Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities - Prevention and Surveillance

To work with State health agencies, universities, and public and private nonprofit organizations in planning, implementing coordinating or evaluating programs, research or surveillance activities related to improved birth outcomes, prevention of birt

To work with State health agencies, universities, and public and private nonprofit organizations in planning, implementing coordinating or evaluating programs, research or surveillance activities related to improved birth outcomes, prevention of birth defects, and the improvement of infant and child health and developmental outcomes. To provide a national, State or local focus for the prevention of conditions of persons with birth defects; to employ epidemiological methods to set priorities, build capacity and direct health promotion interventions for persons with birth defects; to expand public health training opportunities through fellowships to introduce geneticists, epidemiologists, and clinicians to public health practice through education, training and career-enhancing experiences. To enhance surveillance and research for birth defects; to prevent congenital heart defects and other major birth defects associated with medication use during pregnancy; to advance neural tube defect prevention; and enhance the quality and usefulness of newborn screening data and programs.

Full and open competition

State; Consumer; Local; Public nonprofit institution/organization; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; Individual/Family; Private nonprofit institution/organizations and others.

Funds may be used to strengthen, to expand, to build upon or to enhance research, surveillance, health promotion, education, prevention/intervention activities that contribute to the mission and activities of the Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders. Funds may be used to improve and strengthen State and local public health infrastructure by providing technical assistance to other appropriate health agencies, organizations, special groups or coalitions. Funds may be used to support capacity building, program planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and surveillance for birth defects, infant and child health and developmental outcomes, including related health promotion, education and training, prevention/intervention. Funds may also be used to coordinate the dissemination of prevention information to the general public, target populations and among state and local agencies and public and private sector organizations in the United States. Funds may not be used for direct curative or rehabilitative services.

Funds may not be used for direct curative or rehabilitative services.

Financial assistance is provided for a 12-month budget period with a period of performance of up to five years subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress of the recipient.

In general, applications are reviewed on the basis of scientific/technical merit, with attention given to such matters as: (1) The degree to which the applicant satisfies the essential requirements and possesses other desired characteristics, such as depth, breadth, and merit of the overall application relative to the types of projects proposed; (2) clarity of purpose and overall qualifications, adequacy and appropriateness of personnel to accomplish proposed prevention research projects and demonstration projects, and the nation's health priorities and needs; (3) ability to generalize, translate and disseminate to State or local health departments, and other appropriate national regional, and local public health agencies and organizations; (4) reasonableness of the proposed budget in relation to the work proposed.

After review and approval, a Notice of Award (NoA) will be prepared and processed, along with appropriate notification to the public. Initial awards provide funds for the first budget period (usually 12 months) and the NoA will indicate support recommended for the remainder of the project period, allocation of Federal funds by budget categories, award requirements, and special conditions, if any.

Cooperative agreement period of performance is 1 to 5 years. After initial awards, and subject to availability of funds, projects may be continued non-competitively contingent upon 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. If additional support is desired to continue a project beyond the approved project period, an application for competing continuation must be submitted for review in the same manner as a new application. Projects are renewable for periods of 1 to 4 years.