It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide,except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from 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.

Background

Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. There is a critical need for fertility regulation methods that fit the needs of women and men throughout their reproductive lives. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in its mission to develop novel, safe and effective non-hormonal contraceptive methods for men and women.

Purpose and Scope

The NICHD has a state-of-the-art Chemical Synthesis and Optimization Facility for advancing male or female non-hormonal contraception development with the capabilities and capacity for preclinical services including Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) or Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies (e.g., protein generation, X-ray crystallography, high throughput screening, structure activity relationships, hit-to-lead generation, drug metabolism, fertility studies).The long-term objective is the enablement of an IND/IDE study of a preclinical candidate, that offers a safe, non-hormonal based therapy for male and/or female contraception that acts prior to fertilization and does not act via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

The purpose of this FOA is to provide investigators with a mechanism to request services from this facility that would advance their contraceptive development program.

This FOA aims to position innovative and validated methods for future clinical development. Applicants are not required to have current NIH funding to apply, but priority may be given to programs receiving NIH support at the time of application submission.

Potential services to support this goal include, but are not limited to, protein production, optimization of protein crystallization, protein co-crystallization with ligand, crystallization analysis, high throughput screening, computational chemistry, structure activity relationships (SAR) resulting in hit-to-lead(s) with freedom to operate, in vivo studies of lead compounds, Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion (ADME) studies, Drug Metabolism Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) studies, and formulation optimization in pursuit of an IND or IDE package for FDA submission. Services provided will not exceed 12 months in planned duration, unless approved prior to application submission. The facility has the capability to advance multiple projects simultaneously across the entire development continuum.

It is envisioned that a primary purpose of this resource will be for the advancement of both early and advanced stage preclinical compounds and devices. Applicants with chemical(s) hits and/or leads, or device(s) where the target and/or mechanism of action is unknown will be deprioritized; however, they are strongly encouraged to contact the Scientific/Research Contact for suggestion(s). Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to the Scientific/Research Contact to discuss potential services prior to application submission.

Researchers granted access to resource services will be required to work with the NICHD for all communications with the facility over the course of the project. Requested services may not overlap with efforts already funded through the Public Health Services.

Types of Activities

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development utilizes the Chemical Screening and Optimization Facility (CSOF) for the interest of, but not specifically limited to, the support of the following activities:

1) Protein synthesis optimization, pilot scalability and production of a validated target for reversible male and/or female contraception.

2) X-ray crystallography optimization and analysis of synthesized proteins with and without co-crystallization of a ligand.

3) High throughput screening (HTS) of validated assay(s) (target or cellular based) including defined positive and negative controls and proposing a secondary screen (confirmatory or counter screen) for identified hits (including positive and negative controls).

4) Structure Activity Relationships (SAR) based on new chemical entities, including but not limited to, computational assays of HTS results, pharmacophore generation, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models and resulting chemical probes, resulting in hit-to-lead compound(s) using a primary and confirmatory assay (target-based assay and/or cellular assay).

5) In vivo testing (i.e. rodent, rabbit, porcine, non-human primate) of lead compound(s), or device(s), to induce reversible infertility.

6) Evaluation of lead compound(s) that possess freedom to operate in DMPK studies, and/or ADME studies for further optimization for male and/or female contraception.

The long-term objective is the enablement of an IND/IDE study for a preclinical candidate, that offers a safe, non-hormonal based therapy for male and/or female contraception that acts prior to fertilization and does not act via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Target Validation

An important component of any early stage product development project is to conduct the necessary research to demonstrate that if the proposed modulation is successful (e.g., inhibition of a specific enzyme), the desired result will be achieved (e.g., infertility). This is commonly referred to as "validation". When a specific and defined molecule is targeted for modulation (e.g., inhibition of a specific enzyme), the specific molecule is referred to as a "target" and the validation process is referred to as "target validation". If the proposed research is focused on a defined molecular target (e.g., an inhibitor of a specific molecular target), the target must be validated prior to X01 submission, and the basis of validation must be detailed. If more than one specific molecule is targeted (e.g., two related enzymes), the same principles apply for the two molecules (i.e. demonstration that a well characterized modulation of both molecules will achieve the desired result).

