PKG00262096-instructions.docx

Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

Office of Population Affairs Funding Opportunity: Announcement of Availability of Funds for Research to Practice Center Grants for Adolescent Health Promotion in Order to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy Opportunity Number: PA-PHE-20-001

Application Due Date:

Tuesday, August 4, 2020 6:00 PM Eastern

Overview

FEDERAL AGENCY NAME

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health / Office of Population Affairs

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE

Announcement of Anticipated Availability of Funds for Research to Practice Center Grants for Adolescent Health Promotion in Order to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy

ACTION

Notice

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

Initial Competitive Grant

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER

PA-PHE-20-001

CFDA NUMBER AND PROGRAM:

93.343

DATES

Application Deadline: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 by 6:00 PM Eastern.

Technical Assistance: Webinar Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 12:00 PM Eastern

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Office of Population Affairs announces the availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 grant awards under the authority of Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act.

This notice solicits applications for projects that will synthesize and translate existing research into practice for health promotion activities that will lead to adoption of healthy behaviors and ultimately help to reduce teen pregnancy. Subject to availability of funds, OPA will fund no more than one grant per priority area. Organizations may apply for more than one priority area; however, each application may only address a single priority area. Funded organizations will be referred to from here on as “centers”. The national centers will be expected to coordinate and collaborate with each other, OPA, and potentially other OPA grantees conducting research in related topic areas.

OPA expects Centers to evaluate or assess best practices, approaches or strategies in a priority protective area and make that information easily accessible to health providers, caregivers and others working with youth to prevent teen pregnancy. OPA expects Centers to address important and relevant topic areas related to adolescent health promotion, including addressing how the reduction of other risky behaviors (such as substance abuse) would aid in pregnancy prevention. Priority areas include but are not limited to:

engaging parents and caregivers, environments supportive of healthy behaviors, fostering positive connections to schools, neighborhoods and communities, active and meaningful youth engagement, or working with youth serving professionals in the systems that serve the most vulnerable youth populations.

OPA expects the Centers to have a high caliber of scientific and technical competency, be forward-looking, provide strong leadership, and collaborate with stakeholders and community partners including state and local health agencies and non-profit, community (including youth and parents) and non-governmental organizations in the development and delivery of research to practice products.

HHS/OASH encourages 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 its application complies with all requirements and instructions.

Funding Opportunity Details

DATES

Application Deadline Your application is due Tuesday August 4, 2020 by 6 p.m. Eastern Time. To receive consideration, you must submit your application electronically via Grants.gov no later than this due date and time. If you do not submit your application by the specified deadline, we will return it to you unread. You must submit electronically via Grants.gov unless you obtain a written exemption from this requirement 2 business days in advance of the deadline from the Director, HHS/Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Grants and Acquisitions Management (GAM) Division. To obtain an exemption, you must request one via email from the HHS/OASH GAM, and provide details as to why you are technologically unable to submit electronically through Grants.gov. Your request should be submitted at least 4 business days prior to the application deadline to ensure your request can be considered prior to 2 business days in advance of the deadline. If you request an exemption, include the following in your e-mail request: the HHS/OASH announcement number; your organization's DUNS number; your organization’s name, address and telephone number; the name and telephone number of your Authorizing Official; the Grants.gov Tracking Number (for example, GRANT####) assigned to your submission; and a copy of the "Rejected with Errors" notification from Grants.gov. Send the request with supporting documentation to OASH_Grants@hhs.gov. Note: failure to have an active System for Account Management (SAM) registration prior to the application due date will not be grounds for receiving an exemption to the electronic submission requirement. As a result of the public health emergency for COVID-19, the requirement for an active SAM registration at the time of application submission has been waived (see Section F.4). However, if you do not have a DUNS number at this time, you should contact the Grants.gov to establish a temporary DUNS number. Your application will not be accepted through Grants.gov without this number. Failure to follow Grants.gov instructions to ensure software compatibility will not be grounds for receiving an exemption to the electronic submission requirement.

