PKG00263188-instructions.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Office of the Director

Strengthening the Nation's Public Health Communication Infrastructure to Respond to COVID-

CDC-RFA-CD20-2001

Application Due Date: 09/03/2020

Strengthening the Nation's Public Health Communication Infrastructure to Respond to COVID-

CDC-RFA-CD20-2001

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I. Overview Information A. Federal Agency Name B. Funding Opportunity Title C. Announcement Type D. Agency Funding Opportunity Number E. Assistance Listings (CFDA) Number F. Dates G. Executive Summary

Part II. Full Text A. Funding Opportunity Description B. Award Information C. Eligibility Information D. Application and Submission Information E. Review and Selection Process F. Award Administration Information G. Agency Contacts H. Other Information I. Glossary

Part I. Overview Information Applicants must go to the synopsis page of this announcement at www.grants.gov and click on the "Subscribe" button link to ensure they receive notifications of any changes to CDC-RFA- CD20-2001. Applicants also must provide an e-mail address to www.grants.gov to receive notifications of changes.

A. Federal Agency Name:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) B. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title:

Strengthening the Nation's Public Health Communication Infrastructure to Respond to COVID- C. Announcement Type: New - Type 1 This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not be considered. For this purpose, research is defined at https ://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title42-vol1/pdf/CFR-2007-title42-vol1-sec52-2.pdf.

Guidance on how CDC interprets the definition of research in the context of public health can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html (See section 45 CFR 46.102(d)).

Non-research

D. Agency Notice of Funding Opportunity Number:

CDC-RFA-CD20-2001

E. Assistance Listings (CFDA) Number:

93.283 F. Dates:

1. Due Date for Letter of Intent (LOI): N/A

2. Due Date for Applications: 09/03/2020, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern

Standard Time, at www.grants.gov.

3. Date for Informational Conference Call:

N/A

G. Executive Summary:

1. Summary Paragraph:

Communication is critical during a pandemic and there's a need to strengthen the nation’s public health communications infrastructure to be able to respond to unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The network of public information officers (PIOs), public affairs officers (PAOs), and other health communicators can provide safe and consistent messages throughout the pandemic response. This program seeks to strengthen the public health communication infrastructure through: real-time needs assessment to identify public health communication needs; rapidly deployment of health communication education and training to PIOs, PAOs, and other communicators; technical assistance to jurisdictions as needed to support their individual challenges; and, improving channels for effectively disseminating critical and timely emergency communications, and collaborate with CDC, HHS and other partners.

https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title42-vol1/pdf/CFR-2007-title42-vol1-sec52-2.pdf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title42-vol1/pdf/CFR-2007-title42-vol1-sec52-2.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html https://www.grants.gov

Expected outcomes during the period of performance include: identification and addressing of public health communication needs at all levels of public health; rapid delivery of public health communication education and training to PIOs, PAOs, and health communicators across the country; delivery of technical assistance tailored to the jurisdictions; recommendations for enhancement of channels that disseminate critical emergency communications; and, identification of opportunities to collaborate with CDC, HHS, and public health partners on communication, training, and emerging issues.

a. Eligible Applicants: Single

b. NOFO Type: Grant

c. Approximate Number of Awards: 1

d. Total Period of Performance Funding: $500,000

e. Average One Year Award Amount: $500,000

f. Total Period of Performance Length: 1

g. Estimated Award Date: 09/28/2020

h. Cost Sharing and / or Matching Requirements: N

Part II. Full Text A. Funding Opportunity Description

Part II. Full Text

1. Background

a. Overview There is a need to strengthen the nation’s public health communications infrastructure to be able to respond to the historically unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the public health infrastructure in the United States almost to the breaking point. Maintaining a strong public health system requires strong communications and public affairs support throughout every level of government and across the entire country.

Public information officers (PIOs), public affairs officers (PAOs), and other health communicators can provide safe and consistent messages and guidelines for safely reopening America in communities across the United States. Public health communicators are trained in developing messages that reflect the needs and information-seeking behaviors of their intended audience and its segments, through engagement and understanding of the audience segments.

As each state and locality will need to address issues specific to their jurisdiction, it is important to ensure that the public health communication infrastructure can support effective dissemination of consistent public health messaging. This program seeks to strengthen the public health communication infrastructure by leveraging available networks on PAOs and PIOs within health departments.

