mn11-1101 final foa amend iii 12.17.12.doc

Amendment III (11/30/2012):

1. Page 2 - Correct the title of the FOA to, The CDC’s National Undergraduate Student Program: A Public Health Workplace Experience to Increase Student Interest in Public Health. This is not a solicitation for application submission

2. Page 9 – Add the sentence, “While service strategies will target minority students in outreach and recruitment efforts, all students are eligible for this program.”

3. Page 16 - Add the sentence, “While service strategies will target minority students in outreach and recruitment efforts, all students are eligible for this program.”

Amendment II (05/06/2012):

The budget guidance in Section III, “AWARD INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS” under the “Approximate Average Award: $150,000 - $850,000.” “Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $3.2 million” is hereby being clarified to read as follows: The award amount is for the first twelve (12)-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs. Also, this amendment is to correct the Administrative and National Policy Requirements, page 45: Executive Order 12372 was removed.

Amendment I (04/01/2011):

1. Page 1 & page 33 - Correct the due date of the Letter of Intent (LOI)

2. Page 28 - Include the information for the Pre-Application Teleconference Call, Dial-in number - 888-566-6511, Date – April 5 & 6, 2011, Pass Code – 9712517;

3. Page 33 - Correct the Application Deadline date,: May 23, 2011

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CDC’s National Undergraduate Student Program: A Public Health Workplace Experience to Increase Student Interest in Public Health

This is not a solicitation for application submission

I. AUTHORIZATION AND INTENT

Announcement Type: New – Type 1 Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-MN11-1101

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Investigations and Technical Assistance Key Dates:

Letter of Intent Deadline Date:

Application Deadline Date: May 23, 2013, 5:00 p.m. EST Authority: This program is authorized under Sections: 207(f), 301 and 1704 of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. Sections 209(f), 241, and 300u-3], as amended.

Table of Contents

I. Authorization and Intent

Pg 3

Background

Pg 4

Purpose

Pg 10

II. Program Implementation

Pg 14

Program Area A

Pg 15

Program Area B

Pg 19

Program Area C

Pg 21

CDC Activities

Pg 23

III. Award Information and Requirements

Pg 23

IV. Eligibility

Pg 25

V. Application Content

Pg 27

Application Submission

Pg. 31

VI. Application Review Information

Pg 37

VII. Award Administration Information

Pg 48

VIII. Agency Contacts

Pg 51

Background:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) announces the fiscal year (FY) 2011 availability of approximately $3.2 million per year for five (5) years to enhance CDC’s ability to eliminate health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations by supporting national public health workforce development for up to five (5) cooperative agreement awards. These awards will support a summer program for undergraduate students in public health careers and other health professions, including those underrepresented in health professions; a national undergraduate student coordination center that will provide support and coordination across the grant recipients in order to allow accomplishment of the overarching program goals; and the James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship program for graduate students. [Note: The term “under-represented” refers to those population groups reported by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) as severely under-represented among the nation’s health professionals, including African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, many Hispanic/Latino populations, some Asian Americans (e.g., Hmong and other Southeast Asians), Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.]

CDC Mission

CDC’s mission involves collaborating to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.

CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with public health institutions throughout the nation and the world to:

· monitor health

· detect and investigate health problems

· conduct research to enhance prevention

· develop and advocate sound public health policies

· implement prevention strategies

· promote healthy behaviors

· foster safe and healthful environments

· provide leadership and training

These functions are the backbone of CDC′s mission. Each of CDC′s component organizations undertakes these activities in conducting their specific programs. The steps needed to accomplish this mission are also based on scientific excellence, requiring well-trained public health practitioners and leaders dedicated to high standards of quality and ethical practice. This FOA supports both the long-term increase in the number of well-trained public health professionals and the long-term increase in the diversity of the public health professions.

