The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) announce the availability of administrative supplement funding to support minor alterations and renovations (A&R) at NIMHD-supported Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI). Applicants must have existing R01-equivalent HIV/AIDS-related research projects funded in the parent RCMI U54 award.

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.

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 RCMI-funded projects. The supplement cannot support the conduct of any research. Supplement applications are expected to describe how the proposed activities fit within the scope of the existing award and the requirements of its FOA.

Minor A&R includes improvement or remodeling projects 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.

Description of circumstances for which administrative supplements are available.

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)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-18-591 must be followed, with the following additions

• Application Due Date: April 27,2020, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-MD-20-013” (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.
• Requests may be for one year of support only.
• Eligibility is limited to NIMHD-supported Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) U54 awards that include HIV/AIDS-related research subprojects.
• The process for Streamlined Submissions using the eRA Commons cannot be used for this initiative.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the program and grants management contacts at NIMHD that a request has been submitted in response to this FOA in order to facilitate efficient processing of the request.

Required Documentation

Two copies of each of the following documents must be submitted with each request:

• Single-line drawing of the existing space and proposed alterations. Line drawings of the proposed renovation must be legible, with the scale clearly indicated and adequate to explain the project. The 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 plan must indicate the location of the proposed renovation area in the building. Include the as-built drawings of the proposed renovation 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.
• Detailed cost estimates, including vendor quotes when available.
• List of all fixed equipment items requested for the renovated area and a justification for the request.
• Description of how the the proposed renovations will benefit research projects that will use the facility
• Narrative description of the proposed functional utilization of the space and 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 description must include a detailed explanation of the need, character, and extent of the functions to be housed in the space proposed for A&R, using the following headings, 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
  • Other information required by program legislation or regulations.

Evaluation Process

In addition to the general criteria listed in the funding opportunity, evaluation of the proposed supplements will include the following criteria:

• Is the project essential to the support of high-priority HIV/AIDS-related research activities supported by the RCMI U54 parent award?
• Is the project likely to stimulate additional research activities related to HIV/AIDS research at the RCMI institution?
• Will the facility have a useful life consistent with program purposes, including the time to construct and complete the project?
• For renovation projects, is the structure architecturally and physically suitable for the type of research space required

Budget: Requests must reflect the needs of the proposed project. The supplement budget periods must be within the currently approved project period of the existing parent RCMI U54 award. The maximum award period is one year. Administrative supplement requests should not exceed $400,000 Direct Costs.