at mobile flu vaccination sites

Location of temporary and/or mobile flu vaccination sites (e.g., county, neighborhood, community)

Educational Campaigns

Number and types of educational campaigns conducted for providers or other healthcare professionals

Number and types of providers or other healthcare professionals reached through educational campaigns

Successes and Challenges

Major successes for provider partnerships

Major challenges for provider partnerships

ii. Applicant Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan Applicants must provide an evaluation and performance measurement plan that demonstrates how the recipient will fulfill the requirements described in the CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement and Project Description sections of this NOFO. At a minimum, the plan must describe:

How applicant will collect the performance measures, respond to the evaluation questions, and use evaluation findings for continuous program quality improvement.

How key program partners will participate in the evaluation and performance measurement planning processes.

Available data sources, feasibility of collecting appropriate evaluation and performance data, and other relevant data information (e.g., performance measures proposed by the applicant)

Plans for updating the Data Management Plan (DMP), if applicable, for accuracy throughout the lifecycle of the project. The DMP should provide a description of the data that will be produced using these NOFO funds; access to data; data standards ensuring released data have documentation describing methods of collection, what the data represent, and data limitations; and archival and long-term data preservation plans. For more information about CDC’s policy on the DMP, see https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html.

Where the applicant chooses to, or is expected to, take on specific evaluation studies, they should be directed to:

Describe the type of evaluations (i.e., process, outcome, or both).

Describe key evaluation questions to be addressed by these evaluations.

Describe other information (e.g., measures, data sources).

Recipients will be required to submit a more detailed Evaluation and Performance Measurement plan, including a DMP, if applicable, within the first 6 months of award, as described in the Reporting Section of this NOFO.

c. Organizational Capacity of Recipients to Implement the Approach

Applicants should demonstrate relevant experience and capacity (management, administrative, and technical) to implement the activities and achieve the project outcomes, experience and capacity to implement the evaluation plan, and a staffing plan and project management structure sufficient to achieve the project outcomes and which clearly defines staff roles.

o This should include experience with existing partnerships and engagement of target communities.

o This should also include a description in the narrative of the number and geographic distribution of local branches, chapters, and/or formal established affiliates.

Applicants should have project management skills critical to implementing this approach, including: program planning, performance monitoring, financial reporting, budget management and administration, personnel management.

https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html

Applicants should describe in the narrative that they have a financial management system that will allow proper funds management and segregation of funds by program, and meet the requirements as stated in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards. The financial system should permit the preparation of reports required by general and program-specific terms and conditions; and the tracing of funds to a level of expenditure adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award.

Applicants should demonstrate their ability to manage the required procurement efforts, including the ability to write and award contracts in accordance with applicable grants regulations

Please include CVs/resumes of proposed staff. Applicants must name this file CVs or Resumes or Organizational Charts and upload it at www.grants.gov.

d. Work Plan Applicant must identify and address the activities under this NOFO in no more than 20 pages.

Specific details on how the proposed strategies will achieve the outcomes should be included.

CDC will provide feedback and technical assistance to recipients to finalize the work plan during if needed.

A description of administrative and assessment processes to ensure successful implementation, reporting and quality assurance A description of the staff and administrative roles and functions to support the project work plan and the outcomes. Recipients should identify and assign staff, contractors, and/or consultants, sufficient in number and expertise, to carry out the activities of the activities of this NOFO.

A sample work plan format is presented below to show how a traditional work plan aligns with the logic model and narrative.

In this format, the table would be completed for each period of performance outcome.

If a particular activity leads to multiple outcomes, it should be described under each outcome measure.

Period of Performance Outcome:

[from Outcomes section and/or logic model]

Outcome Measure:

[from Evaluation and Performance Measurement section]

Strategies and Activities

Process Measure [from Evaluation and Performance Measurement section]

Responsible Position / Party

Completion Date

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

e. CDC Monitoring and Accountability Approach Monitoring activities include routine and ongoing communication between CDC and recipients, site visits, and recipient reporting (including work plans, performance, and financial reporting).

Consistent with applicable grants regulations and policies, CDC expects the following to be included in post-award monitoring for grants and cooperative agreements:

Tracking recipient progress in achieving the desired outcomes.

Ensuring the adequacy of recipient systems that underlie and generate data reports.

Creating an environment that fosters integrity in program performance and results.

Monitoring may also include the following activities deemed necessary to monitor the award:

Ensuring that work plans are feasible based on the budget and consistent with the intent of the award.

