and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
Department of Health and Human Services
Participating Organizations
National
Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)
Components of Participating Organizations
National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), (http://www.niehs.nih.gov)(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/)
Title: Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training (U45)
Announcement
Type
This is a reissue of RFA-ES-04-005.
Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:
Key Dates
Release Date: July 9, 2009
Letters
of Intent Receipt Date: October
23, 2009
Application Receipt Date: November 23, 2009
Peer Review Date(s): February/March 2010
Council
Review Date: May 2010
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: August 1, 2010
Additional Information To Be
Available Date (Url Activation Date): Not
Applicable
Expiration Date: November 24, 2009
Due Dates
for E.O. 12372
Not Applicable
Additional
Overview Content
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Part I
Overview Information
Part II Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity
Description
1. Research Objectives
Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available
Section III. Eligibility
Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2.Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Other - Special Eligibility Criteria
Section IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Receipt, Review and
Anticipated Start Dates
1.
Letter of Intent
B. Sending an Application to
the NIH
C. Application Processing
D. Application Assignment
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements
Section V. Application Review
Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review
Considerations
C. Resource Sharing Plan(s)
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Section VI. Award Administration
Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
A. Cooperative Agreement
Terms and Conditions of Award
1.
Principal Investigator Rights and Responsibilities
2.
NIH Responsibilities
3. Collaborative Responsibilities
4. Dispute Resolution
Arbitration
Process
3. Reporting
Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other Information
- Required Federal Citations
Part II
- Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
Purpose
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) invites applications for cooperative agreements to support the development of model programs for the training and education of workers engaged in activities related to hazardous materials and waste generation, removal, containment, transportation and emergency response.
The major objective of this solicitation is to prevent work-related harm by assisting in the training of workers in how best to protect themselves and their communities from exposure to hazardous materials encountered during hazardous waste operations, hazardous materials transportation, environmental restoration of contaminated facilities or chemical emergency response. A variety of sites, such as those involved with chemical waste clean up and remedial action and transportation-related chemical emergency response, may pose severe health and safety concerns to workers and the surrounding communities. These sites are often characterized by the multiplicity of substances present, the presence of unknown substances, and the general uncontrolled condition of the site. A major goal of this program is to provide assistance to organizations in developing their institutional competency to provide appropriate model training and education programs to hazardous materials and waste workers.
Background
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), Section 126(g), authorizes an assistance program for training and education of workers engaged in activities related to hazardous waste generation, removal, containment or emergency response and hazardous materials transportation and emergency response. The Congress assigned responsibility for administering this program to the NIEHS, an Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the Public Health Service (PHS) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
This FOA lists 3 distinct program areas: Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program, Minority Worker Training Program, and the Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training Program. A website has been created at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/funding/hwwt2009_rfa_links.cfm which provides important background reports and other information about the three program areas.
Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (HWWTP)
Hazardous material and waste workers include workers engaged in: active and inactive waste treatment, storage and disposal, hazardous waste generation, clean up and remedial action, emergency response, and workers engaged in hazardous materials transportation including the safe loading, unloading, handling, and storage. Target populations for this training include those covered by requirements of Federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Part 1910) and Environmental Protection Agency (CFR,
Title 40, Part 311) standards for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, regulations governing the NIEHS Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program (CFR, Title 42, Part 65), as well as hazardous materials transportation workers regulated by the US Department of Transportation (49 CFR 171-177).
In completing the twenty-first year of the Superfund WETP (FY 1987-2009), the HWWTP has supported 18 primary awardees. These represent over 80 different institutions that have trained more than 2 million workers across the country and presented over 99,600 classroom and hands-on training courses, which have accounted for more than 23 million contact hours of actual training. More information about the awardees and descriptions of all NIEHS WETP programs can be found at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/.
Minority Worker Training Program (MWTP)
The Minority Worker Training Program was established in 1995 to provide a series of national pilot programs to test a range of strategies for the recruitment and training of young persons. These are individuals who live near hazardous waste sites or in a community at risk of exposure from contaminated properties who wish to obtain work in the environmental field. Over the years the program has evolved and now is focused on delivering comprehensive training to increase the number of disadvantaged and underrepresented minority workers in the fields of environmental restoration and hazardous materials. The programs represent a broad geographic distribution and reach several urban populations in high-risk contaminated areas.
These programs promote long-lasting and effective partnerships in minority communities that help reinforce occupational health and worker education. The different programs provide pre-employment job training, including literacy, life skills, environmental preparation, green jobs, and other related courses, construction skills training, environmental worker training including hazardous waste, asbestos and lead abatement training; and safety and health training. Some training also includes enrollment in apprenticeship programs for construction and environmental remediation worker training. In addition, particular focus is placed on establishing a program of mentoring. This program helps to enhance the participants problem solving skills, understanding of individual self-esteem and team work in the application of technical knowledge to environmental and related problems. The MWTP promotes partnerships or sub-agreements with academic and other institutions, with a particular focus on historically black colleges and universities, and public schools and community-based organizations located in or near the impacted area to provide pre-math, science or other related education to program participants prior to or concurrent with entry into the training program.
Since the inception of the program, 4,201 minority adults have been successfully trained in worker health and safety for construction and environmental cleanup work. 2,809 of these trainees are employed, representing an overall job placement rate of 67 percent.