The HHS/OASH/GAM will only accept applications via alternate methods (hardcopy paper via U.S. mail or other provider or PDF via email) from applicants obtaining prior written approval. If you receive an exemption, you must still submit your application by the deadline. Only applications submitted through the Grants.gov portal or alternate format (hardcopy paper via U.S. mail or other service or PDF via email) with an approved written exemption will be accepted. See Section F.8 (“Other Submission Requirements”) for information on application submission mechanisms.

To ensure adequate time to submit your application successfully, HHS/OASH recommends that you register as early as possible in Grants.gov since the registration process can take up to one month. You must register an authorizing official for your organization. HHS/OASH does not determine your organization’s authorizing official; your organization makes that designation. For information on registering for Grants.gov, refer to http://www.grants.gov or contact the Grants.gov Contact Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (excluding Federal holidays) at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

Your organization is strongly encouraged to register multiple authorized organization representatives in Grants.gov to ensure someone is available to submit your application.

Technical Assistance A technical assistance webinar for potential applicants will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 12:00 PM Eastern. Log-in information and additional details will be posted on the OPA website at https://www.hhs.gov/opa/grants-and-funding/index.html.

We recommend you review the entire announcement promptly so you can have any questions answered well in advance of the application due date. We also recommend you subscribe to this announcement in Grants.gov so you receive any amendments, question and answer documents, or other updates.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Office of Population Affairs (OPA) announces the availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 grant awards under the authority of Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act. The primary focus of OASH is leading America to healthier lives, especially for those who are most vulnerable, including those who have suffered historic disparities. In support of this vision, OPA promotes health across the reproductive lifespan through innovative, evidence-based adolescent health and family planning programs, services, strategic partnerships, evaluation, and research. Research investigating teen pregnancy prevention approaches are designed to give youth the information and skills to promote optimal health and prevent teen pregnancy across the United States, especially among those who are most vulnerable, including those who have suffered historic disparities.

Background OPA promotes health across the reproductive lifespan through innovative, evidence-based adolescent health and family planning programs, services, strategic partnerships, evaluation, and research. A fundamental aspect of achieving this mission involves the integration of the concept of optimal health into OPA projects and initiatives. OPA currently administers multiple large assistance programs and several large national evaluation contracts that aim to reduce teenage pregnancy rates, and create a healthier environment for adolescents.

OPA’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program was initiated in FY 2010 as one of six major evidence-based policy initiatives across the Federal government (Haskins & Baron, 2011). From FY2010 – FY2020, OPA has provided funding to over 200 organizations across the country to either 1) support replication of evidence-based programs proven effective through rigorous evaluation to prevent teen pregnancy and/or other associated risk behaviors; or 2) to support research and demonstration projects to develop and test additional models and innovative strategies.

OPA also administers the Title X Family Planning program, the only federal grant program dedicated to solely providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventative health services. The Title X program provides access to contraceptive services, supplies, and information to all who want and need them. By law, priority is given to persons from low-income families. For more information about the Title X program and awardees see https://www.hhs.gov/opa/title-x-family-planning/about-title-x-grants/index.html.

Between FY2010-FY2019 OPA also administered the Pregnancy Assistance Fund, providing funding to states and tribes for programs that support expectant and parenting teens, women, fathers, and their families.

In addition to these assistance programs, OPA has several contracts to support and conduct rigorous Federal evaluations of interventions in these assistance programs. For a description of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program evaluations and research ongoing or previously conducted as part of Federal evaluations, please refer to https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/evaluation-and-research/federal-led-evaluation/index.html and https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/evaluation-and-research/teen-pregnancy-prevention-program-evaluations/.

