REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

(COMPETITIVE)

PROCUREMENT ID NUMBER – PHPA 4126/ BPM059686

Issue Date: 11/09/2026

Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund Research

Grants

NOTICE

A Prospective Applicant that has received this document from the Maryland Department of Health, or that has received this document from a source other than the Procurement Officer, and that wishes to assure receipt of any changes or additional materials related to this RFA, should immediately contact the

Procurement Officer and provide the Prospective Applicant’s name and mailing address so that addenda to the RFA or other communications can be sent to the Prospective Applicant.

09/2024

STATE OF MARYLAND

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

RFA KEY INFORMATION SUMMARY SHEET

Request for Applications: Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund Research Grants

Solicitation Number: PHPA 4126/BPM059686

RFA Issue Date: November 9, 2026

RFA Issuing Office: Maryland Department of Health

Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

Cancer and Chronic Disease Bureau

Center for Cancer Prevention and Control

Procurement Officer: Kelsey Johnson

Maryland Department of Health

Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

201 West Preston Street

Baltimore, MD 21201 e-mail: kelsey.johnson1@maryland.gov

Grant Monitor: Sadie Peters, MA, MD, MHS

Center for Cancer Prevention and Control

201 West Preston Street, Fourth Floor

Pre- Proposal Conference: December 14, 2026 Local Time, at 2:00 pm

Questions due date and time: January 22, 2027 Time: 2:00 pm EST Local Time

Applications are to be sent to: eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA)

(https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?Return

Url=%2fpage.aspx%2fen%2fbuy%2fhomepage). For questions and/or technical assistance, please contact emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov. In addition, you may visit https://procurement.maryland.gov for additional information.

Closing Date and Time: January 29, 2027 Time: 2:00pm EST Local Time https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2fpage.aspx%2fen%2fbuy%2fhomepage https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2fpage.aspx%2fen%2fbuy%2fhomepage mailto:emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov https://procurement.maryland.gov/

SECTION 1 - GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Summary Statement

1.1.1 The Maryland Department of Health (MDH or the Department), Center for Cancer Prevention and Control is issuing this Request for Applications (RFA) to provide grants for pediatric cancer research under the Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund (Fund).

1.1.2 For this solicitation, “Applicant Organization” is defined as an organization applying to receive a grant under the Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund. An Applicant Organization’s authorized representative may act on behalf of, or submit an application on behalf of, the organization.

1.1.3 It is the State’s intention to obtain services as specified in this RFA, from an Agreement between the selected Applicant and the State. The anticipated duration of services to be provided under this Agreement is two years. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027.

1.1.4 MDH intends to make up to 12 awards of no more than $200,000 per year for each of two years as a result of this RFA.

1.1.5 Each Applicant Organization may not submit more than nine (9) separate applications under this solicitation.

1.1.6 Applicant Organizations, either directly or through their subcontractor(s), must be able to provide all services and meet all the requirements requested in this solicitation and the successful

Applicant Organization shall remain responsible for performance regardless of subcontractor participation in the work.

1.2 Contract Type

1.2.1 The Agreement resulting from this solicitation shall be a Fixed Price Contract.

1.3 Procurement Officer

1.3.1 The sole point of contact in the State for purposes of this solicitation prior to the award of any

Agreement is the Procurement Officer at the address listed below:

Kelsey Johnson

Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

201 West Preston Street e-mail: kelsey.johnson1@maryland.gov

1.3.2 The Department may change the Procurement Officer at any time by written notice.

1.4 Grant Monitor

1.4.1 The Grant Monitor is:

Sadie Peters

Center for Cancer Prevention and Control

201 West Preston St., Room, Fourth Floor

1.4.2 The Department may change the Grant Monitor at any time by written notice.

1.5 eMaryland Marketplace Advantage

1.5.1 Each Applicant is requested to indicate its eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) vendor number in the Transmittal Letter (cover letter) submitted at the time of its application submission to this RFA.

1.5.2 eMMA is an electronic commerce system administered by the Maryland Department of General

Services. The RFA and associated materials, the solicitation and summary of the Pre-Proposal

Conference, Applicant questions and the Procurement Officer’s responses, addenda, and other solicitation-related information will be provided via eMMA.

1.5.3 In order to receive a contract award, a vendor must be registered on eMMA. Registration is free.

Go to https://procurement.maryland.gov/, click on “Register” to begin the process, and then follow the prompts.

Note: If you are an Applicant Organization applying on behalf of multiple applicants, please ensure each applicant is registered under its own eMMA number (also called a supplier number or SUP #). An SUP can only be used once per solicitation. Please reach out to the eMMA Help desk for any additional information.

emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov

Pre-Application Conference

A pre-Application conference (Conference) will be held at the date, time, and location indicated on the

Key Information Summary Sheet.

Attendance at the Conference is not mandatory, but all interested parties are encouraged to attend in order to facilitate better preparation of their Applications. If the solicitation includes an MBE goal, failure to attend the Conference will be taken into consideration as part of the evaluation of an offeror’s good faith efforts if there is a waiver request.

It is highly recommended that ALL Prime Grantees bring their intended subcontractors to the Conference to ensure that all parties understand the requirements of the contract.

