NOFO MP-CPI-23-001 Full Announcment.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Minority Health

Notice of Funding Opportunity: Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative

Opportunity Number: MP-CPI-23-001

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

Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative

ACTION

Notice

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

Initial CA (Cooperative Agreement)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER

MP-CPI-23-001

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: 07/06/2023 at 3:00 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 Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative to implement a fellowship program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide training in health equity issues and leadership to early career individuals to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority and other disadvantaged populations.

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. 41

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).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Minority Health (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 its demonstration grants, OMH supports the identification of effective approaches for improving health outcomes with the goal of promoting dissemination of these approaches.

We anticipate funding the Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative (HELDI) to implement a fellowship program at HHS to provide training in health equity issues and leadership to early career individuals to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority and other disadvantaged populations. Recipients will be expected to address the gap in federal fellowship opportunities for individuals to advance health equity and address the social determinants of health through health policies, programs, and practices.

1. Background

Racial and ethnic minority and other disadvantaged populations suffer disparities in health services utilization [1]. Experts have noted that ensuring diverse public health and healthcare workforce is a key strategy for increasing access to and quality of healthcare for vulnerable populations and decreasing health disparities [2,3]. The Center for Creative Leadership found that healthcare organizations need to create strategies to "provide current and future leaders, broad, cross-organizational experiences and learning"[7]. Efforts to establish, promote, and conduct health equity training programs are an important mechanism for achieving a diverse public health and healthcare workforce [2].

According to a 2021 JAMA article, data shows that minorities are under-represented in the health care professions [4]. Specific to the federal government, there is concern regarding the shortage of minority leadership in senior positions across agencies. For example, the 2022 OPM Annual Report indicated that the Senior Executive Service consisted of 75.67% White, 11.66% Black/African American, 1.24% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 4.68%, Asian, and 5.07% Hispanic/Latino individuals [5]. With at least 90% of the U.S. population growth between 2010 and 2050 expected to be made up of racial and ethnic minority groups, the issue of workforce diversity must be addressed [6]. This initiative is expected to develop a cadre of diverse health professionals with leadership skills and competencies necessary for improving the health of racial and ethnic minority and other disadvantaged populations.

2. Expectations for Funded Projects

Award recipients under this announcement should meet each of the below expectations in the execution of their funded project.

a. Develop and implement a Health Equity Leadership Development Project

We expect recipients to develop and implement a project to support a 9 to 12-month fellowship for graduate-level students and recent graduates who have completed their graduate degree within the previous two years. The project should focus on developing skills and creating opportunities for federal experience in health equity, health disparities, public health, and the social determinants of health for project participants. Participants will benefit from participation in the following ways:

Preparation for career opportunities within public health agencies Increased awareness and competency in health equity knowledge and practice

We expect recipients to utilize the OMH curriculum and training modules to educate and engage fellows in health policy issues and processes, with a focus on health disparities and health equity;

to improve cultural competence; and to build leadership skills aligned with core competencies (e.g., leading change, leading people, results driven, business acumen, and building coalitions) for federal leadership. An overview of the OMH curriculum is provided on grants.gov under Related Documents for this NOFO.

In addition to the OMH curriculum and modules, we expect project activities to incorporate facilitated professional experiences and supplemental learning opportunities focused on areas such as leadership and technical skills development. These activities may include webinars, guest speaker seminars, training sessions, or innovative approaches toward the desired outcomes. We encourage recipients to explore innovative approaches to case studies, panels and/or guest speaker presentations on health equity centered policies, programs, and practices.

We expect recipients to implement experiential training in federal leadership core competency areas (e.g., leading change, leading people, results driven, business acumen, and building coalitions), health disparities and health equity, public health, and social determinants of health.

We expect recipients to provide mentoring and coaching, for up to 10 fellows each year of the project, to support practice of leadership and technical skills, and to support the design of a career pathway to leadership.

b. Provide fellowship project management and oversight.

We expect recipients to develop and implement a process to manage and provide oversight of the project that should include, but is not limited to processes for:

1. Fellow Recruitment

Recruit potential fellows interested in health equity, health disparities, public health, and the social determinants of health through diverse and tailored methods. We encourage recipients to partner with Minority Serving Institutions and with racial and ethnic minority organizations to maximize recruitment outreach. A list of Minority Serving Institutions can be found at:

https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/assets/PDF/2020_Minority_Serving_Institutions.pdf . A list of racial and ethnic minority organizations can be found at:

https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/content.aspx?ID=147&lvl=1&lvlID=3.

