U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Building A Healthy Nation-Strategic Alliance for Health
Announcement Type: New – Type 1
Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-PA-
DP08-813Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: CFDA # 93-283
Key Dates:
Letter of Intent Deadline: May 23, 2008
Application Deadline: June 24, 2008
Executive Summary: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Division of Adult and Community Health (DACH), announces the opportunity to apply for funds to advance, implement and sustain evidence and practice-based chronic disease community programs that promote policy, organizational, systems and environmental community change. This initiative will serve to:
6. Reduce complications from and incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Communities funded under this announcement will accomplish this by focusing on the risk factors of physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use and exposure, and population-based responses such as policy, systems, organizational and environmental changes. Communities funded by this announcement will build on knowledge gained from previously funded community projects as well as current public health practice literature. Current funding will serve to help communities work towards policy, organizational, systems and environmental change. Funded grantees will include state-coordinated small city and rural communities, large cities and urban areas, and tribal communities. Funded communities will act as catalysts to move communities toward more integrated population based approaches to chronic disease prevention by implementing policy, systems, and environmental changes. Communities will be expected to mentor other communities in effective strategies to combat chronic disease. Funding will target areas of increased burden of disease related to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease as well as access to quality care in order to address health disparities. Communities and organizations with active coalitions that consist of, at a minimum, local, tribal, city or state health departments may apply for this funding opportunity announcement (FOA).
Authority: This program is authorized under section 311 and 317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S. Code 243 and 247b(k)2.
This cooperative agreement addresses the “Healthy People 2010” focus areas of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and educational and community-based programs;
the Health Protection Goals of “Healthy People in Every Stage of Life” which states that “all people, and especially those at greater risk of health disparities, will achieve their optimal lifespan with the best quality of health in every stage of life,” and “Healthy People in Healthy Places” which states that “the places where people live, work, learn, and play will protect and promote their health and safety, especially those at greater risk of health disparities.”
Background: In the United States today, seven of ten deaths and the vast majority of serious illness, disability, and health care costs are caused by chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Key risk factors–lack of physical activity, poor nutrition and tobacco use, are major contributors to the nation’s leading causes of death and are the focus of this FOA. According to the report “Physical Activity and Health, a Report of the Surgeon General” (1996), increased physical activity is associated with a number of health benefits, including reduced risk of premature mortality and reduced risks of coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes. Previously funded programs such as the Steps Program Communities and Pioneering Healthier Communities have shown that an integrated approach based on moving communities towards more policy, systems, organizational and environmental change can have an impact on changing unhealthy behaviors in their communities.
The key to the success of Strategic Alliance for Health communities will be community-focused programs that include the full engagement of schools, businesses, faith-communities, health care purchasers, health plans, health care providers, academic institutions, senior centers, and many other community sectors working together to promote health and prevent chronic diseases. Funded programs need to build on, but not duplicate current and prior CDC programs as well as State, local, or community programs and coordinate fully with existing programs and resources in the community.
Communities funded under this FOA will work collaboratively to develop policy, systems, organizational and environment changes that will promote and sustain community-based health promotion prevention programs of sufficient intensity and duration to help achieve the “Healthy People 2010” objectives shown in Attachment A. The communities will also be expected to serve as a mentor to other communities around effective policy, systems and environmental changes that will combat chronic diseases. All referenced attachments are posted with this FOA on the CDC web site. In addition, funded communities will disseminate lessons learned and mentor other communities.
Purpose: The purpose of the program is to create healthier communities through sustainable innovative, evidence and practice-based community health promotion and chronic disease prevention programs that promote policy, systems, and environmental change. Communities funded under this FOA will work collaboratively to develop policy, systems, and environment changes that will promote and sustain community-based health promotion prevention programs of sufficient intensity and duration to help achieve the “Healthy People 2010” objectives shown in Attachment A. The communities will also be expected to serve as a mentor to other communities around effective policy, systems, organizational and environmental changes that will combat chronic diseases. All referenced attachments are posted with this FOA on the CDC web site. It is recommended that the communities focus the interventions on populations who suffer disproportionately from the burden of disease.
This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not be reviewed. For the definition of research, please see the CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/regs/hrpp/researchDefinition.htm
Recipient Activities:
This Funding Opportunity Announcement describes three categories of recipient activities based on the type of community applying for funding:
I. Large Cities and Urban Community applicants will be responsible for the activities listed under number I. below;
II. Tribal applicants will be responsible for the activities listed under number II. below;
III. State-Coordinated Small City and Rural Community applicants will be responsible for the activities listed under number III. below.
