Full NOFO MP-CPI-23-002.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Minority Health

Notice of Funding Opportunity: Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity

Opportunity Number: MP-CPI-23-002

Application Due Date:

08/01/2023 at 6:00 PM Eastern

OVERVIEW

FEDERAL AGENCY NAME

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Minority Health

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE

Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity

ACTION

Notice

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

Initial CA (Cooperative Agreement)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER

MP-CPI-23-002

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER AND PROGRAM:

93.137 , Community Programs to Improve Minority Health

DATES

Application Deadline: 08/01/2023 by 6:00 PM Eastern.

Technical Assistance Webinar: 06/15/2023 at 4:30 PM Eastern.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Office of Minority Health announces the availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 300u-6 (Section 1707 of the Public Health Service Act).

This notice solicits applications for projects under the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity (CIIHE) initiative. CIIHE will support efforts, including research, education, service, and policy development, to advance sustainable solutions that address Indigenous health disparities and advance health equity in the two focus populations: American Indian and Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) encourages all applicants to review all program requirements, eligibility information, application format and submission information, evaluation criteria, and other information in this funding announcement to ensure that their applications comply with all requirements and instructions.

Table of Contents

OVERVIEW

FEDERAL AGENCY NAME

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE

ACTION

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER AND PROGRAM:

DATES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A. Program Description

1. Background

2. Expectations for Funded Projects

3. Federal Agency Substantial Involvement

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Legal Authority

2. Award Information

3. Federal Agency Substantial Involvement

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Other - Application Responsiveness Criteria

4. Application Disqualification Criteria

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

3. Application Content

4. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

5. Submission Dates and Times

6. Intergovernmental Review

7. Funding Restrictions

8. Other Submission Requirements

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Review of Risk Posed by Applicant

4. Final Award Decisions, Anticipated Announcement, and Federal Award Dates

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Program Specific Terms and Conditions

4. Closeout of Award

5. Lobbying Prohibitions

6. Non-Discrimination Requirements

7. Smoke- and Tobacco-free Workplace

8. Acknowledgement of Funding

9. HHS Rights to Materials and Data

10. Trafficking in Persons

11. Efficient Spending

12. Whistleblower Protection

13. Health Information Technology (IT) Interoperability

14. Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment. 43

15. Human Subjects Protection

16. Research Integrity

17. Reporting

G. CONTACTS

1. Administrative and Budgetary Requirements

2. Program Requirements

3. Electronic Submission Requirements

H. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Awards under this Announcement

2. Application Elements

I. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

1. Acronyms

2. Considerations in Recipient Plans for Oversight of Federal Funds

3. Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations

4. Disparity Impact Statements

5. References

A. Program Description The Office of Minority Health announces the availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 300u-6 (Section 1707 of the Public Health Service Act).

OMH is dedicated to improving the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will help eliminate health disparities. Through our demonstration projects, we support the identification of effective approaches for improving health outcomes with the goal of promoting dissemination and sustainability of these approaches.

In 2021, Merriam-Webster defined Indigenous peoples as culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original peoples. For the purposes of this initiative, Indigenous populations refer to American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN), and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI).

The Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity (CIIHE) initiative will support efforts, including research, education, service, and policy development, to advance sustainable solutions that address Indigenous health disparities and advance health equity in two focus populations:

AI/AN and NHPI. We intend to make one award per focus population. Recipients will implement an innovative and culturally appropriate framework to prevent and improve chronic diseases, such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes for their respective AI/AN or NHPI population.

1. Background

Compared to the general population, Indigenous American populations have endured a legacy of unfavorable health outcomes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention N. C., 2020).

Disparities within these groups include higher prevalence rates of a wide range of diseases, disability status, and adversely impacted social determinants of health (SDOH) (i.e., income, health literacy, food insecurity, education, health care access, environmental exposure) (National Academies of Sciences, 2017) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention N. C., 2020)(Indian Health Service, 2019). The disproportionate disease burden in these groups may be attributed to systemic issues that have led to a loss of culture and language access, poor SDOH including access to health promoting resources and services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020) (Cook W.K., 2010) (Substance Abuse and Mental Health S. A., 2008).