Public Health communicators (PAOs and PIOs) at the state, tribal, local and territorial (STLT) levels need additional support to effectively do their job in ensuring that their health department and their partner organizations are providing accurate and actionable guidance.The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unanticipated and tremendous surge in demand for real-time public health information from CDC, tailored to each state and local jurisdictions’ needs. One criticism of the current response as seen from communications monitoring and congressional inquiries, is the lack of cohesion in messaging: the various levels of government are sharing different messages. Therefore, the public struggles to understand which messages to listen to and what strategies to implement. As each state and locality grapples with how to best continue “reopening America” in a way that is safe, based on data, and that addresses each jurisdiction’s needs, there is a high likelihood of mixed messaging. While some sectors have already opened, other key sectors—such as schools in the fall—will require cohesive and consistent public health messaging. As new evidence is incorporated in public health guidance and strategies related to reopening must shift accordingly, the public health communications network will require immense support. Since the responsibility of reopening has been pushed down to the state and local level, the federal response needs to have a trusted channel and organization that can bring their membership body together.

b. Statutory Authorities The programmatic authority for this activity is Section 1704 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. Section 300u-3], as amended. The funding for this activity will be provided pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, 2002 [P.L. 116-136].

c. Healthy People 2030 Increase the proportion of crisis and emergency risk messages embedded in print and broadcast news stories that promote steps the reader or viewer can take to reduce their personal health threat. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives

d. Other National Public Health Priorities and Strategies

Global Health Security Agenda https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/oga/global-health-security/agenda/index.html

National Health Security and Implementation Plan https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/authority/nhss/Pages/strategy.aspx

National Pandemic Strategy https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/national-strategy/index.html

e. Relevant Work Not Applicable since the work described in this NOFO is new, as it relates to COVID-19.

2. CDC Project Description

a. Approach

Bold indicates period of performance outcome.

https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives

CDC-RFA-OD20-2001 Logic Model: Strengthening the Nation’s Public Health Communication Infrastructure to Respond to COVID-19

Bold indicates period of performance outcome

Strategies and Activities

Short-term Outcomes Intermediate Outcomes Long-Term Outcomes

Perform real-time needs assessment for state, tribal, local and territorial (STLT) health departments (HDs) to identify public health communication needs related to COVID-19.

Identify methods to rapidly deploy health communication training to Public Information Officers (PIOs), Public Affairs Officers (PAOs), and other communicators in STLT HDs to support

COVID-19

communication activities.

Collaborate with CDC to provide technical assistance to jurisdictions related to

COVID-19

communication activities.

Maintain and enhance channels for effectively disseminating critical and timely emergency

CDC is made aware of the STLT HDs needs related to COVID-19 communication activities.

STLT HDs receive public health communication training and technical assistance that meets their needs related to

COVID-19

communication activities.

STLT HDs receive the critical and timely emergency communications related to COVID-19 needed to inform communication activities in their jurisdiction.

PIOs, PAOs, and health communicators improve public health communication activities related to COVID-19 at STLT HDs.

Public receives consistent, accurate, and timely COVID- 19 messaging from STLT HDs.

communications related to COVID-19.

Collaborate on activities with CDC, HHS, and other public health partners regarding public health communication, training, and emerging issues related to

COVID-19.

i. Purpose This program seeks to strengthen public health communication through real-time needs assessment to identify public health communication needs with attention to health literacy, culture, and diversity rapidly deploying health comms education and training to PIOs, PAOs, and other communicators in state, county, local, tribal, and territorial health departments;

technical assistance to jurisdictions as needed to support their individual challenges; and enhancing channels for effectively disseminating critical and timely emergency communications, and collaborate with CDC, HHS and other partners.

ii. Outcomes

CDC is made aware of the STLT HDs needs related to COVID-19 communication activities.

STLT HDs receive public health communication training and technical assistance that meets their needs related to COVID-19 communication activities.

STLT HDs receive the critical and timely emergency communications related to COVID-19 needed to inform communication activities in their jurisdiction.

iii. Strategies and Activities This program seeks to strengthen the public health communication infrastructure through the following activities:

Perform real-time needs assessment for state, tribal, local and territorial (STLT) health departments (HDs) to identify public health communication needs related to COVID- 19.

Identify methods to rapidly deploy health communication training to Public Information Officers (PIOs), Public Affairs Officers (PAOs), and other communicators in STLT HDs to support COVID-19 communication activities.

Collaborate with CDC to provide technical assistance to jurisdictions related to COVID- 19 communication activities.

Maintain and enhance channels for effectively disseminating critical and timely emergency communications related to COVID-19.

Collaborate on activities with CDC, HHS, and other public health partners regarding public health communication, training, and emerging issues related to COVID-19.

