Part I Overview Information
United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Issuing Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, (CDC/NCEH) at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/
Participating Organizations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at http://www.cdc.gov/
Components of Participating Organizations
National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/
Title: Revitalizing Core Environmental Health Programs through the Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net) Research (U01)
The policies, guidelines, terms, and conditions of the HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in this announcement might differ from those used by the HHS National Institutes of Health (NIH). If written guidance for completing this application is not available on the CDC website, then CDC will direct applicants elsewhere for that information.
Authority: This program is authorized under Section 301 [42 U.S.C. Section 241] and Section 317(k)(2) [42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.
Announcement Type: New
Instructions for Submission of Electronic Research Applications:
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This FOA must be read in conjunction with the application package instructions included with this announcement on Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter referred to as, Grants.gov/Apply.)
A registration process is necessary before submission, and applicants are strongly encouraged to start the process at least four weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.
Two steps are required for on time submission:
1) The application must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the application submission receipt date (see “Key Dates” below.)
2) Applicants must complete a verification step in the Electronic Research Administration (eRA Commons) within two business days of notification. Note: Since email can be unreliable, it is the responsibility of the applicant to periodically check on their application status in the eRA Commons.
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: RFA-EH-10-001
“NOTE: New versions of PHS 398 and SF424 (R&R) forms and Application Guides have been developed and are available at Grants.gov. The new forms and instructions must be used to apply for grants and cooperative agreements with receipt dates on or after January 25, 2010. Applicants should download the new application forms and instructions for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply. Applicants should also carefully review and follow the application instructions as described specifically in this FOA, particularly with regard to page limits for the Research Plan. [see Research Plan Component Sections for page limitation]. ”
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s): 93.070, Environmental Public Health and Emergency Response
Key Dates
Release/Posted Date: January 14, 2010
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 12, 2010
NOTE: On-time submission requires that applications be successfully submitted to Grants.gov and validated no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time. Please see Section IV, 3.C. Application Processing.
Application Submission Receipt Date(s): March 15, 2010
Peer Review Date(s): April, 2010
Council Review Date(s): May, 2010
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): July 1, 2010
Additional Information to Be Available Date: N/A
Expiration Date: March 16, 2010
Due Date for E.O. 12372
Executive Order 12372 does apply to this program.
Additional Overview Content
Executive Summary
· This FOA solicits investigator-initiated (U01 cooperative agreement) applications to support revitalizing core environmental health programs through research activities associated with the Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-NET). Research activities include conducting applied behavioral, environmental epidemiologic, and laboratory research on environmental factors contributing to disease transmission. The announcement is divided into two parts, A and B. Part A will fund projects related to Food Safety, including but not limited to retail foodservice such as restaurants, delis, grocery stores and domestic food manufacturing/processing. Part B will fund projects related to Water Safety, including but not limited to public and private drinking water systems, small drinking water systems not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act [SDWA]), agricultural water, and onsite waste management.
· The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) intends to commit a total of $4,050,000 in fiscal year 2010 to fund applications responsive to this announcement.
· Awards issued under this FOA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
· The anticipated number of awards to be issued under this FOA is up to twenty-three (23). A total of eighteen (18) awards for Part A and 5 (five) awards for Part B. The average award is $150,000. There will be a ceiling of $175,000 for the first 12-month budget period that includes direct and indirect costs.
· The budget period is anticipated to start in July 1, 2010 and will last 12 months and the project period will be 5 years (FY 2010 – 2015).
· Eligible Organizations:
o Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native tribal governments
o American Indian/Alaska native tribally designated organizations
o Alaska Native villages, groups, or regional or village corporations
o State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents (this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau). A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified by the state as eligible to submit an application under the state eligibility in lieu of a state application. If you are applying as a bona fide agent of a state or local government, you must provide required documentation from the state or local government as documentation of your status. Attach this documentation behind the first page of your application form or for electronic applications, use a PDF file and attach as “Other Documents” and label as appropriate.
· See Section IV.1 for application materials. The SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for this FOA is located at these Web sites: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/SF424_RR_Guide_General_Ver2.doc (MS Word); http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/SF424_RR_Guide_General_Ver2.pdf (PDF)
· For general information on SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission, see these the following Web sites: SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm; General information on Electronic Submission of Grant Applications: http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/
· HHS/CDC Telecommunications for the hearing impaired is available at the following number: TTY 770-488-2783.
Funding Opportunity Announcement Glossary: FOA Glossary Terminology
Table of Contents
Part I Overview Information
Part II Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
2.Cost Sharing or Matching
3.Other - Special Eligibility Criteria
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Receipt and Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Submitting an Application to CDC
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements
Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
A. Cooperative Agreement
1. Recipient Rights and Responsibilities
2. HHS/CDC Responsibilities
3. Collaborative Responsibilities
3. Reporting
Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)
4. General Questions Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations
Part II - Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
Background
The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) of CDC within HHS is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010" and to measuring program performance as stipulated by the Government Performance and Review Act (GPRA). This RFA addresses “Healthy People 2010” priority areas of environmental health, public health infrastructure, and education and community-based programs. Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the following performance goals for the National Center for Environmental Health: Prevent or reduce illness, injury and death related to environmental risk factors. Build and enhance effective partnerships to improve environmental health capacity.
