COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED PERINATAL STUDIES AND INTERVENTIONS INMINORITY POPULATIONS NIH GUIDE, Volume 21, Number 16, May 1, 1992 RFA AVAILABLE: HD/NR/OMP-92-07 P.T. 34, FF Keywords: Prenatal Factors Community/Outreach Programs Health Promotion Risk Factors/Analysis Social Psychology National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Center for Nursing Research Office of Minority Programs Letter of Intent Receipt Date: May 25, 1992 Application Receipt Date: July 22, 1992 THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) ANNOUNCED IN THIS NOTICE CONTAINS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF AN APPLICATION. POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MAY OBTAIN THE RFA FROM THE CONTACT NAMED IN INQUIRIES, BELOW. PURPOSE The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), in cooperation with the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) and the Office of Minority Programs (OMP), invites applications for cooperative agreements to participate in planning and conducting research that addresses the problem of the unacceptably high infant mortality rate among minority populations in this country. Specifically, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will assist the community (using the cooperative agreement mechanism) in establishing a model population-based perinatal epidemiology and clinical research effort to conduct research aimed at increasing the understanding of the determinants of the high infant mortality rate in Washington DC and its related outcomes, such as low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and preterm delivery. It is expected that research will include areas that lend themselves to intervention and may address different aspects of the overall infant mortality problem. It may include outreach and provisions of appropriate and enriched prenatal care for high risk pregnant women; interventions to improve health behavior during pregnancy, such as smoking, drinking, and drug abuse; and the testing of methods to increase early participation in prenatal care for population groups that traditionally receive no or late prenatal care. The results of this model program are expected to be applicable to other cities with large minority populations. Applications for a cooperative agreement with a Data Center for the network are also invited. This center will manage data from interventions and surveys at the funded sites. The Data Center should be functionally independent of all research sites, although it could be physically located at one of them. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This RFA, Cooperative Community-Based Perinatal Studies and Interventions in Minority Populations, is related to the priority areas of infant mortality, fetal deaths, low birth weight, severe complications of pregnancy, and prenatal care. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or "Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-783-3238). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by for-profit and non-profit, public and private, organizations WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, (although the Data Center may be located elsewhere), such as medical schools, universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, community-based organizations, and units of local government. For-profit organizations interested in applying under this RFA should note that no profit or fees may be requested under this kind of assistance award. In addition, since there are no-cost principles applicable to for-profit organizations receiving financial assistance awards, those set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulations in 48 CFR Part 31.2 will generally be used. Institutions may submit singly or in partnerships with two or more organizations or groups. Both community and research capabilities must be represented regardless of which organization is submitting as the applicant entity. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT The funding mechanism to be used to assist the community in undertaking this coordinated program of community-based clinical trials will be a cooperative agreement mechanism, the Research Demonstration Cooperative Agreement (U18). This grant mechanism provides "support for testing, by means of a research design, the effectiveness of the transfer and application of techniques or interventions derived from a research base for the control of diseases or disorders, or for the promotion of health. The project should be capable of making conclusions which are generally applicable to other sites." The major difference between a cooperative agreement and a research project grant is that there will be substantial programmatic involvement of the NICHD Project Coordinator above and beyond the levels required for traditional program management of grants. Specifically, an NICHD staff member will cooperate with Principal Investigators as a partner in the funded projects and serve as the Project Coordinator. All parties will agree to accept the participatory and cooperative nature of the group process. Due to the cosponsorship by the NCNR, a project coordinator from that Center will also participate, as will the Director of the OMP or his designee. For details about the primary rights and responsibilities of the awardees, and the nature of NICHD, NCNR, and OMP staff participation in this cooperative effort, applicants should contact the Project Coordinator(s) and request a copy of the RFA, in which all the terms and conditions of the grant are described. This RFA is a one-time solicitation. However, if it becomes apparent that there is a continuing program need, the NICHD may reannounce this RFA at the end of the current project period. The total project period for applications submitted in response to the present RFA may be five years. The anticipated award date will be September 30, 1992. FUNDS AVAILABLE The estimated funds available for the first year of support for the entire program, which will consist primarily of planning and protocol development, are $500,000 total costs. It is estimated that Data Center costs for year one could be up to $38,000 total costs. Approximately $462,000 total cost would be available or an average of $57,750 per research award. Supplemental funds will be added in future years to cover costs of the protocols. It is estimated that Data Center costs could be up to $345,000 for year 02. Approximately $4,655 million total cost would be available or an average of $581,875 total cost per research award. It is expected that seven to nine awards will be made, including the Data Center. This level of support is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of high scientific merit. Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of the participating organizational entities, the award of grants pursuant to this RFA is also contingent on the availability of funds for this purpose. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by May 25, 1992, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research, the name, address and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application will be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications, the information that it contains is helpful in planning for the review of applications. It also allows staff to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid possible conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Heinz W. Berendes, M.D., M.H.S. Director, Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 6130 Executive Boulevard Executive Plaza North, Room 640 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-5064 APPLICATION PROCEDURES The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) is to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available at most institutional business offices and from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room 449, Bethesda, MD 20892, telephone (301) 596- 7441. Applications must be received by July 22, 1992. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Applications will be received by the Division of Research grants and reviewed for completeness. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. NICHD, NCNR, and OMP staff will review for responsiveness. Applications not responsive to the RFA will also be returned. Complete and responsive applications will be evaluated for scientific/technical merit by a review group specifically convened by NICHD for this purpose. Applications may be subjected to triage by an NICHD peer review group to determine scientific merit relative to other applications received in response to this RFA. The second level of review will be provided by the Advisory Councils of the participating awarding components. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged, and the opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome. Direct requests for the RFA and inquiries regarding programmatic issues to Dr. Heinz W. Berendes at the address under LETTER OF INTENT. Inquiries regarding fiscal matters may be directed to: E. Douglas Shawver Office of Grants and Contracts National Institute of Child Health and Human development Executive Plaza North, Room 505 Bethesda, MD 20892 Telephone: (301) 496-1303 FAX: (301) 402-0915 AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.865, Research for Mothers and Children. Awards will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act, Section 301 (42 USC241), and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to review under the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. .
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