The Brownfields Minority Worker Training program (BMWTP) that addressed the need for a more comprehensive training program to foster economic and environmental restoration of the identified Brownfield sites will no longer be a separate program component. All job training including training workers near brownfields sites will now be conducted under the MWTP. As background, the BMWTP has reached 3,272 minority adults since it began. 2,314 of these trainees are employed, representing an overall job placement rate of 71%.
As part of the DHHS commitment to the Brownfields National Partnership Agenda, the NIEHS will continue to provide training under the MWTP to support training targeting the brownfields communities. As defined by the EPA, Brownfield sites are "abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination."
Overall, these programs have achieved great success in moving young workers into long-term employment including, most recently, in the area of energy retrofitting and solar panel installation. Since 1995, these programs have trained over 7,400 students and employed approximately 68% of those students in jobs directly related to their training with career opportunities continued through local apprenticeship and community college programs.
Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training Program (HDPTP)
NIEHS has developed a HDPTP initiative in response to the experiences and lessons learned in recent national disasters including terrorist attacks. This program enhances the safety and health training of current hazardous materials workers and chemical responders, to train skilled response personnel, to create materials and deliver training to workers responding to a disaster, and to augment prevention preparedness efforts in a wide variety of high-risk settings. This initiative is intended to foster the development of WMD-specific training programs as an extension to the HWWTP for the purpose of preparing a cadre of experienced workers for prevention and response to future terrorist incidents in a wide variety of facilities and high-risk operations. The purpose of the NIEHS HDPTP is to complement the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) various preparedness training programs by enhancing the safety and health training capacity of hazmat workers and emergency responders to prevent, deter, or respond to terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. Since the program started in 2005, awardees have responded and trained workers after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the 2007 California wildfires with approximately 1,948 courses offered, for 27,108 workers, representing 302,796 contact hours of training.
Training developed under this program should reference the National Incident Management System (NIMS) standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures that all responders -- Federal, state, tribal, and local -- will use to coordinate and conduct response actions.
Background resources describing this initiative include technical Workshop reports which are available at the NIEHS Clearinghouse web site:
1) Learning from Disasters: Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Preparedness Through Worker Training: (http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/public/hasl_get_blob.cfm?ID=554)
2) Worker Training in a New Era: Responding to New Threats (http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/public/hasl_get_blob.cfm?ID=340)
3) Disaster Site Worker Course (http://www.osha.gov/fso/ote/training/disaster/disaster.html)
NIEHS WETP supports the belief that pre-incident training is critical for workers who may find themselves responding to a disaster. Skilled and other support personnel (such as construction, utility and transportation workers) along with federal, state and local government workers and others may find themselves working on a disaster site, be it during the response, cleanup or recovery stage. These populations need to understand the unique hazards that are present on a disaster site before they are deployed there. The Disaster Site Worker courses (OSHA 7600 and OSHA 5600) arose from a clearly identified need at World Trade Center (WTC) Ground Zero and can save lives during disaster responses by providing workers who respond to disasters the critical knowledge they need to protect themselves.
GENERAL TRAINING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The immediate goal of worker health and safety training is educational in nature, designed to provide students with relevant information, program-solving skills, and the confidence needed to use these tools. Long-term goals of the model training programs should be to assure that workers become and remain active participants in determining and improving the health and safety conditions under which they work, and that avenues for collaborative employer-employee relationships in creating safe workplaces are established. Primary prevention of disease and injury among hazardous waste workers requires heavy reliance on the use of engineering control methods, appropriate work practices and the use of personal protective equipment such as respirators and protective clothing. These approaches are highly dependent on individual workers being knowledgeable in the use and application of these approaches and understanding their limitations.
Worker safety and health training is adult-based, action-oriented, and result-centered. The goals and objectives of the worker training program focus on outcomes rather than on learning for its own sake. Workers come to training with a great volume of experience, and are, in many ways, the richest resources of a training class. Experience shows that successful adult education often emphasizes peer-sharing activities, such as problem-solving and simulation exercises, that tap the experience of the learner. Successful worker training often mirrors the way people learn from each other at work. After training, workers should be able to bring what they have learned in the classroom or work-site training back to their jobs.
These training goals and objectives apply to all programs; however, there are specific goals and objectives restricted to the MWTP and the HDPTP. Applications which are responsive to this solicitation must clearly delineate the training populations being targeted by specifying a discrete training plan, program resources and a segregated program budget which responds to a combination or all of the authorized NIEHS assistance programs through HWWTP, MWTP, and the HDPTP. It is imperative that all applicants understand that they must apply for the HWWTP component in order to apply for other program components.
HWWTP Specific Goals and Objectives
Applicants should refer to SARA Section 126 requirements for training. Coverage of all hazardous waste and emergency response workers is based on potential exposure and health risk. The language of section 126 (d) (1) and (g) is clear that training scope be broad. Section 126 states that the training be required for personnel engaged in hazardous substance removal or other activities, such as those involved in transportation, which expose or potentially expose such workers to hazardous substances. The same section later requires that special training be provided to workers who may be exposed to unique or special hazards. Section (g) (1) authorizes this training assistance program for the training of workers who are or may be engaged in activities related to hazardous waste removal or containment or emergency response.