The health disparities and inequities across the Indigenous populations are vast and interconnected. Recent data have found higher prevalence of food insecurity among AI/AN (25%) and NHPI populations (21%) compared to the general U.S. population (11%), which places these two groups at higher risk for chronic diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, asthma, etc. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2022). The mortality rates for several health issues among AI/AN populations are higher than for all other Americans (e.g., heart disease 1.3 times higher, diabetes 3.2 higher and suicide 1.7 times higher). The differences result in a lower-than-average life expectancy by 5.5 years compared to other Americans (Indian Health Service, 2019) (Substance Abuse and Mental Health S. A., 2021). Native Hawaiians in Hawaii have the highest prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and their diabetes-related mortality was 3 times higher than non-Hispanic whites (Kaholokula, 2018). Studies have suggested that health disparities experienced by both AI/AN and NHPI populations are attributed to lower social status; lack of language access (health literacy), loss of their traditional ways of life; and historical relations with governments (Kaholokula, 2018).

Consistent collection of disaggregated data to inform health intervention needs among the AI/AN and NHPI is often unavailable. As such, there is a need for expanding the data collection infrastructure and capacity to accurately measure and improve health outcomes in these two populations (The White House Briefing Room, 2022). Education and training on the importance of disaggregating data with data collection and analysis is critical to understanding AI/AN and NHPI subpopulation differences for timely intervention. In addition, efforts to collect data and document the influence of the SDOH in Indigenous populations would enhance the availability of information to inform culturally relevant approaches for addressing health disparities and inequities in AI/AN and NHPI populations.

The root causes and burden of disproportionate chronic disease and SDOH outcomes within AI/AN and NHPI populations are complex. There is a need to expand the availability of culturally relevant frameworks focused on addressing the unique challenges faced by Indigenous populations and to increase success with improving health outcomes in Indigenous populations (Chino, 2006). Research, education, service, and policy development that centers Indigenous cultural values, knowledge, and collaborations with Indigenous communities and researchers are needed. Studies have shown culturally adapted, and culturally grounded health approaches and interventions are effective in improving health outcomes, as well as, sustaining interventions in AI/AN and NHPI communities (Substance Abuse and Mental Health S. A., 2008) (Kaholokula, 2018) (Stephen Harfield, 2015).

To advance Indigenous health innovation and health equity, it is essential to support partnerships and collaborations among Indigenous populations who share similar concepts of culture and health. Leveraging partnerships and collaborations with institutions such as health systems and community-based organizations to integrate culturally appropriate knowledge, practice, Indigenous frameworks, and methodologies lead to improvements in prevention and chronic disease outcomes in AI/AN and NHPI populations. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022) (Barnabe, 2021).

2. Expectations for Funded Projects

The CIIHE awards will function as a single coordinated initiative. Each award will focus on improving chronic disease outcomes such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in one of the two focus populations. A funded project may only address one focus population. OMH will facilitate the coordination and collaboration of project activities between the cooperative agreement recipients to support seamless program implementation.

a. Identify and Implement a Culturally Responsive Framework

Recipients should operationalize a culturally responsive framework for research, education, service, and policy development to support prevention and the improvement of chronic disease outcomes. We expect recipients to use culturally responsive principles and methods to frame the development, implementation, and evaluation of culturally appropriate approaches to prevent and improve chronic disease outcomes. The culturally responsive framework should include the following components: Language Access, Communication, and Education, Training, and Technical Assistance.

We expect recipients to reach diverse subpopulations within their focus population and improve focused chronic disease outcomes. Within the first three months of the project, recipients should develop a language access plan that is consistent with the guidance provided in the National Culturally and Linguistically Approaches Services (NCLAS). In subsequent years, recipients should update and submit the plan as part of the non-completing continuation application.

We expect recipients to continue increasing reach and bi-directional communication with community leaders in their focus population. Enhanced communication should improve focused chronic disease outcomes and prevention. Within the first three months of the project, recipients should develop a communication plan to help guide the promotion of project activities conducted by the CIIHE for AI/AN, NHPI, and other audiences who may benefit. Thereafter, recipients should update and submit the plan each year as part of the non-competing continuation application. Each recipient should develop and maintain an interactive website and quarterly e-newsletter publication that will provide information to the CIIHE advisory board members, Indigenous leaders, community partners and partnering organizations throughout the period of performance.

