LIMITED COMPETITION FOR EQUIPMENT SUPPLEMENTS TO MBRS RISE AND IMSD GRANTS

RELEASE DATE:  October 31, 2002

RFA:  GM-03-007  

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
 (http://www.nigms.nih.gov)

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: November 29, 2002
Application Receipt Date: December 30, 2002 

THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o Purpose of this RFA
o Program Objectives
o Mechanism(s) of Support 
o Funds Available
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
o Special Requirements
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations

PURPOSE

Minority Opportunity for Research (MORE) Division, Minority Biomedical Research 
Support (MBRS) Branch of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences 
(NIGMS) announces a limited initiative to solicit competing supplemental 
applications to acquire laboratory equipment.  Although equipment is an allowable 
cost in the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) and Initiative 
for Minority Student Development (IMSD) grants, these supplements should provide 
the research and training faculty with equipment that is either not readily 
available or is lacking but that is essential to conducting their research.  The 
supplemental funds may be used to purchase new equipment or to upgrade existing 
equipment for use by students and faculty in the biological, behavioral or 
biomedical related sciences in research education and training.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Background

In the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, NIH was encouraged to increase the number 
of underrepresented minorities participating in biomedical and behavioral 
research.  In response to the Act, the NIGMS established the MBRS program which 
includes the RISE and IMSD initiatives.  The purpose of the MBRS program is to 
assist biomedical and behavioral research faculty to develop competitive research 
programs at minority-serving institutions and to increase the number of 
underrepresented minority scientists professionally engaged in biomedical 
research.  In addition, the MBRS Branch recognizes that eligible institutions are 
diverse in institutional environment and mission.  Therefore, with respect to 
evaluation, the RISE and IMSD initiatives require that each institution set its 
own goals and measurable objectives that are based on its self assessment and that 
it identify anticipated milestones for achievements.

Types of Equipment Requests

Applicants may request costs for individual pieces of equipment necessary to 
facilitate progress in a particular research education or training activity.  
Justification for the equipment should be based on its utility to drive the 
activity forward and its present unavailability at that institution.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
This RFA will use competing supplements (Type 3) to an existing NIH R25 award 
mechanism.  As an applicant you will be solely responsible for planning, 
directing, and executing the proposed project.  For equipment, this is a one-time 
solicitation and awards are not renewable.  Institutions that responded to this 
solicitation in FY2002 are eligible to reapply.  

FUNDS AVAILABLE

NIGMS intends to commit approximately $1-4 million in FY 2003 to fund supplemental 
equipment grants in response to this RFA. Because the nature and cost of the 
equipment may vary, it is anticipated that the size of each award will also vary.  
Although the financial plans of NIGMS provide support for this supplement program, 
awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the 
receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.  At this time, it is 
not known if this RFA will be reissued.

ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS

Eligible institutions are those with current MBRS RISE grants or IMSD grants. 
Institutions must have at least one year of support remaining at the time of award 
and the supplemental award may not extend beyond the parent grant.  MBRS RISE and 
IMSD institutions that responded to this RFA in FY2002 are eligible to reapply. 

INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

The PI for this supplement must be the PI (Program Director) of the parent MBRS 
RISE or IMSD grant. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Although requests for equipment should be justified with regard to enhancing the 
progress of one or more research education or training activity, it must not 
change the scope. 

A progress report will be required as a part of a subsequent non-competing 
application (Type 5), competing renewal (Type 2) application, or of the 
close-out package if a competing renewal application is not awarded.  This 
progress report should describe the benefits derived from institution-wide 
use of the equipment and provide specific information on overall use of the 
equipment. 

Allowable Costs

For applications requesting an equipment supplement to RISE grants, funds for 
equipment in direct support of research education and training activities may be 
requested.  The minimum cost allowable for a single piece of equipment is $10,000 
and the maximum is $250,000.  The minimum aggregate cost allowable is $50,000 and 
the maximum is $350,000.  Three price quotes are required for all individual 
equipment costing more than $25,000 and these quotes must be provided with the 
grant application.  Applications without the required price quotations will be 
considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.  In addition, when fully 
justified, support for a technical assistant to maintain and teach others in the 
use of the equipment is allowed.