MBE subcontractors are encouraged to attend the Conference to market their participation to potential prime contractors.

Following the Conference, the attendance record and summary of the Conference will be distributed via the same mechanism described for amendments and questions (see Section 1.5.2 eMMA).

a https://procurement.maryland.gov/ mailto:emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov

1.6 Questions

1.6.1 Written questions from prospective Applicants will be accepted by the Procurement Officer.

Questions to the Procurement Officer shall be submitted via e-mail to the following e-mail address: Kelsey.johnson1@maryland.gov. Please identify in the subject line the Solicitation

Number and Title.

1.6.2 Questions are requested to be submitted no later than the due date indicated on the RFA Key

Information Summary Sheet. The Procurement Officer, based on the availability of time to research and communicate an answer, shall decide whether an answer can be given before the

Application due date.

1.7 Application Due (Closing) Date and Time

1.7.1 Applications, in the number and form set forth in Section 4.2 “Applications' ' must be received by the Procurement Officer, in eMaryland Marketplace (eMMA) no later than 2:00 pm EST Local

Time on January 29, 2027 in order to be considered.

1.7.2 Requests for an extension of this time or date will not be granted. Applications received after the due date and time listed in this section will not be considered. Questions regarding this solicitation should be directed (By e-mail only, no phone calls will be accepted) to the

PROCUREMENT OFFICER.

1.7.3 Applications may be modified or withdrawn by written notice received by the Procurement

Officer before the time and date set forth in this section for receipt of Application. When an application is withdrawn, the Applicant Organization shall not be permitted to substitute another existing or new application in place of the one withdrawn after the application deadline. This prohibition shall be in place even when the withdrawn application reduces the Applicant

Organization’s total applications to less than nine (9).

1.8 Award Basis

1.8.1 Grants under this RFA may be awarded for a maximum of two years.

1.8.2 Grants awarded under this RFA may fund applied research, basic research, clinical research, community-based participatory research, and translational research that is focused on cancers affecting children and adolescents up to 20 years-of-age (see Attachment H for a definition of research types).

1.8.3 The Grantee Organization (Grantee) is defined as an organization awarded and that receives a grant under the Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund.

1.9 Revisions to the RFA

1.9.1 If it becomes necessary to revise this RFA before the due date for Applications, the Department shall endeavor to provide addenda to all prospective Applicant Organizations that were sent this

RFA, or which are otherwise known by the Procurement Officer to have obtained this RFA.

1.9.2 Acknowledgment of the receipt of all addenda to this RFA issued before the Application due date shall be included in each Transmittal Letter accompanying each Applicant Organization’s application (as many as nine [9]). Acknowledgement of the receipt of addenda to the RFA issued after the Application due date shall be in the manner specified in the addendum notice. Failure to acknowledge receipt of an addendum does not relieve the Applicant Organization from complying with the terms, additions, deletions, or corrections set forth in the addendum.

1.10 Cancellations

1.10.1 The State reserves the right to cancel this RFA, accept or reject any and all Applications, in whole or in part, received in response to this RFA, waive or permit the cure of minor irregularities, and conduct discussions with all qualified or potentially qualified Applicant Organizations in any manner necessary to serve the best interests of the State. The State reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to award a Grant based upon the written Applications received without discussion or negotiations.

1.10.2 In the event a government entity proposes and receives the recommendation for award, the contract, application and solicitation for this RFA may be canceled, and the award processed in accordance with COMAR 21.01.03.01.A(4). If the services that are the subject of the RFA are currently being provided under an interagency agreement with a public institution of higher education and the State determines that the services can be provided more cost effectively by the public institution of higher education, then the RFA may be canceled in accordance with Md.

Code Ann., State Finance and Procurement Art., § 3- 207(b)(2).

SECTION 2 – MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Applicant Mandatory Requirements

Each Applicant Organization must provide proof with its application that the following Mandatory

Requirements have been met:

2.1.1 Each Applicant Organization shall be a social organization as defined per Section 7-402 of the

State Finance and Procurement Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland or a local, state government agency, public college or state university.

2.1.2 For social organization (not local, state government agency, public college, or state university), the Applicant Organization must be a nonprofit organization, classified by the IRS as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications must include attachments of the following documentation from the Applicant Organization:

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION: Documentation of tax-exempt status of the Applicant

Organization or the Applicant Organization’s fiscal sponsor (i.e., IRS tax exempt status determination letter)

2.1.3 Applicant Organizations may include

● nonprofit hospitals;

● educational institutions; and

● other nonprofit organizations that conduct pediatric cancer research in Maryland.

2.1.3.1 Each Maryland educational institution shall be considered as a singular Applicant

Organization, including:

• The University System of Maryland and University of Maryland Medical System, including all their campuses and health entities;

● The Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, including all their campuses and health entities, the Kennedy-Krieger Institute, and the Lieber Institute for

Brain Development; and

● All subsidiaries and locations of any other organization

2.1.4 An Applicant Organization shall not submit more than nine (9) grant applications for funding under this solicitation.

2.1.5 Each application shall designate a Contact Principal Investigator (Contact PI), who will be responsible for the conduct of each project. The Contact PI’s Applicant Organization shall receive the grant award.