We expect recipients to provide culturally grounded and linguistically appropriate education, training, and technical assistance to partners and stakeholders interested in preventing and improving chronic disease disparities among their focus population. Within the first six months of the project, recipients should develop a plan that supports capacity-building among partners and stakeholders to address identified gaps and needs in the populations of focus relative to the prevention and improvement of chronic disease outcomes.

b. Establish CIIHE Advisory Board

Recipients should jointly convene and manage a CIIHE advisory board that will advise on CIIHE objectives, activities, and priorities that support prevention and improvement of chronic disease outcomes. Recipients will establish the organizational structure, operational framework for and governance structure of the CIIHE Advisory Board. The Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) should actively participate on the advisory board. OMH will serve as an ex officio member on the advisory board. The advisory board should: have equitable representation of AI/AN and NHPI community leaders, community organizations, and community members; and, be inclusive of community-based practitioners serving AI/AN and NHPI populations with lived experiences to identify emerging issues and inform CIIHE priorities.

c. Strengthen Partnerships

Recipients should establish new and strengthen existing partnerships with academic institutions, Indigenous leaders, and community partners to support CIIHE activities. We strongly encourage recipients to partner with Minority Serving Institutions or other similar academic institutions with a focus on Indigenous health, policy, and innovation among AI/AN or NHPI populations.

Find the full definition and list of Minority Serving Institutions here https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/assets/PDF/2020_Minority_Serving_Institutions.pdf.

d. Process and Outcomes Evaluation

We expect recipients to implement a rigorous process and outcomes evaluation designed to show the extent to which the project results in:

Increased community capacity and expanded knowledge of evidence-informed practices, solutions, and lessons learned that are culturally appropriate and address health disparities in AI/AN or NHPI populations.

Increased utilization of effective strategies, services, and tools to reduce AI/AN or NHPI health disparities.

Improved AI/AN or NHPI health outcomes and reduction of health disparities.

Recipients should establish processes and procedures to collect disaggregated data by types of activities, race and ethnicity, and language when possible.

e. Disseminate Findings and Results

We expect recipients to identify and disseminate culturally appropriate evidenced-informed practices, promising approaches, and lessons learned from the project to Indigenous communities, policymakers, community organizations and other parties who might be interested in project results. Recipients should use innovative dissemination tools such as storytelling and/or other culturally appropriate methods. We expect that nationwide dissemination of products and knowledge will occur. We may publish (including on a website), all appropriate findings and products (Section F.8). Dissemination materials should be freely, immediately, and equitably accessible to the public.

f. Disparity Impact Statement

Recipients are expected to develop a disparity impact statement (DIS) during the period of performance using local data to identify populations at highest risk for health disparities relative to this initiative. Additional information and links to resources are available in Section I.2.

g. Sustainability Plan

Recipients will be expected to develop a plan during the fourth year for sustaining the evidenced-based and evidence-informed practices established through their projects beyond this funding https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/assets/PDF/2020_Minority_Serving_Institutions.pdf.

opportunity.

3. Federal Agency Substantial Involvement

Recipients will receive funding under a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is a form of assistance that allows for substantial involvement by federal agency. Additional details of the substantial involvement for awards made under this NOFO are described in Section B.3.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Legal Authority

42 U.S.C. § 300u-6 (Section 1707 of the Public Health Service Act)

2. Award Information

We intend to make funds available for competing CA (Cooperative Agreement) awards.

We will fund awards in annual increments and generally for a period of performance up to 5 year(s), although we may approve shorter periods of performance. Budget periods may also vary from the estimate indicated below due to timing of award issuance or other administrative factors.

Recipients will be required to submit a non-competing continuation application for each budget period after the first. Funding for all approved budget periods beyond the first is generally level with the initial award amount and is contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, adequate stewardship of Federal funds, and the best interests of the Government.

Award Information

Estimated Federal Funds Available $4,000,000

Anticipated Number of Awards 2

Award Ceiling (Federal Funds including indirect costs) $2,250,000 per budget period

Award Floor (Federal Funds including indirect costs) $1,750,000 per budget period

Anticipated Start Date 09/30/2023

Estimated Period of Performance Not to exceed 5 year(s)

Anticipated Initial Budget Period Length 12 months

Type of Award Cooperative Agreement

Type of Application Accepted Electronic via Grants.gov ONLY unless an exemption is granted.

