Subject: RFA OD-9l-02 from NIH Guide 3/l5/9l
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 91 13:26 EST

Hi Paul,
  This is the first of two RFAs coming your way.   Please post this one
to the NIH Listserver as: RFAOD-91-02.910315.
     Thanks.
            Dottie
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
 
$$XID RFA OD9102 OD-91-02 P1O1 *****************************************
 
REQUEST FOR CONSTRUCTION GRANT APPLICATIONS
 
RFA:  OD-91-02
 
CONSTRUCTION OF MOUSE PRODUCTION FACILITIES
 
P.T. 34; K.W. 1002002, 1014002, 1014006
 
National Institutes of Health
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  April 15, 1991
Application Receipt Date:  May 24, 1991
 
I.  BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
Public Law 101-190
authorized the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
to make an award to "a public or nonprofit, private entity for
constructing facilities for the purpose of the development and
breeding of specialized strains of mice (including inbred and
mutant mice) for use in biomedical research."
The DHHS Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1990, Public Law
101-166, authorized the Secretary to transfer $14,800,000 from
"appropriations available to each of the Institutes...for
extramural facilities construction grants if authorized in law
and if awarded competitively including such amount as he may deem
appropriate for research animal production facilities."
In response to
these Congressional activities, the NIH issued a Request for
Applications (RFA) in Fiscal Year 1990 that resulted in
an award for construction of mouse production facilities.
 
The Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and
Related Agencies Appropriations for 1991 provided $14,800,000 to the
Office of the Director, NIH, for "extramural facilities construction
grants if awarded competitively..."; the report language cited mouse
production facilities in particular.  Of this amount, $4,800,000 has
been identified for funding two applications that were submitted in
response to a previous solicitation and received high priority scores
but were not funded in Fiscal Year 1990.
 
Thus, in response to this latest Congressional action, the NIH is
issuing RFA OD-91-02 to solicit construction grant
applications for the construction of large-scale mouse production
and mutant characterization facilities.
 
II.  OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
 
Support may be requested for the costs of constructing non-
Federal facilities dedicated to the breeding and production of
specialized strains of mice, including inbred and mutant mice,
necessary to meet the nation's needs in conducting biomedical
research on a broad range of topics.  Associated fixed equipment
necessary for operation of these facilities may also be requested
as part of the application.  Instrumentation that usually would
be requested as part of a research project, will not be provided
as part of this construction award.
 
Facility construction that may be supported under this program
includes:
 
o  Construction of new facilities,
o  Additions to existing buildings,
o  Completion of uninhabitable "shell" space in new or existing
buildings,
o  Major alterations and renovations.
 
III.  MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
A.  Eligibility.
 
Any domestic, non-Federal public or non-profit private
institution, organization, or association that conducts or
supports biomedical research is eligible to apply.
 
NIH staff will verify application and award eligibility.  Those
judged to be unresponsive or ineligible will be returned to the
investigator.
 
B. Award Mechanism.
 
The award mechanism will be the construction grant award. Awards
will be administered under Federal Regulation 45 CFR Part 74 -
Administration of Grants, and 42 CFR Part 52b for cancer
construction projects.
 
C. Funding Participation.
 
This one-time solicitation based on the Fiscal Year 1991
appropriation will make available up to $10,000,000 for this
initiative, the final amount to be determined by peer-
review evaluation and the judgment of the Director, NIH.  Up to
75 percent of the allowable costs of a project may be provided,
not to exceed $10,000,000.  The matching contributions by the
institution may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated,
including plant and equipment or services throughout the required
20-year period of usage of the facility (and including such
specialized strains of mice as the Secretary, HHS, may request for
purposes of biomedical research).  Amounts provided by any agency
of the Federal government, other than the Department of Health and
Human Services, and services assisted or subsidized by any such
agency, may be included in the amount of such matching funds.
Prior to the grant award, an applicant must provide an assurance
of required institutional contributions, as described above, and
that other contributions have been secured to meet any projected
costs in excess of the award amount.  Requests of less than
$500,000 will not be accepted.  No indirect costs will be
awarded.  No continuation costs will be awarded.
 
D. Award Conditions.
 
Advertisement for construction bids and construction can be
initiated only after receipt of the construction grant award and
subsequent approval of the working drawings and specifications by
NIH staff, but not later than twelve months after the date of
award.  Therefore,
consistent with Public Health Service policy,
no requests to initiate construction
will be entertained
prior to receipt of a construction grant award from NIH and
approval of working drawings and specifications by NIH
staff.
 
