Participating Organization(s)	National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Components of Participating Organizations	Fogarty International Center (FIC) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Funding Opportunity Title	Limited Competition: Planning Grant for Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for Low-and Middle-Income Country institutions (D71)
Activity Code	D71 International Research Training Planning Grant
Announcement Type	Reissue of PAR-12-070
Related Notices	May 23, 2016 - This PAR has been reissued as PAR-16-281. June 4, 2014 - Notice NOT-14-074 supersedes instructions in Section III.3 regarding applications that are essentially the same. November 27, 2013 (NOT-OD-14-027) - NIH to Require Use of Updated Electronic Application Forms for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2014. Forms-C applications are required for due dates on or after January 25, 2014. August 21, 2013: Removed reference to ASSIST in section IV.3, since ASSIST is currently only available for multi-project applications. July 12, 2013 - See Notice NOT-TW-13-009. Notice to Extend the 2013 Application Due Date and Provide Additional Instructions for Correct Application Package. July 3, 2013 - See Notice NOT-TW-13-007 Instructions for Correct Application Package.
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number	PAR-13-214
Companion Funding Opportunity	PAR-13-126, D43, International Research Training Grants. PAR-13-215, G11, Extramural Associate Research Development Award (EARDA)
Number of Applications	See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	93.989, 93.242
Funding Opportunity Purpose	The purpose of this FOA is to encourage institutions in eligible low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) to submit an application for a planning grant under the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program. This program supports research training that will strengthen the HIV research capacity of institutions in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). The planning grant application must propose a plan to develop the components necessary for an application for a research training program to submit to D43 FOA (PAR-13-126). In developing an application for a planning grant, applicants need to be familiar with the objectives and special requirements of the research training program as defined in the D43 FOA.

Posted Date	April 25, 2013
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date)	June 24, 2013
Letter of Intent Due Date(s)	30 days before the application due date
Application Due Date(s)	(Extended to July 31, 2013 per NOT-TW-13-009) July 24, 2013, July 24, 2014, July 30, 2015, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
AIDS Application Due Date(s)	July 24, 2013, July 24, 2014, July 30, 2015, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
Scientific Merit Review	October/November 2013, October/November 2014, October/November 2015
Advisory Council Review	January 2014, January 2015, January 2016
Earliest Start Date	April 2014, April 2015, April 2016
Expiration Date	July 31, 2015
Due Dates for E.O. 12372	Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide including the Supplemental Instructions to the SF424 (R&R) for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Application, 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.

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

The overall goal of the Fogarty International Center (FIC) HIV Research Training Program is to strengthen the human capacity to contribute to the ability of institutions in eligible low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) to conduct HIV-related research on the evolving HIV-related epidemics in their country and to compete independently for research funding. See NOT-TW-12-011: Notice of Change in Country Eligibility for Fogarty International Training Grants to ascertain LMIC eligibility.

The Fogarty HIV Research Training Program encourages applications under three different Funding Opportunities Announcements (FOAs). This FOA (D71), encourages planning grant applications to support eligible LMIC institutions to plan and develop an application for a research training program in response to the second FOA (D43) (PAR-13-126). The future research training program is expected to develop and strengthen the scientific leadership and expertise needed to strengthen the research capacity of the LMIC institution to address a specified scientific topic or question. The third FOA (G11) will support applications from U.S. institutions for training in defined research infrastructure areas at LMIC institutions ( PAR-13-215).

U.S. institutions interested in applying to support research training in an eligible LMIC institution should apply directly to the D43 FOA. See Section III. Eligibility Information for eligibility information.

FIC, with co-funding from other NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices, has provided 25 years of support to HIV research through two HIV research training programs, the AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) and the International Clinical, Operations and Health Services Research Training Award for AIDS TB program (ICOHRTA AIDS TB). Awards under these two programs have supported research training of LMIC individuals who have participated in important HIV-related research, conducted at LMIC institutions and in partnership with U.S. and other international scientists and scientific institutions. Over the years, some of the most important recent scientific advances in HIV/AIDS, including interventions to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission, to address HIV/TB co-infection, and to prevent HIV infection through behavior change, microbicides, and antiretroviral drugs, have been facilitated through partnerships with LMIC scientists and supported by the FIC research training programs. Continued investment in training to strengthen research and research capacity at LMIC institutions is needed to address the on-going HIV epidemic in LMICs.

