Funding Opportunity Announcement Information - 1405

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
New, Non-research, Domestic

Implementation of the
Environmental Public
Health Tracking
Network
CDC-RFA-EH14-1405
National Center for Environmental Health

08/15/2014
Version 2.0
Issued 08/30/2013
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Contents
Part I. Overview Information ........................................................................................................................ 2
A.

Federal Agency Name .................................................................................................... 2

B.

Funding Opportunity Title.............................................................................................. 2

C.

Announcement Type ..................................................................................................... 2

D.

Agency Funding Opportunity Number ........................................................................... 2

E.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number .............................................. 2

F.

Dates .............................................................................................................................. 2

G.

Executive Summary........................................................................................................ 4

Part II. Full Text ............................................................................................................................................. 3
A.

Funding Opportunity Description .................................................................................. 3

B.

Award Information....................................................................................................... 20

C.

Eligibility Information................................................................................................... 21

D.

Application and Submission Information..................................................................... 23

E.

Application Review Information .................................................................................. 32

F.

Award Administration Information.............................................................................. 36

G.

Agency Contacts........................................................................................................... 41

H.

Other Information ........................................................................................................ 42

I.

Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 42

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Part I. Overview Information

Applicants must go to the synopsis page of this announcement at www.grants.gov and click on
the “Send Me Change Notifications Emails” link to ensure they receive notifications of any
changes to CDC-RFA-EH14-1405. Applicants also must provide an e-mail address to
www.grants.gov to receive notifications of changes.
A. Federal Agency Name:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
B. Funding Opportunity Title:
Implementation of the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network
C. Announcement Type: New-Type 1
This announcement is only for non-research domestic activities supported by CDC. If research is
proposed, the application will not be considered. Research for this purpose is defined at
http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/integrity/docs/cdc-policy-distinguishing-public-healthresearch-nonresearch.pdf.
D. Agency Funding Opportunity Number:
CDC-RFA-EH14-1405
E. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:
93.070
F. Dates:
1. Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline: N/A
2. Application Deadline: June 24, 2014, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time, on
www.grants.gov
3. Informational conference call for potential applicants: N/A
G. Executive Summary:
1. Summary Paragraph:
The purpose of the program is to establish and maintain a National Environmental Public
Health Tracking Network (National Tracking Network) to obtain integrated health and
environmental data and use it to provide information in support of actions that improve the
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health of communities. The program also aims to build state and local public health capacity
in the area of environmental health surveillance. The National Tracking Network is a webbased, secure network of standardized electronic health and environmental data.
a. Eligible Applicants: Limited Competition
b. FOA Type (select one): Cooperative Agreement
c. Approximate Number of Awards: 4
d. Total Project Period Funding: $2.5 Million
e. Average One Year Award Amount: $562,500
f. Number of Years of Award: 3 years
g. Approximate Date When Awards will be Announced: August 15, 2014
h. Cost Sharing and /or Matching Requirements: N/A
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the
following performance goal(s) for the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH):
Prevent or reduce illnesses, injury and death related to environmental risk factors; and
increase the understanding of the relationship between environmental exposures and health
effects.
The purpose of the program is to establish and maintain a National Tracking Network to
obtain integrated health and environmental data and use it to provide information in
support of actions that improve the health of communities. The program also aims to build
state and local public health capacity in the area of environmental health surveillance. The
National Tracking Network is a web-based, secure network of standardized electronic health
and environmental data.

Part II. Full Text

A. Funding Opportunity Description

1.

Background
In September, 2000, the Pew Environmental Health Commission issued a report entitled
America’s Environmental Health Gap: Why the Country Needs a Nationwide Health Tracking
Network. In this report, the Commission documented that the existing environmental health
systems were inadequate and fragmented and recommended a “Nationwide Health Tracking
Network for disease and exposures.” In response to the report, Congress appropriated funds
in the fiscal year 2002’s budget for the CDC.