Ensuring that recipients are performing at a sufficient level to achieve outcomes within stated timeframes.

Working with recipients on adjusting the work plan based on achievement of outcomes, evaluation results and changing budgets.

Monitoring performance measures (both programmatic and financial) to assure satisfactory performance levels.

Monitoring and reporting activities that assist grants management staff (e.g., grants management officers and specialists, and project officers) in the identification, notification, and management of high-risk recipients.

f. CDC Program Support to Recipients (THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS)

CDC support to this program includes, but is not limited to the following activities:

Learning Hub: The Learning Hub provides technical assistance and resources to community partners, including group learning and 1:1 coaching / check-in sessions to discuss plans and progress. The learning hub also gathers, protocolizes, and disseminates promising interventions used by recipients so they can be scaled elsewhere.

State and Community Health Media Center: The Media Center is an online repository of advertisements and marketing materials produced by state and local health departments, nonprofit organizations, and federal agencies. The purpose of the Media Center is to share best practices, audience research, and communication materials. Recipients will be expected to share materials on the State and Community Health Media Center.

Data Hub: The data hub will enable CDC and recipients to synthesize multiple data sources to inform decisions on where to focus, segment populations, and track interventions and community-level progress. For example, the data hub may provide detailed maps of at-risk populations and relevant healthcare providers.

B. Award Information

1. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement CDC's substantial involvement in this program appears in the CDC Program Support to Recipients Section.

2. Award Mechanism: H23

3. Fiscal Year: 2021

4. Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding: $3,500,000

5. Approximate Period of Performance Funding: $17,500,000

This amount is subject to the availability of funds.

Estimated Total Funding: $17,500,000

6. Approximate Period of Performance Length: 5 year(s)

7. Expected Number of Awards: 10

8. Approximate Average Award: $500,000 Per Budget Period The precise amount of funding will vary depending on the type of organization and whether they are working on part A or both part A and B. National organizations working on only part A of the NOFO will receive different funding compared to national organizations working on parts A and B. National organizations working on both parts A and B will be expected to sub-grant approximately 70% of the award to their local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates. The award amount for national organizations working on parts A and B will vary depending on the number of local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates to which they plan to sub-grant (up to 20).

9. Award Ceiling: $0 Per Budget Period

This amount is subject to the availability of funds.

10. Award Floor: $0 Per Budget Period

11. Estimated Award Date: 01/22/2021

12. Budget Period Length: 12 month(s)

Throughout the project period, CDC will continue the award based on the availability of funds, the evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the federal government. The total number of years for which federal support has been approved (project period) will be shown in the “Notice of Award.” This information does not constitute a commitment by the federal government to fund the entire period. The total period of performance comprises the initial competitive segment and any subsequent non-competitive continuation award(s).

13. Direct Assistance Direct Assistance (DA) is not available through this NOFO.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Eligibility Category: Others (see text field entitled "Additional

Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Category:

2. Additional Information on Eligibility Competition will be limited to the following applicants:

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) National Urban League (NUL) Unidos US National Alliance for Hispanic Health Tribal Epidemiology Centers Asian and Pacific Island American Health Forum National Minority Quality Forum Note: Only seven of the ten applicants will be funded.

3. Justification for Less than Maximum Competition To reduce disparities in vaccination coverage among certain racial and ethnic groups, CDC would benefit from national partners with influence in communities experiencing vaccination disparities nationwide. Given the urgent concerns regarding the co-circulation of COVID-19 and influenza this year, it is particularly important to expedite and amplify this work.

For the purpose of this work, it is critical that the selected national organizations are reputable and respected “trusted voice” in their community, are able to tap into communities across the country through their branches and affiliates, and had a demonstrated ability to meet the organizational capacity requirements to manage a grant of this size.

This award builds on the work done through a supplement to CDCs Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. Currently, NCIRD is deploying funding to REACH recipients to implement focus areas aiming to increase flu vaccination coverage (and COVID, when appropriate) among racial and ethnic groups experiencing disparities. As a complement to the REACH work, CDC is also standing up two supportive resources: the Learning and Data Hubs. The Learning Hub offers technical assistance, coaching, learning opportunities, and synthesized, organized resources. The Data Hub allows CDC and other partners to synthesize multiple data sources to inform decisions on identifying focus areas, segmenting populations, and tracking interventions and community-level progress. National partners will build on REACH learnings and, based on their expertise, experience, and nationwide influence, will contribute to information and insights to both platforms.