1. Collaborations

a. With other CDC programs and CDC-funded organizations:

As this program seeks to improve the public health communication infrastructure in support of the COVID-19 pandemic response, the recipient will collaborate with CDC, HHS, and other public health partners. Specifically, within CDC, the recipient will collaborate with the parts of the Incident Management structure focused on communication to local, state, territorial, and tribal public health departments, including the Joint Information Center and other CDC emergency operations center desks, teams, task forces.

b. With organizations not funded by CDC:

The recipient will be closely collaborating with their established network of PAOs, PIOs, and health communicators in local, state, territorial, and tribal public health departments and their related communication organizations across the country, regardless of funding from CDC. The recipient will collaborate with their Government, Individual, Student, Non-Profit, and Corporate members.

2. Target Populations As everyone is at risk for getting COVID-19, the target population for the pandemic response is the general public. There will also be additional emphasis on segments of the population at greater risk for infection and for severe illness. This includes older adults, people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions, and some members of racial and ethnic minority groups because of long-standing systemic health and social inequities.

a. Health Disparities This NOFO supports efforts of public health communicators (PAOs and PIOs in health departments) to use a full and diverse range of communication strategies in the effort to eliminate health disparities. Disparities in access to health information, services, and technology can result in lower usage rates of preventive services, less knowledge of chronic disease management, higher rates of hospitalization, and poorer reported health status. Because there will also be additional emphasis on segments of the population at greater risk for infection and for severe illness, this NOFO will help to reduce health disparities and improve the social determinants of health of these populations.

iv. Funding Strategy N/A

b. Evaluation and Performance Measurement

i. CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement Strategy TA provided will be measured by calls, number of STLTs reached, and feedback from the STLTs.

ii. Applicant Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan Applicants must provide an evaluation and performance measurement plan that demonstrates how the recipient will fulfill the requirements described in the CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement and Project Description sections of this NOFO. At a minimum, the plan must describe:

How applicant will collect the performance measures, respond to the evaluation questions, and use evaluation findings for continuous program quality improvement.

How key program partners will participate in the evaluation and performance measurement planning processes.

Available data sources, feasibility of collecting appropriate evaluation and performance data, and other relevant data information (e.g., performance measures proposed by the applicant)

Plans for updating the Data Management Plan (DMP), if applicable, for accuracy throughout the lifecycle of the project. The DMP should provide a description of the data that will be produced using these NOFO funds; access to data; data standards ensuring released data have documentation describing methods of collection, what the data represent, and data limitations; and archival and long-term data preservation plans.

For more information about CDC’s policy on the DMP, see https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additionalrequirements/ar-25.html.

Where the applicant chooses to, or is expected to, take on specific evaluation studies, they should be directed to:

Describe the type of evaluations (i.e., process, outcome, or both).

Describe key evaluation questions to be addressed by these evaluations.

Describe other information (e.g., measures, data sources).

Recipients will be required to submit a more detailed Evaluation and Performance Measurement plan, including a DMP, if applicable, within the first 6 months of award, as described in the Reporting Section of this NOFO.

CDC will use a set of core process and outcome measures to monitor the implementation of the five key strategies and the three key outcomes outlined in the Strategies and Activities and Outcomes Section of the NOFO. For illustrative purposes, example performance measures are provided for each strategy and outcome.

Strategies & Activities

Perform real-time needs assessment for state, tribal, local and territorial (STLT) health departments (HDs) to identify public health communication needs related to COVID-19.

o Process Measure: Recipient will perform communication needs assessments https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additionalrequirements/ar-25.html related to COVID-19 for STLT HDs within the first two months of the award.

Identify methods to rapidly deploy health communication training to Public Information

Officers (PIOs), Public Affairs Officers (PAOs), and other communicators in STLT HDs to support COVID-19 communication activities.

o Process Measure: Recipient will work with CDC to identify the best method for deploying health communication training related to COVID-19 to its network following submission of the needs assessment report.

Collaborate with CDC to provide technical assistance to jurisdictions related to COVID- 19 communication activities.

o Process Measure: Recipient will participate in planning calls with CDC for facilitating technical assistance related to COVID-19 communications to jurisdictions.

Maintain and enhance channels for effectively disseminating critical and timely emergency communications related to COVID-19.

o Process Measure: Recipient will evaluate their communication channels and make updates or improvements where needed throughout the funding period.

Collaborate on activities with CDC, HHS, and other public health partners regarding public health communication, training, and emerging issues related to COVID-19.

o Process Measure: Recipient will participate in COVID-19 related communication, training and emerging issues activities with CDC and HHS throughout the funding period.