African Americans, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are significantly underrepresented among the nation’s physicians, nurses, dentists, and other health occupation categories. For example, currently African-Americans comprise less than 4% of physicians and occupy fewer than 2% of professor level faculty positions at U.S. medical schools. Members of minority groups account for only about 8% of physicians in practice. Data also shows a need for enhanced diversity in the public health workforce and reductions in the drastic gaps in key public health occupational categories. One-third (1/3) of the current public health workforce will be eligible to retire within five (5) years and twenty percent (20%) of the current public health workforce in local health departments will be eligible to retire within two (2) years. Further, inadequate numbers of public health practitioners are being trained. Consequently, major shortfalls are anticipated among public health workers in general during the next decade.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has identified increasing the number of minority health professionals as a key strategy to eliminate health disparities . According to the IOM, diversity among health professionals improves access to care among racial and ethnic minorities, in regards to: patient choice and satisfaction, patient-clinician communication, health care quality, and certain other healthcare processes and outcomes. In its report, “In the Nation’s Compelling Interest, Ensuring Diversity in the Health Care Workforce,” the IOM suggests that a sustained emphasis on increasing access to health careers among historically under-represented populations is critically important to support growth and increased diversity in the overall public health workforce.

CDC’s public health workforce development programs help to ensure a competent, diverse and sustainable public health workforce prepared to meet current and emerging health promotion and protection priorities. These programs are comprised of fellowship and student programs, training services, leadership and management development activities, strategic workforce development services, and workforce science and research activities. As an anticipated outcome of this effort, CDC expects to increase the number of frontline public health workers and other public health professionals, including individuals from under-represented racial and ethnic minority groups, to address ongoing and emerging health challenges.

For over twenty (20) years, OMHHE has collaborated with educational institutions, including those serving minority populations, to increase the knowledge, diversity, and skills of students in public health through internship and fellowship programs. Reports from current CDC grantees funded in the past five years indicate that as many as sixty-eight percent (68%) of former interns are now public health practitioners, ninety percent (90%) of these practitioners have advanced degrees, and approximately fifteen percent (15%) are working at CDC. These results demonstrate the utility of such programs in increasing access to health professions careers, particularly among historically under-represented populations.

Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPIIs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) are valuable resources to the nation, and are recognized by CDC as important catalysts in the delivery of education to our nation’s minorities. Most of the graduates from these institutions are minorities under-represented in health professions. For example, the purpose of historically black medical and other health profession schools was established in order to teach and prepare minority professionals and to serve in minority communities. The mission of these institutions has been closely aligned with addressing the issue of health disparities. Historically black medical schools not only graduate a high proportion of under-represented minorities, these institutions top the list in producing physicians who provide care to minority and underserved populations.

CDC seeks to fund organizations able to reach students, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations, to ultimately increase the diversity of the public health workforce, improve the representation of minority populations in public health, and in general to increase the quality of public health services nationally.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) addresses the “Healthy People 2020” (HP2020) overarching goal to achieve health equity, eliminate health disparities, and improve the health of all groups.

Outcomes of the program align with CDC’s mission. The performance goals of both CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity and the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities (NPA), include:

1. Awareness: Increase awareness of the significance of health disparities, their impact on the Nation, and the actions necessary to improve health outcomes for racial, ethnic, and other disparities populations.

2. Leadership: Strengthen and broaden leadership for addressing health disparities at all levels.

3. Health System and Life Experience: Improve health and healthcare outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities and for underserved populations.

4. Cultural and Linguistic Competency: Improve cultural and linguistic competency and the diversity of the health-related workforce.

To obtain information on the NPA’s National Plan for Action, the following link has been provided: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/npa/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=1&lvlID=31.

Purpose:

The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to create a national program for the exposure of undergraduate students, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations, to public health and biomedical sciences. CDC is soliciting applications from organizations and institutions to serve as component sites for a ten (10)-week national undergraduate student summer program. Each site will demonstrate expertise in serving students, including those in underrepresented populations (African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders). While seeking to increase the exposure of minority students in particular, all students are eligible for this program. The selected grantee(s) will be responsible for recruiting a total of two hundred (200) students, per year, securing internship placements at CDC and other public health agencies (e.g., state and local health departments and laboratories, schools of public health), selecting/training mentors, providing housing and transportation, providing a stipend to students, tracking students’ progress during and up to 24-months after the internship, following up with students over the course of the project period to maintain their interest in public health, and sharing information about careers in public health including working directly with students to complete graduate school applications, job applications, etcetera, as they relate to future public health or biomedical science careers. Students will receive a one (1) week orientation course on public health principles, science, and approaches preceded by a one (1) week orientation provided by the grantee. Subsequently, they will be assigned to mentors and projects that provide hands-on experience working on public health problems, using science and program tools, and intervening with populations that are severely impacted by diseases and poor health outcomes.