The Principal Investigator should be a highly placed
institutional official, at the level of Dean or equivalent, who
has the responsibility for allocation of space for the program(s)
of biomedical research/research support addressed in the
submitted application and can provide the necessary assurance for
the use requirement stated below.
 
The facility must be utilized for the specific biomedical
research and/or biomedical research support purposes for which it
was constructed for at least twenty (20) years beginning ninety
(90) days following completion of the construction project.  NIH
staff will evaluate use of the facility periodically to assure
its continued use for the approved purposes.
 
If a grant award is made under the current statutory authority,
all of the conditions set forth in Public Law 101-190 will apply,
including the requirement that mice sold to the Department of
Health and Human Services be reasonably priced in relation to the
cost of the production of the mice and that the applicant
contributes one dollar for each three dollars provided under the
grant.
 
IV.  REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA
 
Applications will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit
by appropriate special peer review group(s) convened by the
Division of Research Grants (DRG), NIH.  The second level of
review will be conducted by the National Cancer Advisory Board in
September 1990 to assess the relevance of all proposals to the
objectives described above.  In addition, each approved
application will be reviewed by NIH staff and consultants for
adherence to Government regulations and sound engineering
practice.  Awards will be made on or before September 30, 1991.
 
Funding decisions will be guided by the
recommendations of the National Cancer Advisory Board.
 
Applications will be evaluated on the basis of criteria intended
to assess the following overall question:  Is the proposed
facility suitable for the development and breeding of specialized
strains of mice in numbers sufficient to assist in meeting the
need for such mice in PHS-conducted and supported biomedical
research?  Thus, the reviewers will consider the following
factors:
 
o Appropriateness and suitability of the proposed facilities for
the development and breeding of specialized strains of mice for
use in biomedical research.
 
o The overall scope and quality of the ongoing research and
research support programs of the applicant institution, as well
as the expanded or proposed future research and research support
activities.
 
o Assurance that the applicant has sufficient financial resources
to maintain the facility for the purpose for which it is to be
constructed.
 
o The applicant's consideration of safety and biohazard issues in
planning the construction and in its administration.
 
o Demonstration that the proposed facility is large enough to
produce specialized strains of mice in numbers sufficient to
assist in meeting the need for such mice in biomedical research
conducted or supported by the PHS.
 
o Specific deficiencies in existing facilities that
would be remedied.
 
o The proposed physical location and layout of the new facility.
 
o The reasonableness of the proposed time-course and sequence for
the construction.
 
o Adequacy of the proposed administrative arrangements with
respect to:
 
   Institutional commitment to use the space for biomedical
research and biomedical research support.
 
   Safety and biohazard issues.
 
   Capabilities of the Principal Investigator and staff for
scientific and fiscal administration of the facility.
 
V.  METHOD OF APPLYING
 
A.  Letter of Intent.
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit by April 15, 1991, a
letter of intent to the individuals noted below.  The
letter, requested for planning purposes only, must identify the
RFA number noted above, the proposed Principal Investigator, and
include a brief description of the proposed facility and the
type(s) of research/research support to be conducted in the new
facility.  The letter of intent does not commit the sender to
submit an application, nor is it a prerequisite for submission of an
application.  The original of the letter of intent should be
addressed to:
 
Mr. Kenneth Brow
Chief, Research Facilities Branch
Division of Cancer Biology, and Diagnosis, and Centers
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
Executive Plaza North, Room 300
Bethesda, MD  20892
 
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
Room 338, Westwood Building
5333 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD  20892
 
B.  Pre-Application Instructions
 
o  Intergovernmental-Review -- Executive Order 12372
 
All applicants are required to comply with Executive Order 12372
as supplemented by DHHS 45 CFR Part l00, Intergovernmental Review
of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and
Activities.  (The A-95 Clearinghouse System is no longer in
effect.)  Revised Standard Form 424 has been issued to meet the
reporting requirements of Executive Order 12372.  The purposes of
this review are to:
 
1.  Identify the relationship of any proposed project to State and
area-wide comprehensive plans and evaluate the significance of
these projects for the plans and programs of particular State
agencies and local governments; and
 
2.  Ensure that public agencies responsible for environmental
standards and civil rights have an opportunity to review and
comment upon proposed projects.
 