A minimum level of training for hazardous materials and waste workers and supervisors is also specified in SARA Section 126(d). General site workers are required to receive a minimum of 40 hours of initial instruction off site and a minimum of three days of actual field experience under the direction of a trained, experienced supervisor at the time of assignment. Supervisors are required to receive the same training as general workers and a minimum of eight hours of specialized training in managing hazardous waste operations.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which includes the NIH and the NIEHS, is a signatory to the National Response Framework (NRF). Upon the activation of the NRF) NIEHS may be activated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the NRF's Worker Safety Health Annex to provide:
This section on the NRF is also applicable to the HDPTP.
Important background information for this FOA is available from the National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training. This organization, which is a support contractor to NIEHS, is the primary communications channel through which the WETP distributes technical reports, news updates, and training information to its awardees, interested members of the hazardous waste worker-training community, and the public.
A list of curricula developed by current NIEHS awardees is available from the National Clearinghouse on the web at http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm?id=603.
Model training programs for hazardous waste workers and emergency responders shall satisfy minimum requirements as specified in Federal OSHA rules and other related regulations which have been or may be promulgated. Training programs shall also meet the minimum requirements specified in the Minimum Criteria for Worker Health and Safety Training for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, updated in 2006 as a result of an NIEHS sponsored technical workshop on training quality. Originally issued in 1991 and expanded in 1994, the latest document incorporates training issues such as the emergence of computer-based training and the training of workers to deal with the aftermath of terrorist actions. The Final Version of the Minimum Health and Safety Training Criteria: Guidance for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Supporting and All-Hazards Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, and Response can be found at http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/public/hasl_get_blob.cfm?ID=2465.
Consideration should also be given to Appendix E of 29 CFR 1910.120 (59 FR 43268, August 22, 1994), which references much of the NIEHS Minimum Criteria Worker Health and Safety Training for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. This OSHA guidance is available at: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9770.
In February 2007, WETP updated its strategic plan to be consistent with the NIEHS vision, which includes identification and prevention of hazardous exposures. The WETP uses the environmental sciences to reduce risk and protect worker and public health through training. The strategic plan outlines the directions that the program seeks to take during the next 5 years. It includes information on the development of the plan, partnerships, roles of advanced training technologies, and the central role of 29 CFR 1910.120 in environmental response and cleanup whether at traditional superfund sites, uncontrolled hazardous waste sites, or sites emanating from a natural disaster or an act of terrorism. The 2008-2013 WETP Strategic Plan can be found at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/wetp_strategic_plan_2008.pdf.
There is no limiting language regarding training coverage. Thus, the scope covers worker health protection from hazardous waste work and exposure to hazardous substances in the broadest sense.
An applicant may join with one or more nonprofit organizations in a single application and share resources in order to maximize worker group coverage, enhance the effectiveness of training, and bring together appropriate academic disciplines and talents. Such arrangements are strongly encouraged. The application must have specific plans to implement the cooperative arrangements necessary for program integration and to insure effectiveness. Detailed plans of this collaboration and budgets must be described only in the lead organization’s application. Specific expertise, facilities or services to be provided by each participating member must be identified.
Awardees submitting competing renewal applications should also describe how they have met special cooperative agreement terms and conditions of their awards, including their interaction with other investigators and NIEHS program staff.
Awards will be made for direct student and worker trainer training, technical support of training, and training program evaluation. It is believed that adequate curricula and training materials exist for worker training that can be adapted with minimal effort. Means of multiplying training are also encouraged to meet the need; thus, programs such as effective train-the-trainer programs are encouraged. Programs targeted to multi-state and nationwide coverage to reach wider worker populations will be given preference in funding. Applications will not be considered that cover municipalities or other jurisdictions covering fewer than two states. Applicants are also encouraged to develop plans for independently continuing the program.
Applications should include plans for reaching underserved workers in the proposed target populations especially those disadvantaged in education, language skills or limited in literacy. The inclusion of institutions and organizations that have historical involvement and expertise in responding to environmental justice issues is also strongly encouraged.
Participation of minority institutions and community-based organizations from people of color communities may include the:
On-going Program Initiatives
Due to the complexity and the number of new emerging training innovations and technologies occurring in the worker health and safety arena, NIEHS identified several training opportunities in the previous RFA (ES-04-005) that were specifically related to the advancement of the WETP. It was important that these and other new emerging training technologies and approaches be woven and integrated into the framework of the program. NIEHS had learned that successful examples of training partnerships involve the creation of clear mechanisms for assuring avenues for input and collaboration by labor, management, local government officials and other stakeholders, as well as a vision for integrating training into other workplace programs and initiatives. In addition, it was clear that the context and technical approaches to safety and health training had undergone a rapid transition
since the 1990 s, as computer and telecommunications technology have unleashed a wealth of technical information resources and established innovative modes of training development, delivery and evaluation.
Since 2004 with the emergence of new health and safety concerns for workers in the areas of green remediation, green jobs, green chemistry, nanotechnology, new industrial processes and chemicals, and combustible dust, it is clear that additional health and safety training approaches are necessary to address these new hazards to the hazardous waste workforce.