CDC will fund one (1) successful applicant – a National Undergraduate Student Coordination Center, to serve in a coordinating role, to be responsible for managing relationships and communications across grantees; to identify common objectives, processes, and performance outcome measures across the sites. This successful applicant will also provide guidance, technical assistance, and ongoing monitoring and support to the national undergraduate student programs.

CDC will also fund one (1) applicant to administer the eight (8)-week James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship which will target graduate and professional students, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations, in medicine, public health, veterinary medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy. The intent of this program is to support the training of up to twenty (20) students per year at the graduate-level in the practice of public health research.

Eligible applicants may therefore apply to conduct activities in one or more of the following three (3) Program Areas.

Program Areas

(A) Recruitment, Orientation, Placement, Mentorship, and Follow-up Tracking of Undergraduate Students – To serve as a site for a total of two-hundred (200) students per year, including those who self-identify as African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders, or American Indian and Alaska Native, through placements in public health, academic and similar settings in the United States and its territories. Internship activities will include: an orientation week at the host site; a week of orientation that is led by the National Undergraduate Student Coordination Center and CDC; practicum work and internship activities; and an oral and written presentation. Students will be mentored by public health professionals at placement sites at CDC and other public health agencies.

Funds will also support strengthening the educational and professional development of the students, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations, who complete the programs through ongoing tracking, mentorship, and career/educational planning support. Tracking and monitoring students over time (ie: to determine annually the status of the student's progress in their educational and career pursuits) is necessary as a means to evaluate the effect of the program. Tracking methods will include but not be limited to the use of internet-based communication tools and social networking software. Monitoring will collect data on both the tracking activities and responses from students over time.

(B) National Undergraduate Student Coordination Center – to serve as a Coordination Center that will ensure communication among funding recipients of Program Area A, cooperation and consistency in the development and implementation of the overall program content, and process monitoring of the student internship sites funded under this cooperative agreement. This Center will work closely with CDC to provide technical assistance, maintain the quality and efficiency of the national internship program, and manage relationships and communications across each of the funded sites. Applicants must apply for Program Area (A), above, to be eligible to apply under program area (B).

(C) James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship -- Recruitment, Placement, Training and Mentorship of Graduate Students – To serve as a training site for up to twenty (20) graduate students per year, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations, through professional training placements in public health, academic and similar settings in the United States and its territories. Fellowship activities will include an orientation week at the host site, practicum work, and an oral and written presentation of the student’s accomplishments supervised by public health professionals at internship placement sites at CDC and other public health agencies.

This announcement is only for non-research activities. If research is proposed, the application will not be reviewed. For the definition of research, please see the CDC web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/regs/hrpp/researchDefinition.htm.

II. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.

1. General Recipient activities required by all applicants: (Program Areas

A – C)

· Establish and sustain collaborative relationships with academic institutions including, but not limited to: HBCUs, HSIs, AANAPIIs, TCUs, as well as public health institutions and organizations.

· Develop culturally-competent and linguistically appropriate informational materials about this program for academic institutions and public health organizations including, but not limited to: HBCUs, HSIs, AANAPIIs, TCUs, and other minority-serving organizations, policy leaders, and student representatives of underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations.

· Collect, sort, and analyze program process and outcome data for monitoring and evaluation in support of quality assurance and performance improvement.

· Submit timely quantitative and qualitative assessment data, progress reports and annual program plans.

· Communicate nationally using virtual meeting technology and electronic communication systems.

· Work collaboratively with CDC and CDC-funded grantees in on-going program planning, implementation and monitoring activities.

· Allocate 3 – 5% of total program budget towards the support of the proposed program monitoring and evaluation activities.

Recipient Activities: Program Area A

Student Recruitment, Placement, Training and Mentorship

Up to four (4) grantees will be funded under this Program Area to support multiple undergraduate student sites at various locations in the United States and its territories. This program area is comprised of four (4) broad components to meet this objective: student recruitment/orientation, student placement, mentor identification/training, and student mentorship.

