NIH’s new Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking (ASSIST) is available for the electronic preparation and submission of multi-project applications through Grants.gov to NIH. Applications to this FOA must be submitted electronically; paper applications will not be accepted. ASSIST replaces the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities and provides many features to enable electronic multi-project application submission and improve data quality, including: pre-population of organization and PD/PI data, pre-submission validation of many agency business rules and the generation of data summaries in the application image used for review.

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts) and where instructions in the Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites cooperative agreement (UG4) applications for Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs) as integral components of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM). The goal of the NN/LM is to advance the progress of medicine, improve public health by providing U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information, and improve individual's access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health. Eight Health Sciences Libraries will function as the RML for their respective region. The RMLs will coordinate the operation of NN/LM Libraries and other organizations to carry out regional and national programs. NN/LM members develop collaborations together and with other organizations to improve access to and sharing of biomedical information resources throughout the nation, and promote awareness of, access to and use of biomedical information resources for health professionals and the public. The RMLs will ensure a continuity and consistency of quality service for core programs of the NN/LM, and cooperatively design, implement and evaluate innovative approaches to serve the health information needs of health professionals and the public in the future. The overall program is coordinated by the NLM’s National Network Coordinating Office (NNCO).

The 1965 Medical Library Assistance Act (MLAA) established a program of grants and contracts (P.L. 89-291) designed to assist in the development of medical libraries' services and to facilitate the dissemination and use of information related to health sciences. The original law and all subsequent amendments included the development and support of a national system of RMLs. Each RML would have resources of sufficient depth and scope to support the services of other medical libraries in its region.

With the resources authorized by the MLAA, the NLM and the nation's medical libraries made great strides. New libraries were built, professional librarians were trained, and resource sharing was formalized through the NN/LM. Medical libraries expanded and improved their facilities, collections, programs and outreach, and they incorporated new information technologies into key library services.

Network libraries have taken advantage of new technologies and the spread of the Internet to reach out to American health practitioners to ensure that they have ready access to quality health information. As a result of NN/LM outreach efforts, there are more U.S. health professionals with access to health information. However, there are still health professionals in rural and inner city areas with limited or no access. There also continues to be a need to improve access to health information services for the public health workforce.

The thrust of NLM’s consumer health information program is to improve access to authoritative Web-based health information, to promote health information literacy, and to reduce health disparities. Free access to MEDLINE on the Internet through PubMed, introduced in 1997, led to a dramatic increase in the number of searches by all user groups. NLM responded to public demand for health information by supporting many new resources directed toward patients, families, and the general public. These resources include PubMed, MedlinePlus, MedlinePlus en espa ol, NIHSeniorHealth, ClinicalTrials.gov, Genetics Home Reference, Household Products database, and ToxTown. With the development of these resources, the NN/LM’s mission expanded to include outreach to the general public, and NN/LM undertook many projects in collaboration with public libraries, public health departments, and an increasing array of community-based organizations.

The NLM recognizes the ever changing landscape for health sciences libraries. Advances in the Internet and mobile technologies have brought about enormous changes in the publishing industry, and changes in the way people seek and use health information. Traditional resource sharing has been transformed by the widespread application of digital technologies in collection, development and access, the proliferation of e-journals, large scale availability of journal back files, and major electronic collections. Biomedical Big Data initiatives (NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K)) will facilitate the discovery and support of new knowledge and engagement among a diverse community, including health care providers, researchers, public health workers, data scientists, funders, publishers, libraries, and the public. Information seekers expect instant and free access. They also expect information and social networking tools that promote open access to knowledge sharing and knowledge creation. The Affordable Care Act encourages the public to become informed health consumers. The healthcare focus on accountability, quality and patient centered care has opened new opportunities for health information professionals.

Each RML must consist of three required core components: the Administrative Core, the Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core, and the Outreach & Education Core. The RMLs will work cooperatively with one another and the NNCO to maintain continuity of the quality programs of the NN/LM and develop new programs to serve evolving health information needs.

In addition to the fundamental RML outlined above, this FOA also solicits applications from RML applicants who wish to host one or more of the five NN/LM national offices, which serve all eight regions. These offices are the NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office (NDCO), the NN/LM Web Services Office (NWSO), the NN/LM Training Office (NTO), the NN/LM Evaluation Office (NEO), and the NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office (NPHCO). The NN/LM national offices serve critical roles within the NN/LM, serving all members in all regions. The NN/LM national offices can share some resources with the host RML; however, the administration, staff, and budget of the proposed NN/LM national office should be focused on national activities and initiatives. The Project Leads for the NN/LM offices should be different from the PD/PI of the RML. Alternatively, an RML applicant can use a subaward mechanism in their application for an external organization to support a NN/LM national office. Only one of each type of NN/LM national office will be selected for funding. However, an RML can be selected to host more than one NN/LM national office.

Each RML must plan for participation in the National Network Steering Committee (NNSC). This committee, chaired by the Head of the NNCO, is composed of NNCO staff and representatives from each RML and from the NN/LM national offices. The NNSC will implement common operational and evaluation processes for the RMLs and NN/LM national offices programs they coordinate. This will enable the NNSC and its members to monitor performance differences to identify successful strategies for expansion, and to recommend corrective action when needed. The NNSC will regularly review the feasibility, burden and usefulness of the evaluation procedures, and revise them as necessary.

Technical Assistance Webinar and Support Materials

• Thursday April 23, 2015, from 3:00-4:00pm ET
• Webinar URL - https://webmeeting.nih.gov/nlm_rml_423/
• Webinar passcode- 571542
• Dial in number - 1-866---579-8110 Passcode - 571542.
• Submit Questions in advance or during meeting - [email protected]
• Handout for meeting and FAQs - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep/RML.html

NLM will conduct a technical assistance webinar regarding RFA-LM-15-003 "Regional Medical Libraries for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (UG4)". From a computer or smart phone you can access the webinar via the URL listed above. You can also listen in to the webinar using the dial in number and passcode listed above. The meeting will review the purpose and objectives of the FOA, review application instructions, and address questions from the community concerning the FOA. All prospective applicants are invited to participate. Submit questions in advance to [email protected]. Support materials for the meeting are available at the RML UG4 Website. Following the meeting questions and answers will be posted at the RML UG4 Website.

Additional information about the NN/LM and the existing RML networks can be found at the NN/LM website. Current operational procedures, evaluation methods, and reporting plans of the NN/LM and the RMLs are found in the NN/LM Organizational Workbook.

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.

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)

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Applicant Organizations

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

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

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

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. 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.

It is expected that the PD/PI will be an established health sciences library director who reports directly to an official with broad trans-institutional authority, and who has the authority and influence necessary to successfully develop, manage and evaluate the performance of a RML supporting the activities described below. The PD/PI is also expected to have the authority to partner with internal and external stakeholders to support the RML activities and fully integrate the RML into the NN/LM.

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

Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH IPF number is allowed..

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).

This FOA is intended for U.S. health sciences libraries that will function as RMLs within their geographical region. One award will be made in each of the following eight Regional areas:

• Region 1: Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
• Region 2: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Region 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
  Region 4: Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming.
• Region 5: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
• Region 6: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
• Region 7: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and U.S. Territories in the Pacific Basin.
• Region 8: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Awards for the optional NN/LM Offices (NDCO, NWSO, NTO, NEO and NPHCO) will only be made to applications that have been selected for a RML award.