2.1.6 Each application must include a Transmittal Letter on the Applicant Organization’s letterhead naming the Contact PI for that application.

2.1.6.1 For any given award year, no individual may serve as Contact PI for more than one (1) application to the Fund.

2.1.7 Applications from Multiple Principal Investigators (MPI) may be submitted, but the Contact PI’s institution must be the submitting Applicant Organization.

THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

SECTION 3 – SCOPE OF WORK

3.1 Background and Purpose

In 2022, the Maryland state legislature established the Fund within MDH to provide grants for pediatric cancer research in the State of Maryland.1 In 2024, the legislation was amended to establish the Maryland

Pediatric Cancer Research Commission (the Commission) to oversee the award of competitive grants from the Fund to public and private entities in the state. The Fund and the Commission’s goals are to enhance research on pediatric cancer in the State of Maryland. The State seeks to support the evaluation of important new scientific hypotheses and the launch of approaches that will merit further development for pediatric cancer via future expanded funding from other sources. Priorities include current and future impact in pediatric cancer, encompassing cancers diagnosed in children from birth to age 20.

The State is issuing this solicitation to provide grant funding to scientific investigators in the field of pediatric cancer to develop and advance the understanding of pediatric cancer and the techniques and modalities effective in the prevention, cure, screening, treatment of, and improving quality of life in, pediatric cancer.

3.2 Scope of Work - Requirements

The following terms are critical for this and subsequent sections:

1) An Applicant Organization is an organization applying to receive a grant under the Fund. An

Applicant Organization’s authorized representative may act on behalf of, or submit an application on behalf of, the organization.

2) A Grantee Organization is an organization receiving a grant under the Maryland Pediatric Cancer

Fund.

3) Contact PI is an individual who will be responsible for the conduct of each project.

3.2.1 General Requirements

The grant application should provide information sufficient to enable experts serving as pediatric cancer research reviewers and individuals with lived experience with pediatric cancer (e.g., pediatric cancer survivors and family members), to effectively evaluate the importance and quality of the proposed research.

3.2.1.1 Maryland-based Research

● The Contact PI shall conduct the proposed funded research in the State of Maryland.

● Nevertheless, research collaborations are encouraged, and proposed research may include unfunded collaborations with investigators who will conduct the collaborative research outside the State of Maryland.

o Children’s National Hospital will be a singular exception to this restriction to

Maryland-based organizations. Subcontracts to Children’s National Hospital may be budgeted in the application, but only to support enrollment of patients in clinical trials and for use of patient data.

3.2.1.2 Investigator Criteria

● Multiple PI (MPI) applications are encouraged.

1 Health General Article, §20-120, HB 775/SB 51 (Chapters 253 and 254 of the Acts of 2022) https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0013?ys=2024rs https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/cancer/Pages/Maryland-Pediatric-Cancer-Research-Commission.aspx https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/cancer/Pages/Maryland-Pediatric-Cancer-Research-Commission.aspx https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0775/?ys=2022rs

● An investigator may participate in multiple applications in an MPI or a non-PI role, but not as a Contact PI.

3.2.2 Scientific Summary (Limit: 1 page)

3.2.2.1 Provide a short summary of the proposed research project.

● Briefly indicate the impact for pediatric cancer, i.e. how this project is designed to impactfully advance understanding of pediatric cancer and/or the techniques and modalities effective in the prevention, cure, screening, and treatment of pediatric cancers, and improving the quality of life of individuals living with pediatric cancers.

● Note the relevant type(s) of pediatric cancer.

● Do not include any confidential or proprietary information.

3.2.3 Lay Summary (Limit 1 page).

3.2.3.1 Provide a short, non-confidential plain-language lay summary that is free of jargon that patients, their families, multi-disciplinary reviewers, and other non-experts can understand.

● If funded, the lay summary of the proposed research project will be made public.

3.2.4 Research Plan (Limit: 5 pages)

Provide a clearly structured research plan. Guidelines and templates from federal and major private research funders may be used for guidance.2

3.2.4.1 Specific Aims

List each Aim followed by its Hypothesis (if applicable) and a very succinct summary of the Experimental Approach and Anticipated Outcomes.

3.2.4.2 Background

Summarize the relevant state-of-the-art briefly and explain the combined significance and innovation of this proposed research. This section should emphasize:

o why the proposed research is especially important.

o why the specific experiments/approaches proposed solve a problem, fill a gap, and/or mitigate a limitation in pediatric cancer.

o how the field would be advanced and/or pediatric cancer outcomes improved by the likely results of this research.

3.2.4.3 Experimental Approach/Methods

o Emphasize the most important experimental nuances addressing key issues to optimize rigor and reproducibility.

o Citation is sufficient for published methods.

o Preliminary data should be included in this section, but may also, or instead, be provided or summarized in the Background section.

3.2.4.4 Pitfalls/Alternatives

o Address potential obstacles and optimal alternative approaches, especially for key aims.

3.2.4.5 Each application should also explicitly discuss the following for the proposed research:

Impact o State the importance of the likely outcomes of the proposed research toward advancing prevention, cure, screening, and treatment of pediatric cancers, and improving the quality of life of individuals living with pediatric cancers..