All programs will have a one year planning phase to organize and prepare infrastructure for Years 2-5. In year one, all programs will be required to bring on board at least one dedicated full-time project coordinator.
I. Large City and Urban Community Recipient Activities:
1) Program Infrastructure, staffing, program management and support.
Identify key partners and coalitions that focus on the prevention of chronic disease and associated risk factors. Build an alliance of partnerships and coalitions committed to participating actively in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Strategic Alliance for Health Communities. Partners should include, a wide representation of community leaders and community members, including education agencies; key community, health care, voluntary, and professional organizations; business, community, and faith-based leaders; and at least one lay person representative of the population to be served.
2) Data collection and surveillance to define burden and monitor trends.
The proposed intervention area should be clearly described, including the populations
to be served using local data to substantiate the existing burden and/or disparities of
chronic diseases and conditions, specifically obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular
disease. Data on existing policy, systems, organizational and environmental change
strategies related to chronic diseases in the intervention area should also be provided
and collected during the program funding period.
Performance Measure:
a) Describe the burden of chronic diseases in the community and changing trends
brought on by policy, systems, organizational, and environmental change strategies
in each year’s progress report.
b) Community Partnerships, coalitions, and leadership team.
Develop leadership, coordination, and management teams.
Applicants will develop a Leadership Team in year one consisting of 5-10 members. The Leadership Team will:
1. Oversee project activities
2. Establish and maintain an organizational structure and governance for the community consortium
3. Determine the project budget and subcontracts
4. Participate in project-related local and national meetings.
Performance Measure:
a) A representative group will be formed, as measured by the membership list. The group will schedule meetings (at least quarterly) and track attendance rates and participation.
b) Along with creating the infrastructure, the Leadership Team will also develop the project budget. Budgetary issues are measured by meeting notes.
3) Support Policy Development Efforts
Implement community-based intervention strategies.
Applicants will identify and implement high priority, evidence and practice-based strategies proven to prevent and control obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These interventions should focus on changes to systems, policies and environments within the community. To be effective, each community should plan to focus on two sectors to work with during the five years: community; worksite; schools; or healthcare settings. This permits many community partners to become involved without overwhelming the community in trying to cover all four sectors each year. All communities should plan to address at least two of the three chronic disease risk factors of physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use over the five year period, since these areas will positively impact primary and/or secondary prevention in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, communities are encouraged to implement other policy and systems change interventions to reduce the burden of the diseases/conditions addressed by this funding opportunity announcement (obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease). Such interventions might include:
A) Promoting quality care by providing health care settings with effective systems for handling referrals, follow-ups, and patient reminder systems;
B) Providing training for health care providers on how to establish effective chronic disease plans with patients and their families.
Special efforts should be taken to ensure focus on populations with disproportionate burden of chronic diseases/conditions who also tend to experience disparities in access to and use of preventive and health care services. Populations of special focus might include:
A) Racial and ethnic minorities,
B) Low-income persons,
C) The medically underserved,
D) Persons with disabilities,
E) Others with special needs.
Programs to promote policy, systems and environmental change must be culturally competent, and meet the health literacy and linguistic needs of target populations in the intervention area.
Programs should optimize resources by coordinating and partnering with existing programs and resources in the community, surrounding areas, and the state (e.g., state incentive grant programs). Programs should expand the resources available through public-private ventures, foundation grants, public funding, and in-kind contributions in order to achieve and sustain Strategic Alliance for Health Community outcomes. Some examples may include:
A) Supporting community-based initiatives through non-traditional partnerships.
B) Increasing healthy food choices in restaurants, grocery stores, vending machines, worksites, shopping malls, senior centers, and other community settings. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/index.htm
C) Increasing access to and use of attractive and safe locations for engaging in physical activity.
Performance Measure:
a) By the end of the first year, communities will have selected the sectors and chronic disease risk factors that they will be addressing, as evidenced in their progress report.
b) In years 2-5, communities will make progress towards promoting physical activity, nutrition and healthy eating, and reducing tobacco use and exposure, building capacity for communities to be able to institute policy, systems, and environmental changes related to these chronic disease risk factors, foster improved and increased access to quality care, help eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities, and reduce complications from and incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity through data gathered from interventions, BRFSS, and other data sources.
4) Implement School-Based Intervention Strategies.
With guidance from the local education agency or agencies, implement school health policies to encourage increased physical activity and good nutrition, eliminate exposure to second hand smoke, and promote staff wellness by reviewing and strengthening the schools’ health-related policies and instructional programs using the CDC’s School Health Index (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/SHI/), and the National Association of State Boards of Education’s Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn: A School Health Policy Guide.