1. Eligible Applicants

Higher Education Institutions

• Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
• Private Institutions of Higher Education

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

• Hispanic-serving Institutions
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
• Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

For-Profit Organizations

• Small Businesses
• For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)

Governments

• State Governments
• County Governments
• City or Township Governments
• Special District Governments
• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)

• Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government

• U.S. Territory or Possession

• Independent School Districts
• Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
• Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
• Regional Organizations

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

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) 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 to register in eRA Commons. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants.gov registration , but all registrations must be in place by time of submission. 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. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. 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.

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 PDs/PIs, 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.

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

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time. This means that the NIH will not accept:

• A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.
• A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.
• An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NOT-OD-11-101)

1. Requesting an Application Package

The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace are available in Part 1 of this FOA. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not factor 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:

Christopher C. Lindsey, PhD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-435-6907
Email:[email protected]

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

Specific Aims: Applicants are expected to request a single service in their application. The specific aim should refer directly to the service requested and should clearly, and concisely, describe the potential impact of the proposed study.

Research Strategy:

The research strategy should provide a clear description of requested services including:

• The relevant background to justify the request, the importance of the research/development project and the overall program, and how completion of the requested service will set the stage for the next well-planned objective leading towards an IND/IDE enabling study
• Defined deliverables (e.g., protein synthesis and scale up, high throughput screening assays, hit-to-lead optimization, etc.)
• Anticipated timelines to accomplish the described task
• Milestones that clearly describe a path towards advancement of the project
• Alternate strategies that showcase problem solving abilities
• Discussion of plan advancement upon the successful completion of the described request (with a clear definition of how success is defined within the strategy)
• Research strategies that discuss chemical series development must discuss strategies to achieve and confirm freedom to operate
• It must also describe the expected impact of those services on product development

For studies focused on a defined molecular target (e.g., an inhibitor of a specific molecular target), the target must be validated, and the basis of validation must be detailed prior to X01 submission

Applicants with chemical(s) hits and/or leads, or device(s), where the target and/or mechanism of action is unknown will be deprioritized; however, they are strongly encouraged to contact the Scientific/Research Contact for suggestion(s).

Approach

Describe all services and defined deliverables requested with justifications and expected impact. For applications requesting screening or optimization, provide an abbreviated research plan, and an alternative research plan, for the request and provide well-defined markers for success.

Service requests:

• For protein synthesis and scale up production
  • data indicating ability to generate protein in sufficient quantities (at least 1mg/L at >90% purity)
• For X-ray crystallography using protein
  • data indicating ability to generate protein in sufficient yield (at least 2.0 mg at >90% purity)
• Screening of a chemical library using a biological assay
  • Low throughput Chemical Screening (LTS, less than 96 well format)
  • High throughput Chemical Screening (HTS, equal to or greater than 96 well format)
• Chemical screening optimization to identify lead chemical series
• Chemical screening optimization of a lead chemical series
• For in vivo studies(i.e. fertility studies, Pharmacology, Pharmacodynamics)
  • include preliminary data (i.e. freedom to operate, microsome studies, initial formulation considerations, drug like properties)
• In vitro studies (DMPK and ADME)
  • include preliminary data (i.e. microsome studies, in vivo data)

If applicable, the following should also be discussed:

• If active compounds have been identified, outline in detail what is known about them including: freedom to operate, chemical characterizations, physical properties and drug-like properties, toxicity and safety
• If no novel active compounds have been identified, provide details of assays and any known active chemical entities including (ie. cLogP, LogP, tPSA, MW, etc.)
• Gene expression profile of target gene
• Any known pathologies associated with target(s)
• Anticipated benefit of deliverables to the drug development program and how it will advance the project

For any request involving the transfer of reagents (e.g. synthesized compounds, proteins, and/or devices) for testing in the applicant’s institution, describe how materials will be tested, the assay to be used (including variability of assay), safety protocols for handling chemicals, and the data shared with the facility in a timely fashion (e.g. two weeks).

