Q and A CDC- RFA- DP- 26- 0227.pdf

CDC RFA DP 26 0227: Public Health Strategies to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias—The National Healthy Brain Initiative, BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence, and Public Health Adoption Accelerator.

Q & A

6/25/26 Page 1 of 7

1. Does the eligibility restriction apply only to prime recipients, or does it extend to sub-recipients drawing funds through a current DP-23-0010 award?

The eligibility restriction under CDC-RFA-DP-26-0227 applies exclusively to organizations that are current prime recipients of funding under DP-23-0010. Sub-recipients and other entities not serving as the prime awardee under DP-23-0010 are not subject to this limitation.

2. Could you please clarify submission restrictions for the above-referenced grant? On page 8 of the NOFO, it reads “Under this NOFO, you may submit only one application per component under your organization’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)”. On page 14 of the NOFO, it reads “You can apply for more than one component”.

Under CDC-RFA-DP-26-0227, organizations are permitted to submit only one application per component under their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). While an organization may elect to apply for all three components of the NOFO, no more than one application per component may be submitted.

3. Will there be an informational call or webinar for this grant opportunity?

There will be no informational call or webinar associated with this grant opportunity.

4. Can you please clarify that the funding (Component 1: $2,500,000 to $3,000,000) is per awardee? Or is it for all awardees for the component?

The anticipated funding range for Component 1 is $2,500,000 to $3,000,000 per applicant per budget period, as specified on page 6 of the NOFO.

5. What is the official guidance for the number of Letters of Support that are allowed for

Component 3: ADRD Public Health Adoption Accelerator?

As outlined on page 63 of the NOFO, applicants are required to attach three letters from relevant organizations that can attest to the applicant’s demonstrated record of successful work.

CDC-RFA-DP-26-0227: Q & A

6. Where does the Data Management Plan get attached and/or uploaded in the grant submission? Is it embedded as part of the 20 pages for Project Narrative, or does it get added as a separate attachment?

The Data Management Plan (DMP) must be incorporated into the Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan. In accordance with page 33 of the NOFO, applicants are instructed to “submit an initial draft of your evaluation and performance measurement plan, including the DMP, with your application.”

7. Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply for this opportunity, either as a prime applicant or as a subrecipient?

Please see the list of eligible applicants on page 7 of the NOFO. This NOFO is an open competition and eligibility is unrestricted. While for-profit organizations are eligible to apply, they must meet the requirements noted in the initial review (see page 8 of the NOFO under “Responsiveness criteria”).

8. Could you provide any additional guidance regarding whether CDC anticipates state agencies as potential applicants for Component 1, or whether Component 1 is primarily intended for organizations with existing national infrastructure and multi-state reach?

This NOFO is an open competition and eligibility is unrestricted. Component 1: The National Healthy Brain Initiative is a continuation of the work funded under CDC-RFA-DP20- 2003: The National Healthy Brain Initiative. The organization funded under this component will work on a national level to develop and implement public health strategies guided by the National HBI Road Map Series.

9. Could you provide clarification on Component 2, whether it is geared toward universities, or since our Roadmap is highly focused on dementia caregiving. Could an [applicant] propose being a center of excellence for dementia caregiving, highlighting our specialty in rural and Tribal communities?

This NOFO is an open competition and eligibility is unrestricted. Component 2: BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence is a continuation of the work funded under CDC-RFA- DP20-2005: BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Organizations funded under Component 2 will provide expert guidance and technical assistance to BOLD public health programs. They will build on public health infrastructure and collaborate with national experts to make sure evidence-informed practices for their topic areas are available, shared, adopted, and evaluated.

10. Under Component 2, is it sufficient to address one strategy, not three? We would like to focus on Strategy #3 across the communities we serve, including rural, in developing a national model: Develop and share topic-specific professional education and workforce training within the selected topic area.

Recipients will be required to implement all strategies and activities throughout the five‑year period of performance for the component(s) for which they applied (see page 21).

As a Component 2 recipient, you are expected to identify and build on opportunities to enhance your work and collaborate with other organizations funded through this NOFO;

with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments, including those supported under NOFO CDC‑RFA‑DP‑23‑0010 (“BOLD Public Health Programs to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias”); and with recipients funded through the CDC Alzheimer’s Disease Program under NOFO CDC‑RFA‑PW‑24‑0080 (“Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health”).

11. If we need to address all three strategies, is it required to have prior relationships with

BOLD Centers to address Strategy 1: Provide training and technical assistance to BOLD public health programs and other ADRD public health programs within the selected topic area?

Recipients will be required to implement all strategies and activities throughout the five‑year period of performance for the component(s) for which they applied (see page 21). These collaborations, along with engagement of additional partners as appropriate, are intended to ensure the inclusion of diverse perspectives and specialized expertise, and to strengthen the Centers of Excellence’s understanding of their topic area, available resources, and intended audiences.

12. Is a multi-PI structure allowed?

Yes - it is allowed. However, only one PI/PD will be recognized as the primary. It is the primary PI/PD that will be listed on the NOA.

13. Can students be included in the proposal, and if so, are tuition and other education stipends allowed in the budget?

Stipends are allowable; however, recipients must provide a clear justification that explains the purpose of the stipend, the necessity of the cost, and its direct alignment with the program’s objectives. When students are engaged in supporting project or program activities, a full justification is required that describes their specific roles, responsibilities, and how their involvement contributes to achieving the program’s objectives.

14. How should in-kind support be listed for personnel in the budget, and are there specific requirements regarding in-kind support?