Outcomes:

CDC is made aware of the STLT Health Departments (HDs) needs related to COVID-19 communication activities.

o Outcome Measure: Recipient will send to CDC a report on the STLT needs related to COVID-19 communication activities within two months of completing the needs assessment.

STLT HDs receive public health communication training and technical assistance that meets their needs related to COVID-19 communication activities.

o Outcome Measure: Recipient will collaborate with CDC to facilitate health communication training and technical assistance to STLT HD during the remainder of the funding period.

STLT HDs receive the critical and timely emergency communications related to COVID-19 needed to inform communication activities in their jurisdiction.

o Outcome Measure: Recipient will forward critical and timely emergency communications related to COVID-19 needed to inform communication activities from CDC through their communication channels throughout the funding period.

A data management plan (DMP) is not required for this award.

c. Organizational Capacity of Recipients to Implement the Approach The recipient should have experience working and collaborating with Public Affairs Officers (PAOs), Public Information Officers (PIOs), and health communicators working in STLT public health departments and serve as a coalition and governing body for PIOs and PAOs.

The recipient should have an existing system for rapidly communicating with PAOs, PIOs, and health communicators, that facilitates information-sharing.

The recipient should also have and provide a staffing plan, organizational chart, and project management structure that demonstrates how they will support the goals and implementation of this work. Note: these files should be uploaded as a pdf at www.grants.gov with the following naming convention: Orgname_file_CDC-RFA-CD20-2001.

Example: CDC_staffingplan_CDC-RFA-CD20-2001

d. Work Plan Applicants must submit a detailed work plan for the one year period of performance. The work plan should describe how the applicant plans to implement all of the required strategies and activities to achieve NOFO outcomes. A sample work plan format is presented below to show how a traditional work plan aligns with the logic model and narrative. A separate table should be included in the work plan for each of the outcomes that will be completed during the one year period of performance. If a particular activity leads to multiple outcomes, it should described under each outcome measure. Applicants are not required to use the example work plan format; however, all work plans must contain all of the elements shown in the example (outcome(s), outcome measure(s), etc.).

Example Work Plan Table Period of Performance Outcome: (from Logic Model) Outcome Measure: (from Evaluation and Performance Measurement)

Strategies and Activities

Process Measure (from Evaluation and Performance Measurement)

Responsible Team Member(s)

Population of focus

Scope Setting(s) Completion Date

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

CDC will provide feedback and technical assistance to award recipients to finalize the work plan activities post-award.

e. CDC Monitoring and Accountability Approach Monitoring activities include routine and ongoing communication between CDC and recipients, http://www.grants.gov site visits, and recipient reporting (including work plans, performance, and financial reporting).

Consistent with applicable grants regulations and policies, CDC expects the following to be included in post-award monitoring for grants and cooperative agreements:

Tracking recipient progress in achieving the desired outcomes.

Ensuring the adequacy of recipient systems that underlie and generate data reports.

Creating an environment that fosters integrity in program performance and results.

Monitoring may also include the following activities deemed necessary to monitor the award:

Ensuring that work plans are feasible based on the budget and consistent with the intent of the award.

Ensuring that recipients are performing at a sufficient level to achieve outcomes within stated timeframes.

Working with recipients on adjusting the work plan based on achievement of outcomes, evaluation results and changing budgets.

Monitoring performance measures (both programmatic and financial) to assure satisfactory performance levels.

Monitoring and reporting activities that assist grants management staff (e.g., grants management officers and specialists, and project officers) in the identification, notification, and management of high-risk recipients.

B. Award Information

1. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

2. Award Mechanism: E11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Investigations and Technical Assistance

3. Fiscal Year: 2020

4. Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding: $500,000

5. Approximate Period of Performance Funding: $500,000

This amount is subject to the availability of funds.

Estimated Total Funding: $500,000

6. Approximate Period of Performance Length: 1 year(s)

7. Expected Number of Awards: 1

8. Approximate Average Award: $500,000 Per Project Period

9. Award Ceiling: $500,000 Per Project Period

This amount is subject to the availability of funds.

10. Award Floor: $500,000 Per Project Period

11. Estimated Award Date: 09/28/2020

12. Budget Period Length: 12 month(s)

Throughout the project period, CDC will continue the award based on the availability of funds, the evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the federal government. The total number of years for which federal support has been approved (project period) will be shown in the “Notice of Award.” This information does not constitute a commitment by the federal government to fund the entire period. The total period of performance comprises the initial competitive segment and any subsequent non-competitive continuation award(s).