Performance Measures:
a) Involve school representatives on the team based on meeting minutes and notes. A review of school’s policies and programs using School Health Index and/or Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn: A School Policy Guide, will be accomplished and policy, systems, and environmental change recommendations made to improve chronic disease risk factors of students, faculty, and support staff.
5) Develop a Community Action Plan:
A. Finalize a five year action plan with input from the application objective review process, community information, HHS agencies, other sources of technical support, and on-going discussions with the community partners.
B. Revise the action plan as needed based on a logic model that serves as a foundation for prioritizing, planning, budgeting, program management and program sustainability.
C. At the earliest stages and throughout the plan, methods of program sustainability should be identified.
Performance measure:
a) Development of a 5-year Community Action Plan that meets the goals and objectives of this Funding Opportunity Announcement and is approved by CDC should be completed by the end of the first year.
6) Enhance capacity for evaluation to monitor/measure progress.
A. Develop a comprehensive evaluation plan that is directly tied to the Community Action Plan.
B. Develop objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time based (SMART) and are linked to the Funding Opportunity Announcement goals and activities.
C. Encourage the development of a system to maintain and gather data to evaluate the process and outcomes of program activities. Report on evaluation data in the midyear and annual reports. Be willing to generate other aggregate data to be shared with CDC and other projects as necessary. Participate in national evaluation activities.
D. Budget no more than 10% of funds to participate fully in the substantial data collection and evaluation activities associated with this award.
Performance Measure:
a) The development of a program logic model must be completed by the end of the first year. The identification of methods for program sustainability must be mentioned early in the process.
b) Development of an evaluation plan that addresses the lifespan of the program, shown in the community action plan. The percentage of program objectives that are SMART must be developed along with the number of midyear and annual reports that include program evaluation data (process and outcome). The amount of time spent on national evaluation activities, and other evaluation projects as determined by program staff and CDC.
7) Work in collaboration with other chronic disease programs:
Information Sharing: Implementation Guide and Mentoring Communities.
1) The applicant must produce at least one Implementation Guide, a “how to” best practice resource, for each community they fund. The Implementation Guide(s) will translate how other communities can replicate a specific programmatic activity that promotes policy, systems, or environmental change strategies. State-funded programs will assist the communities with developing their Implementation Guide(s).
2) Serve as a mentor to unfunded communities interested in this initiative and provide exposure to best practices and lessons learned about implementing Strategic Alliance initiatives in their community. Mentoring should include site visits with the selected communities and instruction on using the Implementation Guides. Each Strategic Alliance community is expected to mentor at least two communities in years 3 and at least two additional communities in years 4 and 5.
i. Actively promote the sharing of experiences, strategies, and results with both funded and unfunded cities, communities, and interested partners. Ensure effective, timely communication and exchange of information and experiences through workshops, site visits to and between communities and cities, and other activities.
Performance Measure:
a). Produce at least one Implementation Guide for each community your program funds. The Implementation Guide(s) must include sufficient information so other communities can replicate and implement evidence-based interventions that promote policy, systems, or environmental change strategies. The Implementation Guide(s) developed will be shared with CDC.
b). Serve as a mentor to unfunded communities. At least 10% of funds should be directed to mentoring the chosen communities in years 3-5. Each Strategic Alliance community is expected to mentor at least two communities in years 3 and at least two additional communities in years 4 and 5.
Mentoring should include one or two site visits with the selected communities and instruction on using all Implementation Guides the grantee has produced. This may include ongoing technical assistance via conference calls and/or email correspondence as needed. Mentoring is also provided through additional resource guides and educational documents, interactive internet conferencing, web seminars, and other forms of distance learning. Actively promote the sharing of experiences, strategies, and results with both funded and unfunded cities, communities, and interested partners. Communities will mentor unfunded communities around systems, policy and environmental change strategies related to specific sector (worksites, schools, healthcare, and community). Ensure effective, timely, communication and exchange of information and experiences through workshops, site visits to and between communities and cities, and other activities.
II. Tribal Recipient Activities
Recipient activities are the same as the activities outlined above under sections I.1 through I.7 for Large Cities and Urban Communities.
III. State-Coordinated Small City and Rural Community Recipient Activities
1) Complete a Community Assessment
In year one, the State Health Department will begin a community assessment of at least two or more small city and rural communities that they identified in their application.
In years two through fiver, each of the at least two or more identified communities will be expected, with state assistance, to conduct the same activities identified above for Large City and Urban Community Recipients in Section I., activities 1) through 8) and will be responsible for achieving Performance Measures 1) through 8).
2) Leadership/Coordination/Management.
