MINORITY ACCESS TO RESEARCH CAREERS (MARC) ANCILLARY TRAINING ACTIVITIES GRANTS Release Date: April 20, 1999 PA NUMBER: PAR-99-091 P.T. National Institute of General Medical Sciences Letter of Intent Receipt Dates: January 1, May 1, September 1 Application Receipt Dates: February 1, June 1, October 1 PURPOSE The purpose of this program announcement (PA) is to support program-related scientific meetings, conferences, technical assistance workshops, and other ancillary training activities. The Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Branch of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) provides research training opportunities for students and faculty from minority groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences relevant to biomedicine, including mathematics and engineering. As part of its ongoing commitment to the development of students, faculty, minority, and/or minority serving institutions and underrepresented minority biomedical researchers, the MARC Branch will provide support for ancillary research training activities that are harmonious with its overall objective of increasing the number of underrepresented minorities who participate fully in the biomedical enterprise of this country. 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 PA, MARC Ancillary Training Activities Grants, is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" at http://www.crisny.org/health/us/health7.html. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications may be submitted by U.S. institutions, including scientific or professional societies, eligible to receive grants from the Department of Health and Human Services. The NIGMS will not accept applications from foreign organizations or for international conferences. For purposes of this PA, underrepresented minority individuals are defined as persons belonging to a particular ethnic or racial group that has been determined by the grantee to be underrepresented in biomedical research. Nationally, individuals who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical research include but are not limited to US citizens who are African American, Hispanic American, Native American, and citizens of the US Pacific Islands. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Awards made under this program announcement will be administered under the T36 grant mechanism. The responsibility for the planning, managing, and conduct of the proposed activities lies solely with the applicant organization. Facilities and administration costs will be provided at a rate of 8% minus exclusions. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this PA may not exceed 5 years. Grants made under the program may submit competing renewals at the appropriate time. Because the nature and scope of the scientific or program related meeting, conference, workshop or other ancillary training activity proposed in response to this program announcement may vary, it is anticipated that the size of each award will vary also. Allowable Costs Allowable expenditures and the applicable policies are listed below. Any costs not listed below must be either approved at the time of award, or if after the award, have received prior written approval from the NIGMS staff. Salaries: Funds may be used to provide salaries, including fringe benefits, of professional personnel, clerical assistants, editorial assistants, and other support staff in proportion to the time or effort spent directly on the meeting, workshop or other kind of activity. Equipment: Although funds may not be used for the purchase of equipment, they may be used for the rental of necessary equipment such as projection and public address systems, exhibits, or telephone. Supplies: The costs of supplies, such as stationery, programs, notices, badges, signs, postage, distribution and mailing fees may be requested provided they are necessary for the proposed activity and are used during the project period. Travel Expenses: Funds may be requested for the travel of staff and attendees if identified in the application and approved at the time of the award. Per Diem: Per diem costs for speakers and activity participants may be requested and will be limited to the days of attendance at the meeting, conference, workshop, or other activity planned plus the actual travel time to and from the meeting or conference location. Where meals and/or lodging are furnished without charge or at a nominal cost, such as part of the registration fee, an appropriate deduction must be made from the authorized per diem. Conference Services: Funds may be requested for necessary stenographic, typewritten and photographic recording of proceedings, editorial service, simultaneous translation, subsequent transcriptions, and rental or conference rooms and office space. Publication Costs: Funds to cover the costs of publishing the proceedings of a scientific symposium or of special papers presented may be requested. Registration Fees: Registration fees to support participants and students may be requested. Speaker Fees: Speakers fees for the specific services rendered at the meeting or conference are allowable costs. Unallowable Costs Grant funds may not be used for entertainment tips, bar charges, personal telephone calls or personal Internet connection, or laundry charges of participants or guests. Grant funds may not be used to pay per diem, travel or expenses other than local mileage for local participants in the meeting or conference. Dues to organizations, federations, or professional societies, exclusive of registration fees, are not allowed as charges to the grant. Grant funds may not be used to cover the costs of banquets, luncheons, coffee breaks, theater, or entertainment of any sort. Honoraria or other payments given for the purpose of conferring distinction on or to symbolize respect, esteem, or admiration may not be paid from grant funds. MARC ANCILLARY TRAINING ACTIVITIES OBJECTIVES Background The MARC Program Branch goals are to increase the number and capabilities of minorities engaged in biomedical research and to strengthen science curricula and student research opportunities at minority and/or minority serving institutions. Attendance and participation of minority individuals in program related scientific workshops, meetings, conferences and other ancillary training activities that provide knowledge, skills, and/or networking capabilities empower them to succeed in the pursuit of a research career. Thus, one of the objectives of the MARC branch is to provide support for such activities. Because the scope, purpose, and objectives of the proposals are anticipated to be very diverse, each applicant organization will be required to clearly state its own specific goals and measurable objectives and to provide an evaluation plan that explains how the applicant organization will assess that the objectives have been met. Additional Information Examples of scientific or program related meetings, conferences, workshops or the ancillary training activities that could support the overall goals of the MARC Program Branch are listed below. This list is not intended to be comprehensive or directive. o meetings or conferences to facilitate communication between MARC program directors and NIGMS staff; o research symposia/conferences; o workshops to provide technical assistance in areas identified as critical by MARC program directors and NIGMS program staff; o conferences/workshops on graduate school survival skills that target MARC predoctoral fellows at either of two critical stages in their graduate careers - - first year fellows and those nearing completion of their graduate studies; o summer workshops or workshops in conjunction with annual meetings of scientific societies on research techniques (MARC faculty or students) or teaching/pedagogical techniques (MARC faculty); and or o summer workshops or workshops in conjunction with annual meetings of scientific societies for program directors on strategies and methods to evaluate their program. o travel of MARC students/faculty to major scientific meetings or research symposia/conferences. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit, by the dates given above, a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed MARC Ancillary Training Activities, 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 PA in response to which the application may be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows NIGMS staff to estimate the potential review workload and avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. Hinda Zlotnik at the address listed under INQUIRIES. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) and will be accepted at the receipt dates indicated in the heading of this program announcement. Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301) 710-0267, e-mail: grantsinfo@nih.gov. Applications must address the inclusion of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in both the planning and conduct of meetings, conferences, workshops or other ancillary training activities. Plans must be specified to seek appropriate representation in the selection of organizing committees, speakers, session chairs, and panel discussants. NIH guidelines on this issue are published in the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts, Volume 24, Number 15, April 28, 1995. Applicants planning to submit a new application, competing continuation (type 2), competing supplement, or any amended/revised version of the preceding grant application types requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year are advised that he or she must contact NIGMS program staff before submitting the application, i.e., as plans for the activities are being developed. Furthermore, the applicant must obtain agreement from NIGMS staff that the institute will accept the application for consideration for award. Finally, the applicant must identify, in a cover letter sent with the application, the NIGMS staff member who agreed to accept assignment of the application. The NIH publication, "Support of Scientific Meetings" (May 1997), should be obtained because it provides important information and supplemental instructions for completing the application. In addition, this publication states NIH policy regarding the application, review, award, administration, and reporting requirements when funds are requested and awarded for the support of scientific meetings. This publication also is available from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources. In the Activity Plan section of the application, describe the relevance of the proposed meeting, conference, workshop, or other activity to the MARC program goals. This section should also be used to provide a detailed description of the objectives, plans, and logistics of the meeting, conference, and/workshop, a description of the methodology proposed to obtain the desired outcomes (i.e. lectures, presentations, seminars, poster sessions, etc.) and indicate any other pertinent information that contributes to a clear description of the training activity, such as qualifications and previous experience of the activity coordinators, and characteristics of the targeted participants. The complete and signed original application and three exact copies, in one package with any appendices, must be mailed or delivered to: CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 - MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) At the same time, an additional two copies should be sent under separate cover to: Chief, Office of Scientific Review National Institute of General Medical Sciences Building 45, Room 1AS.19 - MSC 6200 Bethesda, MD 20892-6200 REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications will be administratively reviewed by NIH staff. Incomplete and/or unresponsive applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications will be reviewed for scientific merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by NIGMS. The second level of review will be provided by the National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council. Review Criteria: o the importance or benefits of the proposed scientific or program related meeting, conference, or workshop to the targeted community. o the adequacy of the scope and content of the proposed activity. o the qualifications of the proposed director/organizer and other activity coordinators. o the selection criteria (if any) and qualifications of the proposed participants. o the appropriateness of the proposed format for achieving the stated goals. o the adequacy of plans to disseminate the information generated by the activity. o the adequacy of the resources and appropriateness of the meeting site. o the validity and adequacy of the instruments to be used for evaluation of the activity. o past performance where applicable. AWARD CRITERIA The following will be considered in making funding decisions: o merit of the proposed scientific or program-related meeting, conference or workshop as determined by peer review; o relevance to MARC program goals and objectives; and o availability of funds. INQUIRIES Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcomed. Direct inquires regarding programmatic issues to: Hinda Zlotnik, Ph.D. MARC Program Director National Institutes of General Medical Sciences 45 Center Drive, Room 2AS.37, MSC 6200 Bethesda, MD 20892-6200 Telephone: (301) 594-3900 FAX: (301) 480-2573 Email: hindaz@nigms.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Ms. Antoinette Holland Grants Management Officer National Institute of General Medical Sciences 45 Center Drive, Room 2AN.50B, MSC 6200 Bethesda, MD 20892-6200 Telephone: (301) 495-5132 FAX: (301) 480-3423 Email: hollanda@nigms.nih.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance NO. 93- 880. Awards made under authorization of the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered under the NIH Grants Policy Statement and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. Applications are not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke- free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.
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