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Environmental Public Health Tracking (Tracking) is the integrated surveillance of health,
exposure, and hazard information and data from a variety of national, state, and local
sources. These systems are critical in preventing and controlling disease in populations.
Having accurate and timely tracking data permits public health authorities to determine
temporal and spatial trends in disease and potential environmental exposures, identify
populations most affected, and develop and assess the effectiveness of policy and
environmental public health interventions. Tracking involves the utilization of data and
information regarding health outcomes, environmental hazards, and human exposures, or a
combination of them, and provides important information for public health practice. The
availability of these types of data in a standardized network will enable researchers, public
health authorities, healthcare practitioners, and the public to have a better understanding
about the possible associations between the environment and adverse health effects.
A key characteristic of Tracking is the emphasis on data integration across health, human
exposure, and hazard information systems. The National Tracking Network provides the
United States with standardized data from multiple health, exposure, and hazard
information systems that includes linkage of these data as part of regular tracking activities.
The National Tracking Network builds on separate ongoing efforts within the public health
and environmental sectors to improve health tracking, hazard monitoring, and response
capacity. Development of the National Tracking Network depends on the availability, quality,
timeliness, compatibility, and utility of existing hazard, exposure, and health effect data.
Since 2002, the program has developed workforce capacity to address these issues and
provided tools and infrastructure to support this workforce. Data that was previously
disjointed is now available in a nationally standardized format allowing programs to begin
bridging the gap between health and the environment. This FOA provides an opportunity to
further close this gap in jurisdiction not currently covered by the National Tracking Network.

a. Statutory Authorities: This program is authorized under Section 317(k) (2) of the Public
Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. Section 247b (k) (2)], as amended.
b. Healthy People 2020:
This program addresses the “Healthy People 2020” focus area(s) of Environmental Health
(http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=12) and
Public Health Infrastructure
(http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=35) in
addition to CDC’s Vision of “Health Protection…Health Equity” by collaborating with partners
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to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect
their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and
preparedness for new health threats.
c. Other National Public Health Priorities and Strategies:
This announcement is consistent with priorities and strategies in the Department of Health
and Human Services, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/tracking/partners.htm), and other CDC programs
including the National Asthma Control Program, the Climate and Health Program, and
ATSDR’s Program to Promote Localized Efforts To Reduce Environmental Exposure
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/tracking/related.htm). These programs address core public health
areas such as environmental health, chronic disease, and health communication that
contribute to prevention and health promotion efforts utilizing Tracking data.
d. Relevant Work:
This FOA is available to new grantees. Currently, 24 jurisdictions are funded under CDC-RFAEH09-907 and CDC-RFA-EH11-1103 to develop their state environmental public health
tracking portals and provide Nationally Consistent Data and Measures (NCDMs) to the
National Tracking Network.
2.

CDC Project Description
a. Approach:

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Figure 1: Logic Model

i. Problem Statement:
Environmental risks impact human health and have important public health consequences.
Many state health departments have limited opportunity to take effective action to reduce the
consequences of environmental risks because their surveillance systems are not comprehensive
enough to track and identify environmental risks and link them to health outcomes. Tracking
involves the utilization of data and information regarding health outcomes, environmental
hazards, and human exposures, or a combination of them, and provides important information
for public health practice. The availability of these types of data in a standardized network will
enable researchers, public health authorities, healthcare practitioners, and the public to have a
better understanding of the possible associations between the environment and adverse health
effects.
ii. Purpose:
The purpose of the program is to establish and maintain a National Tracking Network to obtain
integrated health and environmental data and use it to provide information in support of
actions that improve the health of communities. The program also aims to build state and local
public health capacity in the area of environmental health surveillance. The National Tracking
Network is a web-based, secure network of standardized electronic health and environmental
data.

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This funding opportunity announcement will provide support for the development and
implementation of Tracking Networks in new state/local health departments, and contribute to
the growth of the National Tracking Network. States and local networks developed as a result
of this FOA must meet standards established by CDC for interoperability and assessment of
environmental health at the local, state, and national levels.
For the purposes of this funding opportunity announcement, the term jurisdiction will be used
to capture the geographic regions represented by eligible applicants.

iii. Outcomes:
The logic model displays the outcomes that are expected to result from recipient efforts in the
short, mid, and long-term. As noted in the model (bolded outcomes), three key outcomes are
expected to result during the project period:
•

Public health decision makers and public users are aware of and have access to
comprehensive and integrated public health/environmental data, are able to view
trends, and measure impacts.

•

Public health decision makers, communities, and the general public utilize
environmental surveillance data.

•

Public health and environmental health professionals develop and implement strong
and informed programs, targeted interventions, and policies to address
environmental health issues.

Measuring Impacts:
Awardees should measure the impact of their program by following the basic principles of
the Science Impact Framework (http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/impact/useframework.html). Applicants must document and report on what impacts have accrued
from program activities, or what quality improvements or policy changes have been
adopted as a result of program actions.