13. Direct Assistance Direct Assistance (DA) is not available through this NOFO.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Eligibility Category: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Additional Eligibility Category:

2. Additional Information on Eligibility

National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC)

3. Justification for Less than Maximum Competition There is a need to strengthen the nation's public health infrastructure to be able to respond to the historically unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the public health infrastructure in the United States almost to the breaking point. The whole of government emergency response is being waged at every level of the public health network, from the federal sector down to the county and local level public health departments. In order to get and keep America open during the COVID-19 pandemic, states, tribes, localities, and territories must be able to quickly identify new cases, break chains of transmission, and protect first responders and health care workers from infection.

Maintaining a strong public health system requires strong communications and public affairs support throughout every level of government and across the entire country. Public information officers (PIOs), public affairs officers (PAOs), and other health communicators working in public health departments can provide coordinated and comprehensive messages and guidelines for safely reopening America in communities across the United States. As each state and locality will need to address issues specific to their jurisdiction, it is important to ensure that the public health communication infrastructure can support effective dissemination of consistent public health messaging.

This program seeks to strengthen the public health communication infrastructure through the following possible activities: Perform real-time needs assessment and data collection to identify public health communication needs; Identify methods to rapidly deploy health communication education and training to PIOs, PAOs, and other communicators in state, county, local, tribal, and territorial health departments; Provide needed technical assistance to jurisdictions as needed to support their individual challenges; and maintain and enhance channels for effectively disseminating critical and timely emergency communications, and collaborate on activities with CDC, HHS and other public health partners regarding public health communication, training, and emerging issues.

The National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) is the only appropriate and qualified organization to carry out these activities, as it is the only organization whose membership is comprised of a comprehensive representation of state and local public health communicators, including PIOs and PAOs, in all 50 U.S. states and localities.

4. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement: No

5. Maintenance of Effort

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Required Registrations An organization must be registered at the three following locations before it can submit an application for funding at www.grants.gov.

a. Data Universal Numbering System:

All applicant organizations must obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identification number provided by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). It will be used as the Universal Identifier when applying for federal awards or cooperative agreements.

The applicant organization may request a DUNS number by telephone at 1-866-705-5711 (toll free) or internet at http:// fedgov.dnb. com/ webform/ displayHomePage.do. The DUNS number will be provided at no charge.

If funds are awarded to an applicant organization that includes sub-recipients, those sub-recipients must provide their DUNS numbers before accepting any funds.

b. System for Award Management (SAM):

The SAM is the primary registrant database for the federal government and the repository into which an entity must submit information required to conduct business as a recipient. All applicant organizations must register with SAM, and will be assigned a SAM number. All https://www.grants.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do information relevant to the SAM number must be current at all times during which the applicant has an application under consideration for funding by CDC. If an award is made, the SAM information must be maintained until a final financial report is submitted or the final payment is received, whichever is later. The SAM registration process can require 10 or more business days, and registration must be renewed annually. Additional information about registration procedures may be found at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/.

c. Grants.gov:

The first step in submitting an application online is registering your organization at www.grants.gov, the official HHS E-grant Web site. Registration information is located at the "Applicant Registration" option at www.grants.gov.

All applicant organizations must register at www.grants.gov. The one-time registration process usually takes not more than five days to complete. Applicants should start the registration process as early as possible.

Step System Requirements Duration Follow Up 1 Data

Universal Number System

(DUNS)

1. Click on http:// fedgov.dnb.com/ webform

2. Select Begin DUNS search/request process

3. Select your country or territory and follow the instructions to obtain your DUNS 9-digit #

4. Request appropriate staff member(s) to obtain DUNS number, verify & update information under DUNS number

1-2 Business Days

To confirm that you have been issued a new DUNS number check online at (http:// fedgov.dnb.com/ webform) or call 1-866-705-5711

2 System for Award Management

(SAM)

formerly Central Contractor Registration

(CCR)

1. Retrieve organizations DUNS number

2. Go to https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ and designate an E-Biz POC (note CCR username will not work in SAM and you will need to have an active SAM account before you can register on grants.gov)

3-5 Business Days but up to 2 weeks and must be renewed once a year

For SAM Customer Service Contact https://fsd.gov/ fsd-gov/ home.do Calls:

866-606-8220

3 Grants.gov 1. Set up an individual account in Grants.gov using organization new DUNS number to become an authorized organization

Same day but can take 8 weeks to be fully

Register early!

