Department of Health and Human Services

Part 1. Overview Information
Participating Organization(s)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Funding Opportunity Title

Academic-Community Partnership Conference Series (R13)

Activity Code

R13 Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings

Announcement Type

Reissue of PAR-09-092.

Related Notices

  • November 12, 2014 - This PAR has been reissued as PAR-15-032.
  • October 18, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-003. Guidance on Resumption of NIH Extramural Activities Following the Recent Lapse in Appropriations.
  • May 30, 2013 (NOT-OD-13-074) - NIH to Require Use of Updated Electronic Application Forms for Due Dates on or after September 25, 2013. Forms-C applications are required for due dates on or after September 25, 2013.
  • June 27, 2012 - See Notice NOT-HD-12-021. The purpose of this Notice is to clarify and update, Part 2, Section I. Funding Opportunity Description of the Areas of Research Focus.
  • February 23, 2012 - See Notice NOT-HD-12-013. Clarification of Key Dates.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number

PAR-12-102

Companion FOA

None

Number of Applications

Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in Section III. 3. See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)

93.865

FOA Purpose

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) encourages Research Conference Grant (R13) applications to conduct health disparities-related meetings, workshops, and symposia. The purpose of the Academic-Community Partnership Conference Series is to bring together academic institutions/organizations and community organizations to identify opportunities for addressing health disparities through the use of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). The objectives of meetings conducted as part of this award will be to: (1) establish and/or enhance academic-community partnerships; (2) identify community-driven research priorities, and (3) develop long-term collaborative CBPR research agendas. Thus, it is expected these partnerships will lead to grant applications for the support of CBPR projects designed to meet identified community needs. The areas of focus for these partnerships may include one or more of the following community-health issues: infant mortality; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); fibroid tumors; childhood, adolescent, and/or adult obesity; health literacy; techniques for outreach and information dissemination; pediatric and maternal HIV/AIDS prevention; and violence prevention.

Key Dates
Posted Date

February 10, 2012

Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)

March 10, 2012

Letter of Intent Due Date

Not Applicable

Application Due Date(s)

(New Dates April 10, 2012, October 17, 2012, (Extended to November 1, 2013 per NOT-OD-14-003) October 17, 2013 per NOT-HD-12-013), Original Dates: April 10, 2012, October 17, 2013, October 17, 2014, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Not Applicable

Scientific Merit Review

June/July 2012, February/March 2013, February/March 2014

Advisory Council Review

August 2012, May 2013, May 2014

Earliest Start Date(s)

September 2012, July 2013, July 2014

Expiration Date

(Extended to November 2, 2013 per NOT-OD-14-003) (New Expiration Date October 18, 2013 per NOT-HD-12-013) October 18, 2014

Due Dates for E.O. 12372

Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) encourages Research Conference Grant (R13) applications to conduct health disparities-related meetings, workshops, and symposia. The purpose of the Academic-Community Partnership Conference Series is to bring together academic institutions/organizations and community organizations to identify opportunities for addressing health disparities through the use of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). The objectives of meetings conducted as part of this award will be to: (1) establish and/or enhance academic-community partnerships; (2) identify community-driven research priorities, and (3) develop long-term collaborative CBPR research agendas. Thus, it is expected these partnerships will lead to grant applications for the support of CBPR projects designed to meet identified community needs. The areas of focus for these partnerships may include one or more of the following community-health issues: infant mortality; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); fibroid tumors; childhood, adolescent, and/or adult obesity; health literacy; techniques for outreach and information dissemination; pediatric and maternal HIV/AIDS prevention; and violence prevention.

A conference grant application is required to contain a permission-to-submit letter from the Scientific/Research Contact listed in Section VII. Agency Contacts. Applicants are urged to initiate contact well in advance of the chosen application receipt date and no later than 4 weeks before that date. Please note that agreement to accept an application does not guarantee funding.