3. Federal Agency Substantial Involvement

Awards made under this NOFO will be cooperative agreements. A cooperative agreement is a form of assistance that allows for substantial involvement by the program office. Substantial involvement is in addition to the usual monitoring and technical assistance provided under a grant (e.g., assistance from the assigned Federal project officer, monthly conference calls, occasional site visits, ongoing review of plans and progress, participation in relevant meetings, provision of training and technical assistance). Substantial programmatic involvement for cooperative agreements under this NOFO may include:

Serving as an ex officio member on the advisory board.

Establishing the organizational structure and operational framework for the CIIHE.

Coordinating the implementation of the CIIHE.

Providing the grants management officer recommendations for prior approval for change of time that Key Personnel are dedicated to the project and for replacement of Key Personnel. Key Personnel may include the Project Director/Principal Investigator.

Assisting the recipients to establish, review, and update priorities for activities conducted under the auspices of this cooperative agreement.

Approving the final priorities for activities conducted under the auspices of this cooperative agreement.

Assisting in establishing the governance structure of the advisory board.

Consulting relative to the advisory board membership.

Identification of other organizations with whom the recipients may be asked to develop cooperative and collaborative relationships and partnerships.

Collaborating on the development of measures, methods, and materials to be tested or used.

Collaborating to disseminate project findings and lessons learned during the period of performance.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Any public or private 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.

Private non-profit institutions of higher education are eligible to apply.

Faith-based organizations and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native American (AI/AN/NA) and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander organizations that are public or non-profit private entities are eligible to apply.

Public or non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs) are eligible to apply.

Examples of eligible Organizations include:

State governments

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 a 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

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

You are not required to provide cost sharing or matching in your proposed budget. If you voluntarily include cost sharing in your application, you must include in your budget narrative a non-federal sources justification as described in Section D.3.b.1.t or your application will be disqualified (Section C.4.k). Voluntary cost sharing is not expected for research applications.

During the merit review of an application, cost sharing will only be considered in the overall review of the adequacy of the total proposed budget (Federal and non-Federal share) to support the project proposed.

Applications including cost sharing or matching, whether required or voluntary, that result in an award will include the cost sharing or matching commitment on the notice of award at the level proposed in the application. See Section D.3.b.1.s. Any change in the responsibility to provide cost sharing or matching at that level will require prior approval of the grants management officer.

Cost-Sharing or Matching may include any in-kind contributions necessary to the execution of the proposed project (45 C.F.R. § 75.306).

3. Other - Application Responsiveness Criteria

We will review your application to determine whether it meets the responsiveness criteria below.

If your application does not meet the responsiveness criteria, we will disqualify it from the competition; we will not review it beyond the initial screening. The responsiveness criteria are as follows

The Project Abstract Summary and first paragraph of the project narrative clearly identify which population (i.e., AI/AN or NHPI) that is the focus of the project.

4. Application Disqualification Criteria

If you successfully submit an application, the OASH Grants and Acquisitions Management (GAM) Division will determine whether your application is eligible according to section C.1 Eligible Applicants. If we determine your application fails to meet the criteria described below, we will disqualify it, that is, we will not review it and will give it no further consideration.

a. You must submit your application electronically via https://grants.gov/ (unless an exemption was granted by the grants management officer 2 business days prior to the deadline) by the date and time indicated in Section D.5 of this announcement.

b. 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.

c. You must complete the required forms in the application package: SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL, and Project Abstract Summary (Section D.2.a).

d. Your application must be submitted in the English language and must be in terms of U.S. dollars (45 C.F.R. § 75.111(a)).

e. Your Project Narrative section of the application must be double-spaced, on the equivalent of 8 ½ ” x 11” page size, with 1” margins on all sides (top, bottom, left and right) and font size not less than 12 points (Section D.2.a).

f. Your Project Narrative must not exceed 50 pages. The following items do not count toward the Project Narrative page limit: all required forms, including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL, Project Abstract Summary, and Budget Narrative (including budget tables)(Section D.2.a).

g. Your total application (i.e., the Project Narrative plus Appendices) must not exceed 75 pages. The following items do not count toward the Project Narrative page limit: all required forms, including SF-424, SF-424A, SF- LLL, Project Abstract Summary, and Budget Narrative (including budget tables)(Section D.2.a).

https://grants.gov/

h. Your Federal funds request including indirect costs must not be above the maximum indicated in Award Ceiling (Section B.2).

i. Your Federal funds request including indirect costs must not be below the Minimum indicated in Award Floor, if any (Section B.2).