Log into grants.gov and check AOR status until it https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do https://fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do https://fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do representative (AOR)

2. Once the account is set up the E-BIZ POC will be notified via email

3. Log into grants.gov using the password the E-BIZ POC received and create new password

4. This authorizes the AOR to submit applications on behalf of the organization registered and approved in the system (note, applicants

MUST

obtain a

DUNS

number and

SAM

account before applying on grants.gov) shows you have been approved

2. Request Application Package Applicants may access the application package at www.grants.gov.

3. Application Package Applicants must download the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, package associated with this notice of funding opportunity at www.grants.gov.

4. Submission Dates and Times If the application is not submitted by the deadline published in the NOFO, it will not be processed. Office of Grants Services (OGS) personnel will notify the applicant that their application did not meet the deadline. The applicant must receive pre-approval to submit a paper application (see Other Submission Requirements section for additional details). If the applicant is authorized to submit a paper application, it must be received by the deadline provided by

OGS.

a. Letter of Intent Deadline (must be emailed or postmarked by) Due Date for Letter of Intent: N/A

b. Application Deadline Due Date for Applications: 09/03/2020 , 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time, at www.grants.gov. If Grants.gov is inoperable and cannot receive applications, and circumstances preclude advance notification of an extension, then applications must be submitted by the first business day on which grants.gov operations resume.

Date for Information Conference Call

5. CDC Assurances and Certifications https://www.grants.gov

All applicants are required to sign and submit “Assurances and Certifications” documents indicated at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/ grantassurances/ (S(mj444mxct51lnrv1hljjjmaa)) /Homepage.aspx.

Applicants may follow either of the following processes:

Complete the applicable assurances and certifications with each application submission, name the file “Assurances and Certifications” and upload it as a PDF file with at www.grants.gov

Complete the applicable assurances and certifications and submit them directly to CDC on an annual basis at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/ grantassurances/ (S(mj444mxct51lnrv1hljjjmaa))/ Homepage.aspx

Assurances and certifications submitted directly to CDC will be kept on file for one year and will apply to all applications submitted to CDC by the applicant within one year of the submission date.

Risk Assessment Questionnaire Requirement CDC is required to conduct pre-award risk assessments to determine the risk an applicant poses to meeting federal programmatic and administrative requirements by taking into account issues such as financial instability, insufficient management systems, non-compliance with award conditions, the charging of unallowable costs, and inexperience. The risk assessment will include an evaluation of the applicant’s CDC Risk Questionnaire, located at https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/PPMR-G-CDC-Risk-Questionnaire.pdf, as well as a review of the applicant’s history in all available systems; including OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility and financial integrity systems (see 45 CFR 75.205(a)), and other sources of historical information. These systems include, but are not limited to: FAPIIS (https://www.fapiis.gov/), including past performance on federal contracts as per Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of 2009; Do Not Pay list; and System for Award Management (SAM) exclusions.

CDC requires all applicants to complete the Risk Questionnaire, OMB Control Number 0920- 1132 annually. This questionnaire, which is located at https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/PPMR-G-CDC-Risk-Questionnaire.pdf, along with supporting documentation must be submitted with your application by the closing date of the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement. If your organization has completed CDC’s Risk Questionnaire within the past 12 months of the closing date of this NOFO, then you must submit a copy of that questionnaire, or submit a letter signed by the authorized organization representative to include the original submission date, organization’s EIN and DUNS.

When uploading supporting documentation for the Risk Questionnaire into this application package, clearly label the documents for easy identification of the type of documentation. For example, a copy of Procurement policy submitted in response to the questionnaire may be labeled using the following format: Risk Questionnaire Supporting Documents _ Procurement Policy.

Duplication of Efforts Applicants are responsible for reporting if this application will result in programmatic, http://wwwn.cdc.gov/grantassurances/(S(mj444mxct51lnrv1hljjjmaa))/Homepage.aspx http://wwwn.cdc.gov/grantassurances/(S(mj444mxct51lnrv1hljjjmaa))/Homepage.aspx https://www.grants.gov http://wwwn.cdc.gov/grantassurances/(S(mj444mxct51lnrv1hljjjmaa))/Homepage.aspx http://wwwn.cdc.gov/grantassurances/(S(mj444mxct51lnrv1hljjjmaa))/Homepage.aspx https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/PPMR-G-CDC-Risk-Questionnaire.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/PPMR-G-CDC-Risk-Questionnaire.pdf budgetary, or commitment overlap with another application or award (i.e. grant, cooperative agreement, or contract) submitted to another funding source in the same fiscal year.

Programmatic overlap occurs when (1) substantially the same project is proposed in more than one application or is submitted to two or more funding sources for review and funding consideration or (2) a specific objective and the project design for accomplishing the objective are the same or closely related in two or more applications or awards, regardless of the funding source. Budgetary overlap occurs when duplicate or equivalent budgetary items (e.g., equipment, salaries) are requested in an application but already are provided by another source.