For example, WETP focused hazardous waste training has long been recognized as protecting the environment and the health of surrounding communities. In today's terminology, the jobs supported by this training are "green" jobs. Proper training assures that green jobs are safe jobs. In October 2008, the WETP held the conference, Implications for Safety and Health Training in a Green Economy, which confirmed that the WETP was taking the correct course of action in developing training that prepares workers for green-collar jobs. In the current state of affairs, green job training is important because of the toxicity that is present in our work places, communities, and homes. Thus, green job training is a public health imperative. This report can be found at http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/newsbriefs/Jan09/WETPFallmeeting08.pdf. Applicants should consider how green job principles focused on safety and health training for hazardous materials and waste may be incorporated into existing or new training programs and curricula.
Applicants should refer to http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/funding/hwwt2009_rfa_links.cfm for a list of these and other important ongoing program initiatives.
MWTP Specific Goals and Objectives
The MWTP focuses on delivering comprehensive job training to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the environmental remediation and construction industries. The MWTP will maintain its focus on building strong training collaborative programs between worker training organizations, such as labor-based organizations, community-based organizations, and historically black universities and colleges. Special attention will be directed at programs that successfully integrate job skills training with worker health and safety training to reach multiple urban locations for training. Utilization of existing curricula is the preferred method for development of specific training under this program. Only HWWTP applicants may apply for the MWTP.
Major program goals are:
Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training Program (HDPTP) Goals and Objectives
The goal of future NIEHS program support under HDPTP will be to enhance the safety and health training of current hazardous materials workers and chemical responders, to train skilled response personnel, to create materials and deliver training to weapons of mass destruction response workers and to augment prevention and preparedness efforts in a wide variety of high risk settings. Creation of materials and delivery of proposed training to potential disaster response workers must be closely coordinated with the activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), related agencies in the DHHS and other involved local, state and federal entities.
One of the key lessons of the World Trade Center cleanup is the importance that skilled construction support personnel and hazardous materials response workers will play in any future disaster of national significance. Only the HWWTP applicants may apply for the HDPTP; therefore, NIEHS funds may be used to alter and revamp the basic HAZWOPER courses to customize them to known disaster response issues and scenarios and the incorporation of relevant post 9/11 and other disaster responses lessons learned. Additionally, existing remediation and cleanup worker training courses must be refreshed using lessons learned and after action reports from disaster responses and exercises to continually improve the health and safety of responders operating in disaster site conditions.
Areas of program response may include:
See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal
Citations, for policies related to this announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of Support
This funding opportunity
will use the U45 cooperative agreement award
mechanism. In the cooperative agreement mechanism, the Project
Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) retains the primary responsibility and
dominant role for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project, with
NIH staff being substantially involved as a partner with the Principal
Investigator, as described under the Section VI. 2.
Administrative Requirements, "Cooperative Agreement Terms and
Conditions of Award".
This FOA uses Just-in-Time information concepts. It also uses non-modular budget formats described in the PHS 398 application instructions (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html).
2. Funds Available
A new applicant may request a budget for direct costs of up to $700,000 for the first year. Applicants submitting renewal (competing continuation) applications may request up to a ten percent increase above the budget level (direct cost) of the last year of their continuation project (non-competitive renewal). Renewal applicants who intend to request more than a ten percent increase above the budget level must request in writing to the Program staff prior approval to submit the application.
Because the nature
and scope of the proposed training will vary from application to
application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will
also vary. Although the financial plans of the IC(s) provide support for this
program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the
availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious
applications.
Facilities and
administrative costs requested by consortium participants are not included in
the direct cost limitation, see NOT-OD-05-004.
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.
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
The following
organizations/institutions are eligible to apply:
1.B. Eligible Individuals
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed training as the PD/PI is invited to work with his/her institution 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.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
This
program does not require cost sharing as defined in the current NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Number of
Applications. Applicants
may not submit more than one application.
Resubmissions. Resubmission applications are not permitted in response to this FOA.
Renewals. Renewal applications are permitted in response to this FOA.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request
Application Information
The PHS 398 application
instructions are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. Applicants must use the currently approved version of
the PHS 398. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301)
710-0267, Email: [email protected].
Telecommunications for
the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Applications must be
prepared using the most current PHS 398 research grant application instructions
and forms. Applications must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number as the universal identifier when applying for Federal grants or
cooperative agreements. The D&B number can be obtained by calling (866) 705-5711
or through the web site at http://www.dnb.com/us/.
The D&B number should be entered on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398
form.
The title and number of
this funding opportunity must be typed in item (box) 2 only of the face page of
the application form and the YES box must be checked.
The title of this FOA is HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WORKER HEALTH
AND SAFETY TRAINING (U45). The number of this FOA is RFA-ES-09-004.
3. Submission Dates and Times
Applications must be
received on or before the receipt date described below (Section
IV.3.A). Submission times N/A.
3.A. Receipt, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: October
23, 2009
Application Receipt Date: November
23, 2009
Peer Review Date(s): February/March 2010
Council Review Date: May 2010
Applicant Information Meeting Date: September 2, 2009.