Efforts to implement research findings within the context of increased provision of HIV prevention, care and treatment services in LMIC over the past ten years have led to the emergence of new research issues, such as combination HIV prevention interventions, better linking of newly diagnosed individuals into care programs, and integration of HIV programs with other health services. As LMICs implement HIV prevention, care and treatment programs for their populations, these and other, yet undefined, research issues will need evidenced based solutions.

Because the social context of an LMIC will influence the research designed to answer these evolving research questions, LMIC institutions and their researchers, who intimately understand the social context of their country and with the research capacity to design and conduct the research, are best positioned to conduct the most relevant research, disseminate the results in-country, and influence policymakers, program managers and medical/public health practice.

FIC decided to consolidate the two FIC HIV research training programs in FY2013 into a new program, Fogarty HIV Research Training Program. This new program is designed to focus each individual research training award on specific research capacity at an identified LMIC institution. The new program will move beyond simple output indicators (number and type of people trained) to outcome indicators (increased research capacity at an institutional level) for more meaningful monitoring and evaluating both of individual awards and of the program as a whole.

This FOA provides support for those eligible LMIC institutions with strong research experience, expertise and resources in various scientific areas to plan their own research training program, in response to D43 FOA, so that they can share their expertise with others. Research training programs, developed and led by LMIC institutions will maximize previous FIC and other NIH research and research training investments in those LMIC institutions, will further strengthen the LMIC institution's research and research training capabilities, and will provide additional and more accessible research training opportunities to others in their own country and in other LMICs.

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the D43 FOA (PAR-13-126) as they prepare their planning grant application in response to this FOA. The planning grant applicant will need to identify the specific scientific topic or question upon which to focus the future research training program, provide rationale for why this topic or question was selected, and propose a plan for developing an application for a research training program at the LMIC institution.

The objectives of the planning grant are:

• to solidify collaborative relationships and understandings with all individual and institutional partners for an institutional (organizational) structure that will support the future research training program;
• to fully assess the existing research and research training capacity for the specified scientific area at the LMIC institution, identify current resources and justify the need for additional research training;
• to identify the training, staff development, and scientific and administrative resources needed to undertake a training program to bring the LMIC institution to the next level of capacity in the specified scientific topic or question;
• to identify and engage additional partners needed to fill identified gaps;
• to define a pool of potential trainees that could be recruited for future research training
• to identify existing and future research opportunities that can be used to support research training and career development of trainees; and
• to organize and submit an application in response to D43 FOA.

The planning grant application should describe a step-wise process to meet the above objectives of the planning grant, demonstrate support and expertise of collaborators and partners named in the planning grant application, provide evidence that the leadership of the LMIC institution and significant LMIC leaders support the development of the research training, and describe how proposed future research training would be relevant to the health priorities of the LMIC. Evidence of LMIC and LMIC institutional support for the planning grant as well as sustained support for any subsequent comprehensive program is expected. The application should describe relevant research and training collaborations in the specified scientific area which the applicant institution has with others, and indicate if they are proposed partners.

Applicants are encouraged to review the FIC Strategic Plan at http://www.fic.nih.gov/About/Pages/Strategic-Plan.aspx and the NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research for the year they are applying, available at http://www.oar.nih.gov/strategicplan/. Applicants are also encouraged to explore research training in topics of interest to PEPFAR (http://www.pepfar.gov/) and the U.S. Global Health Initiative (http://www.ghi.gov/).

See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for more information.

Funding Instrument	Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity
Application Types Allowed	New Resubmission The OER Glossary and the SF424 (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	Application budgets are limited to $28,000 direct costs per year.
Award Project Period	Two years

Stipends, Tuition, and Fees
Trainee Travel	Not Applicable
Training Related Expenses Other Program Related Expenses	Not Applicable Senior/Key Personnel Salary: The salary for the PD/PI, other key personnel, and administrative staff must be commensurate with the salary structure and benefits at the institution where they are employed and within the limits described at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm. Collaborators may receive appropriate compensation for significant activities on the program. The responsibilities and time commitment for personnel receiving salary should be thoroughly described and justified. Senior/Key Personnel Travel: Funds may be requested for round-trip economy airfare on U.S. carriers (to the maximum extent possible) and lodging and per diem to attend necessary meetings, including the annual program network meeting, normally in the U.S. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) are expected to attend the network meeting, and may also budget for grant administrators, other faculty, and collaborators to attend. Costs associated with meetings and other communication and organization needs for the planning process needs to be described in the budget justification.
Indirect Costs	Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs requested by consortium participants are not included in the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004. Facilities and administrative costs are limited to 8% for all awards and sub-awards.

