NOT-MD-21-004: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements for Minor Alterations and Renovations to Advance Ongoing HIV/AIDS Research Projects Supported by the NIMHD RCMI Program or the NIGMS IDeA and NARCH Programs

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements for Minor Alterations and Renovations to Advance Ongoing HIV/AIDS Research Projects Supported by the NIMHD RCMI Program or the NIGMS IDeA and NARCH Programs

Notice Number:

NOT-MD-21-004

Key Dates

Release Date:

October 16, 2020

First Available Due Date:

April 02, 2021

Expiration Date:

April 03, 2021

Related Announcements

PA-18-591 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

Issued by

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Office of AIDS Research (OAR)

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) announce the availability of administrative supplement funding to support minor alterations and renovations (A&R) at NIMHD-supported Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) and the following NIGMS-supported programs: the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Phase 1 and 2 Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), the IDeA Program Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (IDeA-CTR), and the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH). For RCMI supplements, A&R funds may not be used for institutions other than the RCMI recipient institution itself, and applicants must have active R01-equivalent HIV/AIDS-related research projects funded in the parent RCMI U54 award or provide substantial services or research resources, such as shared core facilities, in support of investigators at the RCMI recipient institution conducting R01-equivalent HIV/AIDS-related research projects funded by other NIH institutes or centers. For NIGMS supplements, the parent award or its research subprojects must have a strong HIV/AIDS focus.

The NIH-established priorities for HIV/AIDS research, detailed on the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) website, encompass several areas of research, including activities directed towards:

Reduce the Incidence of HIV, including supporting the development of safe and effective vaccines, microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Develop Next-Generation Therapies for HIV with improved safety and ease of use.
Conduct Research Toward an HIV Cure.
Address HIV-Associated Comorbidities, Coinfections, and Complications through research designed to decrease and/or manage these conditions.
Advance Cross-Cutting Areas of research in the basic sciences, behavioral and social sciences, epidemiology, implementation science, information dissemination, and research training.

Minor A&R includes improvement or remodeling that will change the interior arrangements or other physical characteristics of an existing facility so that it can be used more effectively for its currently designated purpose or adapted to an alternative use to meet a programmatic requirement. Routine maintenance and repair of the organization's physical plant or its equipment is not considered A&R.

The scope of the A&R will vary and depend on the currently available infrastructure at the applicant institution, as well as the present and anticipated HIV/AIDS-related research needs of the eligible RCMI/NIGMS-supported projects. Supplement funds cannot be used to directly support the conduct of any research. Supplement applications must describe how the proposed activities fit within the scope of the active parent award and the requirements of its FOA.

Funds for supplements will be allocated by OAR and administered by the relevant NIH Institute (NIMHD or NIGMS).

Award Budget

Requests must reflect the needs of the proposed A&R. The supplement budget periods must be within the original project period of the active parent RCMI U54 or NIGMS-eligible center award (not in a no-cost extension). The maximum award period is one year. Administrative supplement requests must not exceed $500,000 direct costs. Direct costs requested for A&R are typically excluded from negotiated facilities and administrative (F&A) cost rate agreements. This NOSI supplement in combination with the parent award may exceed the parent FOA cap.

Eligibility Information

Eligibility is limited to recipients of active NIMHD-supported RCMI U54 awards and NIGMS-supported IDeA awards (COBRE P20, INBRE P20, CTR U54) and NARCH S06 awards that support HIV/AIDS-related research projects in priority areas listed above.

Application and Submission Information

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following opportunity or its subsequent reissued equivalent.

PA-18-591 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
In order to facilitate efficient processing of the request, applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the program and grants management contacts at the relevant NIH Institute (NIMHD or NIGMS) to which a request has been submitted in response to this FOA.

Due date: April 2, 2021, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-18-591 must be followed, with the following additions:
For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-MD-21-004” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.
The process for Streamlined Submissions using the eRA Commons cannot be used for this initiative.

Research & Related Other Project Information
Human Subjects: Answer only the ‘Are Human Subjects Involved?’ and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations?’ questions.
Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the ‘Are Vertebrate Animals Used?’ question.

