WH-AST-21-003_FAQs_Final.pdf

FAQs for State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) Partnership Programs to Reduce Maternal Deaths due to

Violence

Opportunity Number: WH-AST-21-003

A. ELIGIBILITY

1. What applicants are eligible and how will they be defined for this funding opportunity?

a. Applicants may be a public or private (profit or non-profit) entity, including faith-based, community-based, and Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations are eligible to apply.

Examples include:

• State Governments

• U.S. territories

• County Governments

• City or township governments

• Special district governments

• Independent school districts

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

• Public Housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)

• Nonprofits having 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

• For profit organizations, including small businesses.

2. Can more than one entity submit per state? For example, can a state health entity and a Tribal organization submit applications? Is there a limit to the number of grants awarded per state?

a. Yes, more than one entity can submit per state. Please note that page 38 of the NOFO states that “[i]n providing these recommendations, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health will take into consideration the following additional factor(s):

geographic distribution of award recipients; and areas of greater need.”

B. PREPARING TO APPLY

1. What is the deadline for submitting an application in response to this funding opportunity?

a. Applications are due August 12, 2021 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.

2. How can I get more information on this funding opportunity?

a. We strongly suggest that you register and attend the Technical Assistance webinar scheduled for July 20, 2021 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To attend the webinar, please register at:

https://hhs.webex.com/hhs/onstage/g.php?MTID=e14e77e845c80e2bba0d3a1d0452e6b21

b. After you enter your information and click “Register,” you will get a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar. There will be an opportunity to submit questions.

c. The webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend live. The recording will be posted to the OWH YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/WomensHealthgov)

3. How can I stay up to date on any updates or changes to the notice of funding opportunity

(NOFO), additional information and resources, and other developments?

a. The best way to stay up to date is to subscribe to this NOFO on grants.gov. Please go to www.grants.gov and click the “Search Grants” tab in the upper left of the screen.

b. On the next screen, look for the “BASIC SEARCH CRITERIA” fields under the

SEARCH GRANTS header in the upper left corner. Enter WH-AST-21-003 in the Opportunity Number field and click the SEARCH button.

c. Click on the link under the Opportunity Number header. You will see a red “Subscribe” icon in the right corner. You then will be prompted to either enter your username and password or establish one, after which you’ll be able to subscribe and get alerts.

4. Who should I contact if I still have questions about the NOFO? Questions about developing my application?

a. Who to contact will depend on the nature of your question. For programmatic questions, such as developing elements of your application, contact Caroline Stetler at Caroline.Stetler@hhs.gov. Please CC: Robin Fuller on your email

b. Contact Robin Fuller at Robin.Fuller@hhs.gov for financial and grants-related questions. Please CC: Caroline Stetler on your email.

5. Who should I contact if I have issues with the grants.gov portal or the electronic application process?

a. Please contact Grants.gov Applicant Support:

Email: support@grants.gov Telephone: 800-518-4726

6. What registrations are needed to apply to this funding announcement?

a. In addition to your registration at www.grants.gov, you will need a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant through www.grants.gov. You will also need to register your organization with the System for Award Management (SAM); please see page 27-28 of NOFO for more information.

b. A step-by-step description of the requirements for registering your organization to be able to apply for this and other funding announcements, along with the expected time https://hhs.webex.com/hhs/onstage/g.php?MTID=e14e77e845c80e2bba0d3a1d0452e6b21 https://www.youtube.com/user/WomensHealthgov http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:%20Caroline.Stetler@hhs.gov.

mailto:%20Caroline.Stetler@hhs.gov.

mailto:Robin.Fuller@hhs.gov mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ for each step, can be found here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

7. How do we get a DUNS number?

a. Obtaining a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number is the first step in registering as an organization applicant in Grants.gov. You can request a number through the Dun and Bradstreet website devoted to providing DUNS numbers to applicants for Federal awards, typically within one business day at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do. You may also call toll-free 1- 866-705-5711 for a new DUNS number or if you have forgotten an existing one.

b. The following website has step-by-step instructions:

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

8. How do I register my organization on SAM.gov? What if my registration is expired?

a. Please refer to pages 27-28 of the NOFO. Your organization must register online in SAM (https://www.sam.gov/SAM/). Grants.gov may reject submissions from applicants with nonexistent or expired SAM Registrations. A completed registration in SAM may be required prior to receiving any award based on your application.

b. We recommend beginning your registration process immediately as delays in processing have been reported. Under normal operating conditions we recommend allowing at least up to 10 business days after you submit your registration for it to become active in SAM.