Background

The NIH recognizes the value of supporting academic and community partnerships which are relevant to one of the overarching goals of Healthy People 2020 "to achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups." The Academic-Community Partnership Conference Series builds on NICHD's mission of conducting research to understand the biological, behavioral, and social processes that dictate physical, emotional, and cognitive health. NICHD's mission promotes research to understand the complex interplay of processes that transform cells into healthy functioning individuals, free of disease and disabilities. When this is not achieved, or is achieved unequally by different segments of the population (health disparities), NICHD seeks to understand factors contributing to these differences and works to develop effective prevention and intervention research strategies to help ameliorate these differences.

NICHD also aims to build bridges to improved health within communities by employing the principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). This approach creates opportunities for establishing research priorities according to the community's health needs. CBPR is a collaborative process of research involving researchers and community representatives that (1) engages community members in all phases of the research; (2) employs local strengths and resources to identify relevant health problems and inform the design of interventions; (3) offers co-learning and capacity building for all partners; and (4) provides channels for dissemination of knowledge gained to all partners. Construction of these bridges must be thoroughly and carefully designed with foundations rooted in science, but firmly grounded in the communities to be served. Health disparities do not merely occur, they develop over time as natural biological and behavioral forces interact with a variety of community, social, familial, political, and economic influences. Closing the health disparities gap requires an in-depth understanding of the interactions of these processes and mechanisms as well as the conscientious design of educational and behavioral interventions based on input from members of the communities in which these interventions are to be implemented.

Program Scope

The purpose of the Academic-Community Partnership Conference Series is to bring together academic institutions/organizations and community organizations to identify opportunities for addressing health disparities through the use of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). The objective of meetings conducted as part of this award will be to:

For purposes of this award, community organizations are defined as organizations that (1) have a documented (e.g., mission statement) interest in improving the health of the relevant community; and (2) have a history (3 years or more) of serving the health needs and interests of the relevant community.

Please note: Partnerships with community organizations/leaders do not have to be in place to qualify an institution to apply for these awards. When community partners have not been identified, applicants should adequately describe the types of organizations to be engaged in these partnerships and also outline the process for identifying potential partners. Applicants that seek to strengthen existing relationships with community stakeholders are encouraged to apply. When appropriate, the award should be used to support the formative stages of such partnerships.

Anticipated outcomes of the Academic-Community Partnership Conference Series grant award include, but are not limited to: (1) providing a forum for the development of a community partnership structure that will support the conduct of an eventual CBPR project in one of the identified areas of emphasis; and (2) facilitating culturally centered community partnerships with a focus on addressing and eliminating health disparities.

Partnerships Between the Grantee Institution and Community Organizations

Specific examples of collaborative activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Advisory Board

Applicants must identify specific plans to organize an Advisory Board as a part of the activities to be performed under this award. This Advisory Board should consist of representatives from both the grantee institution/organization and the community of interest.

Expected Timeline

Awards through this R13 program will provide support for up to three years at a maximum of $30,000 direct costs per year for the following:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Areas of Research Focus

An ongoing series of conferences, meetings, seminars, and workshops, where academic and community partners work together to develop a strong working relationship and a set of research goals focused on community priorities may be focused in one or more of the following areas:

Special emphasis should be placed on:

Additionally, consideration for support will be given to relevant topics where research is lacking or nascent and where stimulation of such research will meet the expressed needs of the community.

Applications should propose a comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated plan of activities organized around defined program goals.

Section II. Award Information
Funding Instrument

Grant

Application Types Allowed

New
Resubmission
The OER Glossary and the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations, and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget

Applicants may request direct costs of up to $30,000 per year for up to three years. Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs are not allowed costs.

Award Project Period

The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is 3 years.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

Higher Education Institutions

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

For-Profit Organizations

Governments

Other

Domestic institutions or organizations, including established scientific or professional societies, are eligible to apply for conference support. An individual is not eligible to receive a grant in support of a conference.

Additional Eligibility Guidance

For purposes of this award, community organizations are defined as organizations that (1) have a documented (e.g., mission statement) interest in improving the health of the relevant community and (2) have a history (3 years or more) of serving the health needs and interests of the relevant community.