Applicants can access the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.

Most applicants will use NIH’s ASSIST system to prepare and submit applications through Grants.gov to NIH. Applications prepared and submitted using applicant systems capable of submitting electronic multi-project applications to Grants.gov will also be accepted.

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, including Supplemental Grant Application Instructions except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise and where instructions in the Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most NIH opportunities. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

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 NLM 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:

Arthur Petrosian, PhD
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Telephone: 301-594-4933
Fax: 301-402-2952
Email: [email protected]

Component Types Available in ASSIST	Research Strategy/Program Plan Page Limits
Overall	6
Admin Core (use for Administrative Core)	6
Core (use for Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core and Outreach & Education Core	12
NNLM Office (use for NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office, NN/LM Web Services Office, NN/LM National Training Office, NN/LM Evaluation Office, and NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)	6

Additional page limits described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.

The application should consist of the following components:

• Overall: required
• Administrative Core: required
• Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core: required
• Outreach & Education Core: required
• NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office (NDCO): optional
• NN/LM Web Services Office (NWSO): optional
• NN/LM National Training Office (NTO): optional
• NN/LM Evaluation Office (NEO): optional
• NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office(NPHCO): optional

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Overall .

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

Complete entire form.

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

Follow standard instructions.

Enter primary site only.

A summary of Project/Performance Sites in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.

Include only the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) and any multi-PDs/PIs (if applicable to this FOA) for the entire application.

Biographical Sketch: The Biographical Sketch of the PD/PI should reflect relevant experiences in designing and coordinating regional health and biomedical information services, management experience in large health sciences libraries; experience in cooperative program planning, implementation and evaluation; and the ability to develop and implement outreach and education programs for a variety of audiences.

A summary of Senior/Key Persons followed by their Biographical Sketches in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons will be generated upon submission.

The only budget information included in the Overall component is the Estimated Project Funding section of the SF424 (R&R) Cover.

A budget summary in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from detailed budget data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.

Specific Aims: Concisely state the overall aims of the proposed RML, including how successful coordination and cooperation among organizations within the region and nationally will be obtained.

Research Strategy: Each RML is expected to: develop approaches to publicize and expand the use of quality products and services of the NLM; expand the NN/LM membership in its region; and work with NN/LM members and other organizations to improve access to and sharing of health and biomedical information resources to a diverse and broad audience. The RML should improve and expand current services and coordination among the NN/LM to identify and build on regional areas of expertise as it relates to outreach, education and providing health and biomedical information to a diverse audience. In partnership, NLM, the RMLs and the NN/LM should be able to deliver a flexible, rapid response to changing regional needs, user expectations, geographic factors and environmental conditions. The emphasis of the overall program should be to bring quality health and biomedical information resources within easy reach of the public and all health professionals, especially those individuals in areas that do not currently have direct access to these resources. NN/LM members should act as a "field force' for NLM products and services, providing information services, outreach, and instruction to the public and health professionals directly and through NN/LM member organizations. NN/LM members also provide valuable feedback to NLM.

Describe any unique experiences or resources the Applicant Organization has developed solely or in partnership with other health information organizations. Focus particularly on experiences and resources that will be valuable for achieving the goals of the proposed RML and NN/LM.

Provide an overall description of the structure, organization, and functions of the proposed RML. Summarize plans for effectively carrying out the proposed core functions. Applicants must present an integrated plan that will be responsive to the evolving health information needs of the Region and the NN/LM, particularly for groups in their region experiencing health disparities.

The research strategy should describe the proposed relationship of the applicant institution and any participating partner institutions (e.g., resource libraries) if applicable. Describe the integration of the partners within the RML: what each partner will contribute; how each partner will have input and participate in decision making; and how the partners will maintain ongoing communication. It is critical that: the inclusion of partners should be well justified; partners each contribute essential elements or unique strengths to the overall program; and there is a strong plan on how the partners work together. Discuss plans for managing competing institutional perspectives, disparities in institutional culture and resources, and sharing of institutional expertise and resources. Plans for collaborative leadership and communication should consider the inclusion of diverse partners and stakeholders.

The NLM and the NNCO are committed to inclusion, transparency and accountability in the administrative management and programs of RMLs. Applicants should describe: how they plan to collect metrics; how leadership will monitor progress; and the budget and staffing associated with Core activities. Meaningful measures of success pertain to impact and quality, as well as systematic quantitative tracking and reporting. Describe plans to use the tools and guidelines developed by the NN/LM Evaluation Office (NEO) to target and measure success. This section should not make reference to any NN/LM national office for which the Applicant is currently applying.

Letters of Support: Letters of Support should state the institutional support for being part of NN/LM. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NN/LM programs using subcontracts.

The application is expected to include letters from the officials responsible for intellectual property issues at the applicant institutions (including sub-contractor institutions) stating that the institution supports and agrees to abide by the conditions set forth in the application. These letters should be clear expressions of commitment consistent with achieving the goals of the program.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Admin Core.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

Complete only the following fields:

• Applicant Information
• Type of Applicant (optional)
• Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
• Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

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

Human Subjects: Answer "NO" to Are Human Subjects Involved? NIH does not consider the activities of this project as human subjects research.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.

Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.

List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.

Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.

• In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Core Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field.
• In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
• Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
• Explain the expertise of the individual(s) proposed to manage the RML staff and administer day-to-day operations, especially as it relates to: experience in large health sciences libraries; understanding of basic public health and health care policies and national health objectives; experience with grants; experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; and experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations.
• If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.

Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.

The total budget (direct and indirect costs) for the Administrative Core, Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core, and Outreach & Education Core should be no more than $1.3 million. The budget will depend on regional needs, and proposed regional and national activities.

The expectation is that administrative operations and costs detailed in this section are streamlined to make the majority of RML funds available for supporting access to biomedical health information, outreach and educational activities.

The budget should include travel expenses for all RML administrative staff to attend the annual NN/LM all hands meeting on the Friday preceding the Annual Medical Library Association meeting, and travel expenses for appropriate personnel to attend an annual National Network Steering Committee (NNSC) meeting.

Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.

Specific Aims: Describe the specific aims to address: the organization, governance, collaboration, communication, monitoring for continuous improvement, evaluation and reporting for the RML; how the RML will collaboratively develop and support regional network membership; and how the RML will collaboratively implement the Network National Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan.

Research Strategy:

Organizational Structure: Describe the organizational and governance structure, and provide an organizational chart.

Development and Support of Regional Network Members: Explain strategies to build upon the NN/LM collaborative efforts to develop and support regional network membership. Plans should address:

• Communication strategies with regional Network members, RMLs, the NNCO and the NNSC to plan, promote, implement and evaluate network programs and services throughout the region. Specifically address how the RML will serve as a communication contact point by building on Web and social media presence at the nnlm.gov domain for the other libraries, information networks, health organizations and professional associations in its Region, and with the NWSO (see below).
• Timeline and milestones for the RML to maintain current members, and to identify and recruit new regional Network members from libraries, information centers and community-based organizations.
• How the RML will work collaboratively with other RMLs, the NDCO (see below) and the NWSO (see below) to maintain the NN/LM members directory so that it is accurate and up to date.
• Monitoring the regional Network membership program to measure success and to identify and resolve problems which impede the effective delivery of health information services.
• Describe plans to use the tools and guidelines developed by the NEO to target and measure success, to provide the NNSC with regular feedback, and to participate in the review of the regional program.