2. Identification of Fellow Housing Options

Ensure that fellows have access to safe housing options that are located within a reasonable distance of the fellows' host site(s) (e.g., within 20 miles) and near public transportation.

3. Host Site Recruitment

Collaborate with us to recruit HHS sites to host fellows that have meaningful public health, social determinants of health, health equity and/or health disparities projects and programs.

4. Fellow Selection, Placement, and Stipend

Select fellows, with OMH approval, through an application process that includes an application review protocol and developed selection criteria. Provide federal placement recommendations and coordinate with assistance from OMH to match fellows with identified HHS host sites aligned with each fellow's individual interests. Manage a process for fellow stipend distribution. A flat rate stipend amount will be determined in consultation with OMH.

5. Fellow Orientation

Develop and implement an orientation for the fellows prior to the start of their fellowship experience. The orientation should the following components: overview of the recipient’s program components (e.g., mentorship, webinars, speakers), expectations for the fellowship, information on housing and stipends, and host site information (e.g., on-boarding process, placement). Recipients should also include other relevant topics in the orientation that would contribute to a meaningful experience for the fellows.

6. Fellow Engagement

Develop a system to track each fellow's progress during the fellowship relative to activities that: facilitate networking and learning among fellows, develop leadership competencies for advancing health equity, and develop awareness of the federal hiring system (e.g., resume preparation, interviewing) and employment opportunities.

7. Fellow Follow-Up Post Fellowship

Work with us to conduct post-participation assessments with fellows. Develop activities that sustain and support the fellow’s interest in and awareness of federal and other career opportunities in public health leadership.

https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/assets/PDF/2020_Minority_Serving_Institutions.pdf https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/content.aspx?ID=147&lvl=1&lvlID=3

c. Participate in evaluation activities

We expect recipients to participate in the process and outcomes evaluation. We expect recipients to work with us to evaluate the implementation and impact of the initiative, which is expected to result in the following primary outcomes at the individual fellow level:

Increased opportunities for federal fellowship experiences in advancing health equity and addressing the social determinants of health through health policies, programs, and practices.

Increased knowledge and technical skills that align with the core Federal leadership competencies (e.g., leading change, leading people, results-driven, business acumen, and building coalitions).

Increased competency in health equity knowledge and practice.

d. Disseminate project knowledge and findings

Recipients should document project knowledge and findings, to include the implementation process, lessons learned, successes and challenges. Recipients should communicate and disseminate project knowledge and findings, to include dissemination to federal, state, territorial and tribal public health agencies; policymakers; community organizations, community members;

and other stakeholders. Dissemination products should be freely, immediately, and equitably accessible to the public.

e. Disparity Impact Statement

We expect recipients to develop a disparity impact statement (DIS) during the project period 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.4.

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 3 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.

We anticipate offering a competing continuation for an additional budget period for the purpose of providing funding to support selected recipients in transitioning successful projects to sustainability. Funding available for this additional budget period is not guaranteed at all nor expected to be at the same level of previous budget periods.

Award Information

Estimated Federal Funds Available $2,000,000

Anticipated Number of Awards 3

Award Ceiling (Federal Funds including indirect costs) $700,000 per budget period

Award Floor (Federal Funds including indirect costs) $600,000 per budget period

Anticipated Start Date 09/01/2023

Estimated Period of Performance Not to exceed 3 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:

Prior approval for change of time that Key Personnel are dedicated to the project and for replacement of Key Personnel, who will oversee the technical, professional, managerial, and essential support functions and/or assume responsibility for assuring the validity and quality of your organization’s project.

Review and approval of implementation plans prior to execution.

Facilitation of coordination across HELDI projects across recipients.

Review and approval of the selection process for fellows, fellow placements, and requests for placement changes.

Identification and final selection of fellowship host sites.

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

Consultation with recipients throughout the preparation and dissemination of materials related to the project.

Review and prior approval of materials that incorporate OMH or other HHS logos.

Review and approval of fellow housing site selections.

Review and approval of the amount, management, and oversight of stipend payments to fellows.

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/Alaskan Native/Native American (AI/AN/NA) 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

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

There are no Other - Application Responsiveness Criteria.

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 https://grants.gov/ 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).

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:

https://www.grants.gov/

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)).