A.1 Student Recruitment/Orientation: The selected grantee(s) will recruit approximately 200 undergraduate students interested in minority health and health professions per year. The recruitment strategy should use a multidisciplinary and participatory process that includes the involvement of local academic and public health institutions and organizations, as well as minority associations and groups. The target audience for recruitment is:

1. Undergraduate students who have successfully completed a minimum of two (2) years (or equivalent) of undergraduate study and are currently enrolled in a four (4)-year accredited college or university;

2. Recent college graduates having received their four (4)-year degree from an accredited college or university in the past twelve (12) months;

Even though future enrollment in a graduate public health degree program is not a requirement for placement, it is important for the program to recruit students who may be undecided about their career choices.

A.2 Student Placement: Applicants must describe how they will provide administrative and logistical oversight to the placement sites. The applicant must describe how they will place students in appropriate locations, such as, but not limited to; CDC, state and local health departments, academic settings, as well as University-affiliated hospitals and community health centers. Placements must also involve the student in a substantive public health project or activity. The placement must allow an opportunity for the student to learn about how public health work is conducted and the various requirements needed to begin and advance in a public health career.

Note: Funded grantees will be expected to establish formal agreements with the locations where students are recruited or placed in order to ensure adherence to the components of the program plan and performance expectations. The applicant, however, must be the lead organization that provides direct and ongoing oversight and services at each of the locations of the proposed activities where such agreements are established.

A.3 Mentor Selection/Training: Applicants must describe in detail how learning opportunities will be provided to undergraduate students through identification of appropriate public health professional mentors. Areas may include those of: biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health education, health policy, health promotion, microbiology, occupational safety and health, and public health practice. The applicant should describe how they will recruit a cadre of effective senior-level mentors to enhance students’ exposure/experience and ensure that students receive support throughout the assignment period. The applicant must describe the common performance expectations of the mentors. The applicant must also describe the steps needed to ensure that mentors are appropriately prepared and supported to consistently adhere to performance expectations.

An instructionally sound and CDC-approved experiential agenda should result in measurable increases in skills and knowledge. Learning objectives, instructional strategies, and assessment methods should be included in the proposal. References on the design of an appropriate orientation program appear in the Application reference packet. To access the contents of the Application Reference Packet, link to the following website: National Undergraduate Student Program, http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/programs.html A.4 Student Mentorship: The applicant should describe how communications with the student will be sustained and enhanced during and after the internship activities. Applicant should describe how they might establish an electronic tracking system that maintains a database of students participating in the program to ensure the capacity to communicate with the students post-graduation (for at least 24-months beyond completing this program). Communication after completion of the program should continue beyond the attainment of the academic degree in order to best support the entry of students into a public health graduate program or employment. Examples of post-graduate engagement are those that use a variety of communication technologies, peer-based and participatory networks, and continued access to academic and professional development resources.

Upon receipt of award funds, each of the grantees will be expected to fulfill common specific operational functions and to work collaboratively with CDC and with each other in achieving the goals of this cooperative agreement.

Specific grant recipient activities include:

1. Design and implement a summer public health experiential placement program for undergraduate students, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations. While service strategies may include a focus on minority students in outreach and recruitment efforts, all students are eligible for this program.

2. Participate with CDC in developing an orientation agenda for students – one week is expected to be completed at the grantee’s location and a second week at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

3. Announce the program to undergraduate students in academic and public health organizations, including students from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations.

4. Establish approximately three (3) to five (5) non-CDC placement sites through written agreements with academic, public health and/or other appropriate settings.

5. Recruit and select undergraduate students (a total of 200), including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations

6. Orient, place, mentor and follow-up with those students selected.

7. Recruit, orient and support mentors at the placement sites.

8. Participate in the development and coordination of a one-week orientation course at the grantee’s location.

9. Provide transportation and lodging for selected students, training site counselors, coordinators and project directors to attend the CDC training.

10. Provide a stipend to each student.

11. Demonstrate the ability to develop/utilize electronic systems for follow-up and tracking of students up to 24-months beyond their completion of this program.

12. Participate in a multi-site program monitoring and evaluation effort.

13. Conduct student tracking and follow-up activities to maintain student exposure and interest in public health (e.g., facilitate knowledge of graduate school and post-doctoral opportunities, application assistance, career planning).