Finally, Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) is a national call to action to improve health, to reduce risky behavior and to promote engagement and healthy development among young people. TAG sought the input of professionals who, through their work in after-school or community-based programs, education, faith-based organizations, health care, public health, and social services settings, reach a large number of adolescents. Together these national leaders identified five essential components of adolescent health, including positive connections with supportive people; safe and secure places to live, to learn and to play, access to high-quality, teen-friendly health care; opportunities for teens to engage as learners, leaders, team members and workers; and coordinated, adolescent and family-centered services. For more information about TAG, please refer to: https://youth.gov/youth-topics/TAG.

Purpose This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks applications from qualified organizations for research-to-practice center grants. These centers, whether existing or newly created for the purposes of this funding, will synthesize and translate existing research into practice for health promotion and development of positive assets that will lead to adoption of healthy behaviors and ultimately help to reduce teen pregnancy. The funding for this FOA comes from authority in Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act and is subject to annual appropriations “to carry out evaluations (including longitudinal evaluations) of teenage pregnancy prevention approaches.” P.L. 116-94. OPA expects the Centers to synthesize and translate existing research into best practices, approaches or strategies in a protective factor area and make that information easily accessible to health providers, caregivers, and others working with youth to prevent teen pregnancy. OPA expects Centers to address important and relevant topic areas related to adolescent health promotion, including addressing how the reduction of other risky behaviors (to include substance abuse) would aid in pregnancy prevention.

Applications may propose important and relevant topic areas related to adolescent health promotion in order to prevent teenage pregnancy; however, priority areas include:

Engaging parents and caregivers;

Environments supportive of healthy behaviors;

Fostering positive connections to schools, neighborhoods, and communities;

Active and meaningful youth engagement;

Working with youth serving professionals in the systems that serve the most vulnerable youth populations Other important and relevant topic areas related to adolescent health promotion in order to prevent teen pregnancy OPA will fund one grant per priority area. Applicants should state for which priority area they are applying.

OPA expects the Centers to have a high caliber of scientific and technical competency, be forward-looking, provide strong leadership, and collaborate with stakeholders and community partners (including state and local health agencies and non-profit, community and non-governmental organizations) in the development and delivery of research-to-practice products.

Key tasks for funded projects include:

Assessing research needs and existing research-to-practice resources Developing and maintaining research alliances Developing a work plan in the priority area Funding and implementing projects in support of the work plan Disseminating products broadly Collaborating and coordinating with other related organizations Awards under this announcement are intended to synthesize and translate existing research into practice. Awards under this announcement are not intended as a means to carry out data collection, data analyses currently in progress, or the maintenance and distribution of data sets. Projects involving secondary data analyses must be distinct from the aims and methods of the primary research under which the data were collected, i.e., effects or outcomes previously examined in the original scope of research, and avoid duplication with existing projects in the field. Utilization of extant data is a priority for this announcement.

Expectations for Successful Applicants Goals and Objectives Assessing the research and support needs and resources in the priority area OPA expects that a successful applicant will have completed an initial comprehensive needs and resources assessment in the priority area to identify research and data needs in the priority area, and existing research-to-practice resources available. OPA expects awardees to conduct an ongoing, systematic, and transparent assessment of these research needs and include strategies for soliciting the input of other researchers, practitioners and policymakers. The research needs assessment is expected to identify a small set of priority topic areas for the Center’s work during the award period. OPA expects awardees to develop a summary of the state of the research in the priority area, including needs and available resources, as well as a Center agenda for advancing the knowledge, translation, and use of the existing research or research to be conducted.

An awardee-developed process or system that could invite others, as appropriate, to request data and analysis support, presentations, etc. from the awardee is also highly encouraged. Requests that do not fall within the scope of the Center’s work could be directed to other federal technical assistance providers (see also Section B.3.a.6) below).

Within the first 6 months of the award, OPA expects awardees to update their comprehensive research needs and resources assessment. Throughout the life of the project, awardees should report on their progress toward filling the gaps found in the needs and resources assessment as part of their progress reports. In the final 6 months of the project, OPA expects awardees to conduct another comprehensive research needs and research-to-practice resources assessment to identify and describe successes, challenges and lessons learned in filling the gaps, improving resources, and improving access to resources for the priority area, and what gaps still remain.