2 National Institutes of Health. G.400-PHS 398 Research Plan Form. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/general/g.400-phs-398-research-plan-form.htm; Accessed 7.24.26 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/general/g.400-phs-398-research-plan-form.htm https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-i/general/g.400-phs-398-research-plan-form.htm

Feasibility o Describe the experience and capacity of the research team to conduct the proposed research.

Translational Utility o Describe the likelihood that the Anticipated Outcomes (or valuable alternative outcomes) described in the grant application’s Research Plan will be translated to valuable clinical utility in pediatric cancer and/or whether fundamental understanding gained will be valuable to pediatric cancer patients, families, caregivers, and/or researchers.

3.2.5 Collaborations

3.2.5.1 List collaborations, if any.

o Summarize the synergies and operational plan of each collaboration.

o This Collaborations section is not included in the 5-page Research Plan limit.

3.2.6 References

3.2.6.1 Use any format that includes last names and first initials of all authors, title of article, journal, year, pages, PubMed Central Identification Number (PMCID) or e-publication site.

o This Reference section is not page-limited and is not included in the 5-page Research

Plan limit.

3.2.7 Research Team’s Capacity and Experience

The Application shall include description of the experience and capacity of the Applicant

Organization and the research team to conduct the research.

3.2.7.1 Biosketches

Provide biosketches for the Contact PI, MPI(s), and co-Investigators o To support documentation of each research team’s capacity and experience described in Section 3.2.7, each Application shall include biosketches for each project’s

Contact PI, co-investigators, MPIs and other investigators.

o Guidelines and templates from federal and major private research funders may be used for guidance.

3.2.7.2 Letters of Support

o A letter of support is required from each collaborator who is not proposed to be funded on this grant and/or each community stakeholder, on the collaborator’s letterhead briefly outlining the nature of the collaboration and each collaborator’s role. This section is optional, and is not page-limited, but these letters of support should be succinct (~1-2 pages).

o Note: Applications may include biosketches of each such collaborator, but this is optional (not required).

3.2.8 Grantee Post-Award Reporting

3.2.8.1 Interim Progress Reports

3.2.8.1.1 For each project funded, each Contact PI shall submit, via their Grantee

Organization, an Interim Progress Report to MDH at the end of the first project year, by the deadline set by MDH.

▪ The Interim Progress Report template will be sent electronically to PIs about 3 months prior to the end of the project year.

▪ Approval of the Interim Progress Report is required before the subsequent year’s grant award payment will be provided to the Grantee Organization.

3.2.8.2 Final Reports

3.2.8.2.1 For each project, Contact PIs shall submit, via their Grantee Organization, a Final

Report to MDH at the end of the second project year, by the deadline set by MDH.

▪ Final Report templates will be sent electronically to PIs about 3 months prior to the end of the grant’s project year.

▪ Grantee Organizations with Contact PIs who do not submit a Final Report will not be awarded new grants from future funding opportunities supported by the

Fund.

3.2.9 Grantee No-Cost Extensions

3.2.1.1 Any request for a no-cost extension of the project period shall be submitted in writing (by email) to MDH by the Contact PI via their Grantee Organization before the end of the grant period.

o A grantee may request a no-cost extension of no more than one year.

o The decision to approve any no-cost extension requests will be at the discretion of

MDH, based on recommendations received from the Commission.

3.2.10 The Americans with Disabilities Act: The Americans with Disabilities Act (https:

www.ada.gov/) protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability in services, programs, and activities. Accessibility and inclusion of diverse populations are essential to reduce health disparities for vulnerable populations. Contractors must comply with all ADA requirements in their work to ensure the needs of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations are met. This includes, but is not limited to:

● facilities and any venues used for meetings/conferences are accessible.

● requested accommodations are provided in a timely manner; and

● written and printed materials developed in accessible formats (easy to read, large print, etc.), or providing access to alternative formats.

For contracts which include direct patient care or service delivery through a program, the ADA requires entities provide full and equal access for people with disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to:

● reasonable modifications of policies, practices, and procedures.

● effective communication; and

● accessible facilities.

3.3 Invoicing

3.3.1 General

(a) All invoices shall include the following information:

● Grantee name;

● Remittance address;

● Federal taxpayer identification number (or if sole proprietorship, the individual’s social security number);

● Invoice period;

● Invoice date;

● Invoice number

● State assigned Contract number;

● State assigned (Blanket) Purchase Order number(s);

● Goods or services provided; and

● Amount due.

Invoices submitted without the required information cannot be processed for payment until the Contractor provides the required information.

(b) The Department reserves the right to reduce or withhold Grant payment in the event the

Grantee does not provide the Department with all required deliverables within the time frame specified in the Grant or in the event that the Grantee otherwise materially breaches the terms and conditions of the Grant until such time as the Grantee brings itself into full compliance with the Grant.

(c) The Grantee may be subject to additional administrative and fiscal requirements per the

MDH Human Services Agreement Manual

(https://health.maryland.gov/dca/Documents/Human%20Service%20Agreement%20Manua l%20-%20HSAM_072318.pdf).