j. Your application must meet the Other - Application Responsiveness Criteria outlined above (Section C.3).

k. If your application includes cost sharing (voluntary or required, Section C.2), you must include in your budget narrative a non-federal sources justification.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

You may obtain an application package electronically by accessing Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/. You can find it by searching on the Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number shown on page 1 of this funding opportunity announcement. If you have problems accessing the application or difficulty downloading, contact:

OASH Grants and Acquisitions Management Division

Phone: 240-453-8822

Email: OASH_Grants@hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Application Format

Your application must be prepared using the forms and information provided in the online application package. This includes but is not limited to:

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Project Abstract Summary

We encourage individuals to use their full name (first, middle, last) on the Standard Forms and other documents such as résumés/curricula vitae/biographical sketches to distinguish them for verification in the System for Award Management exclusion records. Delays may result in award processing if full names are not provided.

Only one Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) will be named on any resulting award.

You should clearly identify the individual in that role in your application. This individual should be the person who will be responsible for the programmatic aspects of the project if an award is made. A placeholder PD/PI is strongly discouraged because this may not present a clear picture for the review. Furthermore, once an award is issued a request for a change in PD/PI requires prior approval of the grants management officer (45 C.F.R. § 75.308(c)(1)(ii-iii)).

https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:OASH_Grants@hhs.gov

The Project Narrative, and total application including appendices, must adhere to the page limit indicated in Application Disqualification Criteria listed in Section C.4. The page limit does not include the Budget Narrative (including budget tables), required forms, assurances, and certifications as described in the Application Disqualification Criteria.

You must double-space the Project Narrative pages.

Your application must be submitted in the English language and must be in the terms of U.S.

dollars (45 C.F.R. § 75.111(a))

You should use an easily readable typeface, such as Times New Roman or Arial. You must use 12-point font. You may single-space tables or use alternate fonts but you must ensure the tables are easy to read.

Please do not number pages or include a table of contents. Our grants management system will generate page numbers once your application is complete. If your application exceeds the specified page limits for the Project Narrative or Project Narrative plus Appendices (Section C.4(f)-(g)) when printed on 8.5” X 11” paper as determined by OASH/GAM, the application will not be reviewed further. We recommend you print out your application before submitting electronically to ensure that it is within the page limits and is easy to read.

b. Appendices Format

Your appendices should include any specific documents outlined in Section D.3.c, under the heading “Appendices” in the Application Content section of this announcement. Your documents should be easy to read. You should use the same formatting specified for the Project Narrative.

However, documents such as résumés/curricula vitae, organizational charts, tables, or letters of commitment may use formatting common to those documents, but the pages must be easy to read. All of your appendices must be uploaded as a single, consolidated file in the Attachments section of your Grants.gov application.

c. Project Abstract Summary Format

You must complete the Project Abstract Summary form provided in the application package. The abstract will be used to provide reviewers with an overview of the application and will form the basis for the application summary in grants management and program summary documents.

Furthermore, if your project is funded, HHS will publish the abstract from your form on TAGGS.hhs.gov and USASpending.gov. The abstract may also appear on the program office website or other government website. Therefore, do not include sensitive or proprietary information in your abstract.

d. Budget Narrative Format

The Budget Narrative should use the formatting required of the Project Narrative for the explanatory text. Budget tables may be single-spaced but should be laid out in an easily-readable format and within the printable margins of the page.

3. Application Content

Successful applications will contain the following information:

a. Project Narrative Content

The Project Narrative is the most important part of the application, because it will be used as the primary basis to determine whether your project meets the minimum requirements for an award under this announcement. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. We recommend that your project narrative include the following components: 1) Problem Statement; 2) Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes; 3) Project Approach; 4) Work Plan; 5) Organizational Capacity; 6) Evaluation and Performance Measurement; 7) Dissemination Plan;

and 8) Sustainability Approach.

You must identify only one of the two focus populations—AI/AN populations or NHPI populations—at the top of the first page of your Project Narrative. You may submit more than one application (e.g., one focused on AI/AN, and another on NHPI populations), but each application may only have one focus population.