Identifying and maintaining research alliances in the priority area The primary mechanism for carrying out the work of the Centers should be the research alliances. These research alliances may include researchers at institutions, businesses, community groups including youth, parents, providers, agencies, state and local governments, health departments and others with similar priority area research-to-practice concerns. The proposed alliances may already be in existence, or the awardee may propose to develop new alliances. On an annual basis, the awardee will be required to report on the progress of the Center’s work with their research alliance, as well as the challenges and lessons learned across the alliance and how those lessons will affect future alliance activity. For partnerships that already exist, the application should include a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letter of Agreement (LOA) that describes how the partner will contribute to the project and clearly outlines roles, responsibilities, and expectations. For partnerships that have not been forged prior to the application submission, the applicant should describe which partners are needed and why, their roles and responsibilities, and how they plan to forge the partnership.

OPA expects that the research alliance will help the awardee develop a work plan for the priority area. OPA expects the awardee to maintain the research alliances through meetings, communications, and assessment of alliance activities. Members may participate through meetings, conference calls, and other communications, to establish and maintain each partnership structure as needed. The activities to refine and maintain the alliances will serve to solidify the agenda of work and specific activities that will be implemented by the Center and provide an opportunity for practitioners and policy makers to provide input to researchers at all stages of the analytic work including design, implementation, translation and dissemination of findings.

The alliance should assist the Center with collaboration, with assistance in translating the research, and educating and engaging practitioner and policy stakeholders. Effective outreach is necessary to ensure that research findings are translated for and reach the people who can benefit from them –practitioners. Alliance outreach activities should address priority area needs and implement innovative strategies for meeting those needs with a focus on impacting the practitioner environment. Centers should include plans to develop linkages and communication with other governmental and non-governmental bodies involved in research in the priority area. Collaboration activities that facilitate the translation of research into the hands of the practitioners and the community are expected. Outreach and other approaches that target the priority area at the community, state, or national level are also expected.

The Center is expected to identify and maintain as many partnerships as are needed to adequately address the work plan in the priority topic area. OPA expects Centers to determine and justify the number, size, and scope of the alliance needed to offer breadth and depth of knowledge to the priority area. The research alliance should maintain a consistent core of members to ensure continuity and progress with the translation agenda. Successful applicants will include letters of commitment from existing and/or prospective alliance members in their applications.

Conducting research studies to benefit providers working with youth The Centers should provide technical assistance through applied research and development projects by identifying and developing research-to-practice resources. These resources should be targeted primarily to practitioners and policymakers working with youth to prevent pregnancy and promote healthy adolescent development. To carry out the work plan/translation agenda for the Center, OPA expects the awardee to conduct short-term research studies that investigate key policy or practice concerns in the priority area as they relate to teen pregnancy prevention and adolescent health. Using appropriate and scientifically valid methods, the research studies should result in increased capacity, collaboration, skill development, and research translation for policymakers and practitioners working with youth in the priority area. Examples of such studies include cataloging and summarizing the policies relating to the priority area or a particular aspect of the priority area, assessing and summarizing best practices in the priority area, how-to-guides, syntheses of research, analyses of existing data, development of training guides and technical assistance products.

There are several current examples of research and products that OPA expects to result from this award. One of these examples can be found in the US Department of Education’s Regional Educational Laboratory Program http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/. The Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) work in partnership with school districts, state departments of education, and others to use data and research to improve academic outcomes for students. Fundamentally, the mission of the RELs is to provide support for a more evidence-reliant education system, just as the goal for this FOA is to support a more evidence-reliant teen pregnancy prevention provider system.

The What Works Clearinghouse’s “Practice Guides” are another example of research projects and products that can be applied to the field of teen pregnancy prevention and adolescent health http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/. The Practice Guides review the existing research on different programs, products, practices, and policies in education with the goal of providing educators with the information they need to make evidence-based decisions. Results from high-quality research are used to answer the question “What works in the field?”