A briefing for applicants will be held at NIEHS on Wednesday,
September 2, 2009 from 1-5 PM on the NIEHS Main Campus, Rall Building,
Rodbell Conference Room B at 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park,
NC USA 27709. NIEHS staff will use this "Applicant Information
Meeting" (AIM) to explain the purpose of the Program, provide instructions
about the application process, and answer questions. A summary of
responses from the briefing, all relevant information for potential applicants
and Supplementary Instructions will be available upon request from NIEHS ([email protected])
and will be posted on the NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program (WETP)
home page at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat.
3.A.1.
Letter of Intent
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
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.
The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed
in Section IV.3.A.
The
letter of intent should be sent to:
Sally Eckert-Tilotta,
Ph.D.
Scientific
Review Branch
Division
of Extramural Research and Training
National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
530 Davis
Drive, Room
3076
P.O. Box 12233, K3-03
Research
Triangle Park,
North Carolina 27709
Telephone:
919-541-1446
Fax:
919-541-2503
E-mail: [email protected]
Please note that email submission of letters of intent is preferred.
3.B. Sending an Application to
the NIH
Applications must be
prepared using the forms found in the PHS 398 instructions for preparing a
research grant application. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the
application, including the checklist, and three signed photocopies in one package to:
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 (U.S. Postal Service Express
or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service;
non-USPS service)
Personal
deliveries of applications are no longer permitted (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-040.html).
At
the time of submission, two additional copies of the application and all 5CDs of the
appendix material must be sent to:
Sally Eckert-Tilotta,
Ph.D.
Scientific
Review Branch
Division
of Extramural Research and Training
National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
530 Davis
Drive, Room
3076
P.O. Box 12233, K3-03
Research
Triangle Park,
North Carolina 27709
Telephone:
919-541-1446
Fax:
919-541-2503
E-mail: [email protected]
3.C. Application Processing
Applications must be received on or before the
application receipt date described above (Section
IV.3.A.). If an application is received after that date, the application
may be delayed in the review process or not reviewed. Upon receipt,
applications will be evaluated for completeness by the CSR and for
responsiveness by the reviewing Institute Incomplete and/or non-responsive
applications will not be reviewed.
The NIH will not accept any application in response to this funding opportunity that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. However, when a previously unfunded application, originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is to be submitted in response to a funding opportunity, it is to be prepared as a NEW application. That is, the application for the funding opportunity must not include an Introduction describing the changes and improvements made, and the text must not be marked to indicate the changes from the previous unfunded version of the application.
Information on the status of an application should be checked by the Principal Investigator in the eRA Commons at: https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental
review.
5. Funding Restrictions
All NIH awards are
subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations
described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can
be found at NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
Pre-award costs
are allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior approval,
incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the
beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or renewal award if such costs: 1) are
necessary to conduct the project, and 2) would be allowable under the grant, if
awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific expenditures would otherwise
require prior approval, the grantee must obtain NIH approval before incurring
the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than
90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or
renewal award.
The incurrence
of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing award
imposes no obligation on NIH either to make the award or to increase the amount
of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated
and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred. NIH expects the
grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against
future support and that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's ability to
accomplish the project objectives in the approved time frame or in any way
adversely affect the conduct of the project (see NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part6.htm.)
6. Other Submission Requirements
SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS
As the PHS 398 is used primarily for the traditional research project grant applications, several sections of the PHS 398 must be modified and expanded to provide the additional information needed for the Worker Education and Training Program applications. The direct link to the Supplemental instructions and guidelines for Grant Application Form PHS 398 is http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/funding/docs/ES-09-004supplementalinstructions.pdf. These guidelines also provide information on the limitations for Facilities and Administrative costs. Additional background information can be found on: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/funding/rfaguidelines.cfm.
Awardees must agree to the "Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award" in Section VI.2.A "Award Administration Information".
Research Plan Page Limitations
Each program component (i.e. HWWTP, HDPTP or MWTP) narrative is limited to 25 pages. The applications submitted in response to this FOA are complex, and the training and programmatic information needed to adequately assess a grant proposal is not fully accommodated within the instructions accompanying the PHS 398 form. Therefore, applicants need to follow the detailed guidelines "Application Guidelines for the Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training" and can be found on http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/funding/rfaguidelines.cfm.
Appendix Materials
All paper PHS 398 applications submitted must provide appendix material on CDs only. Include five identical CDs in the same package with the application. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-031.html.
Do not use the Appendix to circumvent the page limitations of the Research Plan component. An application that does not observe the required page limitations may be delayed in the review process.
Resource Sharing Plan(s)The following resource sharing policies do not apply to this FOA:
Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Only the review
criteria described below will be considered in the review process.
2. Review and Selection Process
Applications that are complete and responsive to the FOA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and in accordance with NIH peer review procedures (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/peer/), using the review criteria stated below.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications will:
The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
The mission of the NIH is to support science in pursuit of knowledge about the biology and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. As part of this mission, applications submitted to the NIH for grants or cooperative agreements to support biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.
Overall Impact. Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority 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 five core review criteria, and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Core Review Criteria. Reviewers will consider each of the five review criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical 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 training workers? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will training be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, and services, associated with training that drive this field?
Investigator(s). Are the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other participants well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, 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?
Is evidence of experienced and technically qualified key personnel included and it is appropriate for this type of health and safety training?