1. Problem Statement

Describe the scope of the problem that will be addressed by the proposed project, including the disproportionate impact on the AI/AN or NHPI population of focus attributed to loss of traditional practices, language, and culture. To support your description, use quantitative data to describe the subpopulation(s) of focus at highest risk for experiencing disparities. You should refer to the data table you provide in your appendices (Section F.3.c). Describe the specific needs of the focus population that will be addressed, including the gaps in indigenous research, service, education and policy that link to AI/AN or NHPI health disparities.

2. Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes

Describe your project’s proposed goal(s), objectives, and outcomes. The goals should be achievable by the end of the period of performance. Your objectives should be SMARTIE (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound, inclusive, equitable) and include baseline data and quantifiable timeframes for achievement. Objectives should focus on overall goals of the project rather than project activities. You should clearly identify the culturally relevant chronic disease, organizational, and system outcome(s) measures that will result from your project, and provide specific, quantified estimate of expected outcome(s).

We will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes. A “measurable outcome” is an observable end-result that describes how a particular intervention benefits program participants. It demonstrates the “impact” of the intervention. For example, a change in a participant’s financial, health, and/or functional status; mental well-being;

knowledge; skill; attitude; awareness; or behavior.

3. Project Approach

Describe how the project will address chronic disease health disparities experienced by your population of focus. You should also describe strategies and activities to be undertaken and how they will assist in achieving the overall CIIHE goals and objectives. Specifically, you should describe your approach for the following components.

Utilizing a culturally responsive framework to support and build system capacity for research, education, service, and/or policy development.

Integrating culturally appropriate activities to address gaps and opportunities to improve chronic disease health disparities in AI/AN or NHPI populations as part of capacity-building efforts.

Identifying steps to be taken for developing the Language Access, Communication, Education, Training, and Technical Assistance components of the culturally responsive framework using the CLAS standards

Establishing and managing a CIIHE Advisory Board.

Establishing and strengthening partnerships to assist with capacity-building efforts to advance your project goals and objectives.

Identifying potential barriers to implementing your project and describing plans to overcome those barriers.

4. Work Plan

In reference to the work plan in your appendices (Section D.3.c), describe the rationale behind your work plan and how the specific goals and objectives of the project lead to the anticipated outcomes. Plans should also detail the specific population and/or culturally focused activities that will help you accomplish the project objectives. The roles and responsibilities should be clear for project staff and subrecipients, including how they will specifically contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes.

5. Organizational Capability

Describe your organization’s capability and capacity to successfully implement the proposed project. Describe how your organization (or the particular division of your organization) is organized, the nature and scope of its work, and the capabilities it possesses. Refer to the organizational chart in your appendices (See Section D.3.c) showing the relationship of the project to the current organization. Include capabilities of the organization not included elsewhere in the project narrative, such as any relevant experience or the record of the project team in preparing cogent and useful reports, publications, and other products. Describe the team's experience in translating evidence-informed interventions for widespread scale-up;

disseminating best practices and lessons learned for addressing AI/AN or NHPI health disparities.

Specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: project leadership;

monitoring the project’s ongoing progress; preparation of reports; and communications with other partners and OMH. Describe the oversight responsibilities for monitoring, tracking, and reporting progress on the project’s tasks and objectives. Clearly identify the individual who will serve as the Project Director /Principal Investigator/Project Director (PD/PI).

Throughout the project the PD/PI should have involvement in, and substantial knowledge about, all aspects of the project.

Identify all key personnel whose contributions are essential to the implementation of the project. Key personnel include the PD/PI and Evaluator for the project. Key Personnel also includes those who will oversee the technical, professional, managerial, and/or assume responsibility for assuring the validity and quality of your project. Describe the qualifications, expertise, competing time commitments, and related ongoing projects of all key personnel as supported by the curricula vitae / resumes / biographical sketches submitted in your appendices (Section D.3.c). Provide descriptions of all vacant key personnel positions and your anticipated timeframe for filling those positions.

Describe the collaborative partnerships that will support project activities. Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) or Letters of Commitment (LOCs) (Section D.3.c) should support these descriptions. Describe the role(s) and makeup of partners intended to be involved in completing specific tasks and the anticipated level of effort and responsibility of each in programmatic activities.

Describe your previous working relationships with Indigenous leaders and communities, access to Indigenous networks, and your partners’ connections to the focus population.

Describe your capability and capacity to convene a diverse network of Indigenous leaders, community partners and organizations. Describe your organization’s experience or approach to building trust with the focus population.