Development and Support of National Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan: The RMLs, NNCO and NN/LM Offices work together to: ensure continuity of access to health information and effective use of libraries during large-scale threats, both acts of nature and humans; provide assistance to its members in preparing for and responding to disasters or localized emergencies; and help with all emergency preparedness and response activities, including risk assessment, education, and developing a regional National Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan.

Explain the strategy to maintain the readiness and implement, if necessary, the regional National Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan, including enacting the buddy system and serving as back-up for NLM customer service inquiries during regional or national emergencies.

Letters of Support: Do not repeat letters that have been submitted in other components. Letters should state the institutional support for being part of NN/LM in relationship to the Administrative Core. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NIH programs using subcontracts.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Core.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424 (R&R) Cover (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

Complete only the following fields:

• Applicant Information
• Type of Applicant (optional)
• Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
• Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

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

Research & Related Other Project Information (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

Human Subjects: Answer "NO" to Are Human Subjects Involved? NIH does not consider the activities of this project as human subjects research.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.

Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.

Project /Performance Site Location(s) (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.

Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

• In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Core Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field.
• In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
• Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the individual(s) proposed to manage the RML’s collaborative efforts to support access to biomedical and health information, especially as it relates to: document delivery and interlibrary loan; and support of biomedical big data plans, data plan management and data repositories.
• If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.

Budget (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.

The total budget (direct and indirect costs) for the Administrative Core, Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core, and Outreach & Education Core should be no more than $1.3 million. The budget will depend on regional needs, and proposed regional and national activities.

Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.

PHS 398 Research Plan (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

Specific Aims: Describe the specific aims for ensuring that the variety of users, such as affiliated and unaffiliated health professionals, researchers, librarians and the public, will have equal access to biomedical and health information. Describe how the RML will support sharing, curating, and annotating biomedical big data .

Research Strategy: Plans should include: timelines and milestones for continuing, improving and supporting access to biomedical and health information; how services will be monitored and evaluated; use of tools and guidelines developed by the NEO for measuring success; providing regular feedback to the NNSC; and participating in the review of the regional program.

Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information: The NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan details methods for RMLs to provide biomedical and health information efficiently and effectively to a variety of users in a shared resources environment that spans both traditional interlibrary loan and other library mediated information services.

Describe plans for the RML to work collaboratively with the NDCO (see below) to provide interlibrary loan and document delivery services as outlined in the NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan. Plans should address: ensuring services to unaffiliated health professionals in the region; continuing current Regional member involvement; identifying new NN/LM member libraries especially as it relates to participating in DOCLINE; identifying and negotiating with institutions in the region that will serve as Resource Libraries; coordinating services of NN/LM members; and evaluating the effectiveness of these services.

Describe plans for the RML to work collaboratively with the NDCO (see below) to recruit members to participate in the national cooperative medical serials print retention program (MedPrint) to ensure the preservation of and continued access to the literature.

Support Biomedical Big Data : Describe plans for the RML to support biomedical big data , data plan management, and location/submission to data repositories with the goal of making data (especially NIH funded) discoverable, accessible, and citable. Plans should address instruction or other support for: locating and accessing data and software tools; standardizing data and metadata; data and software sharing; and the organization, management, and processing of biomedical Big Data.

Letters of Support: Do not repeat letters that have been submitted in other components. Letters should state the institutional support for being part of NN/LM in relationship to the Biomedical and Health Information Access Core. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NIH programs using subcontracts.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Planned Enrollment Report (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

Not Applicable

PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core)

Not Applicable

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type Core.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424 (R&R) Cover (Outreach & Education Core)

Complete only the following fields:

• Applicant Information
• Type of Applicant (optional)
• Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
• Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (Outreach & Education Core)

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

Research & Related Other Project Information (Outreach & Education Core)

Human Subjects: Answer "NO" to Are Human Subjects Involved? NIH does not consider the activities of this project as human subjects research.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.

Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.

Project /Performance Site Location(s) (Outreach & Education Core)

List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.

Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Outreach & Education Core)

• In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Core Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field.
• In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
• Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the individual(s) proposed to manage the RML’s outreach and education programs.
• If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.

Budget (Outreach & Education Core)

Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.

The total budget (direct and indirect costs) for the Administrative Core, Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core, and Outreach & Education Core should be no more than $1.3 million. The budget will depend on regional needs, and proposed regional and national activities.

Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.

PHS 398 Research Plan (Outreach & Education Core)

Specific Aims: Describe the specific aims that address how the RML will continue, develop, implement, and evaluate outreach and education programs that bring biomedical and health information resources to US health professionals, the public health workforce, and the public.

Research Strategy: A predominant goal of this program is to provide regional outreach and instruction of quality health products and services to help a variety of users, with a focus on minority and other underserved populations, and the health professionals who serve them, make the most effective use of information and decision support resources that hold the promise of promoting healthy behaviors, preventing costly and debilitating illness, and improving health outcomes when disease occurs.

RML plans should address the following:

• Using innovative methods and approaches to maintain, develop and implement a regional outreach program. Based upon regional needs, the outreach program may include but should not be limited to the following: health disparities; health literacy; patient safety; Healthy People 2020; minority health professionals and students; and underserved populations in rural, inner city and medically underserved areas.
• Promoting awareness of health information resources by developing collaborations with organizations serving health professionals, public health workers, and consumers.
• The process for announcing, reviewing, and making sub-awards to regional Network members to help achieve outreach, education, and technology goals.
• Implementing a regional education program on electronic health information resources, in collaboration with the NTO (see below). The program should include, but not be limited to: NLM resources; project planning, assessment and evaluation; grant writing; and technology awareness. The program should incorporate culturally competent resources where appropriate.
• Promoting NLM and NN/LM programs and services by exhibiting at national, state, and local health professional, public health workforce, and librarian meetings, as well as consumer meetings with a health focus. The exhibit program will include coordinating course offerings and program presentations. The NNSC will make the final selection of national meetings;
• Developing, delivering and evaluating a technology improvement program for regional network members, health professionals and consumers (with special emphasis on the under connected, particularly in inner city and rural health organizations), especially as it relates to upgrading and maintaining technology to ensure access to high quality health information.

Plans should include: timelines and milestones for continuing, improving and creating new outreach and education programs; how services will be monitored and evaluated; use of tools and guidelines developed by the NEO for measuring success; providing regular feedback to the NNSC; and participating in the review of the regional program.

Letters of Support: Do not repeat letters that have been submitted in other components. Letters should state the institutional support for being part of NN/LM in relationship to the Outreach & Education Core. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NIH programs using subcontracts.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Planned Enrollment Report (Outreach & Education Core)

Not Applicable

PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (Outreach & Education Core)

Not Applicable

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type NNLM Office.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424 (R&R) Cover (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

Complete only the following fields:

• Applicant Information
• Type of Applicant (optional)
• Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
• Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

Research & Related Other Project Information (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

Human Subjects: Answer "NO" to Are Human Subjects Involved? NIH does not consider the activities of this project as human subjects research.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.

Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.

Project /Performance Site Location(s) (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.

Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

• In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Project Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field. The Project Lead will serve as the PD for the NDCO.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the Project Lead proposed to manage and administer day-to-day operations especially: grant management: experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; and experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations. Include proficiency in the collaborative efforts to support access to biomedical and health information, document delivery and interlibrary loan; access to books, journal articles, audiovisuals, health sciences online databases and reference and web services.
• In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
• Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the individual(s) proposed to provide assistance to DOCLINE participants with their day-to-day use of the DOCLINE system as described in the NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan as well as in cooperative program planning, implementation and evaluation.
• If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.

Budget (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.

The total budget (direct and indirect costs) for the NDCO should be no more than $125,000.

The budget should include travel expenses for all NDCO staff to attend the annual NN/LM all hands meeting on the Friday preceding the Annual Medical Library Association meeting, and travel expenses for the NDCO PD to attend an annual NNSC meeting.

Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.

PHS 398 Research Plan (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

Specific Aims: Describe specific aims for how the NDCO will ensure that affiliated and unaffiliated health professionals, researchers, librarians, and the public have equal access to biomedical and health information and provide assistance to DOCLINE participants with their day-to-day use of the DOCLINE system.

Research Strategy:

Describe the organizational and governance structure and provide an organizational chart.

Describe plans for the NDCO to work collaboratively with the eight RMLs and the NNCO to:

• Implement the NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan that seeks to provide interlibrary loan and document delivery services, including ensuring services to unaffiliated health professionals in the United States.
• Achieve the goals of the NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan, especially as it relates to coordinating DOCLINE participation; assisting DOCLINE participants and Resource Libraries recruited by the eight RMLS with their day-to-day use of DOCLINE; and helping DOCLINE participants maintain adequate technical environments to use the system and keep DOCLINE records accurate and up to date.
• Assist and manage NN/LM members participating in the national cooperative medical serials print retention program (MedPrint) to ensure the preservation of and continued access to the literature.
• Work with the NLM DOCLINE Team on developing and testing DOCLINE system enhancements and providing support to DOCLINE participants.
• Work with the NLM DOCLINE team and the NNSC regarding document delivery and interlibrary loan policies and procedures.
• Address how the NDCO will build on the Web and social media presence at http://nnlm.gov/rsdd/
• Address how the NDCO will collaborate with the NN/LM Web Services Office on its communication plan.

Plans should include: timeline and milestones for operating a DOCLINE education and support center for DOCLINE participants; how services will be monitored and evaluated; use of tools and guidelines developed by the NEO to measure success; the NDCO Project Lead serving on the NNSC and providing regular feedback to the NNSC; and providing NDCO annual budget and activity reports to the NNCO.

Letters of Support: Do not repeat letters that have been submitted in other components. Letters should state the institutional support for being part of NDCO. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NIH programs using subcontracts.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Planned Enrollment Report (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

Not Applicable

PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (NN/LM DOCLINE Coordination Office)

Not Applicable

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type NNLM Office.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424 (R&R) Cover (NN/LM Web Services Office)

Complete only the following fields:

• Applicant Information
• Type of Applicant (optional)
• Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
• Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (NN/LM Web Services Office)

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

Research & Related Other Project Information (NN/LM Web Services Office)

Human Subjects: Answer "NO" to Are Human Subjects Involved? NIH does not consider the activities of this project as human subjects research.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.

Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.

Project /Performance Site Location(s) (NN/LM Web Services Office)

List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.

Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (NN/LM Web Services Office)

• In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Project Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field. The Project Lead will serve as the PD for the NWSO.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the Project Lead proposed to manage and administer day-to-day operations especially: grant management, experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; and, experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations. Include proficiencies related to system and account administration; database management; requirements development; policy development; technology direction; project coordination; outsourcing supervision; technical consulting; and system security administration.
• In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
• Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the individual(s) proposed to support NWSO operations.
• If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.

Budget (NN/LM Web Services Office)

Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.

The total budget (direct and indirect costs) for the NWSO should be no more than $445,000.

The budget should include travel expenses for all NWSO staff to attend the annual NN/LM all hands meeting on the Friday preceding the Annual Medical Library Association meeting, and travel expenses for the NWSO PD to attend an annual NNSC meeting.

Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.

PHS 398 Research Plan (NN/LM Web Services Office)

Specific Aims: Concisely state specific aims describing how the NWSO will develop and maintain reliable Web services for NN/LM public and internal needs, while ensuring that services are compliant with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies.

Research Strategy: Describe the organizational and governance structure and provide an organizational chart. Describe plans for the NWSO to:

• Maintain and develop reliable Web services for NN/LM public and internal needs.
• Identify, implement and evaluate information systems security tools appropriate to protecting NN/LM information resources in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies.
• Critically assess and continuously improve the technical architecture of NN/LM Web services and maintain modern, up-to-date Web services.
• Work collaboratively with and maintain channels of regular communication among the RMLs and NN/LM offices staff that are responsible for the RML and NN/LM Offices Web presences especially regarding critical issues and updates affecting NN/LM Web services.
• Coordinate the archiving of NN/LM data and systems architecture as appropriate; support DOCLINE and the implementation of the NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan; and support the implementation of the NN/LM National Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan.
• Identify software to be used by RMLs and NN/LM Offices Web developers and assist them with selection and implementation of appropriate emerging technologies. Describe plans to provide a course management system (CMS) to be used by RML and NN/LM Offices staff. Moodle is the CMS currently offered on the nnlm.gov domain.

Plans should include: timelines and milestones planned to develop and maintain reliable Web services for NN/LM public and internal needs; ensuring that the nnlm.gov domain is compliant with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies; how services will be monitored and evaluated; use of tools and guidelines developed by the NEO to develop metrics and measure success; the NWSO Project Lead serving on the NNSC and providing regular feedback to the NNSC; and providing NWSO annual budget and activity reports to the NNCO.

Letters of Support: Do not repeat letters that have been submitted in other components. Letters should state the institutional support for being part of NN/LM in relationship to the NWSO. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NIH programs, using subcontracts.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Planned Enrollment Report (NN/LM Web Services Office)

Not Applicable

PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (NN/LM Web Services Office)

Not Applicable

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type NNLM Office.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424 (R&R) Cover (NN/LM Training Office)

Complete only the following fields:

• Applicant Information
• Type of Applicant (optional)
• Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
• Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (NN/LM Training Office)

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

Research & Related Other Project Information (NN/LM Training Office)

Human Subjects: Answer "NO" to Are Human Subjects Involved? NIH does not consider the activities of this project as human subjects research.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.

Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.

Project /Performance Site Location(s) (NN/LM Training Office)

List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.

Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (NN/LM Training Office)

• In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Project Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field. The Project Lead will serve as the PD for the NTO.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the Project Lead proposed to manage and administer day-to-day operations especially: grant management, experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; and experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations. Include experience in program management, and experience in adult education instructional design and evaluation models.
• In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
• Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the individual(s) proposed to assess NN/LM educational needs in target audiences, define goals, and identify existing materials, resources and services to coordinate the NN/LM education program.
• If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.

Budget (NN/LM Training Office)

Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.

The total budget (direct and indirect costs) for the NTO should be no more than $550,000.

The budget should include travel expenses for all NTO staff to attend the annual NN/LM all hands meeting on the Friday preceding the Annual Medical Library Association meeting, and travel expenses for the NTO Project Lead to attend an annual National Network Steering Committee (NNSC) meeting.

Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.

PHS 398 Research Plan (NN/LM Training Office)

Specific Aims: Concisely state specific aims to address how the NTO will plan, create, share, deliver, and coordinate an instructional program and educational materials based on key NLM products and services for a variety of audiences throughout the NN/LM.