Partnerships have been critical in the REACH work in addressing disparities and will continue to be so for this current project. Without them, ISD’s capacity to build trust and amplify messages in these communities would be severely hampered.

4. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement: No

5. Maintenance of Effort

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Required Registrations An organization must be registered at the three following locations before it can submit an application for funding at www.grants.gov.

a. Data Universal Numbering System:

All applicant organizations must obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identification number provided by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). It will be used as the Universal Identifier when applying for federal awards or cooperative agreements.

The applicant organization may request a DUNS number by telephone at 1-866-705-5711 (toll free) or internet at http:// fedgov.dnb. com/ webform/ displayHomePage.do. The DUNS number will be provided at no charge.

If funds are awarded to an applicant organization that includes sub-recipients, those sub-recipients must provide their DUNS numbers before accepting any funds.

b. System for Award Management (SAM):

https://www.grants.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do

The SAM is the primary registrant database for the federal government and the repository into which an entity must submit information required to conduct business as a recipient. All applicant organizations must register with SAM, and will be assigned a SAM number. All information relevant to the SAM number must be current at all times during which the applicant has an application under consideration for funding by CDC. If an award is made, the SAM information must be maintained until a final financial report is submitted or the final payment is received, whichever is later. The SAM registration process can require 10 or more business days, and registration must be renewed annually. Additional information about registration procedures may be found at https://www.sam.gov/index.html.

c. Grants.gov:

The first step in submitting an application online is registering your organization at www.grants.gov, the official HHS E-grant Web site. Registration information is located at the "Applicant Registration" option at www.grants.gov.

All applicant organizations must register at www.grants.gov. The one-time registration process usually takes not more than five days to complete. Applicants should start the registration process as early as possible.

Step System Requirements Duration Follow Up 1 Data

Universal Number System

(DUNS)

1. Click on http:// fedgov.dnb.com/ webform

2. Select Begin DUNS search/request process

3. Select your country or territory and follow the instructions to obtain your DUNS 9-digit #

4. Request appropriate staff member(s) to obtain DUNS number, verify & update information under DUNS number

1-2 Business Days

To confirm that you have been issued a new DUNS number check online at (http:// fedgov.dnb.com/ webform) or call 1-866-705-5711

2 System for Award Management

(SAM)

formerly Central Contractor Registration

(CCR)

1. Retrieve organizations DUNS number

2. Go to https://www.sam.gov/index.

html and designate an E-Biz POC (note CCR username will not work in SAM and you will need to have an active SAM account before you can register on grants.gov)

3-5 Business Days but up to 2 weeks and must be renewed once a year

For SAM Customer Service Contact https://fsd.gov/ fsd-gov/ home.do Calls:

866-606-8220

3 Grants.gov 1. Set up an individual account in Grants.gov using

Same day but can take

Register early!

Log into https://www.sam.gov/index.html https://grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://www.sam.gov/index.html%20 https://www.sam.gov/index.html%20 https://fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do https://fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do https://fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do organization new DUNS number to become an authorized organization representative (AOR)

2. Once the account is set up the E-BIZ POC will be notified via email

3. Log into grants.gov using the password the E-BIZ POC received and create new password

4. This authorizes the AOR to submit applications on behalf of the organization

8 weeks to be fully registered and approved in the system (note, applicants

MUST

obtain a

DUNS

number and

SAM

account before applying on grants.gov) grants.gov and check AOR status until it shows you have been approved

2. Request Application Package Applicants may access the application package at www.grants.gov.

3. Application Package Applicants must download the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, package associated with this notice of funding opportunity at www.grants.gov.

4. Submission Dates and Times If the application is not submitted by the deadline published in the NOFO, it will not be processed. Office of Grants Services (OGS) personnel will notify the applicant that their application did not meet the deadline. The applicant must receive pre-approval to submit a paper application (see Other Submission Requirements section for additional details). If the applicant is authorized to submit a paper application, it must be received by the deadline provided by

OGS.

a. Letter of Intent Deadline (must be emailed or postmarked by) Due Date for Letter of Intent: [Insert 10 days from date of publication]

b. Application Deadline Due Date for Applications: 01/04/2021 , 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time, at www.grants.gov. If Grants.gov is inoperable and cannot receive applications, and circumstances preclude advance notification of an extension, then applications must be submitted by the first business day on which…