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iv. Funding Strategy:
N/A
v. Strategies and Activities:
The logic model presents the strategies and component activities to be undertaken to achieve
the project period outcomes. These include:
• Develop a state/local Tracking Network and contribute to the enhancement of the
National Tracking Network
• Provide information relevant to environmental and public health issues within a
community
• Showcase promising practices and narratives from awardees demonstrating Tracking in
action that may be utilized by other jurisdictions with similar concerns and advance the
science of Tracking
• Provide assistance to other state and local programs in developing and implementing
environmental health interventions
• Strengthen state and local environmental health programs by using Tracking data to
drive public health actions
• Identify, develop, and distribute tools for data utilization and practices that integrate
information from a variety of sources
• Develop and distribute relevant guidance and messaging about environmental public
health issues and communicate information to guide policy, practice, and other actions
that improve the nation’s health
• Collaborate with national organizations on environmental health issues
• Enhance, develop, and cultivate the public health workforce by developing training and
guidance for communicating about environmental health
• Provide expertise to federal, state, and local health agencies and environmental health
partners
• Support, plan, and develop environmental health programs within state and local
jurisdictions

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As indicated in the logic model, these grantee activities will produce a series of powerful
outputs that will drive these project period outcomes:
•

Standardized national environmental surveillance data

•

Robust surveillance system with tools, guides, and best practices to assess health effects
related to environmental exposures and develop interventions/actions

•

Inventory of standardized tools, resources, and messages

•

Strong group of environmental health partners

•

Evidence-based environmental health and public health interventions in grantee
jurisdictions

In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, the recipient will be
responsible for completing all necessary planning and capacity building activities within 12
months of the award. These include, but are not limited to, coalition building, establishment
of data-sharing agreements or memoranda of understanding (MOU), and establishing
partnerships required to begin implementing the grantee jurisdiction’s network that will be
a part of the national network. Funding for implementation activities will be based on
grantee’s capability and readiness to transition to full network deployment, as well as to
track and make available on their networks and to CDC core data and measures that meet
Tracking’s standards for NCDMs. No planning activities will be funded beyond Year 1. All
grantees will be expected to begin implementation activities by Budget Year 02 of this
award. In addition, grantee must begin data transfer of NCDMs and their associated
metadata to the national Tracking data repository within 6 months of entering
implementation phase. Grantee must be prepared to deploy its jurisdiction’s secure and
public tracking portals within 18 months of beginning their implementation phase.
Focus areas have been identified to facilitate the successful implementation of the stated
strategies. Applicants must implement and maintain these activities in the following focus
areas:
Content:
o Work with CDC and data partners to improve existing Tracking data and develop new
Nationally Consistent Data and Measures (NCDMs) that may be adopted by CDC

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o Within in 18 months of beginning implementation, track and make available required
NCDMs and data flows to CDC. Ensure the availability and accessibility of data for
development and reporting of these NCDMs on the state/local Tracking Network for
environmental hazards, exposures and health effects and other jurisdictional
priorities:











Hospitalizations for Asthma, Myocardial Infarction (MI), Carbon
Monoxide (CO) Poisoning, Heat Stress (HS), and other health outcomes
established as NCDMs
Emergency Department Visits (as available) for asthma, CO Poisoning, HS,
and other health outcomes established as NCDMs
Air pollutants
Drinking water contaminants
Birth defects
Cancer
Child blood lead levels
Reproductive health outcomes from vital statistics
Mortality from vital statistics

o For each year thereafter, track and make available newly developed NCDMs that are
adopted by CDC to display on CDC and the recipient’s network.
o Applicants are encouraged to track health outcomes, exposure, and environmental
hazard data that are not included in the current NCDMs. These data and measures
may be made available either via the jurisdiction directly or via a state or federal data
steward. Multiple states tracking the content areas and measures should collaborate
with CDC to develop data standards and share lessons learned.
Information Technology:
o Compile metadata on data for inclusion on the grantee network and National
Tracking Network using the tracking metadata standard and tools and make the
metadata available on the grantee’s tracking network as well as on the national
metadata registry.
o Using the standards and architecture developed and adopted by Tracking (which
include standards of CDC’s Public Health Information Network, PHIN) maintain and
enhance the funded recipient’s network that will be part of the National Tracking
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Network. In order for recipients to accomplish this task they are required to:
 Work with IT managers and data owners within the appropriate state and
local departments to enhance Tracking/PHIN compatible IT Infrastructure
that would allow controlled access to and exchange of data relevant to
the National Tracking Network. Recipients must ensure that appropriate
security controls are specified, designed into, tested, and accepted in
developed products in accordance with appropriate guidance issued by
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (Sources and
Further Readings: OMB Circular A-130, Appendix III; NIST SP 800-12 –
Introduction to Computer Security: The NIST Handbook; NIST SP 800-26 –
Security Self-Assessment Guide for Information Technology Systems).