3.3.2 Invoice Submission Schedule

The Grantee shall submit invoices, using invoices provided by MDH, in accordance with the following schedule:

Annual Invoice Performance Period Due Date

Initial July 1, 2027 – June 30, August 30, 2028

Final July 1, 2028 – June 30, August 30, 2029

3.3.3 Insurance Requirements - The recommended awardee must provide current certificate(s) of insurance with the prescribed coverages, limits and requirements set forth in this section within five (5) Business Days from notice of recommended award. During the period of performance for multi-year contracts, the Grantee shall provide certificates of insurance annually, or as otherwise directed by the Contract Monitor. Any insurance furnished as a condition of the Contract shall be issued by a company authorized to do business in the State of Maryland.

3.3.3.1 Subcontractor Insurance - The Grantee shall require any subcontractors to obtain and maintain comparable levels of coverage and shall provide the

Contract Monitor with the same documentation as is required of the

Contractor.

3.3.3.2 The following type(s) of insurance and minimum amount(s) of coverage are required:

A. Commercial General Liability - of $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence for bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury and $3,000,000 annual aggregate. The minimum limits required herein may be satisfied through any combination of primary and umbrella/excess liability policies.

B. Errors and Omissions/Professional Liability - $1,000,000 per combined single limit per claim and $3,000,000 annual aggregate.

C. Crime Insurance/Employee Theft Insurance - to cover employee theft with a minimum single loss limit of $1,000,000 per loss, and a minimum single loss retention not to exceed $10,000. The State of Maryland and the Center for Cancer Prevention and

Control should be added as a “loss payee.”

D. Cyber Security / Data Breach Insurance – The Contractor shall possess and maintain throughout the term of the Contractor and for three (3) years thereafter, cyber risk/ data breach insurance (either separately or as part of a broad Professional Liability or Errors and Omissions Insurance) with limits of at least five million dollars ($5,000,000) per claim. Any "insured vs. insured" exclusions will be modified accordingly to allow the

State additional insured status without prejudicing the State’s rights under the policy(ies).

Coverage shall be sufficiently broad to respond to the Contractor's duties and obligations under the Contract and shall include, but not be limited to, claims involving privacy violations, information theft, damage to or destruction of electronic information, the release of Sensitive Data, and alteration of electronic information, extortion, and network security. The policy shall provide coverage for, not by way of limitation, breach response costs as well as regulatory fines and penalties as well as credit monitoring expenses with limits sufficient to respond to these obligations.

E. Worker’s Compensation - The Contractor shall maintain such insurance as necessary or as required under Workers’ Compensation Acts, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’

Compensation Act, and the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, to not be less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence (unless a state’s law requires a greater amount of coverage). Coverage must be valid in all states where work is performed.

SECTION 4 – APPLICATION FORMAT

4.1 Two Part Submission

4.1.1 Applicants shall submit applications in separate volumes:

▪ Volume I – Project Narrative

▪ Volume II – Budget with Narrative

4.2 Applications

4.2.1 Applications must be submitted to eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA). Each application must have its own eMMA/SUP number. The Procurement Officer will not accept submission after the date and exact time stated in the Key Information Summary Sheet.

4.2.1.1 Each submission’s subject line shall state the RFA Title, PHPA number, the SUP number, and either Project Narrative or Budget Narrative.

4.2.1.2 Two Part Submission:

A. Project Narrative (See Section 4.3)

B. Budget Narrative (See Section 4.4)

4.2.2 Applications will be shown only to State employees, members of the Evaluation Committee, or other persons deemed by the Department to have a legitimate interest in them for evaluation and scoring.

*All information submitted as part of this proposal is subject to release under the Public

Information Act (PIA). If you would like the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to consider redactions in the event that your proposal is subject to a PIA request, submit a proposed PIA copy including justifications for each redaction and under what statute that justification is qualified for redaction.

4.3 Volume I – Project Narrative

Note: No pricing information is to be included in the Project Narrative (Volume 1). Pricing information is to be included only in the Budget with Narrative (Volume II).

The application must follow the following format, using 0.5 inch page margins and 11 point

Arial character font. Page limits include figures, but exclude references and other sections, as indicated below.

4.3.1 Each Project Narrative shall include the following documents and information in the order specified as follows:

4.3.1.1 Transmittal Letter (See ATTACHMENT G for template)

● Applicant Organization;

● Contact PI name, email, phone number, and department address;

● Institution of Contact PI;

● Names and Institutions of MPIs and co-investigators, as applicable;

● Signature, typed name, and title of the Contact PI who is authorized to commit the Applicant Organization to this application;

● Solicitation Title and Solicitation Number that the Proposal is in response to;

● Signature, typed name, and title of an individual authorized to commit the

Applicant Organization to its Proposal;

● Signature of the Applicant Organization’s Financial Administrator;

● Applicant Organization’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) ;

● Applicant Organization’s eMMA number;

● SUP number for this application

● Attestation that all addenda were received

● Attestation to follow requirements of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act

● Applicant Organization’s MBE certification number (if applicable);

● Applicant Organization’s SBR number (if applicable) – please contact eMMA at

410-767-1492 if you don’t know your number.