Foreign Institutions

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following registrations.

All Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons account of the applicant organization.

All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at least 4-6 weeks prior to the application due date.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s))

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PD(s)/PI(s), visit the Multiple Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

2. Cost Sharing

This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

Only one application per institution is allowed.

NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. Resubmission applications may be submitted, according to the NIH Policy on Resubmission Applications from the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

Required and Optional Components

The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, mandatory and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.

Page Limitations

All page limitations described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

The following instructions are to be used in conjunction with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide accompanying the SF424 (R&R) application form:

SF424 (R&R) Cover Component

Enter the title of the scientific conference or scientific meeting in the Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project field of the SF424 Cover component.

SF424 (R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations Component

Enter the site of the conference or meeting as the Performance Site.

R&R Budget Component

Applicants must complete and submit a detailed categorical request using the Research & Related Budget component.

Research and Related Budget: Applicants may request direct costs of up to $30,000 per year for up to three years. Enter the direct costs requested. Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs are not allowed. Provide a narrative justification for each proposed personnel position, including role and proposed level of effort. Include information regarding efforts to obtain funding for this conference/meeting from other sources.

Allowable Costs: Salary (in proportion to the time or effort spent directly on the conference/scientific meeting); rental of necessary equipment; travel and per diem or subsistence allowances; supplies needed for conduct of the meeting (only if received for use during the budget period); conference services; publication costs; funds to help defray registration costs for some select attendees (for example, women, racial/ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, other individuals who have been traditionally underrepresented in science, graduate students); speakers fees.

Non-allowable Costs: Meals/food and beverages; purchase of equipment; transportation costs exceeding U.S. carrier coach class fares; visas; passports; entertainment; tips; bar charges; personal telephone calls; laundry charges; dues; honoraria or other payments for the purpose of conferring distinction or communicating respect, esteem or admiration; patient care; alterations or renovations; facilities and administrative costs/indirect costs. Refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information regarding costs.

SF424 (R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded Component

Personnel are defined as the PD(s)/PI(s) and those responsible for the planning of the organizational/institutional meetings. Attach a biographical sketch for the PD(s)/PI(s), Co-Chair, key personnel, and confirmed key speakers.

PHS398 Cover Letter Component

Advance permission to submit an application is required for all NIH conference grant and conference cooperative agreement applications. Advance permission to submit an application should be requested early in the process and no later than four weeks before the receipt date. The letter from NICHD documenting advance permission to submit an application (i.e., the permission-to-submit letter) must be submitted with the application and attached as a PDF document in the PHS398 Cover Letter Component. All applicants must include the advance permission letter from the Scientific/Research Contact listed in Section VII. Agency Contacts. If an application is received without a permission letter, it will not be accepted for review. Note that advance permission to submit an application does not guarantee funding.

PHS 398 Research Plan Component

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Specific Aims

Specific Aims are required and are limited to 1 page.

Research Strategy

Note that this section will be called Conference Plan in the system-generated Table of Contents.

In the Conference Plan section of the application (uploaded as the Research Strategy attachment), describe the objectives, specific program, and logistical arrangements for the meeting. Describe the format and list the agenda and speakers, including the principal topics to be covered, problems to be addressed, and developments or contributions the conference/meeting might stimulate. Provide a detailed justification for the conference/meeting, including the scientific need, timeliness, and usefulness of the conference/meeting to the scientific community.

A critical part of the application for NIH support of conferences/meetings is documentation of appropriate representation of women, racial/ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and other individuals who have been traditionally underrepresented in science. Attendance for some individuals will be dependent on the availability of resources for family care. A broad cross section of individuals must be included in all aspects of planning, organization, and implementation of NIH-sponsored and/or supported conferences/meetings. Appropriate representation means representation based on the availability of these scientists from these groups known to be working in a particular field of biomedical or behavioral research. If appropriate representation is not apparent, no award will be issued until program staff members are assured of concerted recruitment efforts. Organizers of scientific conferences/meetings must document compliance with the Guidelines for Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Scientific Meetings Supported by the NIH (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r13/index.htm).