Successful applicants will describe the possible research projects in the priority area, provide appropriate justification for the proposed work, literature citations, data from other sources, or from investigator-generated data.

The Centers will ensure all products and materials are medically accurate, age appropriate, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and inclusive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Disseminating products strategically and broadly To ensure the Centers have the greatest possible impact, OPA expects awardees to disseminate products broadly to practitioners and policymakers and using best practices in how to help stakeholders understand and use these materials. OPA expects products to be presented in an accessible way (including the use of plain language) and to convey information that is timely and meaningful to the relevant audiences. Evaluating dissemination strategies so that activities and the body of evidence on effective dissemination practices improves and expands is expected. The Centers may make presentations at national meetings such as the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM), the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), the American Public Health Association (APHA) and others to share information with providers.

OPA can assist and amplify broad dissemination when it is appropriate by disseminating the Center’s products through established OPA channels of communications (including for example, the HHS Adolescent Health Work Group and the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs).

OPA expects awardees to ensure that the products are communicated in a way that is accessible, timely, and meaningful to the day-to-day work of teen pregnancy prevention and adolescent health practitioners and policy makers. OPA expects awardees to utilize several avenues for communication, including diverse approaches (e.g., public website, social media) for disseminating and communicating information about project activities with key stakeholders and organizing face-to-face meetings and webinars designed to facilitate awareness, understanding, and use of products through a dialogue between researchers and adolescent health stakeholders (research-to-practice “bridge events”). These bridge events may be conducted for members of the research alliance or a broader set of participants as a way to share relevant information. For the purpose of the bridge events or other forms of dissemination, the awardee may prepare communication products tailored to specific stakeholders, such as one- to four-page briefs that highlight relevant details of a report or product.

OPA also expects awardees to develop and carry out a process for assessing the utility of and satisfaction with the dissemination activities and products implemented. On an annual basis, the awardee shall describe the lessons learned in disseminating Center products and information and how those lessons will affect any shifts in dissemination strategies in the subsequent year(s).

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Copyright Holder (if applicable) – Applicants who choose to use any copyrighted materials in their proposed project should include a signed MOU with the developer or purveyor of the materials that demonstrates that the applicant has permission to use the materials as planned. This should include, but is not limited to, permission to use the materials as proposed in the application, to alter them as needed, and to document and disseminate evaluation results. In recognition of the possible difficulties in obtaining the copyright holder MOUs during the COVID-19 public health emergency, these MOUs will not be required until two weeks prior to the anticipated project start date.

Collaborating and coordinating with the other Centers and with OPA In order to ensure the work of the Centers contributes to the development of a cohesive and potentially deep body of knowledge nationally, OPA expects awardees to identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination with the other Centers and OPA awardees and contractors or other federal technical assistance providers, as appropriate. OPA expects awardees to collaborate and coordinate with the other Centers, once awarded, to promote efficiency in meeting teen pregnancy prevention and adolescent health needs, address national concerns as appropriate, prevent unnecessary duplication of activities, and ensure sharing and best use of available resources across Centers. Collaboration includes working with other relevant centers (e.g., the other OPA-funded adolescent health research centers, the UCSF adolescent and young adult resource center and research network, CDC Prevention Research Centers) and OPA to ensure strategic deployment of resources across the priority areas.

Project Management and Work plan OPA expects awardees to have an experienced team, able to manage and conduct the proposed project. The Principal Investigator (PI)/Project Director (PD) should have experience and training relevant to all aspects of the project. Key staff members should have clear roles and responsibilities and to be responsible for the award-related requirements. Awardees should maintain signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with any partners. OPA expects awardees to follow their approved work plan for a 24-month project period. OPA anticipates a typical work plan to incorporate the following activities by budget year:

Year 1:

Assess the research and support needs in the priority area Synthesize the resources that exist Develop the work plan/translation agenda Identify research alliances Collaborate and coordinate with other related groups Develop products to disseminate.