Research Strategy: Describe the organizational and governance structure, and provide an organizational chart.

Describe plans to:

Create and implement an NN/LM education program for key NLM products and coordinate the instructional efforts of NN/LM trainers. Plans should include methods to identify, evaluate, recommend, develop, implement, and maintain instructional materials and educational programs that reach a variety of audiences, venues (e.g. e-learning, classroom, blended), and platforms using current technology. All instruction should be developed using current adult education instructional design and evaluation models and principles. All materials must follow the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies.

• Coordinate the NN/LM educational program with the RML staff, eliminating duplication of effort, and fostering sharing of materials and resources to address common needs.
• Market and promote educational activities and instructional materials created by the NTO, RMLs, NN/LM Offices, and NN/LM sub-awards.
• Provide assistance in course development, instructional design, and methods to identify and disseminate best practices to NN/LM Staff.
• Maintain the NN/LM Guidelines for Classes and work collaboratively with RMLs and NN/LM Offices to ensure the Guidelines are implemented.
• Develop and maintain, with the assistance of the NWSO, a NTO Website (http://nnlm.gov/ntc/ ). Plans should include an online registration system, searchable event calendar, and a mechanism for finding and accessing current educational material, which will be used by all RMLs and NN/LM Offices.
• Collaborate and partner with other organizations (e.g., MLA) to promote and market the online registration system, event calendar, and materials.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the NN/LM education program, using current educational assessment models and tools and guidelines developed with the NEO.

Plans should include: timelines and milestones for creating, maintaining and evaluating the NTO; use of tools and guidelines developed by the NEO to develop metrics and measure success; the NTO Project Lead serving on the NNSC and providing regular feedback to the NNSC; and delivering annual budget and activity reports to the NNCO.

Letters of Support: Do not repeat letters that have been submitted in other components. Letters should state the institutional support for being part of NN/LM in relationship to the NTO. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NIH programs using subcontracts.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Planned Enrollment Report (NN/LM Training Office)

Not Applicable

PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (NN/LM Training Office)

Not Applicable

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type NNLM Office.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424 (R&R) Cover (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

Complete only the following fields:

• Applicant Information
• Type of Applicant (optional)
• Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
• Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

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

Research & Related Other Project Information (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

Human Subjects: Answer "NO" to Are Human Subjects Involved? NIH does not consider the activities of this project as human subjects research.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.

Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.

Project /Performance Site Location(s) (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.

Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

• In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Project Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field. The Project Lead will serve as the PD for the NEO.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the Project Lead proposed to manage and administer day-to-day operations especially: grant management; experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; and experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations. Include proficiency in the collaborative efforts to improve programs and services using systematic planning, evaluation and assessment.
• In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the individual(s) proposed in cooperative program planning, implementation and evaluation methodology.
• Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
• If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.

Budget (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.

The total budget (direct and indirect costs) for the NEO should be no more than $350,000.

The budget should include travel expenses for all NEO staff to attend the annual NN/LM all hands meeting on the Friday preceding the Annual Medical Library Association meeting, and travel expenses for the NEO PD to attend an annual NNSC meeting.

Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.

PHS 398 Research Plan (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

Specific Aims: The NEO will support the evaluation and assessment needs of the NNSC by providing consultation and resource services to assist NN/LM members in planning and measuring the process and impact of all their activities, services, and resources. This includes assessing outcomes and gaining a better understanding of the relationships between improved access to health information and changes in behavior. Evaluating NN/LM activities ensures that they are designed and implemented in an effective and efficient manner. Evaluation and consultation results should contribute to the growing knowledge base of health information usage and accessibility.

Concisely state specific aims describing how the NEO will work collaboratively to ensure that planning, evaluation and assessment are integral components of all RML programs, services and sub-awards, with special emphasis on outreach and education programs that bring biomedical and health information resources to U.S. health professionals, the public health workforce, and the public.

Research Strategy: Describe the organizational and governance structure and provide an organizational chart.

Describe plans for the NEO to:

• Collaborate with the eight RMLs and NN/LM Offices to develop strategies, metrics, tools and guidelines to plan, evaluate and assess NN/LM outreach and education programs, services and sub-awards.
• Collaborate with the NTO to provide continuing education opportunities for NLM, the RMLs and Network members in the planning, evaluation and assessment of Network activities including outreach, educationand basic Network services.
• Describe plans to communicate the NEO program, goals and accomplishments by developing and maintaining the NEO Web site with the assistance of the NWSO, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies.
• Communicate best practices and lessons learned via outreach applications, online reporting systems and other mechanisms.
• Consult with RMLs and Network members on specific evaluation and assessment projects and help design evaluation strategies.
• Assist in the analysis, synthesis, and reporting of evaluation results.
• Maintain and revise current evaluation and assessment resources. Include concepts related to collaborations, participatory evaluation and program logic models.

Plans should include: timelines and milestones designed to ensure that planning and evaluation are integral components of NN/LM programs; how services will be monitored, assessed and evaluated; how NEO will develop and use tools and guidelines to develop metrics and measure success; the NEO Project Lead serving on the NNSC and providing regular feedback to the NNSC; and providing NEO annual budget and activity reports to the NNCO.

Letters of Support: Do not repeat letters that have been submitted in other components. Letters should state the institutional support for being part of NN/LM in relationship to the NEO. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NIH programs using subcontracts.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Planned Enrollment Report (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

Not Applicable

PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (NN/LM Evaluation Office)

Not Applicable

When preparing your application in ASSIST, use Component Type NNLM Office.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.

SF424 (R&R) Cover (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

Complete only the following fields:

• Applicant Information
• Type of Applicant (optional)
• Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project
• Proposed Project Start/Ending Dates

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

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

Research & Related Other Project Information (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

Human Subjects: Answer "NO" to Are Human Subjects Involved? NIH does not consider the activities of this project as human subjects research.

Vertebrate Animals: Answer only the Are Vertebrate Animals Used? question.

Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.

Project /Performance Site Location(s) (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.

Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

• In the Project Director/Principal Investigator section of the form, use Project Role of Other with Category of Project Lead and provide a valid eRA Commons ID in the Credential field. The Project Lead will serve as the PD for the NPHCO.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the Project Lead proposed to manage and administer day-to-day operations especially: grant management; experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; and experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations. Include knowledge of information products and services desirable for public health workers, and experience with providing access to licensed, trusted information and e-resources.
• In the additional Senior/Key Profiles section, list Senior/Key persons that are working in the component.
• Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate. When a Senior/Key person is listed in multiple components, the Biographical Sketch can be included in any one component.
• The Biographical Sketch should reflect the expertise of the individual(s) proposed to coordinate the PHIA Project, facilitate information access, and evaluate the program.
• If more than 100 Senior/Key persons are included in a component, the Additional Senior Key Person attachments should be used.

Budget (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.

The total budget (direct and indirect costs) for the NPHCO should be no more than $350,000.

The budget should include travel expenses for all NPHCO staff to attend the annual NN/LM all hands meeting on the Friday preceding the Annual Medical Library Association meeting, and travel expenses for the NPHCO PD to attend an annual National Network Steering Committee (NNSC) meeting.

Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.