Describe plans for the appropriate involvement of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in the planning and implementation of, and participation in, the proposed conference/meeting. Describe plans to identify resources for child care and other types of family care at the conference site to allow individuals with family care responsibilities to attend. That information should allow attendees to make arrangements for family care as needed. Describe the composition and role of the organizing committee, and provide the names and credentials of key participants in the conference/meeting, including the basis for their selection and documentation of their agreement to participate. Estimate the expected size and composition of the audience, as well as the method of selection.

Describe plans for publicizing the conference/meeting to all interested participants and for publishing the proceedings (with the latter possibility not being required). Identify related conferences/meetings held on the subject during the past 3 years [and how the proposed conference/meeting is similar to, and/or different from these, and why it is still necessary and useful]. If this is one of a series of periodic conferences/meetings held by a permanent sponsoring organization, briefly describe and evaluate the last conference/meeting in the series.

Applications requesting multiple years of support must provide the following additional information for each future year requested, in as much detail as possible:

Special Requirements (Component of Research Strategy)

In the "Conference Plan", applicants should describe the processes/methodologies for carrying out each of the specific aims noted in sufficient detail such that the reviewers clearly understand and can assess the merits of the design/methods in accomplishing each specific aim and ultimately the goal of the project.

Describe the process of identifying a seasoned CBPR partner for the Academic-Community Partnership Series award. This seasoned CBPR partner should be an organization or institution that has successfully implemented a CBPR project in the applicant's region or state. The CBPR expertise may be contributed by a member of the grantee institution, a community organization, or another academic institution. Describe the role of the seasoned CBPR partner, and if applicable, provide the names and credentials of the CBPR partner, including the basis for their selection and documentation of their agreement to participate. If this information is not yet available, describe the type of seasoned CBPR partner that will be recruited.

Applicants must identify specific plans to organize an Advisory Board as a part of the activities to be performed under this award. The purpose, function, and expectations of this Board should be described. Describe the role of the advisory committee, and if applicable, provide the names and credentials of advisory board members, including the basis for their selection and documentation of their agreement to participate. Representatives from the community must be included on the Board. If members of the Board have not been identified at the time of application, applicants should identify the types of members that will be recruited for the Board.

Applicants must identify community organizations to be engaged as part of this award. For purposes of this award, community organizations are defined as organizations that (1) have a documented (e.g., mission statement) interest in improving the health of the relevant community; and (2) have a history (3 years or more) of serving the health needs and interests of the relevant community. Partnerships with community organizations/leaders do not have to be in place to qualify an institution to apply for these cooperative agreement awards. When community partners have not been identified, applicants should adequately describe the types of organizations to be engaged in these partnerships and also outline the process for identifying potential partners.

Protection of Human Subjects

Protection of Human Subjects is generally not applicable to the R13 Conference grant award. One of the objectives of meetings conducted as part of the Academic-Community Partnership Conference Series is to identify, document, and highlight local priority health disparity conditions and the community's view of its own health problems. In order to adequately assess and document community perceptions and research priorities, applicants may need to obtain information (e.g., interests in health disparities information, knowledge about disparities in the community, input on how to form partnerships) from community members in attendance at meetings. This information will be important in guiding the development of community partnerships and establishing collaborative research agendas. Applicants are strongly encouraged to follow guidelines provided in Section V.1. Protection of Human Subjects. Also Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of human subjects should be obtained when deemed appropriate. IRB approval is not required prior to peer review of an application (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-00-003.html). However, initiation of IRB review, if necessary or applicable, is strongly encouraged to assure timely commencement of research.

Resource Sharing Plan

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Appendix

Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. with the following modifications:

3. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit in advance of the deadline to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications via Grants.gov, the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

4. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

5. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

In general, conference awards should be issued before the actual start date of the conference.

6. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.

Important reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF 424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.

Post Submission Materials

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115.