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.

mailto:OASH_Grants@hhs.gov

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, since 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) Organizational Capability; and 5) Dissemination Plan.

1. Problem Statement

Describe in this section the scope of the problem addressed by your proposed project, including how it will contribute to improved health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations, and advance health equity. You should describe how your project will address the gaps and barriers related to diversity in the public health workforce and the expected impact of the project on health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations.

2. Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes

Describe in this section your project’s goal(s), major objectives, and associated outcomes. Use SMARTIE (specific, measurable, accurate, relevant, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable) objectives that include baseline data and quantifiable timeframes for achievement. Identify the measurable outcome(s) that will result from your project, and provide specific, quantified estimate of expected outcome(s). A “measurable outcome” is an observable end-result that describes how a particular intervention benefits program participants. It demonstrates the “impact” of the intervention. Your goals, objectives and outcomes should link to the activities described in your Project Approach section and the Work Plan in your appendices. We will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes.

3. Project Approach

(a) Work Plan

Describe your work plan in reference to the document provided in your appendices. We encourage you to use the Optional Work Plan (OWP) Template to provide a detailed work plan with the goals, objectives, and outcomes for the 3-year period of performance, including major tasks, action steps, or products that you will pursue or develop to achieve the goal and outcome(s). Describe the approach you will use to monitor and track progress on the tasks and objectives. For each major task of each year, action step, or product, you should identify the timeframes involved (including start- and end-dates), and the lead person responsible for completing the task. Your narrative should reflect and be consistent with your work plan and budget narrative and must describe all years of the proposed project.

(b) Fellowship Logistics

Describe your innovative approach for each of the following areas.

Incorporation of the OMH curriculum modules into the fellowship experience.

Fellowship-related work experiences, supplemental learning, experiential training, mentoring, and coaching. Supporting fellowship experiences and work on efforts focused on one or more of the following: health equity, health disparities, and the social determinants of health.

Fellow orientation.

Monitoring participant progress throughout the project and post fellowship follow-up activities.

Establishing, managing, and distributing fellow stipends.

Identifying fellow housing options.

Outreach to recruit potential fellows with a demonstrated interest in health equity, health disparities, public health, and the social determinants of health.

(c) Recruitment and Selection

Describe your approach for each of the following areas:

Collaborating with appropriate entities to identify candidates who are interested in health equity, health disparities, public health and the social determinants of health. Entities may include institutions of higher education, relevant professional associations, organizations, and groups with an interest in health equity..

Developing procedures for fellow selection, including selection criteria.

Assisting OMH in the recruitment of potential HHS host sites willing to place fellows in meaningful public health, social determinants of health, health equity and/or health disparities projects to which fellows can be assigned, based on their individual areas of interest.

4. Organizational Capability

Describe your organization’s current mission, scope of current activities and capabilities, and how these elements contribute to your ability to implement a project under the HELDI. Describe your experience working and recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, their graduate degree. Demonstrate your organization’s capacity to provide experiential training in health equity and leadership to fellows while providing adequate supervision.

Demonstrate your organization’s experience or capability in successfully administering grant programs of similar size and scope. Demonstrate your organization’s readiness to effectively initiate the intended program activities within the first 90 days of the project. You should describe your organization's readiness for achieving the stated measurable outcomes within the anticipated project period.

Clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of project staff and sub-recipients and their specific contributions toward achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. Describe areas of expertise for key personnel in reference to the curricula vitae, résumés, or biographical sketches in your appendices (Section D.3.c). Key personnel include the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) and those individuals who will oversee the technical, professional, managerial, and support functions and/or assume responsibility for assuring the validity and quality of your organization’s project. Clearly identify the individual who will serve as the PD/PI. For all key personnel describe each individual's qualifications, competing time commitments and related ongoing projects. We expect that throughout the award period the PD/PI will have involvement in, and substantial knowledge about, all aspects of the project.

Describe the collaborative partnership(s) which will support project activities. Describe the role and makeup of partners intended to be involved in completing specific tasks. Describe the anticipated level of effort and responsibilities of each partner in completing programmatic activities. Refer to any Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) or Letters of Commitment (LOCs) submitted in your appendices.