Develop and implement web-based portals that utilize Tracking/PHIN
metadata, data, and functional standards to facilitate the query, linkage,
analysis, and utilization of Tracking data and information. These portals
(or a combined single portal) shall support controlled user access and
general public access. See “Tracking Grantee Portal Standards and
Recommendations” at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/tracking/pdfs/GranteePortalRequirements.pdf



For the controlled access portal (secure), establish role-based access
controls to allow different users to have varying degrees of access based
on their established role.



Implement a “gateway” infrastructure to facilitate transfer of NCDMs and
associated metadata across the National Tracking Network.



Implement CDC/National Tracking Network data transport and exchange
standards to facilitate the exchange of Tracking data and information
among partners, including U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
other states and their local partners, and standardized repositories of
electronic health records.



Implement cross-portal searching strategies adopted by CDC as Tracking
standards to facilitate data discovery across the nation-wide Tracking
Network (See the following link: http://ephtracking.cdc.gov )



Collect and summarize usage statistics for public and secure portals. At a
minimum, this should include the number of unique visits, most visited
pages, and most popular data queries.

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Data Utilization:
o Establish a plan for analysis of Tracking data. At a minimum, applicants should plan
to conduct descriptive analyses of Tracking data and assess spatial and temporal
trends to better understand populations at risk; identify or examine state and local
environmental health issues; and inform public health activities and policy.
Integration/linkage of health and environmental data for the non-research purposes
of responding to community concerns and/or planning and carrying out state and
local specific public health activities should be considered. Dissemination of the
results of these analyses is an essential function that also should be included.
o Assess state/local needs for Tracking tools and analytical methods that can be
addressed at the state/local or federal level.
o Document how Tracking Program efforts have contributed or resulted in public
health action and/or policy. Reporting of public health actions should address the
following:


Identify the environmental public health problem



Describe the Tracking Program’s involvement



Describe the resulting action or policy impacting the health of the
population

Communications:
o Establish a state and/or local level communication plan for delivering Tracking
Program messages and information to key audiences identified by CDC. The plan
should also include audiences and messages important to the grantee and activities
necessary to address community concerns. The plan also must include a risk
communication section. The plan will be updated annually and evaluation results
will be submitted annually. The plan should include traditional communication
strategies and incorporate new and emerging communication technology as
appropriate. This may include Web 2.0 tools, social media (e.g., Facebook and
Twitter), and other technologies or channels that emerge during the course of this
cooperative agreement. See the CDC Tracking Program’s Communication Standards
and Recommendations document that will be available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/tracking/pdfs/Comm_Standards.pdf

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Collaboration:
o Collaborate with data owners to establish data sharing agreements and make
appropriate data and information accessible on the recipient network and the
National Tracking Network.
o Collaborate with academic partners as appropriate on new and/or ongoing projects
in order to utilize existing Tracking data for the development of new tools and
methods that will be applicable to all awardees.
o Facilitate training of the state and local health department workforce and their
partners on basic Tracking principles that will establish a common understanding of
the Tracking Program. At a minimum, this will include completing the CDC training
course, Tracking in Action that is available online at:
http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/training.action. Other trainings are available on this site.
Awardees can choose the most appropriate additional courses to fit training needs.
The awardee must provide appropriate training to the workforce to ensure proper
use of data by attending the grantee meetings or other professional training
opportunities.
o Establish state Technical Advisory Group (TAG) including epidemiologists,
informatics/information technology specialists, environmental professionals,
communications specialists, laboratorians, and public health program officials to
provide recommendations on implementing state Tracking networks that are
interoperable and compatible with the National Tracking Network standards and
architecture.
o Actively participate in Tracking projects and workgroups. The recipient may select at
least one individual to join these workgroups. Participation in these workgroups and
projects is vital to the success of the program.
o Collaborate with multidisciplinary environmental and health agencies, and Tracking
stakeholder organizations to identify common needs, promote resource and
information sharing to advance the nationwide program, and facilitate public health
actions to improve the health of communities. Identify and establish relationships
with other CDC-funded partners within the jurisdiction’s health and environmental
agencies to share resources, data, and expertise.
o Submit semi-annual earned value management (EVM) reports that effectively
integrate the project scope of work with cost, schedule, and performance elements