Other Attachments:
Line drawings must be submitted as described below:

Single-line drawing of the existing space and proposed alterations.
Submit line drawings on 8-1/2" x 11" paper only. (DO NOT SUBMIT BLUEPRINTS).
Line drawings of the proposed A&R must be legible, with the scale clearly indicated and adequate to explain the A&R.
The line drawings must indicate size (dimensions), function, and net and gross square feet of space for each room. The total net and gross square feet of space to be renovated must also be given.
The floor plan must indicate the location of the proposed A&R area in the building.
Include the as-built drawings of the proposed A&R area and indicate any areas that will be demolished.
Any changes or additions to existing mechanical and electrical systems must be clearly described in notes made directly on the plan or attached to the plan.
Indicate the type(s) of new finishes to be applied to room surfaces.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile

In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of ‘Other’ with Category of ‘Project Lead’ and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field.
In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that will utilize to facility.
Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application.

Budget (Alterations and Renovations)
This FOA will provide up to $500,000 in direct costs as a one-time cost A&R expenditure.
Sufficient detail must be provided to estimate the cost and the suitability of the A&R.
Proposed A&R may not include new construction, including completion of shell space, or the purchase of movable research or clinical equipment/instrumentation or equipment intended for teaching or other non-research related purposes. A list of allowable fixed equipment can be found at https://www.nigms.nih.gov/Research/DRCB/IDeA/Documents/List_of_AME.pdf.

PHS 398 Research Plan
Research Strategy: The Research Strategy section is limited to 6 pages. A narrative summary must provide a description of the proposed functional utilization of the space and fixed equipment requirements prepared by the program and administrative managers who will use and be responsible for the working space and, when appropriate, with input from architectural and engineering advisors. Final drawings and specifications will be based on this description. The following headings should be used as appropriate:

General information
Description of the functions to be performed in the space
Space schedule (detailed description of floor space)
List of fixed equipment proposed for the facility
Cost estimate
Special design problems
Description of the existing and proposed utility systems for the modified space
Description of plans to provide accessibility for the physically handicapped
Provisions for meeting the requirements of the Life Safety Code
Length of the property lease if the space is rented

The narrative summary must:

include a detailed explanation of the need, character, and extent of the functions to be housed in the space proposed for A&R
relate the proposed A&R to ongoing and planned HIV/AIDS-related activities at the RCMI/NIGMS-supported center
describe how the proposed A&R will benefit HIV/AIDS research projects that will use the facility
describe the functions to be performed in the space
describe the existing and proposed utility systems for the modified space
list the functional modules, including the size (dimensions) and square footage of each module (room, alcove, or cubicle) that will be directly affected by the A&R
list appropriate architectural criteria (such as width of corridors and doors, surface finishes)
describe special design problems
provide detailed cost estimates, including vendor quotes when available
list and justify all fixed equipment proposed for the facility
provide other information required by program legislation or regulations or the NIH Grants Policy Statement

If A&R to animal facilities are proposed, the narrative should:

describe how the A&R relates to the projected animal populations (by species) in anticipated projects
describe the lines of authority and responsibility for administering the institution's animal care and use program
describe the role and composition of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and how compliance with relevant laws, policies, and guidelines are achieved

Letters of Support: Only letters of support specific to the A&R should be included. If provided, the letter(s) from appropriate high-ranking institutional official(s) must detail financial and other support that will be provided by the institution specifically for the A&R. If the supplement is for a NARCH S06 grant, a Letter of Support from the Tribal Organization or Tribal Council should also be provided.

Evaluation Process

In addition to the general criteria listed in PA-18-591, supplement applications responding to this NOSI will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Is the A&R essential to the purpose of the parent award and the support of high-priority HIV/AIDS-related eligible research activities supported by the RCMI U54 or NIGMS-eligible center parent award?
Is the project likely to stimulate additional research activities related to HIV/AIDS research at the recipient RCMI or NIGMS-eligible center institution?
Will the facility have a useful life consistent with program purposes, including the time to complete the A&R?
Is the structure architecturally and physically suitable for the type of research space required?
Will the involved space be occupied by one or more eligible parent-grant supported project(s) or shared core facilities?