5. Dissemination Plan

You should describe the method that will be used to document and disseminate your project’s implementation process, findings, results, successes, challenges, and lessons learned during the period of performance in plain language to the target audience, the general public, and other parties who may be interested in using the results of the project. Therefore, you should propose innovative approaches to informing parties who might be interested in using the results of your project to inform practice and/or program development, especially to those parties who would be interested in replicating the project. Dissemination products should be freely, immediately, and equitably accessible to the public. All appropriate findings and products may be posted on an HHS/OMH sponsored website. See Section F.9 HHS Rights to Materials and Data.

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.

Sample Budget Table 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.

Sample Personnel Table 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 will be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open, and free competition. Recipients and subrecipients are required to use 45 C.F.R. § 75.329 procedures and must justify any anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded without competition and exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold fixed by 41 U.S.C. § 134 and currently set at $250,000. Recipients may be required to make pre-award review and procurement documents, such as requests for proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost estimates, etc., available to HHS/OASH.

Whenever you intend to transfer a substantive part of the project effort to another entity (including non-employee individuals), you must provide a detailed budget and budget narrative for each subrecipient/contractor, by title/name, along with the same supporting information referred to in these instructions. If you plan to select the subrecipients/contractors post-award and a detailed budget is not available at the time of application, you must provide information on the nature of the work to be transferred, the estimated costs, and the process for selecting the subrecipient/contractor.

m. Other Description

Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to: consultants; insurance; professional services (including audit charges); space and equipment rent; printing and publication; training, such as tuition and stipends; participant support costs including incentives, staff development costs; and any other costs not addressed elsewhere in the budget.

n. Other Justification

Provide computations, a narrative description, and a justification for each cost under this category.

o. Indirect Costs Description

Total amount of indirect costs. This category has one of two methods that you may select. You may only select one and must clearly identify that selection in your submitted budget.

Your organization currently has an indirect cost rate approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or another cognizant federal agency. You should enclose a copy of the current approved rate agreement in your Budget Narrative file. If you request a rate that is less than allowed, your authorized representative must submit a signed acknowledgement that the organization is accepting a lower rate than allowed.

Per 45 C.F.R. § 75.414 (f) Indirect (F&A) costs, “any non-Federal entity [i.e., applicant] that has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, … may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. As described in § 75.403, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs, but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-Federal entity may apply to do at any time.”

The de minimis rate method only applies if you have never received an approved negotiated indirect cost rate from HHS or another cognizant federal agency. If you are waiting for approval of an indirect cost rate, you may request the 10% de minimis rate. If you choose this method, costs included in the indirect cost pool must not be charged as direct costs to the award.

Indirect costs on Federal awards for training are limited to a fixed rate of eight percent of MTDC exclusive of tuition and related fees, direct expenditures for equipment, and subawards in excess of $25,000 (45 C.F.R. § 75.414 (c)(1)(i)).

p. Indirect Costs Justification

Provide the calculation for your indirect costs total, i.e., show each line item included in the base, the total of these lines, and the application of the indirect rate. If you have multiple approved rates, indicate which rate as described in your approved agreement is being applied and why that rate is being used. For example, if you have both on-campus and off-campus rates, identify which is being used and why.

q. Program Income Description

Program income means gross income earned by your organization that is directly generated by this project if funded except as provided in 45 C.F.R. § 75.307(f).

Program income includes but is not limited to income from fees for services performed or the use or rental of real or personal property acquired under the award.

Interest earned on advances of Federal funds is not program income. Except as otherwise provided in Federal statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of the Federal award, program income does not include rebates, credits, discounts, and interest earned on any of them. See also 45 C.F.R. § 75.307 and 35 U.S.C. §§ 200- 212 (applies to inventions made under Federal awards).

r. Program Income Justification

Describe and estimate the sources and amounts of program income that this project may generate, if funded. All program income generated as a result of awarded funds must be used within the scope of the approved project-related activities. Any program income earned by the recipient must be used under the addition/additive method unless otherwise specified in Section C.2. These funds should not be added to your budget, unless you are using the funds as cost sharing or matching, if applicable. This amount should be reflected in box 7 of the SF-424A.

s. Non-Federal Resources Description

Amounts of non-federal resources that will be used to support the project as identified in box 18 of the SF-424. For all federal awards, any shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, must be accepted as part of the recipient’s cost sharing or matching when such contributions meet all of the criteria listed in 45 C.F.R. § 75.306.

For awards that require matching by statute, you will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in your application budgets and budget justifications by budget period or by period of performance for fully-funded awards, even if the justification by budget period, or by period of performance for fully-funded awards, exceeds the amount…