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for optimum project planning and control to the assigned project officer.
o Collaborate with experts to develop and promote policies critical to protecting the
public from harmful environmental exposures.
o Assist CDC in conducting program evaluation activities including, but not limited to,
annual or semi-annual portal evaluations for all recipients. Program evaluation
activities also will include: 1) comprehensive program assessment of overall progress
made toward network enhancement at the state/local and national levels; 2)
training activities; 3) data utilization; 4) partnership, outreach and communication
activities. Recipients should develop written action plans to address any issues
identified as a result of the program evaluation process.
o Attend grantee meetings and program reviews (no more than two per year) and a
conference (once every other year).
1. Collaborations –
a. With CDC funded programs:
Awardees must collaborate with other CDC-funded programs within their jurisdictions
that focus on related issues when interests and activities align. These may include, but
are not limited to, participants in the National Asthma Control Program, the Climate and
Health Program, and ATSDR’s Program to Promote Localized Efforts To Reduce
Environmental Exposure, for the purposes of sharing data; developing consistent
definitions and measures; and creating maps, tables, or other appropriate tools for
demonstrating alignment between surveillance findings and program efforts.
b. With organizations external to CDC:
Awardees must collaborate with several key partners, including their state environmental
agencies. These established relationships may also benefit awardees by further enhancing their
activities.
2. Target Populations:
N/A
Inclusion:
N/A
b. Evaluation and Performance Measurement:
i. CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement Strategy:
CDC will document program successes and demonstrate measurable impact. CDC’s Tracking
Program will be evaluated by how well it has documented the environment’s impact on health
and the extent to which Tracking has been utilized as a tool to improve the public’s health. CDC
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will leverage information collected from awardees to demonstrate its impact on the public’s
health focusing on these outcomes:
•

Public health decision makers and public users are aware of and have access to
comprehensive and integrated public health/environmental data, are able to view
trends and measure impacts

•

Public health decision makers, communities, and the general public utilize
environmental surveillance data

•

Public health and environmental health professionals develop and deliver strong
informed programs, targeted interventions, and policies to address environmental
health issues

In addition, awardees will report on the following process measures. Note that these are
primarily measures of the outputs in the logic model:
•

Standardized national environmental surveillance data

•

Robust surveillance system with tools, guides, and best practices to assess health effects
related to environmental exposures and develop interventions/actions

•

Inventory of standardized tools, resources, and messages

•

Strong group of environmental health partners

•

Evidence based environmental health and public health interventions in grantee
jurisdictions

In addition to these process and outcome measures, the evaluation will focus on some of the
following key questions:
• Collaborations: What are essential collaborations? Tracking was established to bridge
the information gap between environmental hazard, exposure, and health. Identifying
key collaborations to accomplish this and how the program is successfully leveraging
these relationships are a vital component to Tracking.
• Barriers and Challenges: What are the barriers and challenges to the program’s success
and how has the awardee tried to address these? Identifying common barriers and
challenges will allow CDC to better work with grantees and help them address known

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challenges with proven strategies.
• Interventions/Programming: How has Tracking made an impact? Awardees will report
on interventions and programmatic activities that drive public health action. The
Tracking Program provides information to drive public health action and improve health.
This process includes not only assessing public health interventions, but demonstrating
their impact.
• Evolution of Tracking: How have findings been used to evolve the program’s activities?
Tracking will evolve in several ways. New collaborations and relationships will help us
gain a better understanding of the burden of disease. As environmental health risks are
identified, Tracking can be utilized to address these concerns, new technologies can be
developed and promising practices can be utilized by the evolving program.
• Communication: What communication activities are most successfully used to educate
audiences on the value of the Tracking Program and how it has been used to impact
public health? Communicating the environmental burden on health and successful
actions to improve the public’s health is an essential requirement for Tracking.
ii. Applicant Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan:
Applicants must provide a specific evaluation and performance measurement plan that is
consistent with the above CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement Strategy and logic
model. At a minimum this plan must describe:
• Types of evaluation to be conducted
• Key evaluation questions to be answered
• Potentially available data sources and the feasibility of collecting appropriate
environmental surveillance data
• Use of evaluation findings on the applicant’s program and surveillance system portal for
quality improvement
• Use of evidence-based environmental health interventions and public health actions and
their impact
• Contribution of evaluation and performance measurement to further enrich the
program’s evidence base, or to improve program effectiveness

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c. Organizational Capacity of Awardees to Execute the Approach:
Applicants should possess the capacity to manage a complex program that affects numerous
health concerns. Successful applicants must describe the level of organizational capacity
necessary to implement the FOA successfully. Organizational capacity includes skill sets to
implement the awards such as: program and performance management, evaluation,
performance monitoring, financial reporting, management of travel requirements,
development of staffing plans, workforce development and training, management of direct
assistance, development of a sustainability plan, and full capability to manage required
procurements (e.g., the ability to write and award contracts).
d. Work Plan:
Applicants are required to provide a work plan consisting of a logic model and related narrative
for the three-year program and a detailed description of the first year of the award, consistent
with the project’s logic model. Applicants are expected to use activities that are consistent with
those indicated under the “Program Strategy” section, but are expected to augment those
activities on the basis of the priority needs of the target population. The work plan should
provide outcomes, and the related program strategies/activities and should be consistent the
narrative in the Approach and Performance Measurement and Evaluation sections. The work
plan must, at a minimum, include:
•