PHS 398 Research Plan (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

Specific Aims: Standards for public health workforce development and health department performance increasingly emphasize the need for effective integration of research and data into public health management and practice. Public health departments typically fall outside the service realm of institutions that offer full-text access to information for researchers, faculty and students. Budgets often do not accommodate desktop access to the public health literature; and the public health workforce typically doesn t have access to instruction on search techniques or information management. The goal of the Public Health Information Access (PHIA) Project is to better understand what electronic resources are useful, evidence-based, and affordable for public health workers (including licensed resources), and to collaborate with appropriate partners to provide access.

Concisely state specific aims to address how the NPHCO will collaboratively manage, improve, and expand the PHIA Project to achieve a cost-effective, sustainable model of providing access to information services for public health workers.

Research Strategy: Describe the organizational and governance structure and provide an organizational chart.

Building upon the framework of the PHIA Project describe plans to manage, improve, and expand the Project with the goal of achieving a cost-effective, sustainable model for providing information services to public health departments. Plans should include identifying and approaching potential partners, both public and private, that could assist in accomplishment of specific aims.

Describe plans to communicate the PHIA Project goals and accomplishments by developing and maintaining the NPHCO Web site, with the assistance of the NWSO, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies at http://www.hhs.gov/ocio/policy/index.html.

Plans should include: timelines and milestones designed to improve and expand the NPHCO; how the NPHCO will be monitored and evaluated; use of tools and guidelines developed by the NEO to measure success; the NPHCO Project Lead serving on the NNSC and providing regular feedback to the NNSC; delivering the NPHCO annual budget and activity reports to the NNCO; and participation in review of the PHIA Project.

Letters of Support: Do not repeat letters that have been submitted in other components. Letters should state the institutional support for being part of NN/LM in relationship to the NPHCO. State how the applicant institution and any partner institutions anticipate participating in NIH programs using subcontracts.

Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Planned Enrollment Report (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

Not Applicable

PHS 398 Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report (NN/LM Public Health Coordination Office)

Not Applicable

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

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies) using ASSIST or other electronic submission systems. 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.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

For information on how your application will be automatically assembled for review and funding consideration after submission go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/files/Electronic_Multi-project_Application_Image_Assembly.pdf.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Guidelines for Applicants Experiencing System Issues.

Important reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) and component Project Leads must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF424(R&R) Application Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management (SAM). Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review and responsiveness by components of participating organizations, NIH. Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-13-030.

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

For this particular announcement, note the following: Reviewers will provide an impact score for each required component of the RML (Overall, Administrative Core, Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core, and the Outreach & Education Core) and for the optional NN/LM national offices (NDCO, NWSO, NTO, NEO and NPHCO). Reviewers will provide individual criterion scores for the Overall component, but not for the other components. The Overall impact score will be derived from the impact scores for all components of this application. The Overall impact score may be higher or lower than the average of the scores for the individual components based on assessment of whether the whole is greater than the sum of its cores. Reviewers will discuss and provide written critiques for all the application components.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the RML to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the regional and national biomedical and health information needs for health professionals and the public, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the RML 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 RML that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Does the RML address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the RML 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?

Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the RML? 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?

Does the application clearly define regional areas of expertise to perform outreach and instruction, and to provide health and biomedical information to a diverse audience that fits the region’s needs?

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?

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the RML? 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?

Does the proposed RML show a broad understanding of the overarching goals of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and the importance of the regional expertise to advance medicine and improve public health by providing U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving individual's access to information?

Does the proposed program demonstrate continuity and marketing of current services and indicate ways to expand coordination and collaboration within the region of the RML and the throughout the NN/LM?

Are the plans for coordination, problem identification and resolution, and the establishment of a strong collaborative environment for the RML appropriate? Does the program define a feasible communication plan with its regional members, the other RMLs, the NNCO, and the NNSC? Will the plans for management and oversight of the RML result in a high quality, efficient program?

Are the plans for supporting access to biomedical and health information for health professionals and the public appropriate? Are the plans for providing regional and national outreach and an education program appropriate?

Will the plans for the sharing of data, methods, software, tools, related resources, and associated documentation meet regional and national needs?

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?

As applicable for the RML proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Overall Coordination and Integration

Does the overall organizational chart clearly present an overview of the performance sites, data analysis and data management functions and responsibilities of the Administration Core, Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core, and Outreach & Education Core?

Are the roles clearly defined and divided among the different entities? Are there adequate mechanisms for regular communication among project leaders and collaborators?

Is there a history of a successful analogous organizational structure at the overall applicant institution?

Is there an adequate plan to ensure that all subawards are meeting the performance objectives for the RML and NN/LM?

Does the RML function as a true regional center or hub rather than a collection of unrelated services and activities? Will there be coordination, interrelationships, and synergy among the RML projects and programs and the NN/LM as a whole?

Milestones and Timeline

Are clear, actionable milestones and timelines proposed to establish the RML, to meet program goals, and to assess performance and progress for a five year time frame?

Generally Not Applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Generally Not Applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Generally Not Applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer

Generally Not Applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

As applicable for the RML 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.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed RML.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the Administrative Core to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research and service field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the core proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit.

• Is the administrative and organizational structure appropriate and adequate to the attainment of the objectives of the RML?
• Does the proposed RML Director have the experience in leadership required for a program of this scope, especially as it relates to: management experience in large health sciences libraries as well as experience in cooperative program planning, implementation and evaluation, and the ability to develop and implement outreach and education programs for a variety of audiences?
• Does the proposed organizational structure, governance and expertise (or position descriptions) of staff reflect the needs required of a program of this scope?
• Is the management plan for fiscal accountability and communication within the RML appropriate?
• Does the plan detail strategies, especially how to identify and recruit new regional network members to build upon the NN/LM efforts to develop and support a strong, active regional network membership?
• Are the plans for coordination, problem identification and resolution, and the establishment of a strong collaborative environment for the RML appropriate?
• Does the plan explain strategies to maintain the readiness and implement, if necessary, the regional National Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan, including enacting the buddy system, and serving as back-up for NLM customer service?

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the Support Access to Biomedical and Health Information Core to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research and service field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the core proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit.

• Does the experience of the individuals proposed (or position descriptions) adequately reflect the needs to effectively perform document delivery and interlibrary loan programs, data plan management, instruction and support?
• Does the plan to support access to biomedical and health information detail the development of a sound timeline and milestones, evaluation methods, and reporting strategies?
• Has the applicant provided a viable approach to engaging user feedback on the development and evaluation of RML programs?
• Is the plan to provide biomedical and health information efficiently and effectively to a variety of users in a shared resources environment that spans both traditional interlibrary loan and other library mediated information services feasible?
• Is the plan to recruit and support members to participate in MedPrint feasible?
• Does the plan realistically address support of biomedical big data plans, data plan management, and location/submission to data repositories with goals of making data discoverable, accessible, and citable?

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the Outreach & Education Core to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research and service field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the core proposed).

