Subject: RFA AD-91-01 2/l/9l NIH Guide
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 06 Feb 91 08:03 EST

Hi Paul,
    #5 in the revised versions.  Please post as: RFAAD-91-01.910201
       Also post as RFAOD-91-01.210201     Thanks.  Dottie
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
 
JOINT ADAMHA/NIH REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
 
RFA:  ADAMHA  AD-91-01
       NIH     OD-91-01
 
SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP AWARD
 
P.T. 44; K.W. 0720000, 0710000
 
Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration and
National Institutes of Health
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  March 15, 1991
Application Receipt Date:  April 25, 1991
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
The President and the Nation's Governors have declared six
"National Education Goals," one of which is that by the year
2000, students in the United States will be the world leaders
in science and mathematics achievement.  Further, unless there
are adequate numbers of students entering and remaining in the
mathematical and scientific fields of education, the United
States will not have a sufficient supply of scientists,
engineers, and technicians to meet the Nation's future
workforce needs.  There is also the need for a scientifically
literate society that understands the role of science,
biology, and technology.  There is a lack of public
understanding of behaviors that increase the risk for disease,
the use of animals in behavioral and biomedical research, and
the necessity for basic research to make progress toward
improving health.  To help address these issues, the Alcohol,
Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA) and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) are initiating in Fiscal
Year 1991 the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA)
Program.  To meet their respective missions, the ADAMHA and the
NIH are issuing this joint Request for Applications (RFA) for SEPA
proposals.  Applicants may submit multiple different
applications under this RFA; however, substantially similar
proposals may not be submitted to the two agencies.
 
To address
the goals of the SEPA Program, proposed science education
projects should be developed for students at the kindergarten
through 12th grade levels and/or for the general lay public.
Programs aimed at school children should convey the scientific
process in a way that makes science fun and interesting for
the students and that captures their enthusiasm for science.
Programs aimed at the general population should be directed to
increasing their knowledge of scientific terms, concepts, and
reasoning and their ability to understand scientific public
policy issues.  To gain maximum benefit from the program,
priority will be given to projects that are innovative, that
have the potential to be replicated for widespread use, and
that build on existing science education programs whenever
possible.  Because of the need of minorities and women for
accurate, science-based information on health promotion and
disease prevention, programs that support science education
for the special needs of underrepresented groups are
encouraged.  Programs aimed at specific ethnic or racial groups
must be culturally appropriate to the group.
 
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
 
The SEPA Program will support grants designed to encourage
scientists to work with educators and community organizations
to improve student and public understanding of science and
increase interest of young people in scientific careers.  The
focus of student activities is to be at the kindergarten
through twelfth grade (K-12) level.  The scientists who study
disease and illness and those who carry out basic research
relating to these disorders, have a major contribution to make
by conveying their knowledge and also the excitement of doing
research.  However, it is essential that scientists work
with educators, school administrators, community leaders, the
media, and others in order to make effective contributions to
improving science education and improving public understanding
of both the process and accomplishments of science.
 
ADAMHA will support partnership projects that focus on any
scientific area relevant to the ADAMHA mission.  Hence, the
focus of this award is on building partnership programs.
ADAMHA is especially interested in projects that focus on
scientific knowledge about the brain and behavior and their
relation to the addictive and mental disorders.  This includes
the basic sciences underlying these disorders, such as the
neurosciences, psychology, pharmacology, genetics, and other
relevant sciences.
 
The NIH SEPA Program will support the development of model
programs that join working scientists and educators in
enhancing the precollege science education and public
understanding in such biomedical science areas as molecular
biology, molecular genetics, immunology, neuroscience, and
bioinformatics, as well as ethical issues, the benefits and
risks of genetic engineering, and the role of environmental
health.
 
ADAMHA and NIH will consider cofunding of projects focussing on
general aspects of health science (e.g., the responsible use of
animals in biomedical and behavioral science or biotechnology)
or scientific areas that cut across the mission of both
agencies (e.g., neurosciences, genetics, and health and
behavior).  A single application should be submitted for such
projects.
 