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.

Only foreign institutions in eligible low-and middle income countries are eligible to apply under this FOA. See NOT-TW-12-011: Notice of Change in Country Eligibility for Fogarty International Training Grants to ascertain LMIC eligibility.

The applicant institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program.

The applicant institution must have a strong and high quality HIV research program in the scientific topic proposed under this FOA and must have the requisite faculty and facilities on site to conduct the future research training program.

Current LMIC ICOHRTA AIDS TB award institutions are not eligible to submit applications under the FOA until the last year of their current ICOHRTA AIDS TB project period. At that time, they may apply under the D43 FOA if they are building on the training they provided under their completed ICOHRTA AIDS TB awards, or under this FOA for a planning grant, if they are proposing a new scientific area for training.

LMIC institutions who have had a planning grant under the AITRP should apply under the D43 FOA (PAR-13-126) if they are proposing training in the same area as their AITRP planning grant. They may apply under this FOA for a planning grant, if they are proposing a new scientific area for training.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are 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.

Applicant Organizations

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.

• Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) - All registrations require that applicants be issued a DUNS number. After obtaining a DUNS number, applicants can begin both SAM and eRA Commons registrations. The same DUNS number must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.
• System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly CCR) Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.
• NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.
• eRA Commons - Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the eRA Commons registration. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants.gov registration. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
• Grants.gov Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account and should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate an existing account with the applicant organization’s eRA Commons account. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

International applicants may obtain more information on the registrations required for grants.gov and eRA Commons at:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/Tips_for_International_Applicants.pdf.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/international_support.pdf

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/international_qa.pdf

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/preparing_grantsgov_reg.htm

Guidance for International Applicants Blocked from Registration Websites: NOT-OD-11-090.

An NIH supported webinar on Electronic Submission of Grant Applications for Foreign Institutions can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/webinar_docs/webinar_20120927.htm.

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed program 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/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

The PD/PI should be an established investigator in the scientific area in which the application is targeted and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The PD/PI will be expected to monitor and assess the program and submit all documents and reports as required.

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

Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is programmatically distinct.

NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed within the past thirty-seven months (as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement), except for submission:

• To an RFA of an application that was submitted previously as an investigator-initiated application but not paid;
• Of an investigator-initiated application that was originally submitted to an RFA but not paid; or
• Of an application with a changed grant activity code.

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.

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.

Letter of Intent

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 IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

• Descriptive title of proposed activity
• Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PD(s)/PI(s)
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institution(s)
• Number and title of this funding opportunity

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Jeanne McDermott
Program Officer
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center, NIH
Bldg. 31 Room B2-C39
31 Center Dr. MSC 2220
Bethesda MD 20892-2220 U.S.A
Telephone: 301-496-1492
Email: [email protected]

All page limitations described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed, with the following modification:

• 12 pages for Background and Program Plan

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

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), with the following additional modification:

Proposed Project Start and Ending Dates - Use the Earliest Anticipated Start Dates given in this FOA as the Proposed Project Start Date.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), with the following additional modification:

Include the applicant institution and any other participating institutions, both U.S. and foreign as performance sites.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), with the following additional modifications:

Foreign Award or With Foreign Component: Check YES and list the foreign countries in for all of the performance sites that you listed in SF 424 (R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations Component.

Other Attachments

Project Summary/Abstract. Provide an abstract of the entire application, including the specific scientific topic, rationale for its selection and short description of planning processes to be used. Include the country and name of the LMIC institution.

Project Narrative. Include the name of the LMIC and the LMIC institution, the specified scientific topic for which research training is being proposed, and describe the public health relevance of the increased research capacity to the LMIC institution.