Year 2:

Maintain research alliance Fund and implement new research projects with the Alliance members that address the work plan/translation agenda Update research and resource syntheses Disseminate products broadly Collaborate and coordinate with other related groups Failure of an awardee to meet major milestones as defined by OPA may result in the discontinuation of award funding at any time during the project period.

AUTHORITY

Section 241 of the Public Health Service Act

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

The Office of Population Affairs intends to make available approximately $2,400,000 for initial competitive grants.

We will fund awards in annual increments (budget periods) and generally for a project period up to 2 years, although we may approve shorter project periods. Budget periods may also vary from the estimate indicated below due to timing of award issuance or other administrative factors. Funding for all approved budget periods beyond the first is generally level with the initial award amount and is contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, adequate stewardship of Federal funds, and the best interests of the Government.

Award Information Estimated Federal Funds Available: $2,400,000 Anticipated Number of Awards: 3 Award Ceiling (Federal Funds including indirect costs): $1,200,000 per budget period Award Floor (Federal Funds including indirect costs):$800,000 per budget period Anticipated Start Date: September 30, 2020 Estimated Period of Performance: Not to exceed 2 years Anticipated Initial Budget Period Length: 12 months Type of Award: Grant Type of Application Accepted: Electronic via Grants.gov ONLY unless an exemption is granted

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants.

Any public or private entity is eligible to apply for a grant under this announcement.

Cost Sharing or Matching You are not required to provide cost sharing or matching in your proposed budget.

Application Responsiveness Criteria We will review your application to determine whether it meets the responsiveness criteria below. If your application does not meet the responsiveness criteria, we will disqualify it from the competition; we will not review it beyond the initial screening. The responsiveness criteria are as follows:

The application addresses a priority area (identified in Section B.2 of this FOA) or other relevant topic area through its Project Narrative for a teen pregnancy prevention and adolescent health promotion research-to-practice center. Additional applications may be submitted to address another priority area.

Application Disqualification Criteria If you successfully submit an application, we will screen it to ensure it meets the below requirements. 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.

You must submit your application electronically via www.grants.gov (unless an exemption was granted 2 business days prior to the deadline) by the date and time indicated in the DATES section (A.1) of this announcement.

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.

HHS/OASH/GAM deems your application eligible according to section E.1 Eligible Applicants.

You must complete the required forms in the application package: SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, and Project Abstract Summary.

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

Your Project Narrative must not exceed 30 pages. NOTE: The following items do not count toward the Project Narrative page limit: all required forms, including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, Project Abstract Summary, and Budget Narrative (including budget tables).

Your total application, including the Project Narrative plus Appendices, must not exceed 50 pages. NOTE: items listed in “(f)” immediately above do not count toward total page limit.

Your Federal funds request including indirect costs must not exceed the maximum indicated in Award Ceiling.

Your Federal funds request including indirect costs must not be below the minimum indicated in Award Floor.

Your application must meet the Application Responsiveness Criteria outlined above.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Address to Request Application Package You may obtain an application package electronically by accessing Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/. You can find it by searching on the CFDA number shown on page 2 of this funding opportunity announcement. If you have problems accessing the application or difficulty downloading, contact:

OASH Grants and Acquisitions Management Phone: 240-453-8822 Email: OASH_Grants@hhs.gov

Content and Form of Application Submission Application Format Your application must be prepared using the forms and information provided in the online application package.

The Project Narrative, and total application including appendices, must adhere to the page limit indicated in Application Disqualification Criteria listed in Section E.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. 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 when printed on 8.5” X 11” paper by HHS/OASH/GAM, we will not review it. We recommend you print out your application before submitting electronically to ensure that it is within the page limits and is easy to read.

You must double-space the Project Narrative pages.

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.