Commitment overlap occurs when an individual’s time commitment exceeds 100 percent, whether or not salary support is requested in the application. Overlap, whether programmatic, budgetary, or commitment of an individual’s effort greater than 100 percent, is not permitted.

Any overlap will be resolved by the CDC with the applicant and the PD/PI prior to award.

Report Submission: The applicant must upload the report in Grants.gov under “Other Attachment Forms.” The document should be labeled: "Report on Programmatic, Budgetary, and Commitment Overlap.”

6. Content and Form of Application Submission Applicants are required to include all of the following documents with their application package at www.grants.gov.

7. Letter of Intent LOI is not requested or required as part of the application for this NOFO.

8. Table of Contents (There is no page limit. The table of contents is not included in the project narrative page limit.): The applicant must provide, as a separate attachment, the “Table of Contents” for the entire submission package.

Provide a detailed table of contents for the entire submission package that includes all of the documents in the application and headings in the "Project Narrative" section. Name the file "Table of Contents" and upload it as a PDF file under "Other Attachment Forms" at www.grants.gov.

9. Project Abstract Summary (Maximum 1 page) A project abstract is included on the mandatory documents list and must be submitted at www.grants.gov. The project abstract must be a self-contained, brief summary of the proposed project including the purpose and outcomes. This summary must not include any proprietary or confidential information. Applicants must enter the summary in the "Project Abstract Summary" text box at www.grants.gov.

10. Project Narrative (Unless specified in the "H. Other Information" section, maximum of 20 pages, single spaced, 12 point font, 1-inch margins, number all pages. This includes the work plan. Content beyond https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov the specified page number will not be reviewed.)

Applicants must submit a Project Narrative with the application forms. Applicants must name this file “Project Narrative” and upload it at www.grants.gov. The Project Narrative must include all of the following headings (including subheadings): Background, Approach, Applicant Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan, Organizational Capacity of Applicants to Implement the Approach, and Work Plan. The Project Narrative must be succinct, self-explanatory, and in the order outlined in this section. It must address outcomes and activities to be conducted over the entire period of performance as identified in the CDC Project Description section. Applicants should use the federal plain language guidelines and Clear Communication Index to respond to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Note that recipients should also use these tools when creating public communication materials supported by this NOFO. Failure to follow the guidance and format may negatively impact scoring of the application.

a. Background Applicants must provide a description of relevant background information that includes the context of the problem (See CDC Background).

b. Approach

i. Purpose Applicants must describe in 2-3 sentences specifically how their application will address the public health problem as described in the CDC Background section.

ii. Outcomes Applicants must clearly identify the outcomes they expect to achieve by the end of the project period, as identified in the logic model in the Approach section of the CDC Project Description.

Outcomes are the results that the program intends to achieve and usually indicate the intended direction of change (e.g., increase, decrease).

iii. Strategies and Activities Applicants must provide a clear and concise description of the strategies and activities they will use to achieve the period of performance outcomes. Applicants must select existing evidence-based strategies that meet their needs, or describe in the Applicant Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan how these strategies will be evaluated over the course of the project period.

See the Strategies and Activities section of the CDC Project Description.

1. Collaborations Applicants must describe how they will collaborate with programs and organizations either internal or external to CDC. Applicants must address the Collaboration requirements as described in the CDC Project Description.

2. Target Populations and Health Disparities Applicants must describe the specific target population(s) in their jurisdiction and explain how such a target will achieve the goals of the award and/or alleviate health disparities. The applicants must also address how they will include specific populations that can benefit from the program that is described in the Approach section. Applicants must address the Target Populations and Health Disparities requirements as described in the CDC Project Description.

c. Applicant Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan Applicants must provide an evaluation and performance measurement plan that demonstrates how the recipient will fulfill the requirements described in the CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement and Project Description sections of this NOFO. At a minimum, the plan must describe:

How applicant will collect the performance measures, respond to the evaluation questions, and use evaluation findings for continuous program quality improvement. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA): Applicants are advised that any activities involving information collections (e.g., surveys, questionnaires, applications, audits, data requests, reporting, recordkeeping and disclosure requirements) from 10 or more individuals or non-Federal entities, including State and local governmental agencies, and funded or sponsored by the Federal Government are subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget. For further information about CDC’s requirements under PRA see https://www.cdc.gov/od/science/integrity/reducePublicBurden/.

How key program partners will participate in the evaluation and performance measurement planning processes.