4.3.1.2 Scope of Work shall include all of the items under Scope of Work as described in

Section 3.2.

4.3.1.3 Mandatory Requirements Documentation

4.3.1.3.1 As described in Section 2.1.6, each application must include a signed letter on the

Contact PI’s institution’s letterhead attesting to approval for grant application submission.

4.3.1.3.2 Each Applicant Organization or their fiscal sponsor must provide documentation of tax-exempt status (i.e., IRS tax exempt status determination letter).

4.3.1.4 Application Technical Response to RFA Requirements and Proposed Work Plan:

a. The application shall address each Scope of Work requirement (Section 3.2) in its Project Narrative and describe how its proposed services, including the services of any proposed subcontractor(s), will meet or exceed the requirement(s). If the State is seeking the Applicant Organization’s agreement to any requirement(s), the Application shall state its agreement or disagreement.

Any omission to a requirement, term, or condition may result in having the

Application classified as not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award.

b. In each application’s Transmittal Letter, the Contact PI shall acknowledge they have read the American with Disabilities Act Statement in Section 3.2 and will meet all requirements.

4.3.1.5 Applicant Organization’s Signed W-9 with Contact Person Names and Phone

Number

4.3.1.6 SDAT Status- Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation (SDAT).

Visit https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx for additional information.

https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx

a. The Applicant Organization shall take the necessary steps to ensure good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation.

b. The Applicant Organization must be in good standing at the time the award is made.

4.4 Volume II – Budget and Budget Narrative

4.4.1 As a document separate from the Project Narrative and clearly identified in the format identified in

Section 4.2 “Applications,” for each application, the Applicant Organization shall submit a copy of the Budget and Budget Narrative. The Budget documents shall contain all price information in the format specified in Exhibit B.

4.4.2 The budget categories may include: Personnel (salary and fringe), Consultants; Travel; Contractual;

Supplies; other Operating Costs; and other project-related costs.

4.4.3 Note that successful Applicant Organizations will be required to complete additional budget documents within 30 calendar days of each project year’s award (with assistance from MDH).

SECTION 5 – EVALUATION COMMITTEE, EVALUATION CRITERIA,

AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

5.1 Evaluation Process

5.1.1 Primary Review

A. Independent reviewers will be enlisted by a Peer Review Organization engaged by MDH to conduct the primary review of these grant applications, emphasizing medical-scientific criteria. Reviewers will include experts in pediatric cancer research and individuals with lived experience in pediatric cancer. This review will prioritize current and future impact in pediatric cancer, encompassing cancers diagnosed in children up to age 20, and will seek to support the evaluation of important new hypotheses and the launching of approaches that will merit further development for pediatric cancer via future expanded funding from other sources, as well as from the State of Maryland.

B. Primary reviewers selected by the Peer Review Organization shall not apply for, nor collaborate on, any submitted grant application for this current solicitation.

5.1.2 Secondary Review

The Commission will conduct a secondary review process by studying deidentified summaries and deidentified primary review critiques, to make final rankings and funding decisions.

5.1.3 MDH shall make the final determination on funding grant applications.

5.2 Project Narrative Evaluation Criteria

5.1 The primary reviewers will evaluate and rate each proposal:

5.1.1 A scoring system of 1-9 ( 1= Exceptional to 9 = Poor) will be used to rate the overall impact/priority of each proposed research application.

5.1.2 In this system, a score of “1” indicates the highest impact/priority and “9” the lowest impact/priority. A score of “5” indicates an average application. Primary reviewers will consider scores of 1 through 3 for proposals evaluated as Exceptional (no weaknesses) to

Excellent (minor weakness); scores of 4 through 6 for applications evaluated as Very Good

(numerous minor weakness) to Satisfactory (moderate weaknesses); and & through 9 for applications evaluated as Fair (at least one major weakness) to Poor (numerous major weaknesses).

5.2 Using the 1-9 scoring system described in 5.1 above, the primary reviewers will evaluate and rate the following components of the proposed research projects:

5.2.1 The significance and innovation of the proposed research to pediatric cancer.

5.2.2 The potential to advance prevention, cure, screening, and treatment of pediatric cancers, and improving the quality of life of individuals living with pediatric cancers.

5.2.3 The project has logical Specific Aims with clear hypotheses and experimental approaches.

5.2.4 Scientific rigor, reproducibility, and attention to preliminary data.

5.2.5 Identification of pitfalls and realistic alternative strategies.

5.2.6 Feasibility of substantial progress within the proposed project period.

5.2.7 PI and MPI expertise and experience relevant to the project.

5.2.8 Research team capacity to perform the research; and

5.2.9 Operational clarity of proposed collaborations.

5.3 The primary reviewers will evaluate and rate the following components of the proposed research projects using a yes/no scoring system for the following areas

5.3.1 Acknowledged agreement to meet the American with Disabilities Act Statement in Section

3.2 and will meet all requirements.

5.3.2 The application clearly identifies the Applicant Organization.

5.3.3 The Contact PI will conduct the proposed funded research in Maryland.

5.3.4 Any proposed out-of-state research collaboration is clearly identified as a collaboration and is not proposed for funding through the Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund, except as otherwise permitted.