14. Participate in collaborative meetings and discussions with CDC and peers sponsored by this funding opportunity announcement.

Recipient Activities: Program Area B

National Undergraduate Student Coordination Center

The program will be coordinated by a single grantee whose purpose is to work with CDC to ensure that each of the grantees funded under Program Area A function using a common set of implementation processes and assessment activities in their respective student sites regardless of location, program model or specific strategies. In addition, the organization funded under this Program Area will ensure a repository of information on the activities and outcomes, and support ongoing interaction with students who complete the program. The National Undergraduate Student Coordination Center will provide technical assistance to grantees, maintain efficiency of the overall program, and manage relationships and communications across each of the funded sites.

Specific Activities include:

1. Lead the development of an orientation agenda to be implemented by each grant recipient.

2. Provide technical assistance to each recipient site in the development of recruitment criteria and strategies, identification of mentors and placements, tracking, and monitoring and retention strategy implementation.

3. Participate as the lead grantee in the coordination of a one-week CDC orientation, conducting the course in collaboration with CDC.

4. Identify challenges in the implementation of the program and work with CDC and grantees to resolve any problems that are associated with program implementation and effectiveness.

5. Monitor all program sites to ensure consistency and adherence to standard implementation procedures, communication processes, and assessment and monitoring practices in pursuit of common goals and objectives of the overall program.

6. Collect, manage, and analyze program data from all sites.

7. Prepare annual reports summarizing relevant student and institutional data demonstrating progress and impact of the program.

8. Schedule and facilitate face-to-face and video conference meetings of grantees to plan implementation steps, discuss challenges, and report on progress toward achieving program objectives.

9. Provide logistical and administrative support for the planning and conduct of cross-site collaborative meetings, including written summaries of actions taken and planned during the meetings.

10. Serve as a repository and point of contact for inquiries related to the overall program.

11. Develop informational materials to highlight the benefits and successes of CDC’s national undergraduate student program.

12. Utilize electronic means of communication to share information and link the activities of multi-site grantees.

13. Collect evaluation data across all sites and produce a comprehensive evaluation of the overall program.

Recipient Activities: Program Area C

James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

One applicant will be funded to conduct the James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program and will be expected to implement the following activities under Program Area C:

1. Participate with CDC in developing a core set of fellowship competencies common to all fellowship training and assessment activities.

2. Participate with CDC in identifying prerequisite entry–level skills and knowledge required to achieve the fellowship’s core competencies by the end of the fellowship.

3. Announce the program to the academic institutions and public health organizations.

4. Recruit graduate and professional students, including students of underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations, in medicine, public health, veterinary medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy (approximately 20 per year).

5. Provide a stipend per student.

6. Demonstrate the ability to utilize electronic tools for enhancing student learning and skill acquisition.

7. Conduct fellowship tracking and follow-up activities to maintain student exposure and interest in public health once the fellowship has ended (e.g., facilitate knowledge of graduate school and post-doctoral opportunities, application assistance, career planning).

8. Participate in program meetings with CDC and grant recipients funded through this funding opportunity announcement.

9. Work with CDC to orient, place, and monitor progress of Ferguson Program students in 8-week assignments overseen by CDC mentors.

10. Design and facilitate in-service public health training activities to be completed during the 8-week assignment.

CDC Activities:

In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring. CDC accomplishes this through the implementation of several activities and initiatives including:

· In collaboration with grantees, CDC will participate in the development and implementation of a one (1)-week training course as part of the required intern activities for the students recruited across all sites and grantees funded under Program Area A.

· Assist in identifying mentors at CDC.

· Provide office space for the summer students and fellows placed at CDC.

· Convene semi-annual meetings with grantees to facilitate collaboration and information sharing.

· Provide guidance and technical assistance to grantees in carrying out this program.

· Conduct on-site program monitoring visits to provide technical assistance to improve the design, implementation and performance evaluation of grantee activities.

· Convene regular grantee communication and collaborative program planning activities.

III. AWARD INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. CDC has substantial involvement in this program, as indicated in the “CDC Activities” section above.

Award Mechanism: U50 Fiscal Year Funds: 2011 Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $3.2 million

(This amount is an estimate subject to availability of funds for the first twelve (12)-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs.)

Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $16 million

Approximate Number of Awards:

Program Area A - 1 to 4; range of awards - $680,000- $2,850,000

Program Area B - 1 award at $150,000

Program Area C – 1 award at $150,000

Approximate Average Award: $150,000 - $850,000. (This amount is for the first twelve (12)-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs.)

Floor of Individual Award Range: None.

Ceiling of Individual Award Range: $2,850,000 (This ceiling is for the first twelve (12)-month budget period and includes both direct and indirect costs.)

Anticipated Award Date: July 31, 2011.

Budget Period Length: 12 months.

Project Period Length: Five years.

Throughout the project period, CDC’s commitment to continuation of awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of satisfactory performance by the recipient (as documented in required reports and site visit observations), and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

IV. ELIGIBILITY

Eligible applicants that may apply for this funding opportunity include: institutions with expertise in working with institutions of higher education, including, but not limited to: those that are designated as HBCUs, TCUs, AANAPIIs, HSIs; those institutions of higher education with a documented record of success in minority student enrollment; and minority-serving national and regional organizations who have a documented history of serving racial and ethnic minority students. Eligible organizations in general are listed below:

· Nonprofit with 501©(3) IRS status (other than institution of higher education)

· Universities

· Colleges (including community-colleges)

· National, Regional and Community-based organizations

· Faith-based organizations

· Federally recognized or state-recognized American Indian/Alaska Native Tribal governments

· American Indian/Alaska Native Tribally designated organizations

· Alaska Native health corporations

· Urban Indian health organizations

· Tribal Epidemiology Centers

A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified by the state as eligible to submit an application under the state eligibility in lieu of a state application. If applying as a bona fide agent of a state or local government, a letter from the state or local government as documentation of the status is required. Attach with “Other Attachment Forms” when submitting via www.grants.gov.

SPECIAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Licensing/Credential/Permits

Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching funds are not required for this program.

Maintenance of Effort

Maintenance of Effort is not required for this program.

Other

If a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range is requested, the application will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process. The applicant will be notified that the application did not meet the eligibility requirements.

Special Requirements:

· Proof of status as a national organization or academic institution, such as by its indication in writing in the body of the organization’s mission statement.

· Proof of 501 (c)(3) status

· Three letters of support from a public health or academic institution where potential student interns will be placed.

Note: Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611 states that an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds constituting a grant, loan, or an award.

Intergovernmental Review of Applications

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Content

Applicants may receive no more than one (1) award per organization. Applicants may apply for up to three of the Program Areas. Applicants interested in competing for Program Area B must also apply for Program Area A. All applicants must address in their application the general recipient activities outlined in section one (1) below. Note: For purposes of this funding opportunity announcement, applicants applying through a consortium must be the lead organization for all proposed activities. As the lead organization, the applicant must demonstrate the intent and capacity to conduct the majority, or fifty-one percent (51%) or more, of the proposed activities.

Unless specifically indicated, this announcement requires submission of the following information:

A Program Abstract/Summary (1 – 2 pages) must be completed in the Grants.gov application forms. The Project Abstract must contain a summary of the program area(s) and the proposed activities suitable for dissemination to the public. Only one abstract should be included in the application regardless of the number of areas proposed. It should be a self-contained description of the program area(s) and should contain a statement of objectives and methods to be employed. It should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and insofar as possible understandable to a technically literate lay reader. This abstract must not include any proprietary/confidential information.

A Table of Contents (1 – 2 pages) must be included that enumerates each section of the proposal, page numbers and identifies all attachments.

A Program Area Narrative (5 - 10 pages) must be submitted specific to the program area proposed in the application. If applying for more than one program area, the application should include a complete narrative section for each. As part of the program narrative, a description of the need that the program plan addresses, substantiated by relevant data that support the demand of stated services. The body should outline a logical approach for how the proposed program will be operationalized and implemented.

A Description of Organizational Capacity (5 - 10 pages) a mission statement must be included that explains the relationship between the organization’s mission and the mission of the project proposed to implement the program activities. Secondly, the narrative should include a description of the organizational infrastructure that will be engaged or developed to support, implement and sustain the program. Included in the body of the narrative is an explanation of the relationship between the program, the proposed activities and the intent of the award. Thirdly, the description should outline the technical capacity of the existing or proposed staff to implement the program as described.

A Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (5- 10 pages) A program area-specific monitoring and evaluation plan must be submitted that outlines: the internal logic of the program design; process monitoring and assessment criteria and methods; performance quality and success benchmarks; roles and responsibilities of the identified personnel, and implementation timelines. Supporting documentation for the monitoring and evaluation plan can be provided as attachments separate from the narrative page limit.

The project narrative, plan and budget must be uploaded in a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov. The narrative must be submitted in the following format:

· Maximum number of pages: 95. If the narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will be reviewed. If applying for one Program Area, the maximum number of pages is 35.

· Font size: 12-point unreduced, Times New Roman

· Double-spaced

· Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches

· Page margin size: One inch

· Number all narrative pages; not to exceed the maximum number of pages.

The narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period.

Applicants applying for any category must submit a separate monitoring and evaluation plan, with a single itemized budget that appropriately disaggregates the allocation of funds distinctly for each Program Area proposed.

Additional information may be included in the application appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative page limit. Additional information submitted via Grants.gov should be uploaded in a PDF file format, and should be named:

· Curriculum Vitae or Resumes

· Organizational Charts

· Education Framework Logic Models

· 3-5 Existing Letters of Support from an academic institution

· Documentation certifying your ability to function as a national organization

· Sample educational and promotional materials

· Evaluation reports of past performance on similar programs as proposed

· Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

· Most recent audit report

No more than 10 items should be uploaded per application.

Additional requirements for additional documentation with the application are listed in Section VII, “Award Administration Information”; subsection entitled “Administrative and National Policy Requirements.”

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Pre-Application Teleconference Call

A teleconference call is scheduled to discuss the intent of the funding announcement and allow potential applicants to ask general questions. The details of the teleconference are as follows:

Date: April 5 and 6, 2011 Time: 2:00 p.m. EST to 3:30 EST

Dial-in Number: 888-566-6511 Participant pass code: 9712517 Registering your organization through www.Grants.gov, the official agency-wide E-grant website, is the first step in submitting an application online. Registration information is located on the “Get Registered” screen of www.Grants.gov. Please visit www.Grants.gov at least 30 days prior to submitting your application to familiarize yourself with the registration and submission processes. The “one-time” registration process will take three to five days to complete. However, the Grants.gov registration process also requires that you register your organization with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) annually. The CCR registration can require an additional one to two days to complete.

Submit the application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this funding opportunity on www.Grants.gov. If access to the Internet is not available or if the applicant encounters difficulty in accessing the forms on-line, contact the HHS/CDC Procurement and Grant Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO TIMS) staff at (770) 488-2700 for further instruction.

Note: Application submission is not concluded until successful completion of the validation process.

After submission of your application package, applicants will receive a “submission receipt” email generated by Grants.gov. Grants.gov will then generate a second e-mail message to applicants which will either validate or reject their submitted application package. This validation process may take as long as two (2) business days. Applicants are strongly encouraged to check the status of their application to ensure submission of their application package is complete and no submission errors exist. To guarantee that you comply with the application deadline published in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, applicants are also strongly encouraged to allocate additional days prior to the published deadline to file their application. Non-validated applications will not be accepted after the published application deadline date.

In the event that you do not receive a “validation” email within two (2) business days of application submission, please contact Grants.gov. Refer to the email message generated at the time of application submission for instructions on how to track your application or the Application User Guide, Version 3.0 page 57.

Other Submission Requirements

· Letter of Intent (LOI):

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows CDC Program staff to estimate and plan the review of submitted applications.

Requested LOIs should be provided not later than by the date indicated in the Section I, entitled “Authorization and Intent”.

Prospective applicants are requested to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

· Descriptive title of proposed project.

· Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator/Project Director.

· Names of other key personnel.

· Participating institutions.

· Number and title of this funding opportunity.

LOI Submission Address: Submit the LOI by express mail, delivery service, fax, or E-mail to:

Julio Dicent Taillepierre Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road, MS E -67

Atlanta, GA 30333

Telephone: 770-488-8204

Fax: 770-488-8140

E-mail: jtt5@cdc.gov

· Applicants who are interested in submitting an application to more than one Program Area must submit a separate document for each Program Area specific to the following items: Program Plan; Organizational Capacity; and, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

· The budget for multiple Program Areas must be submitted using a disaggregated budget line item where each individual budget does not exceed the specific ceiling or the total budget exceeds the overall ceiling.