Describe your organization’s skills, experience, capability, or capacity for forming, managing, engaging, and partnering with organizations in the implementation of health-related projects. Also include information about any contractors and/or consultants that will have a role(s) in implementing the project and achieving project goals. Describe partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) or other similar organizations. Find the full definition and list of MSIs here:

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edliteminorityinst.html. (see also https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/assets/PDF/2020_Minority_Serving_Institutions.pdf.)

6. Evaluation and Performance Measurement

Describe the methods you will use to evaluate whether the project achieves its measurable outcome(s) and assess the impact of project activities. Refer to the logic model in your appendices (Section D.3.c). The logic model should demonstrate linkages between objectives, inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Describe your approach for collecting baseline data and establishing targets. Explain your interim and post-intervention assessment process, time-frames and outcome measures. Also describe how you will measure and report on the outcomes of the project, including how you will use process and outcome evaluation techniques to analyze the goals and objectives of the proposed program.

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edliteminorityinst.html.

https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/assets/PDF/2020_Minority_Serving_Institutions.pdf.)

Identify the individuals/organizations responsible for evaluation activities and their qualifications. Provide a compelling rationale for how the evaluator will maintain independence.

Describe both the quantitative and qualitative tools and techniques that you will employ to measure the outcome(s) and how you will identify and document the “lessons learned.”

Provide your plan for statistical analysis, including plans for overcoming any potential obstacles or managing any bias. Describe your approach for collecting disaggregated data, when possible, by types of activities, race/ethnicity, and language. Describe how baseline data will be collected and established, including any data related to chronic diseases and health disparities.

Describe how you will report and use performance measurement and evaluation findings to demonstrate the outcomes of the project and continuous quality improvement. Describe how evaluation and performance measurement will lead to an evidence base for addressing the limited availability of strong and culturally appropriate data for addressing AI/AN or NHPI disparities.

Discuss how your evaluation design will clearly establish whether the evidence-informed intervention(s) result in a statistically significant (e.g., power analysis, Bayesian analysis, or another method) impact on key health outcomes.

7. Dissemination Plan

Describe how you will document and disseminate your results and findings in a timely manner, as well as easily understandable formats to the populations served, the public, and other parties who might be interested in using the results of the project. When published, any journal articles or other products should be freely, immediately, and equitably accessible to the public.

Describe your approach to developing and implementing an interactive website for community engagement and information dissemination.

Describe other, innovative approaches to informing parties who might be interested in using the results of your project to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policymaking, especially to those parties who would be interested in replicating the project.

b. Budget Narrative Content

You must complete the required budget forms and submit a budget narrative with detailed justification as part of your application. You must enter the project budget on the Budget Information Non-construction Programs standard form (SF-424A) according to the directions provided with this standard form. The budget narrative consists of a detailed line-item budget that includes calculations for all costs and activities by "object class categories" identified on the SF-424A and justification of the costs.

Project budget calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient to verify the calculations. If matching or cost sharing is required, you must include a detailed listing of any funding sources identified in box 18 of the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance). You must state the method you are selecting for your indirect cost rate. See Indirect Costs (Section D.3.b.1.o) for further information. If you are providing in-kind contributions of any type or value, including costs otherwise covered by your indirect cost rate, you must identify those costs, and you should, as appropriate, include the value of the in-kind contribution as proposed cost-sharing (voluntary or required) (45 C.F.R. § 75.306).

Please be sure to carefully review Section D.7 Funding Restrictions for specific information regarding allowable, unallowable, and restricted costs.

You must provide an object class category budget using Section B, box 6 of the SF-424A for the first year of the proposed project. For awards with an anticipated period of performance of one year or less, this will be the budget request for the entire project. Provide a budget justification, which includes explanatory text and line-item detail, for the entire first year of the proposed project. The budget narrative should describe how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocation of the proposed costs.

For subsequent budget years in an anticipated multi-year project, provide a summary narrative and line-item budget for each year beyond the first. For categories or items that differ significantly from the first budget year, provide a detailed justification explaining these changes.

Do not include costs beyond the first budget period in the object class budget in box 6 of the SF- 424A or box 18 of the SF-424; the amounts entered in these sections should only reflect the first budget period.