The state health department should establish and coordinate a State-Community Management Team, including participation from the funded communities, the state health department, education agency, Office of Rural Health, any city or large community that is funded within the state borders under this Funding Opportunity Announcement, and other key public and private sector partners.
Performance Measures:
During the project period of 5 years, the proposed program will achieve the following:
a) By the end of the first year, the state will have begun a community assessment of the at least 2 or more chosen communities, as evidenced by the state’s annual progress report. During years 2 – 5, the communities will complete activities 1 – 6, above.
b) The state health department, with assistance from the funded communities, will develop a State-Community Management Team. The budget will then be developed based on the Management Team records.
CDC Activities
In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
CDC activities for this program, applicable to all applicants, are as follows:
· To provide ongoing guidance, technical assistance, training and support in the following areas:
1. Community assessment and planning,
2. Evidence-based and practice-based approaches,
3. Community mobilization and partnership development,
4. Program sustainability, program strategies,
5. Evaluation of system level change and other areas as needed,
6. Assist grantees with developing and revising their Community Action
Plans,
7. Assist grantees with developing and revising their implementation guides and mentoring plans,
8. Assist the grantees with locating communities interested in the implementation guides.
· To foster the transfer of successful evidence and practice-based interventions,
program models and other forms of technical assistance by convening meetings, workshops, web forums, conferences, and conference calls with grantees.
· To conduct on-site visits to grantees.
· To provide Project Monitoring and Evaluation
Provide expert resources to assist in the design, collection, analysis, and use of comparable evaluation data to assess and strengthen programs.
Provide consistency in measurement; and ensure comparability across grantee programmatic activities. CDC will utilize data from BRFSS and other national sources to monitor behavior changes and changes to chronic disease risk factors on a national scale.
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
CDC’s involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section above.
Award Mechanism: U58
Fiscal Year Funds: 2008
Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $ 2,600,000 (note-this is based on 40% of funds for the planning year)
Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $ 20,000,000.This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds. This includes direct and indirect costs.
Approximate Number of Awards: 9
Approximate Average Award:
States $360,000
Cities $240,000
Tribes $160,000
This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs. This amount is approximately 40% of the dollars available in years 2-4 based on availability of funds.
Floor of Individual Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Individual Award Range: None. (This ceiling is for the first 12-month budget period.)
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2008
Budget Period Length: 12 Months
Project Period Length: September 1, 2008-August 31, 2013
Throughout the project period, CDC’s commitment to continuation of awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal government.
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants that can apply for this funding opportunity are listed below:
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching-To Promote Sustainability
Cost sharing funds are required for this project to motivate sustainability measures. Cost Sharing funds are required from non-Federal sources in an amount not less than 25 percent of Federal funds awarded to Large City and Urban Community Grantees in year one, increasing by 5% every year ending at 40% by year five. State grantees funded under the State-Coordinated Small City and Rural Community Program are required to provide a cost share not less than 25% percent of the funds the state uses to support the participating communities through technical assistance and other means increasing incrementally at 5% per year to 50% by year five. The local health departments funded by the state will match 30% in year two, increasing to 45% by year five.
For the purpose of the initial application’s 5 year plan and budget, applicants should calculate budgets based on the first year cost sharing requirements listed above.
The cost sharing funds may be cash or its equivalent in-kind or donated services, fairly evaluated. The contribution may be made directly or through donations from public or private entities. Matching funds must be consistent with the community action plans that are submitted and approved. The total amount of federal funds requested (including direct and indirect costs), combined with the amount for matching funds shall constitute the grantee’s proposed costs for the budget period.
Cost sharing funds may not be met through: (1) the payment of treatment services or the donation of treatment, or direct patient education services; (2) services assisted or subsidized by the Federal Government; or (3) the indirect or overhead of an organization.
The lead/fiduciary agent for State-Coordinated Small City and Rural Community awardees Health Departments are responsible for ensuring that up to 75 % of the total award is distributed on an annual basis to the identified communities in the state-coordinated application after the first planning year, when full funding is reached. The remaining funds should be used to support the funded communities through technical assistance and other means. Beginning in year two, 25% of the award described above is subject to a cost sharing requirement as described in section 3.2 of this announcement. Continuation awards and level of funding within the project period (FY 2009 through FY 2013) will be based on the availability of funds and satisfactory progress in achieving performance measures as evidenced by required progress reports.
Each program will be required to have a match to contribute to sustainability of the program. The match requirement will be as follows indicating an increase of 5% per year:
Year one: 25% match of total
Year two: 30% match of total
Year three: 35% match of total
Year four: 40% match of total
Year five: 45% match of total
III.3. Other
If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range, your application will be considered non-responsive, and will not be entered into the review process.