Each applicant is encouraged to discuss projects with the Single
Point of Contact (SPOC) at the earliest time possible and to
provide the SPOC with required information in a timely manner.
(The State Single Point of Contact List is included as an
attachment in the special instructions accompanying the
application Standard Form 424 package.)
 
The SPOC must be given 60 days to review a construction grant
application.  Applications submitted to NIH in response to this
solicitation must contain either SPOC comments or documentation
indicating the date on which the application was submitted to the
SPOC for review.
 
The SPOC comment period ends 60 days after the application
receipt date.  Applicants are to provide the SPOC with a copy of
their application NOT LATER THAN the time the application is
submitted to the Division of Research Grants, NIH.
 
Applicants required to submit applications for review to a Health
Systems Agency (HSA), or Statewide Health Planning and
Development Agency (SHPDA), should contact the SPOC/HSA/SHPDA to
determine what coordination has been agreed to by those agencies.
 
NIH is required to notify the SPOC whenever they receive an
application without an indication that the application has been
provided to the SPOC for review.
 
All SPOC comments should be forwarded to both the applicant and
to the NIH Institute to which the application is assigned.  If
comments are provided by the SPOC, the applicant may
submit to the NIH a statement of its reaction to the comments and
any appropriate changes to its application.  If no response is
received from the SPOC by the end of the 60 days allotted for
review of the application, the applicant should notify the NIH
that no response was received.
 
o Public Disclosure
 
Applicants must also make a public disclosure of the project by
publication, and describe its environmental impact at the time
the SPOC is notified.  It is suggested that the notice be carried
in a large-circulation newspaper in the geographical area. This public
disclosure is required by Section 102 of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of l969 and by Federal Executive
Order 11514.
 
One example of a suitable disclosure statement follows:
 
	"PUBLIC NOTICE
 
	"Notice is hereby given that the Uptown Medical School
     proposes to construct additional space, partially utilizing
     Federal funds.  The proposed construction project is the
     addition of 2,700 square feet connected to the existing
     Allen Building, which is located at 5333 Main Street,
     Downtown, Ohio."
 
	"The Medical School has evaluated the environmental and
     community impact of the proposed construction.  There will
     be construction noise and increased construction traffic
     during the construction period, 1991-1992.  No significant
     permanent environmental impacts are foreseen.  All building
     permits and zoning approvals have been obtained."
 
	"In accordance with Federal Executive Order 11514, which
     implements the NEPA of 1969, any individual or group may
     comment on, and request information concerning, the
     environmental implications of the proposed project.
     Communications must be addressed to the Office of
     Planning, Uptown Medical School, and be received by (date).
     The Federal grant application may be reviewed at the Office
     of the Dean, School of Medicine, 5333 Main Street, during
     working hours."
 
o Design Standards
 
Design requirements are imposed to protect the health and safety
of persons using the proposed facility, control the project's
impact on the natural environment, conserve energy resources,
achieve economy in construction costs, and protect against
natural disasters such as earthquake and flood.  Therefore, the
documents listed under REFERENCES at the end of the RFA must be
consulted and their design requirements incorporated into the
review and evaluation of all drawings and specifications.
 
C. Application
 
Applicants must use Standard Form 424, "Application for Federal
Assistance."  Application forms and special instructions for
completing the forms relevant to this RFA must be requested from
the contact official noted below.  Those responsible for preparing
the application should consult appropriate officials of
their institution before completing the application forms.
 
An institution may submit only one application in response to
this specific announcement.  An original and two copies of the
application including appendices should be submitted to:
 
Application Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892**
 
Applications must be received at NIH by May 24, 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.
 
The RFA label included in the Standard Form 424 package must be
affixed to the bottom of the face page of the original copy of
the application.  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.
 
VI.  STAFF CONTACT
 
For additional information and a copy of the complete RFA and
application Standard Form 424 materials, please contact:
 
Mr. Kenneth Brow
Chief, Research Facilities Branch
Division of Cancer Biology and Diagnosis
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
Executive Plaza North, Room 300
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-8534
 
Inquiries regarding fiscal matters should be addressed to:
 
Mr. William Wells
Grants Administration Branch
Office of Administrative Management
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health
Executive Plaza South, Room 243N
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-7800
 
VII.  REFERENCES
 
A.  Policy
 
"Public Health Service Grants Policy Statement."  Department of
Health and Human Services, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 90-50,000.
(Rev.) October 1, 1990.
 