Appendices Format Your Appendices should include any specific documents outlined in Section F.3.c., under the heading “Appendices” in the Application Content section of this funding opportunity announcement. Your documents should be easy to read. You should use the same formatting specified for the Project Narrative. However, documents such as résumés/CVs, 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.

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. If your project is funded, HHS may publish information from your form; therefore, do not include sensitive or proprietary information.

Research awards may enter zero for “Estimated number of people to be served as a result of the award of this grant.”

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.

Application Content Successful applications will contain the following information:

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. HHS/OASH recommends that your project narrative include the following components: (1) Overall description of the proposed teen pregnancy prevention and adolescent health promotion research-to-practice center; (2) Description of how research needs and resources available will be assessed; (3) Description of how research alliances will be identified and maintained; (4) Description of research studies and products; (5) Dissemination plan; (6) Collaboration and coordination plan; (7) Capacity and Experience; and (8) Project Management. These components are described below.

Overall description of the proposed research-to-practice center OPA expects the Centers to synthesize and translate existing research into practice for the prevention of teen pregnancy and the promotion of adolescent health and in support of OPA’s priorities and mission with the ultimate goal of creating a more evidence-reliant provider system. In this section applicants should provide an overall description of the proposed center, its goals and objectives, and provide an overview for how the proposed research activities are expected to have an impact on health promotion activities that will lead to adoption of healthy behaviors and ultimately help to reduce teen pregnancy through the practitioners and providers working with adolescents. Applicants should also articulate how the activities of their program are integrated within the Center and with other researchers, state and local health departments, community partners, and other non-governmental organizations.

Description of how research needs and resources available were assessed Applicants should describe the results of the initial comprehensive research needs and existing research-to-practice resources assessment to identify research and data needs in the priority area, and resources available. Applicants should describe the plan for conducting an updated needs assessment in the chosen priority area, a plan for developing a summary of the state of the research in the priority area, and a plan for filling the research gaps found in the assessment. OPA encourages applicants to describe a plan for developing a process for receiving requests from practitioners such as for data and analysis support, presentations, etc.

Description of how research alliances will be identified and maintained The applicant should describe how the applicant will develop a new or utilize an existing research alliance to carry out the proposed work. This should include a description of the organizations that will participate in the research alliance, how the alliance will be maintained, and how activities will be assessed. The applicant should describe a plan for reporting on the progress of the Center’s work with the research alliance, challenges, lessons learned. The applicant should describe how the research alliance will assist the Center with developing a work plan/translation agenda, providing assistance for conducting and implementing the agenda, educating and engaging practitioner and policy stakeholders, and outreach activities. This should include plans to develop linkages and communication with other governmental and non-governmental bodies involved in priority area research and activities. This should also include justification for the number, size, and scope of the alliance. The applicant should include in the appendices letters of commitment from existing and/or prospective alliance members.

Description of research studies and products The applicant should describe a plan for providing technical assistance through applied research and development projects by identifying and developing research-to-practice resources in the selected priority area. The applicant should describe the possible research projects in the priority area, provide justification for work proposed, and provide literature citations, data from other sources, or from investigator-generated data. The applicant should demonstrate how the research studies will result in increased capacity, collaboration, skill development, and research translation for researchers, policymakers and practitioners working with youth in the priority area. The applicant should provide, if available, examples of possible research-to-practice products.

Dissemination plan The applicant should describe the methods to be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats to providers working with adolescents and policymakers, the general public, and other parties who might be interested in using the results of the project. OPA may assist the Center’s dissemination plan by publishing, or posting to our website, appropriate findings and products. Applicants should propose other innovative and diverse approaches to informing parties who might be interested in using the products from your Center to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policy-making. OPA expects that nationwide dissemination of products and knowledge will occur. Examples of diverse approaches include but are not limited to public websites, and “research to practice” bridge events using webinars, face-to-face meetings, and briefs. Applicants should describe how they will use best practices in helping stakeholders understand and use the dissemination materials produced. The applicant is expected to present a plan for evaluating dissemination activities. Applicants should describe a plan to develop and carry out a process for assessing the utility of and satisfaction with the dissemination activities and products implemented. Note: OPA expects successful applicants to send 1-2 project staff to national meetings (approximately 2 annually), and 1-2 staff to HHS meetings (up to 1 annually). Travel funds should be included and justified in the proposed budget for this purpose.