Applications that do not address all activities will be considered non-responsive, and will not be entered into the review process.
You are not required to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to be eligible to apply for this program, but it is highly recommended. See Sections IV.2, IV.3, and IV.6 of this announcement for more information on LOI submission. As only one application per community will be accepted, LOIs will be used to identify communities that might inadvertently submit more than one application. If multiple LOIs from a single community are received, those organizations will be contacted to facilitate communication among the various parties so that a single application can be developed for that community, and the lead/fiduciary agent identified for the community.
Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.
Applications that do not meet the matching requirements stipulated in Section III.2 above will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process.
Special Requirements:
If the application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will not be entered into the review process. The applicant will be notified the application did not meet submission requirements.
IV.1. Address to Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use the application forms package posted in Grants.gov.
Electronic Submission:
CDC strongly encourages the applicant to submit the application electronically by utilizing the forms and instructions posted for this announcement on www.Grants.gov, the official Federal agency wide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who apply on-line are permitted to forego paper copy submission of all application forms.
Registering your organization through www.Grants.gov is the first step in submitting applications online. Registration information is located in the “Get Registered” screen of www.Grants.gov. While application submission through www.Grants.gov is optional, we strongly encourage you to use this online tool.
Please visit www.Grants.gov at least 30 days prior to filing your application to familiarize yourself with the registration and submission processes. Under “Get Registered,” the one-time registration process will take three to five days to complete; however, as part of the Grants.gov registration process, registering your organization with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) annually, could take an additional one to two days to complete. We suggest submitting electronic applications prior to the closing date so if difficulties are encountered, you can submit a hard copy of the application prior to the deadline.
Paper Submission:
Application forms and instructions are available on the CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/app_and_forms.shtm
If access to the Internet is not available, or if there is difficulty accessing the forms on-line, contact the CDC Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIMS) staff at 770-488-2700 and the application forms can be mailed.
IV.2. Content and Form of Submission
Letter of Intent (LOI):
Prospective applicants are recommended to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
If the LOI is being sent from a Large City and Urban Community applicant, also provide the exact boundaries and total population size of the geographic areas with population exceeding 400,000 persons that qualifies the applicant as eligible for this program announcement.
Format:
The LOI should be no more than two pages (8.5 x 11), double-spaced, printed on one side, with one-inch margins, written in English (avoiding jargon), and unreduced 12-point font.
Letter of Intent (LOI): A letter of intent (LOI) from the Chief Executive Officer (Mayor, county executive, Tribal chief, Governor or other equivalent governmental official) is recommended from all potential applicant communities for the purposes of determining eligibility and planning the competitive review process. As only one application per community will be accepted, LOIs will be used to identify communities that might inadvertently submit more than one application. If multiple LOIs from a single community are received, those organizations will be contacted to facilitate communication among the various parties so that a single application can be developed for that community, and the lead/fiduciary agent identified for the community. Failure to submit a LOI will not preclude you from submitting an application.
Application:
A Project Abstract must be submitted with the application forms. All electronic project abstracts must be uploaded in a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov. The abstract must be submitted in the following format, if submitting a paper application:
The Project Abstract must contain a summary of the proposed activity suitable for dissemination to the public. It should be a self-contained description of the project and should contain a statement of objectives and methods to be employed. It should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and insofar as possible understandable to a technically literate lay reader. This Abstract must not include any proprietary/confidential information.
A project narrative must be submitted with the application forms. All electronic narratives must be uploaded in a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov. The narrative must be submitted in the following format, if submitting a paper application:
The narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period and should include the following items in the order listed:
I.
Program InfrastructureII.
Data Collection and SurveillanceIII.
Partnerships, Coalitions, and Strategic PlanningIV.
Promote Increased Access & Utilization of InterventionsV.
Support Policy and Decision Making to Address the chronic diseases of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseaseVI.
Enhance Capacity for EvaluationVII.
Work in Collaboration with Other Chronic Disease Programs
Additional information may be included in the application appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative page limit. This additional information includes:
Additional information submitted via Grants.gov should be uploaded in a PDF file format, and should be named:
(e.g., 807_GA_ResumeSmith.pdf; 807_GA_OrgChartDivision.pdf)
No more than 10 appendices should be uploaded per application.
The agency or organization is required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access the Dun and Bradstreet website or call 1-866-705-5711.
Additional requirements that may request submission of additional documentation with the application are listed in section “VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.”
Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline Date: May 23, 2008
Application Deadline Date: June 24, 2008
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Applications must be submitted electronically at www.Grants.gov. Applications completed on-line through Grants.gov are considered formally submitted when the applicant organization’s Authorizing Organization Representative (AOR) electronically submits the application to www.Grants.gov. Electronic applications will be considered as having met the deadline if the application has been successfully submitted electronically by the applicant organization’s AOR to Grants.gov on or before the deadline date and time.
When submission of the application is done electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), the application will be electronically time/date stamped and a tracking number will be assigned, which will serve as receipt of submission. The AOR will receive an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the application.
This announcement is the definitive guide on LOI and application content, submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in the application instructions. If the application submission does not meet the deadline above, it will not be eligible for review. The application face page will be returned by HHS/CDC with a written explanation of the reason for non-acceptance. The applicant will be notified the application did not meet the submission requirements.
IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing the budget, are as follows:
If requesting indirect costs in the budget, a copy of the indirect cost rate agreement is required. If the indirect cost rate is a provisional rate, the agreement should be less than 12 months of age. The indirect cost rate agreement should be uploaded as a PDF file with “Other Attachment Forms” when submitting via Grants.gov.
The recommended guidance for completing a detailed justified budget can be found on the CDC Web site, at the following Internet address:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.
IV.6. Other Submission Requirements
LOI Submission Address: Submit the LOI by express mail, delivery service, fax, or E-mail to:
Captain Nancy Williams, USPHS
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Mailstop K-93
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone Number: (770) 488-5358
Fax: (770) 488-8488
Ndw6@cdc.gov
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 CDC Program staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.
The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed in Section IV.3.A.
LOI Submission Address: Submit the LOI by express mail or delivery service to:
Technical Information Management - DP08-813
Department of Health and Human Services
CDC Procurement and Grants Office
2920 Brandywine Rd, MS E-14
Atlanta, GA 30341
Application Submission Address:
Electronic Submission:
HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to submit applications electronically at www.Grants.gov. The application package can be downloaded from www.Grants.gov. Applicants are able to complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov Web site. E-mail submissions will not be accepted. If the applicant has technical difficulties in Grants.gov, customer service can be reached by E-mail at support@grants.gov or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7:00a.m. to 9:00p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
HHS/CDC recommends that submittal of the application to Grants.gov should be prior to the closing date to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. Applicants may also submit a back-up paper submission of the application. Any such paper submission must be received in accordance with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. of the grant announcement. The paper submission must be clearly marked: “BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.” The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-electronic submissions. If both electronic and back-up paper submissions are received by the deadline, the electronic version will be considered the official submission.
The applicant must submit all application attachments using a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov. Directions for creating PDF files can be found on the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats other than PDF may result in the file being unreadable by staff.
AND/OR
Paper Submission:
Applicants should submit the original and two hard copies of the application by mail or express delivery service to:
2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14
Atlanta, GA 30341
V.1. Criteria
It is requested that applicants provide measures of effectiveness that will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the performance goals stated in the “Purpose” section of this announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative and must measure the intended outcome. The measures of effectiveness must be submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
The application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
Application will be scored on the extent to which the proposed plan provides evidence that performance measures will be achieved during the annual project years or cooperative agreement project period, as appropriate, in each of the following areas (points indicate the weight of each criterion):
Evaluation criteria for Large City and Urban Communities are listed under number 1 below, for Tribes under number 2 below, and for State-Coordinated Small City and Rural Communities under number 3 below.
1. Large City and Urban Community Applicants
a) Intervention Strategies (30 points)
i. Community Interventions (20 of 30 points)
a. Does the five -year community action plan include objectives and activities that are specific, time-phased, measurable, realistic, sustainable, and related to identified needs and gaps in existing programs, program requirements, and purposes and goals of this cooperative agreement?
b. Is the community action plan and its evaluation based on sound scientific evidence of community intervention effectiveness?
c. Are the community intervention strategies and the action plan as a whole likely to be effective? This includes the estimated efficacy of each intervention based on existing science, the likely reach of each intervention (percentage of the community likely to be engaged or impacted by the intervention), the extent to which interventions build on and complement, but do not duplicate, existing programs, and the potential synergy created through multiple interventions.
d. Does the proposed plan include interventions/strategies to address all of the disease, condition and risk factor areas covered by The Strategic Alliance for Health Initiative (physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease)?
e. How well does the plan reflect and build on a substantiated and comprehensive understanding of the assets, attributes, and deficiencies of the communities including non-Strategic Alliance for Health Initiative-related activities completed or on-going in these communities?
f. Does the applicant include a separate and comprehensive long-term sustainability plan?
g. Are community partnerships and coalitions identified and defined to the extent that they will actively participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of The Strategic Alliance for Health Initiative? What roles will they play in meeting the purpose of the Initiative?
ii.