Dun and Bradstreet Universal Number (DUNS)

The applicant is required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) identifier to apply for grants or cooperative agreements from the Federal government. The DUNS is a nine-digit number which uniquely identifies business entities. There is no charge associated with obtaining a DUNS number. Applicants may obtain a DUNS number by accessing the Dun and Bradstreet website or by calling 1-866-705-5711. International registrants can confirm by sending an e-mail to ccrhelp@dnb.com, including Company Name, D-U-N-S Number, and Physical Address, and Country.

Electronic Submission of Application:

Applications must be submitted electronically at www.Grants.gov. Electronic applications will be considered as having met the deadline if the application has been successfully made available to CDC for processing from Grants.gov on the deadline date.

The application package can be downloaded from www.Grants.gov. Applicants can complete the application package off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov web site. The applicant must submit all application attachments using a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov. Directions for creating PDF files can be found on the Grants.gov web site. Use of file formats other than PDF may result in the file being unreadable by staff.

Applications submitted through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), are electronically time/date- stamped and assigned a tracking number. The AOR will receive an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the application. The tracking number serves to document submission and initiate the electronic validation process before the application is made available to CDC for processing.

If the applicant encounters technical difficulties with Grants.gov, the applicant should contact Grants.gov Customer Service. The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the exception of all Federal Holidays. The Contact Center provides customer service to the applicant community. The extended hours will provide applicants support around the clock, ensuring the best possible customer service is received any time it’s needed. You can reach the Grants.gov Support Center at 1-800-518-4726 or by email at support@grants.gov. Submissions sent by e-mail, fax, CD’s or thumb drives of applications will not be accepted.

Organizations that encounter technical difficulties in using www.Grants.gov to submit their application must attempt to overcome those difficulties by contacting the Grants.gov Support Center (1-800-518-4726, support@grants.gov). After consulting with the Grants.gov Support Center, if the technical difficulties remain unresolved and electronic submission is not possible to meet the established deadline, organizations may submit a request prior to the application deadline by email to PGO TIMS for permission to submit a paper application. An organization's request for permission must: (a) include the Grants.gov case number assigned to the inquiry, (b) describe the difficulties that prevent electronic submission and the efforts taken with the Grants.gov Support Center, and (c) be submitted to PGO TIMS at least 3 calendar days prior to the application deadline. Paper applications submitted without prior approval will not be considered.

If a paper application is authorized, the applicant will receive instructions from PGO TIMS to submit the original and two hard copies of the application by mail or express delivery service.

Submission Dates and Times

This announcement is the definitive guide on application content, submission, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in the application instructions. If the application submission does not meet the deadline published herein, it will not be eligible for review and the applicant will be notified the application did not meet the submission requirements. The application face page will be returned by HHS/CDC with a written explanation of the reason for non-acceptance.

Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline Date: April 15, 2011, 5:00 p.m. EST (See full explanation in note found in Section V., “Application Submission”.)

Application Deadline Date: May 23, 2011 Explanation of Deadlines: Application must be successfully submitted to Grants.gov by 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time on the deadline date.

VI. Application Review Information

Eligible applicants are required to provide measures of effectiveness that will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of the CDC-RFA-MN11-1101. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the performance goals stated in the “Purpose” section of this announcement. Measures of effectiveness must be objective, quantitative and measure the intended outcome of the proposed program. The measures of effectiveness must be included in the application and will be an element of the evaluation of the submitted application.

Evaluation Criteria Eligible applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:

Summary (1 – 2) pages

Background/Need (1- 3 pages)

Program Plan (5 – 10 pages)

Organizational Capacity (5 – 10 pages)

Monitoring and Program Evaluation Plan (5 – 10 pages)

Total possible pages for a single category – 35 pages

Total possible pages for two categories -- 65 pages

Total possible pages for all three categories – 95 pages Total possible points for all three Program Areas – 300

Program Area A – 100 total possible points

Criteria:

Proposed Implementation Plan (40 Points)

·…