Narrative (description) of the project

•

Intended outcomes for the three-year project period

•

Program strategies to be used during the first year of the project period

•

Outcomes for the first year of the project period

In conducting activities to achieve the intended outcomes of this program, the recipients will be
responsible for developing environmental tracking workforce capacity and the development
and successful implementation of their state/local Tracking Networks that comply with
standards set by CDC for the National Tracking Network. These include standards for analysis,
visualization, and reporting of data
(http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/docs/GranteePortalRequirements.pdf ); and Tracking NCDMs (core
data and measures that meet CDC’s standards for national consistency) on their networks as
well as providing them to CDC (refer to the following link:
http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/docs/CDC_NCDM_Pt_3.pdf ).

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e. CDC Monitoring and Accountability Approach:
Monitoring activities include routine and ongoing communication between CDC and awardees,
site visits, and awardee reporting (including work plans, performance, and financial reporting):
• Monitoring performance measures (both programmatic and financial) to assure
satisfactory performance levels.
•

Tracking awardee progress in achieving the desired outcomes.

•

Ensuring that awardees are performing at a sufficient level to achieve objectives
within stated timeframes.

f. CDC Program Support to Awardees:
CDC will provide substantial involvement beyond site visits and regular performance and
finance monitoring during project periods. Areas of support include technical assistance, and
information sharing between awardees, as well as other areas of support. Activities include:
1.

Maintain and revise the National Tracking Network Architecture as Tracking/PHIN
standards evolve in order to meet the awardee’s needs.

2.

Manage and maintain the National Tracking Network based on specifications in the
Technical Network Implementation Plan (TNIP http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/tracking/pdfs/TNIP_V1.pdf), with input from awardees and
other Tracking partners.

3.

Maintain the CDC gateway of the National Tracking Network.

4.

Maintain and revise Tracking standards for NCDMs.

5.

Foster collaboration with:
i.

CDC’s Office of Public Health Scientific Services (OPHSS), as needed, to maintain
and facilitate the creation of any new Tracking-related technical and data
standards.

ii.

Federal data partners such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to further
the use of environmental data, fill data gaps, and develop methods and tools for
use in Tracking.

iii.

Awardees on projects to (a) improve the quality of data provided to CDC for the
National Tracking Network Portals; and (b) explore methods and best practices for
linking and analyzing health and environmental data.

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iv.

6.

National data stewards and other professional organizations to facilitate data and
information sharing and improvements in data quality that will support the
awardees’ Tracking activities.

Coordinate:
i.

Technical assistance to awardees in work plan development; design and
implementation of program activities, including analysis and presentation of data;
and facilitation of regional trainings.

ii.

With EPA and OPHSS to ensure interoperability between CDC’s PHIN and EPA’s
National Environmental Information Exchange Network.

iii.

Identification, development, and/or maintenance of appropriate methods and tools
for use in the National Tracking Network and facilitate license agreements, where
appropriate, to provide broad access among Tracking partners to these tools.

iv.

Activities at the national level among Centers, Institutes and Offices at CDC and the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry as well as other federal partners,
national data organizations, and national partners.

7.

Facilitate the development of Tracking-specific communication and outreach strategy
guidelines with input from awardees and other Tracking partners, and the criteria to
evaluate the effectiveness of the activities in the guidelines.

8.

Provide specific NCDMs from federal partners for use on state and local network portals
as appropriate and in compliance with CDC data sharing agreements.

9.

Facilitate:
i.

A monthly forum for principal investigators via teleconference to promote the
discussion of key Tracking issues and exchange of ideas.

ii.

A National Tracking Program meeting approximately once every other year, and up to
two grantee meetings annually.

10. Implement and participate in projects and workgroups as needed to address specific
program issues. Work with awardees on workgroups as needed to solicit input from
state/local partners, academic partners, and other stakeholders on issues relevant to
the implementation of the state and national Tracking networks.
11. Conduct program evaluation activities including but not limited to annual or semi-annual
portal evaluations for all recipients. Program evaluation activities will also include: 1)
comprehensive program assessment of overall progress made toward network
development at the state and national levels; 2) training activities; 3) data utilization; 4)
partnership, outreach and communication activities.