School-based Interventions (10 of 30 points)a. Are the proposed objectives and activities focused on making policy, systems and environmental changes for school-based interventions specific, time-phased, measurable, realistic, feasible, and related to identified needs and gaps in existing programs, program requirements, and purposes and goals of this cooperative agreement program?
b. Do the proposed policy, systems, or environmental change initiatives include innovative approaches, implementation strategies, and a plan to sustain the initiatives?
b. Background and Need (20 points)
i. Is the proposed intervention area clearly and thoroughly described, including the populations to be served?
ii. Are data provided that substantiate the existing burden and/or disparities of chronic diseases and conditions, specifically obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in the proposed intervention area and populations to be served?
iii. Are data provided that substantiate existing health risk behaviors and risk factors related to chronic diseases in the proposed intervention area and populations to be served?
iv. Are assets and barriers to successful program implementation identified?
v. How well are existing resources being leveraged and used to complement or contribute to the effort planned in the proposal?
c. Communication and Information Sharing (20 points)
i. Does the applicant describe plans to produce at least one Implementation Guide per community they are proposing to fund? Does the applicant describe plans to mentor other communities, including conducting site visits to train others on the use of the Implementation Guides?
ii. Does the applicant describe plans to share experiences, strategies, and results with other interested states, communities, and partners?
ii. Does the applicant describe plans to ensure effective and timely communication and exchange of information, experiences and results through mechanisms such as the internet, workshops, publications, and other innovations?
d) Project leadership and management (15 points)
i. Is the lead/fiduciary agency clearly identified?
ii. Does the lead/fiduciary agency have the capacity to ensure accountability for expenditures in relationship to performance of all key partners?
iii. Does the applicant clearly and fully describe the proposed structure of the project including decision-making processes?
iv. Does the applicant provide letters of support and memoranda of understanding (as appropriate) with partner agencies and organizations?
v. Do letters of support and memoranda of understanding describe specific collaborative actions to be undertaken and the role of the partners?
vi. Do the key partner organizations within the applicant community provide financial or in-kind contributions toward the success of The Strategic Alliance for Health Initiative?
vii. Does the applicant describe realistic plans to coordinate proposed activities with state- and community-level programs to prevent and control chronic disease?
viii. How well qualified are proposed staff regarding relevant background, expertise, qualifications, and experience to successfully accomplish the goals of The Strategic Alliance for Health Initiative?
ix. Does the proposed staffing plan appear appropriate to the level of work proposed and demonstrate the intent to minimize staff levels in order to maximize funding for interventions?
x.
Does the applicant describe clearly defined roles of project staff and an appropriate percent of time each is committing to the project?
e. Plan for Project Monitoring and Evaluation (10 points)
i. Does the applicant describe plans to collaborate with other Strategic Alliance for Health Initiative recipients in implementing a set of common performance measures to monitor the success of funded projects?
ii.
Are appropriate data sources used to monitor and track changes in community capacity; the extent to which interventions reach populations at high risk; changes in risk factors, chronic disease burden, and disparities; the relationship between interventions and outcomes; and changes in program efficiency?iii.
Does the applicant describe plans to collaborate fully in external, independently coordinated evaluation activities to evaluate the overall impact of the initiative?
f. Community Consortium (5 points).
i. Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to establish a consortium that is inclusive of key partners, and related coalitions?
ii. Are all of the appropriate partner organizations included in the community consortium?
iii. Does the applicant describe the capacity of the proposed consortium in terms of leadership, expertise, community representation, collaborative experience/abilities, and agency representation?
iv. Do the key partners demonstrate a high-level commitment to planning, implementing, and evaluating the proposed project, including a commitment of staff and other resources?
v. Have members of the proposed consortia successfully worked together or with others in the past to achieve improved health outcomes, preferably through policy, systems, and environmental change initiatives?
g.
Budget (not scored)Is the budget reasonable and consistent with the proposed activities and intent of the initiative?
2. Tribal Applicants
Will be evaluated according to the Large City and Urban Community evaluation criteria listed under “Evaluation Criteria” V.1.a) through g) above.