Does the Principal Investigator strongly demonstrate the capacity for providing leadership and assuring productivity of appropriate worker health and safety training and education programs and for overall management of the training programs including quality assurance and program evaluation?
Is there sufficient evidence of an applicant s organizational structure or consortium, if applicable, that provides adequate knowledge and oversight of resources and administrative management of the program?
Is there evidence of lines of responsibility and accountability and is it clearly delineated when two or more organizations are collaborating on an activity?
Innovation. Does the application challenge and seek to shift current training 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 training or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or training interventions proposed?
Is there evidence of inclusion of worker training initiatives and innovations, such as integration and appropriate mix of On-Going Program Initiatives as listed in the solicitation that meets the needs of each applicants target populations?
Approach. Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned
and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? 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?
How adequate are the organization's or consortia's performance and effectiveness in planning, implementing and operating appropriate worker health and safety training and education programs?
Does the applicant demonstrate past experience in development and implementation of worker health and safety training and education programs and application of appropriate adult education techniques?
For prior awardees, have they attained program goals and objectives of prior awards?
Is there documentation of the program's achievement of compliance with the requirements of the NIEHS Minimum Criteria for Worker Health and Safety Training for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response found at http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/public/hasl_get_blob.cfm?ID=2465?
Are the methods and techniques to be used for identifying, describing, and accessing target specific worker populations for worker health and safety training and anticipated impact of the proposed program sufficient?
Is the detailed program plan adequate for worker health and safety training in adapting existing curricula, training of instructors, distributing course materials, directing worker training, and conducting program evaluations?
Is there evidence of appropriate combinations of classroom instruction and hands on demonstration and instruction that simulates site activities and conditions?
Does the applicant have the ability to immediately initiate direct worker health and safety training, program evaluation, and related support activities?
Are their plans feasible to independently continue the program and include institutionalizing of the program, as well as plans for generation of program income, if applicable? Are their procedures for assuring the long-term viability of the program convincing?
Is the training plan adequate for reaching underserved worker populations especially those disadvantaged in education, culture, or language or limited in literacy and access to training?
Environment. Will the training 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 training environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?
Are there appropriate facilities and equipment to support the described worker health and safety training and education activities including hands on instruction? Is there evidence that the operation of training facilities assures the protection of prospective trainees during program delivery? Are there appropriate policies and procedures for assuring fitness for training and medical clearance?
In addition to the above review criteria, the following criteria will be applied to applications in the determination of scientific merit and overall impact/priority score.
The MWTP - In addition to the FOA review criteria above for the hazardous waste training program, the following review criteria are applicable to the MWT program:
Additional Review Criteria. As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider the following additional items in the determination of scientific and technical merit, but will not give separate scores for these items.
Protections for Human Subjects. For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six 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 six 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.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children. When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children.
Vertebrate Animals. The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia.
Renewal Applications. When reviewing a Renewal application (formerly called a competing continuation application), the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.
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.
Additional Review Considerations. As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will address each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.
Budget and Period Support. Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
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).
Applications from Foreign Organizations. Not Applicable.
Resource Sharing Plans.
Not applicable.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award
Dates
Not
Applicable
Section
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
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.
If the application is under consideration for funding,
NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant. For
details, applicants may refer to the NIH
Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards,
Subpart A: General.
A
formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be
provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the grants management
officer is the authorizing document. Once all administrative and programmatic
issues have been resolved, the NoA will be generated via email notification
from the awarding component to the grantee business official (designated in
item 12 on the Application Face Page). If a grantee is not email enabled, a
hard copy of the NoA will be mailed to the business official.
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. See Also Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
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 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part4.htm)
and Part II Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and
Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_part9.htm).
The
following Terms and Conditions will be incorporated into the award statement
and will be provided to the Principal Investigator as well as to the
appropriate institutional official, at the time of award.
2.A.
Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award
The following special
terms of award are in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise applicable OMB
administrative guidelines, HHS grant administration regulations at 45 CFR Parts
74 and 92 (Part 92 is applicable when State and local Governments are eligible
to apply), and other HHS, PHS, and NIH grant administration policies.
The administrative and
funding instrument used for this program will be the cooperative agreement an
"assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition"
mechanism), in which substantial NIH programmatic involvement with the awardees
is anticipated during the performance of the activities. Under the cooperative
agreement, the NIH purpose is to support and stimulate the recipients'
activities by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award
recipients in a partnership role; it is not to assume direction, prime
responsibility, or a dominant role in the activities. Consistent with this
concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility resides with the awardees
for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities may be
shared among the awardees and the NIH as defined below.
2.
A.1. Principal Investigator Rights and Responsibilities
The Principal Investigator of each awardee has primary authorities and responsibilities to define objectives and approaches, and to plan, conduct, analyze, and publish results, interpretations, and conclusions of their studies and training activities. It is the responsibility of each awardee to develop the details of the training plan, which will be required to describe the technical approaches, target population access and recruitment, curricula modification, training methodology, and program evaluation. In addition, the each awardee organization is responsible for the following:
Awardees
will retain custody of and have primary rights to the data and software
developed under these awards, subject to Government rights of access consistent
with current HHS, PHS, and NIH policies.
2.
A.2. NIH Responsibilities
NIEHS Program Coordinators will have substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as described below.