Available data sources, feasibility of collecting appropriate evaluation and performance data, data management plan (DMP), and other relevant data information (e.g., performance measures proposed by the applicant).

Where the applicant chooses to, or is expected to, take on specific evaluation studies, they should be directed to:

Describe the type of evaluations (i.e., process, outcome, or both).

Describe key evaluation questions to be addressed by these evaluations.

Describe other information (e.g., measures, data sources).

Recipients will be required to submit a more detailed Evaluation and Performance Measurement plan (including the DMP elements) within the first 6 months of award, as described in the Reporting Section of this NOFO.

d. Organizational Capacity of Applicants to Implement the Approach Applicants must address the organizational capacity requirements as described in the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/od/science/integrity/reducePublicBurden/

Project Description.

11. Work Plan (Included in the Project Narrative’s page limit) Applicants must prepare a work plan consistent with the CDC Project Description Work Plan section. The work plan integrates and delineates more specifically how the recipient plans to carry out achieving the period of performance outcomes, strategies and activities, evaluation and performance measurement.

12. Budget Narrative Applicants must submit an itemized budget narrative. When developing the budget narrative, applicants must consider whether the proposed budget is reasonable and consistent with the purpose, outcomes, and program strategy outlined in the project narrative. The budget must include:

Salaries and wages Fringe benefits Consultant costs Equipment Supplies Travel Other categories Contractual costs Total Direct costs Total Indirect costs

Indirect costs could include the cost of collecting, managing, sharing and preserving data.

Indirect costs on grants awarded to foreign organizations and foreign public entities and performed fully outside of the territorial limits of the U.S. may be paid to support the costs of compliance with federal requirements at a fixed rate of eight percent of MTDC exclusive of tuition and related fees, direct expenditures for equipment, and subawards in excess of $25,000.

Negotiated indirect costs may be paid to the American University, Beirut, and the World Health Organization.

If applicable and consistent with the cited statutory authority for this announcement, applicant entities may use funds for activities as they relate to the intent of this NOFO to meet national standards or seek health department accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (see: http://www.phaboard.org). Applicant entities to whom this provision applies include state, local, territorial governments (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau), or their bona fide agents, political subdivisions of states (in consultation with states), federally recognized or state-recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribal governments, and American Indian or Alaska Native tribally designated http://www.phaboard.org organizations. Activities include those that enable a public health organization to deliver public health services such as activities that ensure a capable and qualified workforce, up-to-date information systems, and the capability to assess and respond to public health needs. Use of these funds must focus on achieving a minimum of one national standard that supports the intent of the NOFO. Proposed activities must be included in the budget narrative and must indicate which standards will be addressed.

Vital records data, including births and deaths, are used to inform public health program and policy decisions. If applicable and consistent with the cited statutory authority for this NOFO, applicant entities are encouraged to collaborate with and support their jurisdiction’s vital records office (VRO) to improve vital records data timeliness, quality and access, and to advance public health goals. Recipients may, for example, use funds to support efforts to build VRO capacity through partnerships; provide technical and/or financial assistance to improve vital records timeliness, quality or access; or support vital records improvement efforts, as approved by CDC.

Applicants must name this file “Budget Narrative” and upload it as a PDF file at www.grants.gov. If requesting indirect costs in the budget, a copy of the indirect cost-rate agreement is required. If the indirect costs are requested, include a copy of the current negotiated federal indirect cost rate agreement or a cost allocation plan approval letter for those Recipients under such a plan. Applicants must name this file “Indirect Cost Rate” and upload it at www.grants.gov.

13. Funds Tracking Proper fiscal oversight is critical to maintaining public trust in the stewardship of federal funds.

Effective October 1, 2013, a new HHS policy on subaccounts requires the CDC to set up payment subaccounts within the Payment Management System (PMS) for all new grant awards.

Funds awarded in support of approved activities and drawdown instructions will be identified on the Notice of Award in a newly established PMS subaccount (P subaccount). Recipients will be required to draw down funds from award-specific accounts in the PMS. Ultimately, the subaccounts will provide recipients and CDC a more detailed and precise understanding of financial transactions. The successful applicant will be required to track funds by P-accounts/sub accounts for each project/cooperative agreement awarded. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate a record of fiscal responsibility and the ability to provide sufficient and effective oversight. Financial management systems must meet the requirements as described 2 CFR 200 which include, but are not limited to, the following:

Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally-funded activities.

Effective control over, and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets.

Comparison of expenditures with budget amounts for each Federal award.

Written procedures to implement payment requirements.

Written procedures for determining cost allowability.

Written procedures for financial reporting and monitoring.

14. Intergovernmental Review Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

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