The ADAMHA and the NIH encourage and support the initiation of
cooperative efforts among diverse elements in the scientific
and education community, including university scientists,
elementary and secondary schools, foundations, private
industry, the media, and museums, to develop model programs for
increasing scientific literacy.  The ADAMHA/NIH SEPA Program
seeks to focus on the improvement of science education through
partnerships between public and private sector organizations
and the working scientists.  Carefully crafted partnerships can
create channels for transferring information about new
scientific discoveries, improve curricula, and develop
textbooks and other materials that increase and impart to
students, teachers, and the general public the utility of
biomedical/behavioral research.  The essential feature of the
program is the active participation of scientists with the
scientific and technical knowledge and resources with the
knowledge and pedagogical expertise of educators.  Research
institutions are encouraged to provide from non-Federal
sources, incentives for their scientists to participate in the
SEPA Program.  These incentives may include the awarding of
sabbaticals, time released from other duties, or special
institutional recognition to individuals, to permit them to
participate in the program.  Such applicants are also
encouraged to use institutional funds freed up as a result of
the SEPA award (e.g., investigators' salaries) for purposes
consistent with this award.
 
ADAMHA and NIH seek the development of model projects and,
therefore, priority will be given to applications with the
potential for widespread use and replication.
 
While SEPA projects must represent new activities and focus on
health-related science, coordination with existing science
education improvement programs (e.g., those funded by the
National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and
Department of Education), are encouraged.
 
Specific examples of the types of activities that may be
proposed include, but are not limited to, the following:
 
o  Improving the scientific knowledge base of current and
prospective precollege teachers so that current concepts in
health sciences can be integrated into course content and
teachers' instructional skills can be enhanced.
 
o  Developing innovative materials, techniques, and/or
curricula consistent with the purposes of this program in areas
where there is a demonstrated lack of suitable materials and a
need for scientific advice.
 
o  Organizing and conducting programs to provide laboratory
experiences in the biological sciences for students from the
kindergarten through the twelfth grade (K-12).  This activity
may be in formal school settings or in community settings.
Programs that provide for linkages among PHS-funded scientists
and local community and school programs that provide for
continued contact/mentoring to encourage pursuit of science
careers are particularly desirable.
 
o  Providing training, resources, and support to encourage and
prepare individual biomedical/behavioral scientists to become
involved in projects to educate the general public about
science, including those aimed at educating parents and their
children.  These would include speaking to students, adults,
teachers, or organizations, in an informal but instructive
manner in suitable public places where biological/behavioral
science might be presented in a captivating way to the lay
public.
 
o  Preparation and/or presentation of materials for
biomedical/behavioral science education or of a media program on
science.  These may include television, radio, motion pictures
(including videotape and videodisc), newspaper or magazine
articles, or books aimed at the general student or general adult
population, experiments, computer software, or other written,
electronic, or audio-visual presentations designed to educate
about science.  Projects will not be supported, however, that
are for stand-alone media activities.  These must be tied to a
broader program such as the development of curriculum materials or
activities to engage youth and/or adults in community-based
biomedical/behavioral science activities.
 
o  Providing scientific and/or educational consultation to
groups or organizations regarding activities consistent with
the purposes of this announcement.  Target groups may include
professional organizations, educational organizations, or
community groups.
 
MECHANISM OF SUPPORT/AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS
 
This RFA will use the grant-in-aid
for education projects (R25).  Responsibility for the planning,
direction, and execution of the proposed project will be solely
that of the applicant.  Except as otherwise stated in this RFA,
awards will be administered under PHS grants policy as stated
in the Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement.
 
This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  The ADAMHA and the NIH
expect that $2 million will be available to each agency (a
total of $4 million) during FY 1991 to support this initiative.
Subject to the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious
applications, it is anticipated that approximately ten to
twenty projects will be supported.
 