Additionally, an agency program official or IC program
director will be responsible for the normal scientific and programmatic stewardship
of the award and will be named in the award notice.
2.A.3. Collaborative Responsibilities
Conflict of Interest Management: An NIEHS program official or NIEHS program director will be responsible for the normal scientific and programmatic stewardship of the cooperative agreement award including evaluation of non-competing applications, supplemental requests, etc and will be named in the award notice. When the Project Coordinator also serves as the Program Official, the policy of the NIEHS WETP Program is that the Program Official will not publish with awardees, on activities specifically associated with the cooperative agreement unless it is an introduction or editorial regarding the basic information on the NIEHS WETP role in managing the technical and administrative aspects of the program.
2.A.4. Dispute Resolution
Any
disagreements that may arise in scientific or programmatic matters (within the
scope of the award) between award recipients and the NIEHS may be brought to
arbitration. A Dispute Resolution Panel composed of three members will be
convened. It will have three members: a designee of the Awardee, one NIEHS
designee, and a third designee with expertise in the relevant area who is
chosen by the other two; in the case of individual disagreement, the first
member may be chosen by the individual awardee. This special arbitration
procedure in no way affects the awardee's right to appeal an adverse action
that is otherwise appealable in accordance with PHS regulations 42 CFR Part 50,
Subpart D and HHS regulations 45 CFR Part 16.
3.
Reporting
Awardees will be
required to submit the Non-Competing
Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial
statements as required in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
Each awardee is required to submit an annual progress report to the NIEHS Program Official/Coordinator, which describes the number, location and nature of all training activities and the characteristics of the trainees reached during a particular fiscal year in electronic format. Results and findings from training program evaluations will be summarized by each awardee and submitted to the NIEHS Program Official/Coordinator on an annual basis. Program evaluation reports shall quantitatively describe the current status of instructor effectiveness, trainee retention of knowledge and skills, and positive impacts of training activities on work practices, workplace safety and health conditions, and overall worker protection from on the job hazards.
A final progress report, invention statement, and Financial Status Report are required when an award is relinquished when a recipient changes institutions or when an award is terminated.
We
encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the
opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall
into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants
management issues:
1. Scientific/Research Contacts:
Joseph Hughes, Director
Worker
Education and Training Branch
Division
of Extramural Research and Training
National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
530 Davis
Drive, Room
3039
P.O. Box 12233, MD K3-14
Research
Triangle Park,
NC 27709-2233
Telephone:
919-541-0217
Fax:
919-541-0462
Email: [email protected]
Sharon
Beard, Industrial Hygienist
Worker
Education and Training Branch
Division
of Extramural Research and Training
National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
530 Davis
Drive, Room
3038
P.O. Box 12233, MD K3-14
Research
Triangle Park,
NC 27709-2233
Telephone:
919-541-1863
Fax: 301-451-5595
Email: [email protected]
Ted
Outwater, Public Health Educator
Worker
Education and Training Branch
Division
of Extramural Research and Training
National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
530 Davis
Drive, Room
3050
P.O. Box 12233, MD K3-14
Research
Triangle Park,
NC 27709
Phone:
919-541-2972
Fax:
919-541-0462
E-mail: [email protected]
2. Peer Review Contacts:
Sally Eckert-Tilotta, Ph.D.
Scientific
Review Branch
Division
of Extramural Research and Training
National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
530 Davis
Drive, Room
3076
P.O. Box 12233, K3-03
Research
Triangle Park,
North Carolina 27709
Telephone:
919-541-1446
Fax:
919-541-2503
E-mail: [email protected]
3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:
Carolyn Mason, Deputy Grants
Management Officer
Grants
Management Branch
Division
of Extramural Research and Training
National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
530 Davis
Drive, Room
3060
P.O. Box 12233, MD K3-11
Research
Triangle Park,
NC 27709-2233
Telephone:
919-541-1373
Fax:
919-541-2860
Email: [email protected]
Section VIII. Other Information
Required Federal Citations
Use of Animals in
Research:
Recipients of
PHS support for activities involving live, vertebrate animals must comply with
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf)
as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm),
and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm)
as applicable.
Human
Subjects Protection:
Federal
regulations (45CFR46) require that applications and proposals involving human
subjects must be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the
adequacy of protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the
research to the subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained
or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).
Data and
Safety Monitoring Plan:
Data and safety
monitoring is required for all types of clinical trials, including physiologic
toxicity and dose-finding studies (phase I); efficacy studies (Phase II);
efficacy, effectiveness and comparative trials (Phase III). Monitoring should
be commensurate with risk. The establishment of data and safety monitoring
boards (DSMBs) is required for multi-site clinical trials involving
interventions that entail potential risks to the participants (NIH Policy for
Data and Safety Monitoring, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not98-084.html).
Sharing Research Data:
Investigators
submitting an NIH application seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any
single year are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why this
is not possible (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing).
Investigators should seek guidance from their
institutions, on issues related to institutional policies and local IRB rules,
as well as local, State and Federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy
Rule. Reviewers will consider the data sharing plan but will not factor the
plan into the determination of the scientific merit or the priority score.