For applications requesting an equipment supplement to IMSD grants, support for 
equipment in direct support of research education and training activities may be 
requested. If a technical assistant is required as part of a RISE application, 
these costs may be requested for the duration of the grant period.  IMSD grantees 
may not request a technical assistant.  

Unallowable Costs

Unallowable costs include: 
o  Computers for individual use;
o  Computers and audiovisual equipment for general classroom use; 
o  Supplies and other laboratory items whose cost is less than $10,000.

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA and welcome the opportunity to answer 
questions from potential applicants.  Inquiries may fall into three areas:  
scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management issues:

o Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

Chief, MBRS Branch 
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 2As.37, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301)594-3900
FAX: (301)480-2753
E-mail: [email protected]

o Direct inquiries regarding review issues to:

Helen R. Sunshine, Ph.D.
Chief, Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH
45 Center Drive, Room 3AN.12F, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301)594-2881
FAX: (301)480-8506
E-mail: [email protected]

o Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to:

Antoinette Holland
Grants Management Officer
Grants Management Branch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH
45 Center Drive, Room 2AN.50, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200
Telephone: (301)594-5132
FAX: (301)480-2554
E-mail: [email protected]

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit no later than November 29, 2002 a 
letter of intent to apply for these supplements. In this letter of intent, 
include:

o a descriptive title of the proposed project, 
o the name, address, and telephone number of the MBRS current grant program 
director who must be the PI of the supplemental application, 
o the names of other key personnel, and 
o the number and title of the RFA. 

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter 
into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains 
allows NIGMS staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning of 
this document.  The letter of intent should be sent to:

Derrick C. Tabor, Ph.D.
Program Director, MORE Division
NIGMS
45 Center Drive, Room 2AS.37, MSC 6200 
Bethesda, MD 20892-3900 
Telelephone: (301) 594-3900 
Fax: (301) 480-2753 
E-mail: [email protected]

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application 
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001).  The PHS 398 is available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format.  
For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 710-0267, Email: 
[email protected].
 
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS:

In addition to following the PHS 398 instructions for supplements, for 
example, all supplements are required to have a one page introduction, the  
supplementary instructions below should also be followed.

RESEARCH PLAN (Not to exceed 5 pages)

Under the Experimental Plan, the PI should provide the information requested 
below. This section may not exceed five pages. Equipment quotations, letters from 
collaborators and consultants, and the checklist are excluded from the five-page 
limit.

Section 1:  Describe how the requested equipment has (1) relevance to the 
institution's goals and specific objectives, (2) immediate utility to specific 
research education/training activities, and (3) how the investigator will take 
advantage of unique features of the equipment to enhance progress of the research 
education/training activity. Describe how the requested equipment will provide an 
innovative approach to the research education/training activities.  Describe how 
the equipment will significantly enhance the scientific environment in which the 
research/development activities are being conducted and how it will contribute to 
the probability of meeting the goals and objectives of the RISE or IMSD program.

Section 2:  Describe the plan for maintenance of the requested equipment and how 
the institution will assist in support of the equipment requested.

Section 3:  Describe your plans to share data generated from the requested 
equipment (if applicable).

Section 4:  Complete Section 3 ("Facilities and Administrative Costs") of the PHS 
398 Form Checklist.
 
USING THE RFA LABEL: USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 
(rev. 5/2001) application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of 
the application.  Failure to use this label could result in delayed processing of 
the application such that it may not reach the review committee in time for 
review.  The RFA number must appear on the label.  In addition, the RFA title and 
number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form and the 
YES box must be marked.  The RFA label is also available at: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.

SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed typewritten original of the 
application, including the Checklist, and three signed photocopies of the 
application in one package by December 30, 2002 to:

Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission to CSR, two additional copies of the application must be 
sent to:

Office of Scientific Review
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
45 Center Drive, Room 3AN.12, MSC 6200
Bethesda, MD 20892-6200

APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by the application receipt 
date listed in the heading of this RFA. If an application is received after that 
date, it will be returned to the applicant without review.
 
The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will not accept any application in 
response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one currently pending 
initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application.  The 
CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one 
already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of substantial 
revisions of applications already reviewed, but such applications must 
include an Introduction addressing the previous critique.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by the CSR and 
responsiveness by the NIGMS.  Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications will 
be returned to the applicant without further consideration. 

Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated for 
scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the 
NIGMS in accordance with the review criteria stated below.  As part of the initial 
merit review, all applications will:

o Receive a written critique
o Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to 
have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications 
under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score
o Receive a second level review by the National Advisory General Medical 
Sciences Council.

REVIEW CRITERIA

The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of 
biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health.  In 
the written comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following 
aspects of your application in order to judge the likelihood that the 
proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these 
goals: 

o Significance 
o Approach 
o Innovation
o Investigator
o Environment
  
The scientific review group will address and consider each of these criteria in 
assigning your application's overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each 
application. Your application does not need to be strong in all categories to be 
judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority 
score.  For example, you may propose to carry out important work that by its 
nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.

Applications submitted in response to this RFA are supplemental to an 
existing award.  Since these were previously reviewed using the NIH standard 
review criteria, the following review criteria will be used to determine the 
merit of the supplemental application for equipment:

(1) SIGNIFICANCE: Does the requested equipment have relevance and immediate 
utility and will the investigator take advantage of unique features of the 
equipment to enhance progress of his/her research education/training activity?

(2) APPROACH: For RISE applications, if technical assistance is requested, does 
the technician have the appropriate background and skills to maintain the 
equipment and instruct others in its use?

(3) INNOVATION: Has the investigator shown that the equipment will provide an 
innovative approach to accomplishing the original aims of the research 
education/training activities?

(4) INVESTIGATOR: Has the investigator been productive in documenting his/her 
progress of the research education/training activities?  Will this equipment 
enhance its progress?

(5) ENVIRONMENT: Will the equipment significantly enhance the scientific 
environment in which the research education/training is being conducted and 
contribute to the probability of meeting the goals and objectives of the RISE or 
IMSD program? Is there evidence of institutional support of the program and of the 
equipment to be acquired?

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, your application 
will also be reviewed with respect to the following:

PROTECTIONS:  The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals, or the 
environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project proposed 
in the application.

INCLUSION:  The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all 
racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the 
scientific goals of the research.  Plans for the recruitment and retention of 
subjects will also be evaluated. (See Inclusion Criteria included in the section 
on Federal Citations, below.)

DATA SHARING:  The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data. 

BUDGET:  The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of 
support in relation to the proposed research.

RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: November 29, 2002 
Application Receipt Date: December 30, 2002
Peer Review Date: March 2003
Council Review: May 2003
Earliest Anticipated Award Date: June 1, 2003

AWARD CRITERIA

Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:  

o The likelihood that the applicant institution will fulfill the proposed 
project objectives and further the goals of the MBRS program 
o Scientific merit (as determined by peer review)
o Availability of funds 
o Programmatic priorities

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS 
 
INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS: The 
NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must 
be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by the NIH, 
unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This policy 
applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for receipt dates after 
October 1, 1998.
 
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH 
Policy and Guidelines" on the inclusion of children as participants in research 
involving human subjects that is available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm.

REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS: NIH policy 
requires education on the protection of human subject participants for all 
investigators submitting NIH proposals for research involving human subjects.  
Refer to this policy announcement in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts 
Announcement, dated June 5, 2000, at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-
files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
 
URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and proposals for 
NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page limitations. Unless 
otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not 
be used to provide information necessary to the review because reviewers are under 
no obligation to view the Internet sites.  Furthermore, reviewers are cautioned 
that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet 
site.
 
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010: The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the 
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a 
PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This PA is related to one or 
more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy 
People 2010" at 
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/Document/tableofcontents.htm#volume1. 
  
AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS 
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93-
375. Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended authorize 
awards, and these are administered under PHS grants policies and Federal 
Regulations 42 CFR part 52c, 45 CFR part 74, and 45 CFR part 92.  See also Senate 
Appropriations Committee Report, No. 92-316, July 29, 1971, Executive Order 12900, 
Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans February 22, 1994, Executive Order 
12876, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, November 1, 1993, and 
Executive Order 13021, October 21, 1996 and Outline of Work Plan, August 18, 1998, 
White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities.  Applications are not 
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or 
Health Systems Agency review.
 
The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products.  In addition, 
Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain 
facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or 
routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development 
services are provided to children.  This is consistent with the PHS mission to 
protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

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