Advancing System Improvements for Key Issues in Women's Health

To promote program and systems innovation, policy and performance management, and strategic communications that will advance improvement for key issues in women's health. Programs will use evidence-based methodologies to support model programs, infor

Nonprofit organizations may be required to provide evidence of tax-exempt status. When projects involve the collaborative efforts of more than one organization or require the use of services or facilities not under the direct control of the applicant, written assurances of specific support or agreements may be required from the affected parties.

All women and girls, adults and children. Project activities must not involve the selection or exclusion of participants based on race or ethnicity.

Funds may be used to implement evidence-based strategies to achieve program objectives. Applicants should identify, test, evaluate, and promote effective, sustainable programs, policies and strategic communications for women and girls. Funds are to support reasonable program purposes including staffing, supplies, and services. Any restrictions on costs are described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Awards are generally funded in 12-month budget period(s). Awards generally have a period of performance of 1 to 3 years, but may be up to 5 years. Support beyond the first year is contingent upon acceptable evidence of satisfactory progress, availability of funds, continuing program relevance, and best interests of the government. A competitive additional budget period may be offered for the purpose of funding selected recipients in transitioning successful projects to sustainability once the period of performance ends. Funding for this additional budget period is not guaranteed nor do we expect it to be at the same level of any previous budget periods.

To apply, applicants must access the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) thru www.grants.gov. Enter the Assistance Listing number and follow the website instructions. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted for review. The submission deadline will not be extended. Applications which do not conform to the requirements of the NOFO will be deemed ineligible and not reviewed. Applications may only be submitted electronically via www.grants.gov. Any applications submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including electronic mail, will not be accepted for review.

An independent review panel evaluates applications that pass the screening and meet the responsiveness criteria in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). These reviewers are experts in their fields, and are drawn from academic institutions, non-profit organizations, state and local government, and Federal government agencies. Based on the Application Review Criteria as outlined in the NOFO, the reviewers will comment on and rate the applications, focusing their comments and rating decisions on the identified criteria. In addition to the independent review panel, Federal staff will review each application for programmatic, budgetary, and grants management compliance.

Final award recommendations will be made by the head of the program office to the Grants Management Officer, using information from the independent merit review panel and the Federal staff reviews. Following a risk assessment as required by 45 CFR part 75, the Grants Management Officer may issue awards. Funded organizations receive a Notice of Award that includes all of the details of their award, and are assigned to a project officer from the program office and a Grants Management Specialist from the OASH Grants and Acquisitions Management Division.

Support is recommended for a specified period of performance, not in excess of five years. Awards are generally made in 12-month budget periods. Budget periods after the first are generally made after review and approval of a non-competing continuation application subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funds, and the best interest of the government. A recipient may request a no cost extension or may compete for a new award under a posted notice of funding opportunity in this program.

All funding decisions, including the level of funding, are final and not appealable.