Policy
for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS):
NIH is interested in advancing genome-wide association
studies (GWAS) to identify common genetic factors that influence health and
disease through a centralized GWAS data repository. For the purposes of this
policy, a genome-wide association study is defined as any study of genetic
variation across the entire human genome that is designed to identify genetic
associations with observable traits (such as blood pressure or weight), or the
presence or absence of a disease or condition. All applications, regardless of
the amount requested, proposing a genome-wide association study are expected to
provide a plan for submission of GWAS data to the NIH-designated GWAS data
repository, or provide an appropriate explanation why submission to the
repository is not possible. Data repository management (submission and access)
is governed by the Policy for Sharing of Data Obtained in NIH Supported or
Conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies, NIH Guide NOT-OD-07-088.
For additional information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/gwas/
Access
to Research Data through the Freedom of Information Act:
The Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to provide public
access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) under
some circumstances. Data that are (1) first produced in a project that is
supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2) cited publicly and
officially by a Federal agency in support of an action that has the force and
effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed through FOIA. It is
important for applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment. NIH
has provided guidance at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this funding opportunity in a
public archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the
distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include
information about this in the budget justification section of the application.
In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent
statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider
use of data collected under this award.
Sharing of Model
Organisms:
NIH is committed to
support efforts that encourage sharing of important research resources
including the sharing of model organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm).
At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to
elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding
pursuant to the Bayh Dole Act (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/index.htm).
All investigators submitting an NIH application or contract proposal, beginning
with the October 1, 2004 receipt date, are expected to include in the
application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and
distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH
funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will
permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public
funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a
cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications
where the development of model organisms is anticipated.
Inclusion of Women
And Minorities in Clinical Research:
It is the policy of the
NIH that women and members of minority groups and their sub-populations must be
included in all NIH-supported clinical research projects unless a clear and
compelling justification is provided indicating that inclusion is inappropriate
with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. This
policy results from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public
Law 103-43). All investigators proposing clinical research should read the
"NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in
Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm.
The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical
research; updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB
standards; clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical
trials consistent with the new PHS Form 398; and updated roles and
responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy
continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all
applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans
to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b)
investigators must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses,
as appropriate, by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
Inclusion of
Children as Participants in Clinical Research:
The NIH maintains a
policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) must be included
in all clinical research, conducted or supported by the NIH, unless there are
scientific and ethical reasons not to include them.
All investigators
proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Policy
and Guidelines" on the inclusion of children as participants in research
involving human subjects (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm).
Required Education
on the Protection of Human Subject Participants:
NIH policy requires education
on the protection of human subject participants for all investigators
submitting NIH applications for research involving human subjects and
individuals designated as key personnel. The policy is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
Human Embryonic Stem
Cells (hESC):
Criteria for federal
funding of research on hESCs can be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html.
Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic
Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (http://escr.nih.gov). It is the responsibility
of the applicant to provide in the project description and elsewhere in the
application as appropriate, the official NIH identifier(s) for the hESC line(s)
to be used in the proposed research.
NIH Public Access Policy Requirement:
In
accordance with the NIH Public Access Policy (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-033.html)
investigators must submit or have submitted for them their final, peer-reviewed
manuscripts that arise from NIH funds and are accepted for publication as of
April 7, 2008 to PubMed Central (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/), to be made publicly
available no later than 12 months after publication. As of May 27, 2008,
investigators must include the PubMed Central reference number when citing an
article in NIH applications, proposals, and progress reports that fall under
the policy, and was authored or co-authored by the investigator or arose from
the investigator’s NIH award. For more information, see the Public
Access webpage at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/.
Standards
for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information:
The Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued final modification to the
"Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health
Information", the "Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002. The
Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually
identifiable health information, and is administered and enforced by the DHHS
Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Decisions about applicability and implementation of
the Privacy Rule reside with the researcher and his/her institution. The OCR
website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/)
provides information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text
and a set of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information
on the impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review,
funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and
research contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
URLs in NIH
Grant Applications or Appendices:
All
applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within
specified page limitations. For publications listed in the appendix and/or
Progress report, internet addresses (URLs) must be used for publicly accessible on-line journal articles. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation, Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide
any other information necessary for the review because reviewers are
under no obligation to view the Internet sites. Furthermore, we caution
reviewers that their anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an
Internet site.
Healthy
People 2010:
The Public
Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease
prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national
activity for setting priority areas. This FOA is related to one or more of the
priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People
2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
Authority and
Regulations:
This
program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive
Order 12372. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of
the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal
Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the
terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in
the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.
The PHS strongly
encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and
discourage the 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.
Loan
Repayment Programs:
NIH encourages
applications for educational loan repayment from qualified health professionals
who have made a commitment to pursue a research career involving clinical,
pediatric, contraception, infertility, and health disparities related areas.
The LRP is an important component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain the
next generation of researchers by providing the means for developing a research
career unfettered by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH grant is
not required for eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP applications
are encouraged. The periods of career award and LRP award may overlap providing
the LRP recipient with the required commitment of time and effort, as LRP
awardees must commit at least 50% of their time (at least 20 hours per week
based on a 40 hour week) for two years to the research. For further
information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
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NIH... Turning Discovery Into Health® |
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