The ADAMHA and the NIH expect that there will be a range of
activities proposed for support.  Thus, the total project
period for applications submitted in response to this RFA may
range from one to three years, but may not exceed three years.
Annual direct cost requests for the proposed activities are
expected to range from approximately $100,000 to $250,000.
Indirect costs will be provided.  The anticipated award date is
September 30, 1991.  Although this initiative is provided for
in the financial plans of the ADAMHA and the NIH, the award of
grants pursuant to this RFA is also contingent upon the
availability of funds for this purpose.
 
TERMS OF AWARD
 
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
 
To promote cooperation and coordination among the grantees as
well as to publicize and disseminate their contributions, it is
anticipated that each year the Principal Investigators will be
invited to a meeting to present a summary of their activities.
The annual ADAMHA/NIH meeting of SEPA awardees will be held in
various cities of the United States and will be open to persons
interested in science education.  Plans for this activity
should, therefore, be included in the budget request of the
application; a statement regarding willingness to participate
in this activity should also be included in the application.
 
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
 
Publications or audiovisual materials costing over $25,000 each
may be produced with project funds only if prior written
approval is obtained from the funding agency.  Two copies of
the finished product must be supplied along with the annual or
final progress report.
 
Any products derived from the project activity must be
publicized and must be freely available in the public domain.
Any project funded under the SEPA may not be used to endorse or
publicize any profit-making activities.
 
An annual progress report must be filed with the Grants Management
Officer of the awarding agency, and a final report is due
within 90 days of the end of the project period.  Reports
should summarize the goals, methods, and results of the
activity undertaken.  It should also be accompanied by at least
two copies of any materials intended for dissemination
developed as part of the SEPA project.
 
Grant funds may be used for expenses clearly related and
necessary to conduct research projects, including both direct
costs that can be specifically identified with the project and
allowable indirect costs of the institution.  Expenses must be
itemized and justified for each year of the proposed project.
 
The general requirements cited above represent only a portion
of applicable Public Health Service policy under which SEPA
awards will be administered.  All awards will be administered
under PHS grants policy as stated in the Public Health Service
Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 90-50,000
(Rev.) October 1, 1990.  All SEPA Program awardees should have
access to a copy of this document.
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Public and private non-profit and for-profit institutions are
eligible to apply, e.g., universities, colleges, professional
organizations, school systems, scientific societies, science
museums, research institutes, private foundations, and other
organizations engaged in the conduct of, or concerned about,
science education.  Applications from educational institutions
with significant minority enrollments, and from Principal
Investigators who are women or minority group members, are
especially encouraged. 1/
 
REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA
 
REVIEW PROCEDURE
 
Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by Division of
Research Grants (DRG) staff for completeness and by cognizant
program staff for responsiveness.  Incomplete or non-responsive
applications will be returned to the applicant without further
consideration.  Applications that deal with scientific areas of
mutual interest may be dually assigned to both agencies for
consideration of funding.
 
Those applications that are complete and responsive will be
evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below for
educational and scientific/technical merit by an appropriate
peer review group convened by ADAMHA and NIH.  Those
applications may be subjected to triage by a peer review group
to determine their educational and scientific merit relative to
other applications received in response to this RFA.  The
review criteria to be used are identified below.  The ADAMHA
and the NIH will administratively withdraw from competition
those applications judged to be noncompetitive and so notify
the applicant.  Those applications judged to be competitive
will undergo further merit review.  The second level of review
will be provided by the National Advisory Mental Health Council
and/or the National Advisory Research Resources Council.
 