The following modifications also apply:

• Excess quantities of reagents generated by the facility will be stored at the facility site.
• All resources generated by the facility will be shared after one-year post completion of the service provided (allowing time to address intellectual property concerns or publication).
• Upon completion of the requested activity, all reagents and data associated with the activity will become publicly available after a period of one-year by the point of contact affiliated with this FOA.

If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or Delayed Onset Study record.

Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start).All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

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.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

See Part 1. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov

4. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates and times. 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. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday , the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

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 and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected to the NIH Policy on Late Application Submission.

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.

5. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

6. 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.

7. Other Submission Requirements and Information

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 How to Apply Application Guide. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance. For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII.

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. See Section III of this FOA for information on registration requirements.

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. 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 and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will not be reviewed.

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. Applications submitted to the NIH in support of the NIH mission are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

For this particular announcement, note the following:

The X01 Resource Access Program invites eligible institutions to seek access to NIH research resources, which are specified in each X01 FOA. This includes programs where institutions will request access to submit to the resource (e.g., high throughput screening assays) as well as programs where access to a specific NIH research resource is needed to conduct certain research. Important factors in the review process of X01 applications are the need for, and potential benefit of, gaining access to the resource, specifications for any assays proposed, timelines for completion and plans for follow-on studies. Applications will not undergo standard peer review. Instead, applications to this FOA will be evaluated through an objective review process.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, 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. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Significance

Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? Is the prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project rigorous? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

Not Applicable for this FOA. See Additional Review Criteria below.

Investigator(s)

Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or those in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?

Not Applicable for this FOA. See Additional Review Criteria below.

Innovation

Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

Not Applicable for this FOA. See Additional Review Criteria below.

Approach

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Have the investigators included plans to address weaknesses in the rigor of prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project ? Have the investigators presented strategies to ensure a robust and unbiased approach, as appropriate for the work proposed? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed? Have the investigators presented adequate plans to address relevant biological variables, such as sex, for studies in vertebrate animals or human subjects?

Not Applicable for this FOA. See Additional Review Criteria below.

If the project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, are the plans to address 1) the protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion or exclusion of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults), justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?

Environment

Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?

Not Applicable for this FOA. See Additional Review Criteria below.

X01 applications requesting services do not receive peer review. A committee with the appropriate expertise comprised of NIH staff will evaluate requests to determine their overall merit.

For this particular announcement, the following review criteria will be used:

• Is the requested service likely to lead to significant advances of the compound/method/device towards clinical evaluation?
• For a given well-reasoned and reasonable strategy are the following included:
  • Markers for success
  • Timeline
  • Milestones (for applications requesting services for 6 months to one year)
• For service requests (e.g. target enablement, screening, toxicology, human or animal studies) has the applicant adequately demonstrated, discussed, justified or considered:
  • protein production
  • novel chemical entities
• If applicable:
  • does the applicant have adequate resources to evaluate compounds produced by the CSOF in a timely fashion (e.g. two weeks)?
  • does the applicant have a justifiable working assay for screening (e.g. generating data)?
  • does the applicant demonstrate reasonable ability for conducting work (e.g. assay development) concurrent with the facility including rapid iterative deliverables?
  • Does the applicant possess reasonable necessary approval forms for in vivo related studies (e.g. IRB, IACUC)?

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the 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 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 Guidelines for the Review of Human Subjects.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Individuals Across the Lifespan

When the proposed project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults) to determine if it is justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion in Clinical Research.

Vertebrate Animals

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following criteria: (1) description of proposed procedures involving animals, including species, strains, ages, sex, and total number to be used; (2) justifications for the use of animals versus alternative models and for the appropriateness of the species proposed; (3) interventions to minimize discomfort, distress, pain and injury; and (4) justification for euthanasia method if NOT consistent with the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. Reviewers will assess the use of chimpanzees as they would any other application proposing the use of vertebrate animals. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

Biohazards

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Resubmissions

Not Applicable

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.