5.3.5 The application clearly describes the role and location of any collaborating investigators or organizations.

5.3.6 Scientific Summary is present and appropriate for the audience.

5.3.7 Lay-person Summary is present and appropriate for the audience.

5.3.8 Presence of adequate references and support letters.

5.3.9 Adherence to Maryland-based research requirements.

5.3 Budget Narrative Evaluation Criteria

The total budget proposed may not exceed $200,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years duration. No institutional indirect costs (facilities and administrative costs) may be budgeted.

All applications recommended for funding will be ranked from the lowest (most advantageous) to the highest (least advantageous) based on the rating of the Project Narratives. The Budget component

(including the Budget and Budget Narrative), will be evaluated based on reasonable cost given the time and effort described in the Project Narrative. The budget line items must be within the stated guidelines set forth in this RFA and as submitted on Exhibit B – Budget Documents.

5.4 Selection Procedures

5.4.1 General

The Grant will be awarded in accordance with the Standard Grant Agreement method outlined in the Announcement. The State may determine an application to be non-responsive and/or to be not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award at any time after the initial closing date for receipt of Applications and prior to Grant award.

5.4.2 Award Determination

Upon completion of the Project Narrative and Budget/Budget Narrative evaluations and rankings, each Applicant will receive an overall ranking. After completion of all Primary and Secondary review of the applications for both medical-scientific/technical factors and financial factors, the

Procurement Officer will communicate award of the grants to the Applicant Organizations that submitted the applications.

RFA ATTACHMENTS

EXHIBIT A – Budget Form

The Budget Form must be completed and submitted with the Budget Narrative and both budget documents must be submitted as a PDF file which is separate from the Project Narrative.

EXHIBIT B- Budget Narrative

The Budget Narrative must be completed and submitted with the Budget Form. These two budget documents must be in a PDF file separate from the Project Narrative PDF file.

EXHIBIT C- Standard Grant Agreement “Sample”

This is the sample grant agreement used by MDH. It is provided with the RFA for informational purposes and is not required to be submitted when applying for funding. Upon notification of recommendation for award(s), a completed standard grant agreement will be sent to the recommended

Applicant Organization for signatures. These organizations will now be considered Grantee Organizations for this solicitation. For each award, the recommended Grantee Organization must return to the

Procurement Officer one (1) executed copy of the Standard Grant Agreement within forty-five (45)

Business Days after receipt. Upon award, a fully executed copy will be sent to the Grantee Organization.

Note: Exhibit C also contains APPENDIX A & B.

EXHIBIT D – RFA Document Checklist Use this checklist to ensure that the required documents for the Project Narrative and Budget with

Narrative are completed.

ATTACHMENT A - Conditions of Award

ATTACHMENT B - Federal Funds (Not applicable for this application and resultant grants)

ATTACHMENT C - Debarment Affirmation (not applicable for this application and resultant grants)

ATTACHMENT D - Certification Regarding Tobacco Smoke (not applicable for this application and resultant grants)

ATTACHMENT E - Certification Regarding Lobbying

ATTACHMENT F- Additional Information required for Prevention and Health Promotion

Administration Grants (not applicable for this application and resultant grants)

ATTACHMENT G: Transmittal Letter Template

ATTACHMENT H: COMAR 10.14.09

THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

EXHIBIT A – BUDGET FORM

BUDGET FORM

The Budget Form shall contain all price information in the format specified on these pages. Complete the

Budget Form in the format provided below. The Budget and Budget Narrative sections are not page-limited and are not included in the 5-page Research Plan limit.

Information to be provided:

Submitted By:

Authorized Signature:_____________________________________ Date: ________________________

Printed Name and Title: _______________________________________________________________

Applicant Organization Name: __________________________________________________________

Applicant Organization Address:_________________________________________________________

Contact PI Name: ________________

Location(s) from which services will be performed (City/State):

FEIN: _________________________________________

eMMA #/SUP#: ________________________________________

Telephone: (_______) _______-- ____________________

Fax: (_______) _______--____________________

E-mail: _________________________________________

Personnel Expenses

• For all personnel: Name and degree (e.g., MD, PhD, etc); institution; role (e.g., Contact PI, MPI, Co-Investigators, technician, trainee); effort devoted to this research project (% and calendar months); salary and benefits requested (yearly and 2-year total). Note: National Institutes of

Health (NIH) salary caps must be applied. This link may be helpful:

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-26-034.html

• Non-key personnel: May be named or designated as to-be-named (TBN), but individual effort and salary + benefits requested must be provided.

• Key Personnel: Provide brief descriptions for each in Budget Narrative section.

• Total Personnel Expenses

Non-Personnel Expenses

• Supplies: Consumables, small equipment (<$5,000), core resource services, commercial services, service contracts, etc. Provide brief descriptions for each category in Budget Narrative section.

• Equipment (defined as costing >$5,000): Provide brief justification in Budget Narrative section.

• Publication: Provide brief justification in Budget Narrative section.

• Travel: Provide brief justification in Budget Narrative section (usually for conference attendance during the grant funding period).