• Reviewers will consider each of the criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit. Does the proposed program address how the RML will develop, implement, and evaluate outreach and education programs that bring biomedical and health information resources to US health professionals, the public health workforce, and the public?
• Does the proposed program identify target audiences and important needs for outreach and instruction?
• Does the program propose to build collaborations and partnerships which will improve access to and sharing of health and biomedical information resources to health professionals, the public health workforce, and the public?
• Does the program propose an effective use of subawards to Network members to help achieve regional outreach, education, and technology goals?
• Does the program propose to collaborate with the NTO to implement a regional education program?
• Are the topics of the proposed education program comprehensive and appropriate for the target audience?
• Does the proposed program address how the RML will promote NLM and NN/LM programs and services by exhibiting at national, state and local health professional, public health workforce, and librarian meetings, as well as consumer meetings with a health focus?
• Does the proposed program address how the RML will develop, deliver and evaluate a technology improvement program for regional Network members, health professionals and consumers (with special emphasis on the under connected, particularly in inner city and rural health organizations), especially as it relates to upgrading and maintaining technology to ensure access to high quality health information?
• Is the plan for evaluating the RML outreach and education activities in collaboration with the NEO and NTO adequate for monitoring and improving the program?

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the NDCO to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research and service field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the NDCO proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit.

• The effectiveness and relevance of the organization’s history of providing similar services and development of new technologies or other significant advances;
• Continuity of quality service for core programs of the NN/LM, and the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative future approaches.Does the proposed program show a broad understanding of the overarching goals of the NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan and its importance to providing US health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving individual's access to information?
• Does the proposed NDCO Project Lead have the experience in leadership required for a program of this scope, especially as it relates to: grant management, experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations; and proficiency in collaborative efforts to support access to biomedical and health information, document delivery and interlibrary loan?
• Does the experience of the individuals proposed (or position descriptions) adequately reflect the needs to effectively implement the NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan?
• Is the plan to provide biomedical and health information efficiently and effectively to a variety of users in a shared resources environment that spans both traditional interlibrary loan and other library mediated information services adequate?
• Is the plan to provide day-to-day support to DOCLINE participants both adequate and feasible?
• Is the plan to support members to participate in MedPrint satisfactory?
• Does the program define a satisfactory communication plan with NN/LM members, the RMLs, the NNCO, the NLM DOCLINE team and the NNSC?
• Does the plan to support access to biomedical and health information detail the development of sound timelines and milestones, evaluation methods and reporting strategies?

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the NWSO to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research and service field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the NWSO proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit.

• The effectiveness and relevance of the organization’s history of providing similar services and development of new technologies or other significant advances;
• Continuity of quality service for core programs of the NN/LM, and the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative future approaches.
• Does the proposed program adequately describe how the NWSO will develop and maintain reliable Web services for NN/LM public and internal needs and ensure that services are compliant with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies?
• Does the proposed NWSO Project Lead have the experience in leadership required for a program of this scope, especially as it relates to: grant management, experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations; proficiencies related to system and account administration; database management; requirements development; policy development; technology direction; project coordination; outsourcing supervision; technical consulting; and system security administration?
• Does the experience of the individuals proposed (or position descriptions) adequately reflect the needs to effectively implement the NN/LM public and internal Web services?
• Is the plan to maintain and develop reliable Web services for NN/LM public and internal needs adequate?
• Is the plan to implement and evaluate information systems security tools appropriate to protecting NN/LM information resources in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies adequate?
• Is the plan to critically assess and continuously improve the technical architecture of NN/LM Web services and maintain modern, up-to-date Web services adequate and feasible?
• Is the plan to work collaboratively with and maintain channels of regular communication among the RML and NN/LM offices staff that are responsible for Web presences, especially regarding critical issues and updates affecting NN/LM Web services, adequate?
• Are the plans to: coordinate the archiving of NN/LM data; support DOCLINE and the implementation of the NN/LM Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan Plan; support the implementation of the NN/LM National Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan; and to provide a course management system to be used by NN/LM adequate?
• Is the plan to identify software to be used by RMLs and NN/LM Offices Web developers and assist them with selection and implementation of appropriate emerging technologies adequate and feasible?
• Does the plan to develop and maintain reliable Web services for the NN/LM public and internal needs detail the development of sound timelines and milestones, evaluation methods and reporting strategies?

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the NTO to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research and service field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the NTO proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit.

• The effectiveness and relevance of the organization’s history of providing similar services and development of new technologies or other significant advances;
• Continuity of quality service for core programs of the NN/LM, and the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative future approaches.
• Does the proposed program address how the NN/LM Training Office will plan, create, share, deliver, and coordinate an Instructional program and educational materials based on key NLM products and services for a variety of audiences throughout the NN/LM?
• Does the proposed program identify target audiences and important aspects or important needs for instruction?
• Does the proposed Project Lead have the experience in leadership required for a program of this scope, especially as it relates to: grant management, experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations; experience in program management; and experience in adult education instructional design and evaluation models?
• Does the proposed organizational structure, governance and expertise (or position descriptions) of staff reflect the needs required of a program of this scope?
• Does the proposed program identify key NLM products and address how the NTO will create and implement a NN/LM instructional program based on these products?
• Does the proposed program identify, evaluate, recommend, develop, implement, and maintain educational materials and instructional programs that reach a variety of audiences, venues (e.g. e-learning, classroom, blended), and platforms using current technology?
• Does the proposed program address planning and coordinating NTO educational events and products, and developing and delivering instruction throughout the NN/LM?
• Does the proposed program ensure that all instructionalmaterials will be developed in compliance with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies?
• Does the proposed program address how the NTO will collaborate with the NN/LM to coordinate the NN/LM instructional program?
• Does the education program address eliminating duplication of effort and foster sharing of materials and resources to address common instructional needs throughout the NN/LM?
• Does the proposed program address plans to market and promote educational activities and instructional materials created by the NTO, RMLs, NN/LM Offices, and NN/LM subawards?
• Does the proposed program adequately describe how the NTO will collaborate with the NWSO to develop and maintain a reliable NTO website and ensure that services are compliant with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies?
• Does the proposed program adequately address the implementation of an online registration system, searchable event calendar, and a mechanism for finding and accessing current instructional material, which will be used by all RMLs and NN/LM Offices?
• Does the program address plans to collaborate and partner with other organizations (e.g., MLA) to promote and market the online registration system, event calendar, educational activities and instructional materials?
• Does the proposed evaluation plan address how the NTO will assess NN/LM instructional needs in target audiences?
• Does the proposed program address plans to collaborate with the NEO to develop models, tools, and guidelines using current educational assessment, for monitoring, evaluating, and improving the effectiveness of the NN/LM education program?
• Does the plan include sound timelines and milestones, development of metrics, assessment and evaluation methods, and reporting strategies?

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the NEO to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research and service field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the NEO proposed).

• Reviewers will consider each of the criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit. The effectiveness and relevance of the organization’s history of providing similar services and development of new technologies or other significant advances;
• Continuity of quality service for core programs of the NN/LM, and the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative future approaches.
• Does the proposed program show how the NEO will support the evaluation and assessment needs of NN/LM and provide regular feedback to the NNSC?
• Does the proposed program show how the NEO will collaborate with the RMLs in planning and measuring the impact of their activities, services and resources?
• Does the proposed Project Lead reflect the required experience in: managing and administering the day-to-day operations of the NEO especially as related to grant management; preparing and managing of budgets; writing skills; and using systematic planning, evaluation and assessment to improve programs and services?
• Does the proposed plan offer adequate strategies for collaborating with the RMLs and NN/LM Offices to develop strategies, metrics, tools and guidelines to plan, evaluate and assess NN/LM outreach and education programs, services and subawards?
• Does the proposed plan offer adequate strategies for collaborating with the NTO to provide educational opportunities for NLM, the RMLs and NN/LM members in the planning, evaluation and assessment of NN/LM activities including outreach, education and basic Network services?
• Does the proposed plan offer adequate strategies for communicating best practices and lessons learned via outreach applications, online reporting systems and other mechanisms?
• Does the proposed plan offer adequate strategies for consulting with the RMLs and NN/LM members on specific evaluation and assessment projects and for helping design evaluation strategies?
• Does the proposed plan offer adequate strategies for assisting in the analysis, synthesis, and reporting of evaluation results?
• Does the proposed plan offer adequate strategies for maintaining and revising current evaluation and assessment resources; including concepts related to collaborations, participatory evaluation and program logic models?