The filename provided for each Other Attachment will be the name used for the bookmark in the electronic application in eRA Commons.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), with the following additional modification:

• Include at least one person at all of the other U.S. and foreign participating institutions as Senior/Key Personnel and identify their role.

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).

Follow all instructions provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide with the following additional modifications:

• The R&R Budget Component must be used instead of the Training Budget Component.
• Use the Other Personnel section to submit costs for salary support for administrative staff.
• Use the Travel section to submit costs for key personnel travel including annual network meeting.
• Use the Other Direct Costs section to submit costs for other activities direct costs. Describe fully in the budget justification

All Supplemental Instructions to the SF424 (R&R) for Preparing Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Application must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Training Data Tables are not required for this FOA. Upon submission of your application, you may receive a Warning message that Data tables are missing. You can disregard this message

Background

• Identify the scientific topic for which HIV research training is being proposed and describe why it was selected. Describe how the LMIC institutional leadership and relevant professional staff from the LMIC institution were involved in the planning, decision-making and development of the application.
• Identify areas of mutual interest with the priorities of the LMIC, the LMIC institution and co-sponsoring NIH Institutes, Centers or Offices identified on this FOA. Describe the existing resources that already exist at the applicant and participating institutions that will contribute to the success of the future research training program. Identify gaps in important resources necessary for research training and describe how these gaps could be filled.

Describe the prior and current collaborations among the applicant institution and other participating institution(s), and how they demonstrate strong partnerships that will support the future research training program.

Program Plan

Program Administration. Describe the strengths, leadership and administrative skills, and scientific expertise of the Training PD/PI. Include the planned strategy and administrative structure to be used to oversee and monitor the program. For applications with multiple PDs/PIs, address the Leadership Plan and how the combined knowledge, skills and experience of the individual PDs/PIs will enhance the likelihood of success of the program. Indicate the level of effort and activities for which the PD/PI will be responsible. Describe the decision-making process, including how the PD/PI will obtain continuing advice with respect to the planning and development of the application for the future research training program.

Program Faculty. Provide a short description of the relevant research and research training expertise for faculty expected to be involved in the planning grant. Include relevant information for each on their past training record and the subsequent success of former trainees, especially those from LMICs, in seeking further career development and in establishing productive careers.

Proposed Training. Describe the goal and objectives for this planning grant, and how it will lead to a successful application for an award under the D43 FOA in the HIV Research Training Program. Describe a step-wise plan of activities to meet the objectives of the planning grant. The plan should provide enough details of the activities that will be used to accomplish the objectives for the reviewers to evaluate the probability of success. Describe the plans for the integration of any new research training into existing research capacity building activities at the LMIC institution. Identify existing research training programs to leverage. Describe the plan to avoid duplication of research training with other research training awards in which the applicant institution is involved. For K12, delete the last two sentences above.

Program Evaluation. Describe a monitoring and evaluation plan for the two-year planning process.

Trainee Candidates. Describe the potential pool of candidates for the future research training and possible strategies that may be used to recruit and select trainees.

Institutional Environment and Commitment to the Program. Describe the institutional support and commitment to the goals of the training program by the applicant institution. The application should include a description of support (financial and otherwise) to be provided to the proposed planning grant and of potential support for a future training program. This could include, for example, space, shared laboratory facilities and equipment, funds for curriculum development, release time for the PD(s)/PI(s) and/or participating faculty, support for additional trainees in the program, or any other innovative approaches to improve the climate for the establishment and growth of the training program.

Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity

Not Applicable

Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Attach a PDF file that states Not applicable to this FOA for the Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Letters of Support

The application should include letters of support that describe how the proposed training program will collaborate with other training programs and relevant on-going HIV research at the institution. The application should include letters of support from officials at LMIC government that describe how they will support and collaborate with the proposed training program, as well as letters of institutional commitment.

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.

Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions described throughout the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.

Organizations must submit applications to 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. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date 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.

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

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.

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (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 SF424(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 System for Award Management (SAM). 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.

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

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.

For this particular announcement, note the following:

The application should be evaluated for the experience, expertise, and resources and proposed planning process for the development of a research training program application at the applicant institution that will be expected to bring that LMIC institution to the next level of capacity in the scientific topic proposed in the application. The applicant should provide a clear rationale for the selection of the particular scientific topic as critical to the research capacity of the applicant institution.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the program to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the HIV-research capacity in LMIC institutions, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

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.