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

Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources:

For projects involving key biological and/or chemical resources, reviewers will comment on the brief plans proposed for identifying and ensuring the validity of those resources.

Budget and Period of Support

Not applicable

2. Review and Selection Process

X01 applications will undergo an administrative evaluation by NIH staff, but not standard peer review. Applications submitted for this funding opportunity will be administratively evaluated using the criteria shown above.

The following will be considered in making decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by administrative review
• Available capacity of the facility at the time of review
• Impact of the requested services on resources available to support other projects
• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities

As part of the objective review, all applications:

• will receive a written critique

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

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

1. Award Notices

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 terms and conditions found on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website. This includes any recent legislation and policy applicable to awards that is highlighted on this website.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Recipients of federal financial assistance (FFA) from HHS must administer their programs in compliance with federal civil rights law. This means that recipients of HHS funds must ensure equal access to their programs without regard to a person’s race, color, national origin, disability, age and, in some circumstances, sex and religion. This includes ensuring your programs are accessible to persons with limited English proficiency. HHS recognizes that research projects are often limited in scope for many reasons that are nondiscriminatory, such as the principal investigator’s scientific interest, funding limitations, recruitment requirements, and other considerations. Thus, criteria in research protocols that target or exclude certain populations are warranted where nondiscriminatory justifications establish that such criteria are appropriate with respect to the health or safety of the subjects, the scientific study design, or the purpose of the research.

In accordance with the statutory provisions contained in Section 872 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417), NIH awards will be subject to the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) requirements. FAPIIS requires Federal award making officials to review and consider information about an applicant in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS) prior to making an award. An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a Federal agency previously entered and is currently in FAPIIS. The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgement about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR Part 75.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants. This provision will apply to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements except fellowships.

For additional guidance regarding how the provisions apply to NIH grant programs, please contact the Scientific/Research Contact that is identified in Section VII under Agency Contacts of this FOA. HHS provides general guidance to recipients of FFA on meeting their legal obligation to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to their programs by persons with limited English proficiency. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/special-topics/limited-english-proficiency/index.html. The HHS Office for Civil Rights also provides guidance on complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/index.htmlhttps://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/laws-regulations-guidance/index.html. Recipients of FFA also have specific legal obligations for serving qualified individuals with disabilities. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/disability/index.html. Please contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights for more information about obligations and prohibitions under federal civil rights laws at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/about-us/contact-us/index.html or call 1-800-368-1019 or TDD 1-800-537-7697. Also note it is an HHS Departmental goal to ensure access to quality, culturally competent care, including long-term services and supports, for vulnerable populations. For further guidance on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services, recipients should review the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care at http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53.

3. Reporting

A final RPPR, 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.

In accordance with the regulatory requirements provided at 45 CFR 75.113 and Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75, recipients that have currently active Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies with a cumulative total value greater than $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of a Federal award, must report and maintain the currency of information reported in the System for Award Management (SAM) about civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings in connection with the award or performance of a Federal award that reached final disposition within the most recent five-year period. The recipient must also make semiannual disclosures regarding such proceedings. Proceedings information will be made publicly available in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS). This is a statutory requirement under section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement contracts, will be publicly available. Full reporting requirements and procedures are found in Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75 Award Term and Conditions for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

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

eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, and post-submission issues)

Finding Help Online: http://grants.nih.gov/support/ (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)

General Grants Information (Questions regarding application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources)
Email: [email protected] (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-945-7573

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: [email protected]

Christopher C. Lindsey, PhD
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-435-6907
Email: [email protected]

Applications submitted to this FOA will not undergo peer review. Questions should be directed to the Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Margaret Young
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Telephone: 301-642-4552
Email: [email protected]

If the applicant requests to participate in the research effort (e.g. testing compounds in vitro/in vivo assays), it will be expected that the applicant will be fully engaged in furthering the research by evaluating compounds etc. in a timely manner. Should the successful applicant be unproductive, as defined by not meeting timeline(s), completing objectives or milestones, the NICHD may remove funding and terminate effort to support the project using the contract.