3. State-Coordinated Small City and Rural Community Applicants
a. Intervention Strategies (40 points)
The points for this section will be divided equally between the two or more pre-selected communities where project activities and interventions will occur (i.e., 20 points per community if the project proposes to work in two communities, 13 points per community if three communities, ten points per community if four communities). This section will be evaluated according to the same criteria for Large City and Urban Community proposals under “Evaluation Criteria” V.1.a) (i-ii) above.
b. Information Sharing (20 points)
i. Does the applicant describe plans to produce at least one Implementation Guide per community they are proposing to fund? Does the applicant describe plans to mentor other communities, including conducting site visits and using Implementation Guides? Does the applicant describe plans to actively share experiences, strategies, and results with other interested states, communities, and partners?
ii. Does the applicant describe plans to ensure effective and timely communication and exchange of information, experiences and results through mechanisms such as the internet, workshops, publications, and other innovations?
iii. Are there plans to mentor at least two communities a year?
c. Project Leadership, Collaboration, and Proposed Structure (10 points)
i. Is the lead/fiduciary agency clearly identified?
ii. Does the lead/fiduciary agency have the capacity to ensure accountability for expenditures in relationship to performance of all key partners?
iii. Does the applicant clearly and fully describe the proposed structure of the project including decision-making processes, monitoring, problem-solving, and providing support to community-based programs?
iv. Does the applicant provide letters of support and memoranda of understanding (as appropriate) with partner agencies and organizations that have experience with policy or systems-level change?
v. Do letters of support and memoranda of understanding describe specific collaborative actions to be undertaken and the role, responsibilities, and commitment of resources of the partners?
vi. Do the key partner organizations within the state and proposed communities provide financial or in-kind contributions toward the success of The Strategic Alliance for Health Initiative?
vii. Does the applicant describe realistic plans to coordinate proposed activities with state- and community-level programs to prevent and control chronic disease?
viii. Do the proposed staff have the relevant background, qualifications, and experience to successfully accomplish policy, systems, and environmental change goals?
ix. Does the proposed staffing plan appear appropriate to the level of work proposed and demonstrate the intent to minimize staff levels in order to maximize funding for interventions?
x. Does the applicant describe clearly defined roles of project staff and an appropriate percent time each is committing to the initiative?
xi. Does the proposed local consortium have the capacity for leadership, technical expertise, community representation, collaborative experience/abilities, and agency representation to successfully accomplish the policy and systems change goals of the initiative?
x. Does the applicant describe the past history and evidence of effectiveness of community/state partnerships in relation to health issues and interventions (especially those related to chronic disease prevention and control, and those involving the specific communities selected for this initiative)?
xi.
Does the applicant describe the past history and evidence of effectiveness of community partnerships within the proposed communities in relation to health issues and interventions (especially those involving chronic disease prevention and control)?
d. Plan for Project Monitoring and Evaluation (10 points)
i. Does the applicant describe plans to collaborate with other Strategic Alliance for Health Initiative recipients in developing and implementing a set of common measures to monitor the success of funded projects?
ii. Are appropriate data sources used to monitor and track changes in community capacity; the extent to which interventions reach populations at high risk; changes in risk factors, chronic disease burden, and disparities; the relationship between interventions and outcomes; and changes in program efficiency?
v. Does the applicant describe how the project is anticipated to improve specific performance measures and outcomes compared to baseline performance?
e. Capacity to Guide and Support Intervention Communities (10 points)
i. Does the applicant propose a State/Community Management Team that is fully capable of guiding and directing the overall initiative?
ii. Does the state have sufficient experience, expertise, and capacity to assist local communities in promoting change at the policy, systems, and environmental level?
iii. Does the applicant include evidence of having provided guidance and support to local communities that resulted in successful implementation of policies or systems-level interventions and outcomes and to develop usable implementation guides that can be used to help other communities?
iv. Are specific methods to assist local communities in the activities of this project described?
f. Background and Need (10 points)
i. Is the proposed intervention area clearly and thoroughly described, including the populations to be served?
ii. Are data provided that substantiate the existing burden and/or disparities of chronic diseases and conditions, specifically obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in the proposed intervention area and populations to be served?
iii. Are data provided that substantiate existing health risk behaviors and risk factors related to chronic diseases in the proposed intervention area and populations to be served?
iv. Are assets and barriers to successful program implementation identified?
v. How well are existing resources being leveraged and used to complement or contribute to the effort planned in the proposal?
g. Budget (not scored)
Is the budget reasonable and consistent with the proposed activities and intent of this initiative?
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff and for responsiveness jointly by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and PGO. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process. Applicants will be notified the application did not meet submission requirements.
An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive applications according to the criteria listed in the “V.1. Criteria” section above. The panel will be comprised of CDC employees from both inside and outside of the funding center. A primary, secondary, and tertiary reviewer will score the applications and document their strengths and weaknesses. The applications will be scored against the criteria not against one another. These comments will be presented to the panel and a vote will take place by the panel to determine if the application is approved, disapproved, or deferred.
Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined by the review panel.
In addition, funding decisions may be made to ensure:
CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank order.