Training Program and Environment

Do the objectives defined in the application address the objectives of the planning grant FOA? Does the applicant demonstrate the need for research training in the specified scientific topic? Does the applicant propose a realistic plan for developing an application in response to the D43 FOA for the Fogarty HIV Training Program? Does the applicant propose creative approaches to develop a research training program? Is there adequate potential for supportive training environment at the applicant and any proposed partner institutions as demonstrated by available mentors, institutional support, and on-going research projects in which trainees may participate? Is there evidence of a significant institutional commitment from all the participating institutions to collaboratively plan a research training program? Is there evidence of institutional and individual research collaborations among the faculty of the participating institutions to support the future research training?

Training Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s))

Does the Training PD/PI have the scientific background, expertise, and experience to provide strong leadership, direction, management, and administration of the planning process and for proposed research training program? Does the Training PD(s)/PI(s) plan to commit sufficient time to the planning process to ensure its success in submitting an application to the D43 FOA?

For applications designating multiple PD/PIs: Is a strong justification provided that the multiple PD/PI leadership approach will benefit the training program and the trainees? Is a strong and compelling leadership approach evident, including the designated roles and responsibilities, governance, and organizational structure consistent with and justified by the aims of the training program and with the complementary expertise of each of the PDs/PIs?

Preceptors/Mentors

Are sufficient numbers of experienced mentors with appropriate expertise and funding available to support the future research training program? Will additional mentors be needed to support the future research training program? Do the mentors have adequate funded research to support the future training program?

Trainees

Is there an adequate pool of potential trainees? Are the proposed recruitment and selection strategies likely to attract good candidates?

Training Record

How successful have the applicant institution been in previous research training efforts? Has the applicant demonstrated an ability to leverage other research or training resources in pervious training efforts?

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 score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

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

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

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

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

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 score.

Applications from Foreign Organizations

Reviewers will assess whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions that exist in other countries and either are not readily available in the United States or augment existing U.S. resources.

Recruitment & Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity

Not Applicable

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Not Applicable

Select Agent Research

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 planning grant.

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

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

• May undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review) will be discussed and assigned an overall impact score.
• Will receive a written critique..

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 FIC Advisory Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities , as articulated in the FIC Strategic Plan http://www.fic.nih.gov/About/Pages/Strategic-Plan.aspx , the relevant NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research available at http://www.oar.nih.gov/strategicplan/, and the U.S. Global Health Initiative (http://www.ghi.gov/), including PEPFAR (http://www.pepfar.gov/.
• Consideration of program and geographic distribution
• Interests of participating organizations and components

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI 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.

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, SAM Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

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.

Not Applicable

The Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590 or RPPR) and financial statements as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are required annually. Continuation support will not be provided until the required forms are submitted and accepted.

Failure by the grantee institution to submit required forms in a timely, complete, and accurate manner may result in an expenditure disallowance or a delay in any continuation funding for the award.

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.

A final Progress Report 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. Evaluation results should be included as part of the final Progress Report.

Not Applicable

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

Because of the difference in individual Institute and Center (IC) program requirements for this FOA, prospective applications MUST consult the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements, and Staff Contacts, to make sure that their application is responsive to the requirements of one of the participating NIH ICs. Prior consultation with NIH staff is strongly encouraged.

eRA Commons Help Desk (Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, submitting and tracking an application, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)

Web ticketing system: https://public.era.nih.gov/commonshelp
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: [email protected]

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading forms and application packages)
Contact Center Phone: 800-518-4726

Web ticketing system: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/ContactUs.aspx
Email: [email protected]

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: [email protected]

Dr. Jeanne McDermott
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Telephone: 301-496-1492
Email: [email protected]

Dr. Willo Pequegnat
National Institute of Mental Health
Telephone: 301-443-1187
Email: [email protected]

Hilary D. Sigmon, Ph.D., R.N.
Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
Telephone: 301-357-9236

Kasima Brown
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Telephone: 301-496-1670
Email: [email protected]

Rita Sisco
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: (301) 443-2805
Email: [email protected]

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.

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 287b) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 63a.