FAQs WH-AST-22-001.pdf

FAQs for WH-AST-22-001

Improving Maternal Health through Addressing Endometriosis, Fibroids, and/or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

May 16, 2022 2 – 3:30 pm et.

A. ELIGIBILITY

1. What applicants are eligible and how will they be defined for this funding opportunity?

Any public or private (profit or nonprofit) entity located in a State (which includes one of the

50 United States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands) is eligible to apply for an award under this announcement. Community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native American (AI/AN/NA) organizations are eligible to apply.

Examples of eligible Organizations include:

• State Governments

• U.S. territories

• County Governments

• City or township governments

• Special district governments

• Independent school districts

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

• Public Housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)

• Nonprofits having 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

• For profit organizations, including small businesses.

B. PREPARING TO APPLY

3. What is the deadline to apply to this funding opportunity?

a. Applications are due July 7, 2022, by 6 p.m. Eastern Time. To receive consideration, you must submit your application electronically via Grants.gov no later than this due date and time. Please refer to page 1.

4. How can I get more information on this funding opportunity?

a. We strongly suggest that you register and attend the Technical Assistance webinar scheduled for May 16, 2022, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. To attend the webinar, please register at: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_14-YeK0mSiSFtTNCFhKj0g

b. After you enter your information and click “Register,” you will get a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar. There will be an opportunity to submit questions.

c. The webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend live. The recording will be posted to the OWH YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/WomensHealthgov)

5. How can I stay up to date on any updates or changes to the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), additional information and resources, and other developments?

a. The best way to stay up to date is to subscribe to this NOFO on grants.gov. Please go to www.grants.gov and click the “Search Grants” tab in the upper left of the screen.

b. On the next screen, look for the “BASIC SEARCH CRITERIA” fields under the SEARCH GRANTS header in the upper left corner. Enter WH-AST-22-001 in the Opportunity Number field and click the SEARCH- button.

c. Click on the link under the Opportunity Number header. You will see a red “Subscribe” icon in the right corner. You then will be prompted to either enter your username and password or establish one, after which you’ll be able to subscribe and get alerts.

6. Who should I contact if I still have questions about the NOFO? Questions about developing my application?

a. Who to contact will depend on the nature of your question(s). For programmatic questions, such as developing elements of your application, contact Linda Stella, Linda.Stella@hhs.gov Please CC Duane Barlow on your email

b. Contact Duane Barlow, Duane.Barlow@hhs.gov for financial and grants-related questions. Please CC: Linda Stella on your email.

7. Who should I contact if I have issues with the grants.gov portal or the electronic application process?

a. Please contact Grants.gov Applicant Support:

Email: support@grants.gov Telephone: 800-518-4726 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zoomgov.com%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2FWN_14-YeK0mSiSFtTNCFhKj0g&data=05%7C01%7CLinda.Stella%40hhs.gov%7C19361d2bfb7749725e4508da2d39f90e%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C637872024275119576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=S%2Fg2kJYICziiZeNV7yLNMVRRbbx28UpTPBtX%2FiShEwM%3D&reserved=0 https://www.youtube.com/user/WomensHealthgov http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Linda.Stella@hhs.gov mailto:Duane.Barlow@hhs.gov mailto:support@grants.gov

8. What registrations are needed to apply to this funding announcement?

a. As of April 4, 2022, you are required to provide a twelve-digit Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) number when applying for Federal awards through Grants.gov. It is a unique, twelve-digit identification number, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities. Please refer to page. 27.

9. How do we get a UEI number?

a. The UEI(SAM) are required for submission of applications. You may find additional information about the transition for both existing and new SAM registrants at https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=e31c534f1b40c1103565ed 3ce54bcbce.

b. You will find instructions on the Grants.Gov web site as part of the organization registration process at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html. Please refer to pages 27-28.

10. How do I register my organization on SAM.gov? What if my registration is expired?

a. Please refer to page 28 of the NOFO. Your organization must register online in the System for Award Management (SAM). Grants.gov will reject submissions from applicants with nonexistent or expired SAM Registrations.

b. If you are registering a new entity or renewing your registration, you must submit a notarized letter formally appointing an Entity Administrator to SAM.GOV For detailed instructions on the content of the letter and process for domestic entities see:

https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?sys_kb_id=8cfe46491b1cb8909ac5ddb6bc4bcbbb&id=kb _article_view&sysparm_rank=1&sysparm_tsqueryId=c6131c131bdcf0d0a7d7da49bc4bcb 1a.

c. A quick start guide for registrants is available at https://www.fsd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=80f49f211bdcfc909ac5ddb6bc4bcb76.

You should allow a minimum of five days to complete an initial SAM registration. Allow up to 10 business days after you submit your registration for it to be active in SAM. This timeframe may be longer if SAM flags the information you provide for manual validation.

You will receive an email alerting you when your registration is active.

11. Can you explain the page limits? What does or does not count for which limits?

a. Your project narrative must not exceed 25 pages. Your total application, including the project narrative and appendices, must not exceed 50 pages. Please refer to page 13.

b. The appendices should include the items described on pages 27-28 of the NOFO and listed here:

• Work Plan

• Memorandums of Agreement and/or Letters of Commitment from Partners

• Organizational Chart

• Curriculum Vitae/Résumé for Key Project Personnel

• References Cited https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=e31c534f1b40c1103565ed3ce54bcbce https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=e31c534f1b40c1103565ed3ce54bcbce https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?sys_kb_id=8cfe46491b1cb8909ac5ddb6bc4bcbbb&id=kb_article_view&sysparm_rank=1&sysparm_tsqueryId=c6131c131bdcf0d0a7d7da49bc4bcb1a https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?sys_kb_id=8cfe46491b1cb8909ac5ddb6bc4bcbbb&id=kb_article_view&sysparm_rank=1&sysparm_tsqueryId=c6131c131bdcf0d0a7d7da49bc4bcb1a https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?sys_kb_id=8cfe46491b1cb8909ac5ddb6bc4bcbbb&id=kb_article_view&sysparm_rank=1&sysparm_tsqueryId=c6131c131bdcf0d0a7d7da49bc4bcb1a

You must submit these appendices as a single electronic file uploaded to the Attachments section of your Grants.gov application.

c. The SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, Project Abstract Summary, and Budget Narrative (including budget tables) do not count towards your 25-or 50-page limit.