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B. Award Information

1. Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement: CDC’s substantial involvement in this program

appears in the CDC Program Support to Awardees section.
2. Award Mechanism: UE1 - Studies of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects Cooperative Agreements to Develop or Improve Facets of the Public Health Information
3. Fiscal Year: 2014
4. Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding: $2,500,000
5. Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $7,500,000 over 3 years
6. Total Project Period Length: 3 years
7. Approximate Number of Awards: 4
8. Approximate Average Award: $562,500
9. Floor of Individual Award Range: $500,000 (This amount is subject to the availability of
funds.)
10. Ceiling of Individual Award Range: $625,000. If a funding amount greater than the
ceiling of the award range is requested, the application will be considered nonresponsive and will not be entered into the review process.
11. Anticipated Award Date: August 15, 2014
12. Budget Period Length: 12 months
Throughout the project period, CDC will continue the award based on the availability of funds,
the evidence of satisfactory progress by the awardee (as documented in required reports), and
the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the federal government. The
total number of years for which federal support has been approved (project period) will be
shown in the “Notice of Award.” This information does not constitute a commitment by the
federal government to fund the entire period. The total project period comprises the initial
competitive segment and any subsequent non-competitive continuation award(s).
13. Direct Assistance:
Direct Assistance (DA) is available through this FOA.
An official state, tribal nation, local or territorial government applicant may request that CDC
provide Direct Assistance (DA) in the form of federal personnel as a part of the grant awarded
through this FOA. If your request for DA is approved as a part of your award, CDC will reduce
the funding amount provided directly to you as a part of your award. The amount by which
your award is reduced will be used to provide DA; the funding shall be deemed part of the
award and as having been paid to you, the awardee.

Page 20

C. Eligibility Information

Eligible applicants for this FOA are included in this section.
1. Eligible Applicants:
Government Organizations:
• State or their bona fide agents (includes the District of Columbia)
• Local governments or their bona fide agents
Non-government Organizations:
• Non-profits in partnership with state health departments
2. Special Eligibility Requirements:
If the application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special eligibility 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.
An important component of this announcement is to build partnerships among environmental
and health agencies, their subordinate departments and staff, county health departments, and
public health laboratories. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate that their program will be a
collaborative effort by including the following with their application:
1. A letter of collaboration signed by both the state (or local) Secretary/Director of Health
or equivalent and the state (or local) Secretary/Director of Environmental
Quality/Protection/Natural Resources or the equivalent agency/department confirming
that partnership exists or will be developed within 90 days from receiving funds:
o

o

o

Between Health and Environmental Agencies/Departments to exchange and/or
share data, provide technical expertise on data interpretation. Evidence of a
partnership may be a confirmation of an existing memorandum of understanding
(MOU) between Health and Environment that covers activities related to this RFA.
Between appropriate organizational units within each Agency/Department (Within
the Health Department this may include birth defect programs, cancer registries,
vital statistics, lead programs, environmental epidemiology, the state laboratory,
chronic disease, and others).
If Health and Environment are organized under one state agency/department, a
letter of intent from the Secretary/Director or equivalent of that
Page 21

agency/department confirming that partnership exists or will be developed across
appropriate organizational units within the Agency/Department as required.
2. A letter designating a public health liaison within the environmental agency/department
and an environmental liaison within the health agency/department, describing their
roles and responsibilities respectively.
3. Eligible local health departments must provide a letter from responsible state authority
assuring that activities related to this program will be coordinated with the State
Health Department, and that the state will cooperate in providing relevant data to
support NCDMs on the local and CDC network portals.
4. A letter of collaboration from the awardee’s Public Health and/or Environment Health
Laboratory director to confirm their collaboration with the awardee throughout the
funding period.
5. A letter of commitment from awardee’s information technology management office
indicating intent for collaboration and coordination on all IT focused activities listed
under “Recipient Activities”.
These documents should be uploaded to Grants.gov under “Other Attachment Forms,” and
should be labeled clearly to reflect which special requirement each supports.
3. Justification for Less than Maximum Competition:
This FOA focuses on developing new Tracking Program capacity and expanding the Tracking
Network within new state and local public health jurisdictions. Currently funded recipients
under EH09-907 (Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, South Carolina, Vermont) and
EH11-1103 (California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Utah, Washington, Wisconsin) are not eligible for this funding opportunity announcement.
4. Cost Sharing or Matching:
Cost sharing or matching funds are not required for this program. Although no statutory
matching requirement for this FOA exists, leveraging other resources and related ongoing
efforts to promote sustainability is strongly encouraged.
5. Maintenance of Effort:
Maintenance of effort is not required for this program.