Your budget narrative should justify the overall cost of the project as well as the proposed cost per activity, service delivered, and/or product. For example, the budget narrative should define the amount of work you have planned and expect to perform, what it will cost, and an explanation of how the result is cost-effective. If you are proposing to provide services to clients, you should describe how many clients you expect to serve, the unit cost of serving each client, and how this is cost-effective.

Use the following guidelines for preparing the detailed object class budget required by box 6 of the SF-424A. The object class budget organizes your proposed costs into a set of defined categories outlined below. Both federal and non-federal resources (if applicable) must be detailed and justified in the budget narrative. "Federal resources" refers only to the HHS/OASH funds for which you are applying under this NOFO. "Non-federal resources" are all other non- HHS/OASH federal and non-federal resources. We recommend you present budget amounts and computations in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, federal funds requested; third column, non-federal resources; and last column, total budget.

Object Class Federal Funds Requested

Non-federal Resources

Total Budget

Personnel $100,000 $25,000 $125,000

Subrecipient/contract and consultant detailed costs should all be included in those specific line items, not in the overall project object class line items. For example, subrecipient travel should be included in the Contractual line item not in Travel. Subrecipient/contract and consultant activities must be described in sufficient detail to describe accurately the project activities that each will conduct.

1. Object Class Descriptions and Required Justifications

a. Personnel Description

Costs of staff salaries and wages, excluding benefits.

b. Personnel Justification

Clearly identify the PD/PI, if known at the time of application. Provide a separate table for personnel costs detailing for each proposed staff person: the title; full name (if known at time of application), time commitment to the project as a percentage or full-time equivalent: annual salary and/or annual wage rate; federally funded award salary; non-federal award salary, if applicable; and total salary. No salary rate may exceed the statutory limitation in effect at the time you submit your application (see D.7.2) Funding Restrictions, Salary Rate Limitation for details). Do not include the costs of consultants, personnel costs of delegate agencies, or of specific project(s) and/or businesses to be financed by the applicant. Contractors and consultants should not be placed under this category.

Position Title and

Full Name

Percent Time

Annual Salary

Federally-funded Salary

Non-federal Salary

Total Project Salary

Project Director, John K. Doe

50% $100,000 $50,000 $0 $50,000

Data Assistant, Susan R.

Smith

10% $30,000 $3,000 $3,000

c. Fringe Benefits Description

Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as part of an approved indirect cost rate.

d. Fringe Benefits Justification Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes, retirement insurance, and taxes.

e. Travel Description Costs of travel by staff of the applicant organization only. Do not include travel costs for subrecipients or contractors under this object class.

f. Travel Justification For each trip proposed for applicant organization staff only, show the date of the proposed travel, total number of traveler(s); travel destination; duration of trip; per diem; mileage allowances, if privately owned vehicles will be used; and other transportation costs and subsistence allowances. Do not include travel costs for subrecipients or contractors under this object class.

g. Equipment Description Equipment means tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the non- Federal entity for financial statement purposes, or $5,000. (Acquisition cost means the cost of the asset including the cost to ready the asset for its intended use.

Acquisition cost for equipment, for example, means the net invoice price of the equipment, including the cost of any modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. Acquisition costs for software includes those development costs capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in transit insurance, freight, and installation may be included in or excluded from the acquisition cost in accordance with the non- Federal entity’s regular accounting practices.) See 45 C.F.R. § 75.2 for additional information.

h. Equipment Justification For each type of equipment requested you must provide a description of the equipment; the cost per unit; the number of units; the total cost; and a plan for use of the equipment in the project; as well as a plan for the use, and/or disposal of, the equipment after the project ends. An applicant organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide a copy of its policy, or section of its policy, that includes the equipment definition; include this with your Budget Narrative file.

Reference the policy in this justification and include the policy copy in your Budget Narrative file (not your appendices).

i. Supplies Description

Costs of all tangible personal property other than those included under the Equipment category. This includes office and other consumable supplies with a per-unit cost of less than $5,000.

j. Supplies Justification Specify general categories of supplies and their costs. Show computations and provide other information that supports the amount requested.

k. Contractual Description

Costs of all contracts or subawards for services and goods except for those that belong under other categories such as equipment, supplies, construction, etc. Include third-party evaluation contracts, if applicable, and contracts or subawards with subrecipient organizations (with budget detail), including delegate agencies and specific project(s) and/or businesses to be financed by the applicant. This line item is not for individual consultants.

l. Contractual Justification

Demonstrate that all procurement transactions…