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Overall Impact

After considering all of the review criteria, briefly summarize the significant strengths and weaknesses of the application and judge the likelihood that the proposed conference/meeting will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of the goals of NIH supported research, which is to advance our understanding of biological systems, to improve the control of disease, and to enhance health.

Scored Review Criteria

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Significance

Does this conference/scientific meeting address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these endeavors on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Do these meeting plans promote an academic-community partnership around a relevant health problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, will the academic-community partnership be advanced? What will be the effect of these endeavors on the eventual conduct of CBPR in the community of interest?)

Investigator(s)

Is(are) the PD(s)/PI(s) well suited for organizing and fulfilling the goals of this conference/scientific meeting? Are the qualifications and past performance of the PD(s)/PI(s) appropriate, and are they well suited for their described roles in the conference/scientific meeting? Are the key personnel and selected speakers appropriate and well suited for their described roles in the conference/scientific meeting?

Innovation

Does the conference/meeting employ novel approaches or methods to fulfill its purpose? Does the conference/scientific meeting draw together appropriate experts who may otherwise not have an opportunity to meet? Do the meetings employ novel community partnership approaches or methods to fulfill the program’s purpose?

Approach

Are the format and agenda for the conference/meeting appropriate for achieving the specified goals? Is the conference/meeting timely for the subject matter? For applications designating multiple PDs/PIs, is the Leadership Plan approach, including the designated roles and responsibilities, governance and organizational structure consistent with and justified by the topics of the conference/meeting and the expertise of each of the PDs/PIs? Is the format of these meetings appropriate for achieving successful community partnership? Will the Advisory Board and seasoned CBPR partner be selected appropriately? Are the meetings timely for the subject matter?

Environment

Is the conference/scientific meeting site appropriate? Does the applicant organization have the ability to contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed meetings, exhibits, interactions, etc., take advantage of unique features of the environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is institutional support evident? Has the applicant identified a community in need of community partnership and ultimately CBPR? How appropriate are the meeting sites? Does the applicant have the ability to contribute to the probability of success in partnering with organizations that represent the community of interest? Do the proposed meetings take advantage of unique features of the community or employ useful partnership arrangements? Is there strong evidence of institutional/organizational support?

Additional Review Criteria

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Appropriate Representation

How well do the plans for inclusion of women, racial/ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and other individuals who traditionally have been underrepresented in science provide for their appropriate representation in the planning, organization, and execution of the proposed conference/scientific meeting? For more information, visit Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in NIH-Supported Conference Grants.

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Vertebrate Animals

Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Biohazards

Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Resubmissions

For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.

Renewals

Not Applicable

Revisions

Not Applicable

Additional Review Considerations

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.

Provision of Family Care Facilities

Are the plans to inform attendees about family care resources adequate?

Applications from Foreign Organizations

Not Applicable

Select Agent Research

Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

Resource Sharing Plans

Not Applicable

Budget and Period of Support

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), convened by the NICHD in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Review assignments will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council (NACHHD). The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD(s)/PI(s) will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, CCR Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

The following Terms and Conditions will be incorporated into the award statement and will be provided to the PD(s)/PI(s), as well as to the appropriate institutional official, at the time of award.

All conference material (promotional materials, agenda, publications an internet sites) related to this project must include an acknowledgement of NIH grant support and a disclaimer stating the following: Funding for this conference was made possible [in part] by [insert grant number] from [insert IC name]. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government."

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

Not Applicable

3. Reporting

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Application Submission Contacts

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading or navigating forms)
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov

eRA Commons Help Desk(Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, tracking application status, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: commons@od.nih.gov

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Della Brown White, Ph.D.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301- 435-2712
Email: whitede@mail.nih.gov

Peer Review Contact(s)

Sherry Dupere, Ph.D.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-451-3415
Email: duperes@mail.nih.gov

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Bryan Clark, MBA
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301 435-6975
Email: clarkb1@mail.nih.gov

Section VIII. Other Information

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Authority and Regulations

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.


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