B. Animal Care
 
"Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals." Department of
Health and Human Services.  Prepared by the Committee on Care and
Use of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National
Academy of Sciences.  DHHS Publication No. (NIH) 85-23, Revised
1985.*
 
"Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals."  Revised as of September 1986. Prepared by
the Office for Protection from Research Risks (OPRR), National
Institutes of Health.*
 
C. Facility Design and Safety
 
"Uniform Building Code" (for earthquake protection).
International Conference of Building Officials, 5360 South
Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California 9060l.  Use current
edition.*
 
"Life Safety Code, NFPA 101."  National Fire Protection
Association, 470 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02ll0.
Use current edition.*
 
"Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals,
NFPA 56C."  National Fire Protection Association, 1980.*
 
"Safety Standard for Laboratories in Health-Related Institutions,
NFPA 56C."  National Fire Protection Association, 1980.*
 
"National Electrical Code, NFPA 70."  National Fire Protection
Association.  Use current edition.
 
"Minimum Requirements of Construction and Equipment for Hospitals
and Medical Facilities."  DHHS Publication No. (HRA) 86-14500.
(This publication is updated annually; therefore use the current
publication.)*
 
"Safety and Health Standards (29 CFR 1910), Department of Labor
OSHA."  Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA.  Use
current edition.*
 
"General Services Administration Accessibility Standards" (41 CFR
101-19).*
 
"ASHRAE Handbook - 1987 Applications/Systems, Chapter 30 -
Laboratories."  American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc.*
 
"Industrial Ventilation, A Manual of Recommended Practices."
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Use
current edition.
 
"Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories." DHHS
Publication No. (CDC) 84-8395.*
 
"National Sanitation Foundation Standard No. 49 for Class II
(Laminar Flow) Biohazard Cabinetry."  National Sanitation
Foundation, Revised May 1983.*
 
"NIH Guidelines for the Laboratory Use of Chemical Carcinogens."
Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of
Health.  DHHS Publication No. (NIH) 81-2385, May 1981.*
 
"Recombinant DNA Research, Revised Guidelines."  National
Institutes of Health.  Federal Register, Vol. 48, June 1, 1983;
pp.  24556-24581.*
 
Uneconomical, hazardous, or unnecessary use of flood plains for
construction - Executive Order ll296, 3l FR l0663 (August l0,
l966).  Flood insurance coverage - Section 202 of the Flood
Protection Act of l973.*
 
Provisions for potable water supply - Safety of Public Water
Systems Act (Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act).*
 
Preservation of historical and archeological sites - Section l06,
National Historic Preservation Act of l966 and the Historical and
Archeological Preservation Act of l960 as amended.*
 
Tornadoes - There is no universally accepted national code
requiring protection of life and property against tornadoes, even
though this natural phenomenon results yearly in loss of life and
damage to facilities costing millions of dollars.  In geographic
areas subject to periodic occurrence of tornadoes, the design of
facilities should include special structural and other features
to protect life and minimize damage to facilities from tornadoes.
 
Plumbing - National Standard Plumbing Code:  National Association
of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors, l0l6 20th Street N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036.*
 
Standard for Non-Flammable Medical Gas Systems, l973, NPA
Bulletin No. 56F; National Fire Protection Association.*
 
Radiation Protection - Handbook Reports No. 33 and 34: National
Council of Radiation Protection (NCRP), P.O. Box 30l75,
Washington, D.C. 20008.*
 
Whenever State and local codes or requirements exceed the design
requirements described above or standards incorporated in them,
the more stringent requirements will be applied.  State or local
codes may be used as a basis for facility design in lieu of the
above design requirements if a prior determination has been made
by DHHS that the specific State or local code is equivalent to,
or exceeds, DHHS requirements.
 
*Mandatory Design Standard
 
Grants for research facilities construction programs of the
National Institutes of Health are subject to Executive Order
12372.  All awards will be made under the authority of the Public
Health Service Act, Title IV, Section 413(b)(6)(B) as amended by
Public Law 99-158 (42 USC 285a-2) and administered under PHS
grant policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52b and 45 CFR
Part 74, and PL 101-190.  This program is described in the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Number 93.392, Cancer-
Construction.