REVIEW CRITERIA
 
The criteria that will be used in the review of the
applications are:
 
1.  Merit of the approach:
 
o  The originality of the proposed model program;
 
o  The educational and scientific merit of the proposed program
design;
 
o  Relevance to improvement of scientific literacy in the
behavioral/biomedical sciences;
 
2.  Significance:
 
o  The importance of the specific educational goals to be
achieved for the identified target population;
 
o  The degree to which the proposed program is likely to serve
as a model for other organizations engaged in similar science
education activities;
 
o  Evidence that the proposed program will fill a current void
or unmet need;
 
o  Adequacy of the applicant's plans to document, evaluate, and
disseminate the model developed under the SEPA;
 
3.  Feasibility:
 
o  Feasibility of the proposed model program;
 
o  Adequacy of the documentation presented that demonstrates
the program will be effective in accomplishing the stated
goals;
 
o  The degree of evidenced involvement of and cooperation among
the scientific, educational, and other partners who will plan
and conduct the project;
 
4.  Personnel and resources:
 
o  Appropriateness and adequacy of the proposed budget;
 
o Qualifications of the proposed project personnel, including the
Principal Investigator, and scientists, educators, and others, to
design and carry out the specific program proposed;
 
o  Suitability of the proposed applicant and cooperating
organizations' facilities, resources, experience in similar
activities, and commitment to achieve the specific goals of the
proposed program.
 
o  Strength of institutional commitment as evidenced by
provision of institutional resources such as office and
workshop space, computer facilities, and administrative and
technical support services.
 
AWARD CRITERIA
 
In making funding decisions, ADAMHA and NIH each will give
consideration to ensure program balance among various types of
projects and/or geographic distribution in the United States
and its territories.  Consideration will also be given to
reaching minority and/or female populations.
 
METHOD OF APPLYING
 
The Application for Public Health Service Grant Form PHS-398
(revised 10/88) must be used in applying for these grants.
These forms are available at most institutional business
offices and from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of
Research Grants, NIH, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland
20892, (301) 496-7441.
 
Applicants should follow the instructions provided in the PHS-
398 kit except for the following:
 
Section 1:
 
Application Face Page -
 
Item 2 - Check the box marked "YES".  If applying for an ADAMHA
SEPA, insert the RFA number AD-91-01 and the RFA title "ADAMHA
Science Education Partnership Award.  If applying for an NIH
SEPA, insert the RFA number OD-91-01 and the RFA title, "NIH
Science Education Partnership Award."
 
Section 2:
 
Research Plan.
 
This part of the application should be used to provide
information sufficient to allow the reviewers to assess the
project in terms of the stated REVIEW CRITERIA above.  In lieu
of the format and information requested in A. through D. on
page 20 of the PHS-398 kit, provide the following information
in the format suggested:
 
Goals and Objectives - Identify the specific goals to be
achieved.
 
Project Plan - Describe the partnership that will be formed,
and the qualifications of its member organization(s) and key
personnel.  Indicate clearly the roles of the scientific,
educational, and other partners in the planning and the conduct
of the project.  Clearly document the need for the proposed
project.  Explain why the particular strategy was chosen.
Describe in detail the activities proposed and how they will
accomplish the stated goals of the program.  Give quantitative
data on numbers of teachers, students, and members of the
general public to be involved and/or the number and types of
educational materials to be prepared.  For the latter, describe
why existing materials or activities are not satisfactory.
Dissemination plans for the project's description, results, or
materials prepared should be included.  The potential for
replication should be addressed.
 
Institutional Commitment - List the financial and/or in-kind
commitments from the members of the partnership and provide
evidence of the applicant institution's commitment to
achievement of the program goals.  Appropriately countersigned
letters of commitment from various agencies, groups, or persons
whose cooperation is critical to the success of the project
should be included.  These letters should be included under the
headings "Consultants/Collaborators" and/or
"Consortium/Contractual Arrangements" as appropriate in Section
2.  While these letters will not count toward the twenty page
limit for the Research Plan of the application, applicants are
cautioned to include in this section only those letters
relating to critical elements of the proposed partnership.
Other letters in support of the proposed project should be
included in the Appendix of the application (refer to Page 23
of the PHS-398 kit for further information regarding Appendix
material).
 
Administrative Plan - Describe the mechanisms to be used to
organize and manage the project.  Include an evaluation plan
designed to measure the impact of the program and to determine
if the activity is meeting its stated goals and objectives.
 