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the NPCHO to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research and service field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the NPHCO proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit.

• The effectiveness and relevance of the organization’s history of providing similar services and development of new technologies or other significant advances;
• Continuity of quality service for core programs of the NN/LM, and the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative future approaches.
• Does the proposed program address plans to identify, assess, evaluate, and recommend electronic resources which are useful, evidence-based, and affordable for public health workers?
• Does the proposed program identify and collaborate with appropriate partners to provide access to full-text information?
• Does the proposed Project Lead have the experience in leadership required for a program of this scope, especially as it relates to: grant management, experience in preparation and management of budgets; writing skills; experience in interpersonal and inter-organizational relations; knowledge of information products and services desirable for public health workers; and experience with providing access to licensed, trusted information, and e-resources?
• Do the proposed organizational structure, governance and expertise (or position descriptions) of staff reflect the needs required of a program of this scope?
• Does the proposed program implement and advance key aspects of the PHIA Project, including identifying evidence-based health information e-resources; negotiating licenses to e-resources; facilitating access to licensed e-resources; and developing and delivering instruction on NLM information resources and e-resources?
• Does the proposed program identify key collaborative partners, including NN/LM and the Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce, to assist in identifying public health workforce education needs?
• Does the proposed program ensure that all instructional materials will be developed in compliance with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies?
• Does the proposed program adequately describe how the NPHCO will collaborate with the NWSO to develop and maintain a reliable NPHCO website and ensure that services are compliant with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Information Policies?
• Does the plan detail the development of sound timelines and milestones to improve and expand the PHIA Project; monitor and evaluate the Project; develop metrics, assessment and evaluation methods to measure success, and report strategies?

For each optional NN/LM Office component (NDCO, NWSO, NTO, NEO, and NPHCO) reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed Office. However, reviewers will not give scores for budgetary items or consider them in providing an overall impact score.

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

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

• Will receive a written critique.

Appeals of initial peer review will not be accepted for applications submitted in response to this FOA.

Applications will be assigned to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this FOA. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the NLM Board of Regents. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities.

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

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

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to 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.

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award

The following special terms of award are in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise applicable U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) administrative guidelines, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (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, Public Health Service (PHS), and National Institutes of Health (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 for the project as a whole resides with the awardees, although specific tasks and activities may be shared among the awardees and the NIH as defined below.

The PD(s)/PI(s) will have the primary responsibility for:

The PD/PI will agree to accept the close coordination, cooperation, and participation of the NLM staff (Project Scientists and other appropriate NLM staff) in those aspects of program and technical management of the project as described below.

Specifically, the PD/PI supported by the Cooperative Agreement will:

• Retain the primary authority and responsibility for the project as a whole and development of the methods, procedures to accomplish the aims and strategies of the FOA.
• Assess and evaluate project activities in accordance to applicable guidance in the NN/LM Organizational Workbook.
• Ensure publications and oral presentations of work performed under this Cooperative Agreement have appropriate acknowledgement of NLM support. Timely publication of major findings is encouraged.
• Provide, in addition to standard annual progress reports (see NN/LM Organizational Workbook) other relevant information to the NLM Project Scientist(s)(PS) or Program Officer (PO), and coordinate and cooperate with NLM staff and other members of appropriate collaborating NLM programs.
• Work directly with the PS(s) on the coordination of NN/LM program activities and the integration of individual projects within the NN/LM as well as with other relevant NLM programs.
• Participate in the appropriate coordinating meetings and/or working groups, and/or teleconferences as needed.
• Accept and implement all project procedural and policy decisions approved by the NNSC in addition to applicable NIH policies, laws, and regulations.
• 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 DHHS, PHS, and NIH policies.

NIH staff will have substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as described below:

Project Scientist (PS) Responsibilities

One or more designated NLM staff members, acting as Project Scientist (PS), will have substantial programmatic involvement. The role of the PS will be to facilitate and not to direct. This includes facilitating the partnership and collaboration between NLM, RMLs and NN/LM Offices. The PS role includes helping to maintain the overall balance in the program commensurate with the functions and scope of the program’s activities, facilitating communication and coordination, and ensuring that the activities of the awardees are consistent with the mission of the NN/LM.

Specifically, the NLM Project Scientist(s):

• Provide technical assistance and advice to the awardee as appropriate to achieve the aims of the cooperative agreement and the mission of the NN/LM.
• Manage the NNSC, the steering committee consisting of the PD/PI for the RMLs and NN/LM Offices, the PS, and the Program Official (PO). When appropriate, the NNSC may include representatives from outside working groups and NLM staff. The purpose of the NNSC is to provide overall integration among NLM, RMLs and NN/LM Offices. It will also serve as an interface between the individual projects funded under this FOA and appropriate NLM programs. The NNSC will be chaired by the Head of the NNCO who will make final decisions on committee matters.

Program Official (PO) Responsibilities

• PO will be responsible for the normal scientific and programmatic stewardship of the award.
• PO will have access to data generated under this Cooperative Agreement and may periodically review the data and progress reports. The PO may use information obtained from the data for the preparation of internal reports on the activities of the project.

Joint Responsibilities

The PS and the PD/PI of the RMLs and Offices will be jointly responsible for the coordination and collaboration of NN/LM activities and the integration of individual projects with other appropriate NLM programs. Joint responsibilities include:

• Developing collaborative working groups to reduce duplication of effort and maximize efficiencies.
• Organizing and conducting regular meetings to share progress and foster collaborations of members of the Network, either by teleconference, videoconference, or face-to-face, as needed.

Dispute Resolution

Any disagreements that may arise in scientific or programmatic matters (within the scope of the award) between award recipients and the NIH may be brought to Dispute Resolution. A Dispute Resolution Panel will be convened. It will have three members: one designee of the PD(s)/PI(s), chosen without NIH staff input; one NIH 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 dispute resolution procedure does not alter the awardee's right to appeal an adverse action that is otherwise appealable in accordance with PHS regulation 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart D and HHS regulation 45 CFR Part 16.

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A final progress report, 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.

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

eRA Commons Help Desk (Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, submitting and tracking an application, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, post submission issues)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
Finding Help Online: http://grants.nih.gov/support/index.html
Email: [email protected]

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission, downloading forms and application packages)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Web ticketing system: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/ContactUs.aspx
Email: [email protected]

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Email: [email protected] (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-710-0267

Alan VanBiervliet, Ph.D.
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Telephone: 301-594-4882
Email: [email protected]

Arthur Petrosian, Ph.D.
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Telephone: 301-594-4933
Email: [email protected]

Dwight Mowery
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Telephone: 301-496-4221
Email: [email protected]

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Awards are made under the authorization of 42 USC 286b 2, 286b 6 42 CFR 59a.