12. Are applicants required to submit memorandums of agreement (MOAs) and

Letters of Commitment (LOCs)?

a. Refer to pages 26-27 in the NOFO. If applicable and available at the time of submission, signed Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) or signed Letters of Commitment (LOCs) should be submitted for each partner (or one signed MOA with all partners). MOAs must include specific roles, responsibilities, resources, and contributions of partner(s) to the project.

b. If the applicant is unable to submit signed MOAs, the applicant may submit an unsigned MOA(s).

c. If applicable, fully executed MOAs may be required as a condition of any award made under this announcement.

C. APPLICATION REVIEW

1. How will my application be reviewed?

a. An independent review panel will evaluate applications that meet the responsiveness criteria, if applicable, and are not disqualified. These reviewers are experts in their fields, and are drawn from academic institutions, non-profit organizations, state and local government, and Federal government agencies. Based on the Application Review Criteria as outlined under Section E.1, the reviewers will comment on and rate the applications, focusing their comments and scoring decisions on the identified criteria.

b. In addition to the independent review panel, Federal staff will review each application for programmatic, budgetary, and grants management compliance.

c. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health will provide recommendations for funding to the Grants Management Officer to conduct risk analysis. No award decision is final until a Notice of Award is issued by the Grants Management Officer. In providing these recommendations the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health will take into consideration the following additional factor(s):

• equitable geographic distribution of award recipients. Please refer to page 36.

2. Are budgets scored as part of the review process?

a. Yes. Please refer to page 36 in the NOFO.

D. PROGRAM

1. What do you mean by transitioning a successful project to sustainability?

a. We expect recipients to plan for and work toward sustainability of successful evidence-based interventions beyond the end of the funded project. Recipients should begin to develop a plan for sustainability by the end of the second year.

We expect the plan to identify key individuals and/or organization(s) whose support will be required to sustain activities; financial and staff resources needed;

and existing collaborative partnerships with organizations that might support continuation of the project after the final budget period expires. After three years, successful projects will have the option to compete for one more year of funding to transition to sustainability. Please refer to page 9.

2. What is expected of applicants?

a. The goals of this initiative are to: 1) Develop a demonstration project that implements and evaluates one or more evidence-based interventions to comprehensively diagnose and treat endometriosis, fibroids, and/or PCOS; 2) Identify and track evidence-based outcomes to demonstrate improvements in early diagnosis and effective treatment of one or more of these conditions; and 3) Transition a successful project to sustainability. Please refer to page 2.

b. The secondary goal of the initiative is to address health equity in underserved and disadvantaged populations, including racial/ethnic minorities, limited-English speaking populations, and persons with disabilities. Please see page 8.

3. Is there an indirect cost rate cap?

a. Refer to pages 23 of the NOFO, “Indirect Costs Description,” for more information about indirect cost rates.

4. Is there a list of recommended evidence-based interventions that should be considered?

a. No.

E. QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

1. Is it possible to set up a call to discuss the details of the grant and our projects potential fit.

a. We are scheduled to hold a webinar on the NOFO on May 16, 2022, 2 TO 3:30 et. During this webinar we will discuss many of the topics that I am sure you will be interested in hearing about. If we do not cover all of your questions, you will be able to put your questions into the chat. Once we receive everyone’s questions, we will publish the questions along with the answers.

2. I’d like more clarification on outcomes of interest. Specifically, the RFP emphasizes comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Given that for endometriosis the gold standard for diagnosis is via surgery, are you primary interested in surgical outcomes?

a. This is where your creativity and ideas come in. We are not going to provide direction beyond the information in the notice of funding opportunity. That is by design. We want YOUR ideas and look forward to receiving your application.

b. We encourage you to read the notice of funding opportunity and provide solutions based on the written document.

3. Is OWH interested in quality of life and/or patient reported outcomes such as mental health, increased self-efficacy, increased trust in a provider.

a. This is where your creativity and ideas come in. We are not going to provide direction beyond the information in the notice of funding opportunity. That is by design. We want YOUR ideas and look forward to receiving your application.

b. We encourage you to read the notice of funding opportunity and provide solutions based on the written document.

4. For the evaluation component, are there expectations surrounding a specific study design (e.g.

RCT)? Since this is a demonstration project, are quasi-experimental study designs within the scope of work?

a. This is where your creativity and ideas come in. We are not going to provide direction beyond the information in the notice of funding opportunity. That is by design. We want YOUR ideas and look forward to receiving your application.

b. We encourage you to read the notice of funding opportunity and provide solutions based on the written document.

5. Can an organization submit multiple applications?

a. The NOFO states “If you successfully submit multiple applications from the same organization for the same project, we will only review the last application received by the deadline.”

b. That being said, an organization may submit multiple proposals for a given Notice of Funding Opportunity given that each proposal must be for distinctly separate projects.

By distinctly separate project, this could mean a different focus area or a different location.

The project abstract and project must be clear so that the distinction is obvious.