Collaboration and coordination plan The applicant should describe how it will identify opportunities for collaboration and coordination with the other OPA-funded adolescent health research centers, other related researchers and research centers, OPA awardees and contractors, and other related federal or non-federal organizations. The applicant should describe how it will prevent unnecessary duplication of activities and ensure sharing and best use of available resources across Centers.

Capacity and Experience Applicants should provide a description of the performance and accomplishments of the center director and other key personnel that are relevant to the success of an adolescent health promotion research-to-practice center. Examples of past performance and accomplishments include: completion of relevant, high quality research projects; publication of findings in peer reviewed scientific and technical journals; ongoing provision of research consultation and technical assistance in the conduct of research; translation of findings for youth providers and policymakers; translation of research into implementation; research experience in the priority area; experience addressing research gaps; and creating research-to-practice resources. The application should include (in the appendices) resumes or CV’s for proposed key staff along with a staff organizational chart.

The applicant should demonstrate sufficient staffing, such as but not limited to, subject matter experts, research assistants, methodologists, statisticians, technical writers/editors, graphic designers, to complete all aspects of the project. The applicant should describe how well the proposed project aligns with the organization’s mission and the capacity of the organization’s leadership team to support the project. The applicant should describe the team’s previous and relevant work supporting and managing a project of this size and scope. The applicant should describe the organization’s ability to establish partnerships and leverage existing systems and networks needed to complete this project. The applicant should describe how the organization effectively and efficiently managed financial resources, staff performance, and strategic partnerships with partner organizations. This should include a description of the anticipated challenges or risks to the project and the organization’s capacity to address the challenges and/or risks.

Applicants should provide evidence (including letter of support) of strong institutional commitment to the proposed Center, including the ability to develop and maintain the necessary infrastructure for the Center. Ensuring that a Center has the full support of, and access to, the diverse resources available at the parent institution is critical in synergizing the efforts, impacts and outcomes of the funding. Institutional commitment may take the form of office space, personnel, equipment, other resources, return of indirect costs, additional funding/resource allocation, faculty release time, travel and meeting/conference support.

Project Management The applicant should describe how it will manage, implement, and monitor the overall project. The plan should describe an understanding of the complexity of the overall project and potential challenges. The applicant should describe the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress, completion, and quality of all project objectives and activities. The applicant should provide a description of the project team, including the Principal Investigator/ Project Director and other key staff. The description should clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of project staff and subrecipients and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. The applicant should specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project and of specific tasks, monitoring and tracking the project’s on-going progress of tasks and objectives, conducting analyses, preparation of reports, disseminating findings, and communications with other partners and OPA. MOUs should be included for any partners outside of the applicant organization. OPA expects that, throughout the award period, the Project Director will have involvement in, and substantial knowledge about, all aspects of the project. The applicant should describe its plans for ensuring that all staff responsible for implementing the project, including partner staff, are well trained and prepared to successfully fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

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. You must indicate the method you are selecting for your indirect cost rate. See Indirect Costs below for further information.

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).

Please be sure to carefully review section F.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. Provide a budget justification, which includes explanatory text and line-item detail, for the 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, provide a summary narrative and line item budget. For categories or items that differ significantly from the first budget year, provide a detailed justification explaining these changes. Note, do not include costs beyond the first budget year 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 year.

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. For example, if you are proposing to provide services to clients, you should describe how many clients are you expecting 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 (when required) must be detailed and justified in the budget narrative. "Federal resources" refers only to the HHS/OASH funds for which you are applying.