Yes, in‑kind personnel must be included in the budget narrative. List them in the Personnel section, mark the Amount Requested as $0 or “In‑Kind,” and provide full justification as you would for funded staff.

15. The total budget listed in the RFA for Component 2 is up to 1.2 million per year. This is only direct costs, correct?

Your budget should include Total direct costs (total of all items) and Total indirect costs (see page 62). See Funding policies and limitations for policies you must follow (page 40).

16. Should Component 3 applicants submit exactly three letters, or would CDC accept more than three letters if additional relevant examples are available?

Applicants should plan to submit three letters from relevant organizations supporting your organization’s successful work. Additional letters beyond the requested three are not required and may not strengthen the application; CDC reviewers will focus on the materials requested in the NOFO.

17. In addition to letters of support from past collaborators, does CDC recommend or expect submission of letters of commitment from proposed partners for this component? If so, would those letters count toward the three letters submitted, or would they be considered separately?

Letters of support from past collaborators are appropriate. If you have proposed partner organizations that want to document a specific commitment (e.g., roles, responsibilities, formal collaboration), a letter of commitment from those partners may be included in place of a general letter of support. Such letters should clearly describe the partner’s planned involvement and capacity to carry out the stated activities. These letters would count toward the three letters called for in the NOFO.

18. Is the data management plan part of the narrative, or an attachment? Does it count towards the page limit?

The Data Management Plan should be submitted as part of the evaluation and performance measurement plan (see page 33 of NOFO: “Submit an initial draft of your evaluation and performance measurement plan, including the DMP, with your application.”). It is strongly recommended that applicants use the DMP template and submit it as an attachment.

19. What is the required format for resumes?

The résumé should be formatted as a clear, well‑organized document that presents a staff who will be engaged in the project or a key personnel’s experience, education, and skills in a structured manner, enabling reviewers to efficiently assess qualifications and verify alignment with program or position requirements.

20. Please confirm if the font for headings can be larger than 12-point, or if all text

(excluding the footnotes and text in graphics which may be 10-point) must be 12-point.

Required format for project summary, project narrative, and budget narrative. (See page 49)

Font: Calibri or Times New Roman

Font Size: 12-point font Footnotes and text in graphics may be 10-point.

21. Aside from applicant-proposed travel for collaboration purposes, does CDC anticipate any required travel for Component 3 recipients? If so, could CDC please clarify how many trips and how many days/nights per trip in each year of the agreement?

At the time of publication, CDC does not anticipate any required travel for Component recipients. However, as noted on page 76, the CDC program will partner with recipients post‑award to support the success of the cooperative agreement by convening meetings that provide opportunities to exchange resources, share lessons learned, and address common issues.

22. On p. 58, Component 3: Background and approach (30 points), the RFA states:

"Describe the problem you plan to address. Be specific about the geography of the selected population group. See the Background section of the program description."

Can CDC please clarify whether Component 3 applicants should be selecting geography and population groups or whether geography and populations will be determined by the work of Components 1 and 2 recipients that Component 3 recipients will be supporting?

Applicants are expected to describe the public health problem they intend to address and precisely define the geographic area of the selected population group. See the Background section (page 13) of the program description.

23. The RFA notes a required format of black ink color (Application contents and format, page 49). Does this apply to all graphics, tables, and to organization logos in the header?

No. The black‑ink requirement applies only to text; it does not apply to graphics, tables, or organization logos.

24. We are preparing an application for CDC-RFA-DP-26-0227 and had a question regarding the personnel documentation requirements. Would it be acceptable to submit Science CV/bio-sketches in place of resumes/CVs for the application?

A science résumé or CV will be acceptable if it is formatted as a clear, well‑organized document that presents the staff member’s experience, education, and skills in a structured manner, enabling reviewers to efficiently assess qualifications and verify alignment with program or position requirements.

25. If we are to be a collaborating institution, do we have to prepare/submit the proposal, or is it the primary applicant?

The primary applicant prepares and submits the proposal. For component one, [Applicants] should "provide letters of support from at least three organizations (external to CDC) that [they] have previously identified as partners. Letters of support should clearly describe the partnership with the applicant and how the organization has supported the program.

Include specific examples of successful collaborations" (see page 35). For component two, Letters of support from at least three organizations (external to CDC), previously identified as partners. See the Collaborations section on page 39.

26. Is it sufficient to present a MOU and our SAM.s credentials?

Previous experience working with 10 or more BRFSS state coordinators on adopting subjective cognitive decline and caregiver modules. You must include Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or agreements as attachments in “Other information” to demonstrate your established relationships with at least 10 BRFSS state coordinators (see page 34). Combine all MOUs or agreements into a single file.

27. Will this opportunity open again in the near future?

If you have not already done so, potential applicants are recommended to set up notifications on www.grants.gov. This will provide you with timely updates and alerts whenever new CDC funding opportunities are announced, allowing you to stay ahead and strategically plan your applications.

28. Do references cited in the Project narrative count toward the 20-page limit?

http://www.grants.gov/

References cited within the Project Narrative count toward the 20‑page limit.

29. If references may be provided as a separate document, where should they be placed given that a references attachment is not listed among the allowed attachments?

Letters of support for your application should be uploaded as attachments under the ‘Miscellaneous’ category and labeled as ‘Reference Letter #’ (e.g., Reference Letter 1, Reference Letter 2).

30. When completing the SF-424, it asks us to list the congressional districts served by our proposed project. If we are applying for a nationwide project, what is the best way to represent 'all districts in all states' on the SF-424? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

It is suggested that you list the congressional district that the applicant is located on the SF424 and upload a complete listing as an attachment, if systematically allowed.