This timeframe may be longer if SAM flags the information you provide for manual validation or there are delays in the required submission of a notarized letter by mail.

You will receive an email alerting you when your registration is active.

9. Can you explain the page limits? What does or does not count for which limits?

a. Your project narrative must not exceed 25 pages. Your total application, including the project narrative and appendices, must not exceed 50 pages. The appendices should include the items described on pages 26-27 of the NOFO and listed here:

Work Plan Memorandums of Agreement and/or Letters of Commitment from Partners Curriculum Vitae/Résumé for Key Project Personnel.

b. You must submit these appendices as a single electronic file uploaded to the Attachments section of your Grants.gov application.

c. The SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, Project Abstract Summary, and Budget Narrative (including budget tables) do not count towards your 25-or 50-page limit.

10. Are applicants required to submit memorandums of agreement (MOAs) and Letters of

Commitment (LOCs)?

a. Refer to page 26 in the NOFO. If available at the time of submission, signed MOAs or signed LOCs may be submitted for each partner (or one signed MOA with all partners) and include specific roles, responsibilities, resources, and contributions of partner(s) to the project.

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html http://www.grants.gov/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-http://www.sam.gov/SAM/)

b. If the applicant is unable to submit signed MOAs, the applicant may submit an unsigned MOA(s).

c. Fully executed MOAs will be required following the issuance of any award made under this announcement if not received prior to award.

C. APPLICATION REVIEW

1. How will my application be reviewed?

a. An independent review panel will assess all eligible applications according to criteria outlined in the notice of funding opportunity. In addition to the independent review panel, Federal staff will review each application for programmatic, budgetary, and grants management compliance. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health provides recommendations for funding to the Grants Management Officer to conduct risk analysis. Upon completion of the risk analysis and concurrence of the Grants Management Officer, HHS/OASH issues Notices of Award.

2. Are budgets scored as part of the review process?

a. Yes. Refer to page 37 in the NOFO.

3. Is there any criteria for the evidence based interventions outlined in the grant proposal? How are you evaluating whether an intervention is evidence-based?

a. Refer to the “Proposed Intervention” section on pages 34-35 of the NOFO.

B. PROGRAM

1. How does a cooperative agreement differ from a grant?

a. A cooperative agreement is a form of assistance that allows for substantial involvement by the Office on Women's Health. In addition to the usual monitoring and technical assistance provided under the cooperative agreement (e.g., assistance from assigned Federal project officer, monthly conference calls, occasional site visits, ongoing review of plans and progress, participation in relevant meetings, provision of training and technical assistance), the Office on Women's Health substantial programmatic involvement is described on pages 6-7 of the NOFO.

2. What do you mean by sustainability plan?

a. OWH expects the recipients to develop a plan to sustain evidence-based interventions that significantly improve health outcomes and reduce deaths of pregnant and postpartum women resulting from violence after the award ends.

3. What is expected of applicants?

a. Refer to page 6 of the NOFO. The primary goals of the cooperative agreement are to (1) develop and implement SLTT-level processes for data collection on a) maternal deaths due to homicide, b) maternal deaths due to suicide; and (2) develop and implement evidence-based interventions to reduce maternal death rates due to violence, including evaluating data collected pre- and post-intervention. The development and evaluation of such interventions align with OWH's duties to support new and innovative programs in health information and health promotion, preventive health services and provide for the exchange of information.

b. The secondary goal of the initiative is to enhance the capacity of SLTT health agencies to sustain implementation of evidence-based interventions that significantly improve health outcomes and reduce deaths of pregnant and postpartum women resulting from violence. OWH encourages applicants to develop approaches and evidence-based interventions that identify diversity and equity issues or factors associated with deaths among pregnant and postpartum women due to violence.

4. Could you please define more clearly what is meant by the criteria to maintain independence of the evaluation plan and evaluator?

a. Refer to page 15 of the NOFO. You should describe how you will measure and report on the outcomes of the project, including how the expectation for independence of the evaluator will be met. You should describe the quantitative and qualitative tools and techniques that you will employ to measure the outcome(s) and how you will identify and document the “lessons learned.”

5. Is there an indirect cost rate cap?

a. Refer to pages 22-23 of the NOFO, “Indirect Costs Description,” for more information about indirect cost rates.

6. Is there a list of recommended evidence-based interventions that should be considered?

a. No.

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