After duplicating six exact copies of the completed
application, the RFA label in the 10/88 revision of form PHS-
398 must be affixed to the bottom of the original copy of the
face page.  Failure to use this label could result in delayed
processing of the application such that it may not reach the
review committee in time for review.
 
Submit the signed, typewritten original of the application,
including the Checklist, and four (4) signed, exact
photocopies, in one package to:
 
DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**
 
At time of submission, two (2) additional copies of the
application must also be submitted as follows:
 
For applications being submitted in response to RFA AD-91-01,
submit the two additional copies to:
 
Dr. Joel W. Goldstein
ADAMHA SEPA Program
Room 13-103
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD  20857
Telephone:  (301) 443-9674
 
For applications being submitted in response to RFA OD-91-01,
submit the two additional copies to:
 
Marjorie A. Tingle, Ph.D.
NIH SEPA Program
National Center for Research Resources
Westwood Building, Room 10A11
5333 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD  20892**
Telephone:  (301) 496-6743
 
Applications must be received by April 25, 1991.  To insure
against carrier delays, retain a legible proof-of-mailing
receipt from the carrier, dated no later than one week prior to
the receipt date.  APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE RECEIPT DATE WILL
NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR REVIEW IN THIS COMPETITION AND WILL BE
RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT.
 
LETTER OF INTENT
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by March 15, 1991,
a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the
proposed project; the name, address, and telephone number of
the Principal Investigator; the names of other key personnel,
the participating institutions; and the number and title of the
RFA in response to which the application is being submitted.
 
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding,
and does not enter into the review of subsequent applications,
the information that it contains is extremely helpful in
planning for the review of applications.  It allows staff to
estimate the potential review workload and to avoid possible
conflict of interest in the review.
 
The ADAMHA letter of intent should be sent to the Deputy
Director, Division of Extramural Activities, National Institute
of Mental Health, Parklawn Building Room 9-105, 5600 Fishers
Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. The NIH letter of intent should be
sent to Dr. Marjorie A. Tingle (see address above).  A copy of
the letter of intent should be addressed to:
 
Anthony Demsey, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Referral and Review
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 338
5333 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD  20892**
 
INQUIRIES
 
Written or telephone inquiries regarding this RFA are
encouraged and should be directed to either Dr. Joel W.
Goldstein or Dr. Marjorie A. Tingle at the above addresses and
telephone numbers.
 
SCHEDULE
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  March 15, 1991
Application Receipt Date:     April 25, 1991
Initial Review:               June - August, 1991
Secondary Review:             September 1991
Anticipated Award Date:       September 30, 1991
 
1/  For purposes of this announcement, "significant minority
enrollment" is defined as follows:
 
o  A public or private nonprofit university, four-year college,
or other institution offering undergraduate, graduate, or
health professional degrees, with a traditionally high (more
and 50 percent) minority student enrollment;
 
o  A public or private nonprofit two-year college with a
traditionally high (more than 50 percent) minority student
enrollment;
 
o  A public or private nonprofit university, four-year college,
or other institution offering undergraduate, graduate, or
health professional degrees, with a student enrollment a
significant proportion (but not necessarily more than 50
percent) of which is derived from ethnic minorities, provided
the Secretary, DHHS, determines that the institution has a
demonstrated commitment to the special encouragement of and
assistance to ethnic minority faculty, students, and
investigators.
 
For purposes of this announcement, "ethnic minority" includes
but is not limited to such groups as Blacks, Hispanics, Native
Americans, and Pacific Islanders who have been found to be
underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research
nationally.
 
ADAMHA awards are under the authority of Section 301 of the
Public Health Service Act, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 241).  NIH
awards are under authorization of the Public Health Service
Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as amended by Public
Law 99-158, 42 USC 241 and 285).  All awards will be
administered under PHS grant policies and Federal Regulations
42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.  This program is not
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of
Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.