• Other: Provide brief justification in Budget Narrative section. No portion of this award may be used for Institutional indirect costs (i.e., facilities and administrative costs).

• Total Non-Personnel Expenses

Total Project Expenses: Maximum: $200,000 yearly for 2 years.

Notes concerning budget:

• Current NIH salary caps must be applied to personnel costs. See guidance here:

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-26-034.html

• Non-personnel expenses (e.g., for research supplies, equipment, services) may be incurred outside the State of Maryland, in accordance with customary research practices.

• After award of this grant, <20% of total yearly funding can be re-distributed among budget categories without prior MDH approval (e.g., redistribution of expenses among budgeted personnel, or from budgeted personnel to supplies). Any reallocations >20% of total yearly funding must be approved in advance by MDH. Such re-distributions may not increase the total awarded budget.

• No portion of this award may be used for institutional indirect costs (i.e., facilities and administrative costs).

PERSONNEL EXPENSES

Name, degree(s)

Institution

Role on

Project

Effort Year 1 ($) Year 2 ($)

2-Year

Total ($)

Calendar months

Salary

Benefits Salary

Benefits

Salary +

Benefits

Contact

PI

TOTAL PERSONNEL EXPENSES:

NON-PERSONNEL EXPENSES

Item

Year

1 ($)

Year 2

2-Year

Total

Supplies

Equipment

Publication

Travel

Other

TOTAL NON-PERSONNEL EXPENSES:

TOTAL PROJECT EXPENSES:

Indirect costs are not allowed.

EXHIBIT B – BUDGET NARRATIVE

BUDGET NARRATIVE

(Please create a separate Narrative for each Budget Period)

Personnel:

Supplies:

Equipment:

Publication:

Travel:

Other:

EXHIBIT C – Standard Grant Agreement “Sample” (Replace with RFA template revision)

ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE STATE

STANDARD GRANT AGREEMENT

This Agreement, which is executed in compliance with Section 7-402 of the State Finance and Procurement Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, is made this <enter day> day of <month, year> , between the State of

Maryland (the “State”), acting through the Maryland Department of Health, (the “Department”), located at <enter

MDH Address> and the <grantee name> (the “Grantee” ), located at <grantee address> in <county / city> County, <state, zip> , a Maryland Limited Liability Company / Corporation. .

1. Effective on the date of execution of this Agreement, the State is extending to the Grantee a grant in the amount of

<amount in words> Dollars ($ xx,xxx.xx) (the “Grant”), which the Grantee shall use only for the following purposes: <grant purpose>

2. Any expenditure of Grant funds that is not consistent with the purposes stated in paragraph 1 may, at the sole discretion of the Department, be disallowed. Should any expenditure be disallowed, or should the Grantee violate any of the terms of this Agreement, the State may require repayment to the State Treasury, an offset from any State Grant to the Grantee in the current or succeeding fiscal year, or other appropriate action. The Grantee shall repay to the State any part of the Grant that is not used for the purposes stated in paragraph 1 within 3 months after the date of this Agreement.

3. The Grantee may not sell, lease, exchange, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of real or personal property, or any part of or interest in real or personal property, acquired with Grant funds without the prior written consent of the

Department. This includes transfer or disposition to a successor on the merger, dissolution, or other termination of the existence of the Grantee. The Grantee shall give the Department written notice at least 30 calendar days before any proposed transfer or disposition. Any proceeds from a permitted transfer or disposition shall be applied to repay to the State a percentage of that portion of the Grant allocable to the particular real or personal property transferred or disposed of, unless the Department and the

Grantee agree to other terms and conditions. The percentage shall be equal to the percentage of the unadjusted basis of the property that would remain if the property had been recovery property placed in service after December 31, 1980, and if all allowable deductions had been taken up to the time of disposition under the Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS) specified in the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 168(b)(1).

4. For any item of real or personal property that is acquired with Grant funds and has an original fair market value of

Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) or more, the Grantee shall, at its own expense, and for the reasonable useful life of that item or for 5 years, whichever is less, obtain and maintain insurance. The insurance shall provide full protection for the Grantee and the

State against loss, damage, or destruction of or to the real or personal property. The Grantee shall, on request, provide the

Department with satisfactory evidence of its compliance with this requirement. Proceeds of insurance required by this paragraph shall be applied toward replacement of the real or personal property or toward the partial or total repayment of the State of the

Grant, in the sole discretion of the Department.

5. The Grantee may not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other characteristic forbidden as a basis for discrimination by applicable laws and certifies that its Constitution or by-laws contains a non-discrimination clause consistent with the Governor’s Code of Fair practices.

6. The person executing this Agreement on behalf of the Grantee certifies, to the best of that person’s knowledge and belief, that:

A.) Neither the Grantee, nor any of its officers or directors, nor any employee of the Grantee involved in obtaining contracts with or grants from the State or any subdivision of the State, has engaged in collusion with respect to the

Grantee’s application for the Grant or this Agreement, or the performance of this Agreement, or has been convicted of bribery, attempted bribery, or conspiracy to bribe under the laws of any state or of the United States.

B.) The Grantee has not employed or retained any…