For more information, www.healthypeople.gov, and http://intra-apps.cdc.gov/fmo/.
In addition to the requirements set forth in this announcement, awardees may be required to participate in the National Environmental Health Performance Standards Pilot Program at CDC’s discretion. Participants of the Standards Pilot Program will complete an assessment of their environmental health program using the Environmental Health Performance Standards developed by CDC as part of the 2011 voluntary public health department accreditation process. Monetary resources will be provided to each participating program that is separate from the budget amount submitted by the applicant in their applications. CDC believes that implementation of the EH performance standards will support preparation for the National Public Health Accreditation program. In addition, CDC will be offering a non-research EHS-NET announcement in 2010 entitled Revitalizing Core Environmental Health Program through the Environmental Health Specialist Network: Delivering Environmental Health Services.
Projects solicited through this announcement will support revitalizing core environmental health programs through research activities associated with the EHS-NET.
Environmental Health Specialist Network (ESH-NET) Research Opportunity Description
The EHS-Net Research opportunity seeks to improve the practice of environmental health service programs by establishing a network of environmental health specialists (EHS) who collaborate with epidemiologists and laboratorians to conduct research to identify and prevent environmental risk factors contributing to foodborne and/or waterborne illness. For information on EHS-Net activities, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/EHSNet/ default.htm.
This announcement is divided into two parts, A and B. Part A will fund EHS-Net Research projects related to Food Safety including but not limited to retail foodservice such as restaurants, delis, grocery stores and domestic food manufacturing. Part B will fund EHS-Net Research projects related to Water Safety including but not limited to drinking and agricultural water safety, and onsite waste disposal.
This announcement covers:
1. Food Safety, including but not limited to retail foodservice such as restaurants, delis, grocery stores and domestic food manufacturing/processing (Part A)
2. Water Safety, including but not limited to drinking and agricultural water safety, and onsite waste disposal (Part B)
Please specify whether you are applying for Part A, B or both elements of this announcement.
EHS-Net research activities include conducting applied behavioral, environmental epidemiologic, and laboratory research on environmental factors contributing to disease transmission.
The objectives of this research include:
1. Increasing and improving environmental assessments conducted during food and waterborne outbreak investigations based upon changing or emerging public health priorities, and improving the collection, reporting, analysis, and use of data from these environmental assessments to identify and reduce risk factors associated with illness and for future disease prevention efforts;
2. Identifying and understanding environmental factors associated with food- and water-borne safety, including food- and water-borne illness.
3. Evaluating food safety and/or water safety service programs and their activities;
4. Developing and disseminating the findings from EHS-Net research projects to the environmental public health community.
Part A: Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-NET) Food-Related Research Opportunities Description – Will utilize a collaborative forum of environmental health specialists, epidemiologists, and laboratorians to:
· identify food safety and food safety program issues
· develop appropriate research projects to address the issues
· propose interventions and/or best practices based on these projects
· disseminate findings
Part B: Environmental Health Specialists Network (EHS-Net) Water-Related Research Opportunities Description – Will utilize a collaborative forum of environmental health specialists, epidemiologists, and laboratorians to:
· identify water safety and water safety program issues
· develop appropriate research projects to address the issues
· propose interventions and/or best practices based on these projects
· disseminate findings
Activities:
· Staffing
1. Establish and maintain a full-time senior staff position in the agency’s food safety and/or water safety programs (i.e., one full-time equivalent per program), with full responsibility for implementation and coordination of activities of the EHS-Net related to food safety and/or water safety. The person in this position must report directly to a senior program official who has agency (State and/or local) authority to participate in EHS-Net activities. The person in this position also must have demonstrated leadership skills; technical knowledge and program experience with the food safety and/or water safety program; knowledge and understanding of the appropriate State environmental health program (food safety and/or water safety); and communication skills necessary to effectively promote and facilitate network activities. The person will be involved in study design; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; and publication of findings. The person will also be responsible for the accuracy, quality, and timely reporting of all data submitted to CDC’s EHS-Net Web-based information system (See http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/EHSNet/ehsnis.htm).
2. Identify an existing staff position in the health agency’s program with responsibilities and organizational authority for foodborne and/or waterborne disease surveillance. The individual should know and understand the epidemiology and surveillance of foodborne and/or waterborne disease; demonstrate the leadership ability to inform and guide decisions concerning specific activities of the network; have the ability to lead and coordinate proposed activities; and possess knowledge of the agency’s environmental service program (food and/or water). The individual should be active in study design; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; and publication of findings.
3. Identify existing staff position(s) in State and/or local agencies with responsibility for carrying out specific EHS-Net activities. These persons should have the technical program experience needed to implement proposed activities; an understanding of the State food and/or water program; and the communication skills necessary to effectively implement proposed activities.