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D. Application and Submission Information
Additional materials that may be helpful to applicants:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/docs/FinancialReferenceGuide.pdf .
1. Required Registrations: An organization must be registered at the three following locations
before it can submit an application for funding at www.grants.gov.
a. Data Universal Numbering System: All applicant organizations must obtain a Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit
identification number provided by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). It will be used as the
Universal Identifier when applying for federal awards or cooperative agreements.
The applicant organization may request a DUNS number by telephone at 1-866-7055711 (toll free) or internet at
http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do. The DUNS number will be
provided at no charge.
If funds are awarded to an applicant organization that includes sub-awardees, those
sub-awardees must provide their DUNS numbers before accepting any funds.
b. System for Award Management (SAM): The SAM is the primary registrant database
for the federal government and the repository into which an entity must submit
information required to conduct business as an awardee. All applicant organizations
must register with SAM, and will be assigned a SAM number. All information
relevant to the SAM number must be current at all times during which the applicant
has an application under consideration for funding by CDC. If an award is made, the
SAM information must be maintained until a final financial report is submitted or
the final payment is received, whichever is later. The SAM registration process
usually requires not more than five business days, and registration must be renewed
annually. Additional information about registration procedures may be found at
www.SAM.gov.
c. Grants.gov: The first step in submitting an application online is registering your
organization at www.grants.gov, the official HHS E-grant Web site. Registration
information is located at the “Get Registered” option at www.grants.gov.
All applicant organizations must register at www.grants.gov. The one-time
registration process usually takes not more than five days to complete. Applicants
must start the registration process as early as possible.
2. Request Application Package: Applicants may access the application package at
www.grants.gov.

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3. Application Package: Applicants must download the SF-424, Application for Federal
Assistance, package associated with this funding opportunity at www.grants.gov. If Internet
access is not available, or if the online forms cannot be accessed, applicants may call the
CDC PGO staff at 770-488-2700 or e-mail PGO PGOTIM@cdc.gov for assistance. Persons
with hearing loss may access CDC telecommunications at TTY 1-888-232-6348.
4. Submission Dates and Times: If the application is not submitted by the deadline published
in the FOA, it will not be processed. PGO personnel will notify the applicant that their
application did not meet the deadline. The applicant must receive pre-approval to submit a
paper application (see Other Submission Requirements section for additional details). If the
applicant is authorized to submit a paper application, it must be received by the deadline
provided by PGO.
a. Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline (must be emailed or postmarked by): N/A
b. Application Deadline: June 24, 2014, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time , at
www.grants.gov
5. CDC Assurances and Certifications: All applicants are required to sign and submit
“Assurances and Certifications” documents indicated at
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/foamain.shtm.
Applicants may follow either of the following processes:
• Complete the applicable assurances and certifications, name the file “Assurances
and Certifications” and upload it as a PDF file at www.grants.gov
• Complete the applicable assurances and certifications and submit them directly
to CDC on an annual basis at
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/grantsassurances/Homepage.aspx
Assurances and certifications submitted directly to CDC will be kept on file for one
year and will apply to all applications submitted to CDC within one year of the
submission date.
6. Content and Form of Application Submission: Applicants are required to include all of the
following documents with their application package at www.grants.gov.
7. Letter of Intent (LOI):
LOI is not requested or required as part of the application for this FOA.
8. Table of Contents: (No page limit and not included in Project Narrative limit)
Provide a detailed table of contents for the entire submission package that includes all of the
documents in the application and headings in the “Project Narrative” section. Name the file
“Table of Contents” and upload it as a PDF file under “Other Attachment Forms” at
www.grants.gov.
9. Project Abstract Summary: (Maximum 1 page)
A project abstract is included on the mandatory documents list and must be submitted at
Page 24

www.grants.gov. The project abstract must be a self-contained, brief summary of the proposed
project including the purpose and outcomes. This summary must not include any proprietary or
confidential information. Applicants must enter the summary in the “Project Abstract
Summary” text box at www.grants.gov.
10. Project Narrative: Maximum of 25 pages, single spaced, Calibri 12 point, 1-inch margins,
number all pages. Content beyond 25 pages will not be considered, 25 page limit includes
the work plan.
The Project Narrative must include all of the bolded headings shown in this section. The Project
Narrative must be succinct, self-explanatory, and in the order outlined in this section. It must
address outcomes and activities to be conducted over the entire project period as identified in
the CDC Project Description section.
Applicants must submit a Project Narrative with the application forms. Applicants must name
this file “Project Narrative” and upload it at www.grants.gov.
a. Background: Applicants must provide a description of relevant background
information that includes the context of the problem. (See CDC Background.)
b. Approach
i. Problem Statement: Applicants must describe the core information relative to
the problem for the jurisdictions or populations they serve. The core
information must help reviewers understand how the applicant’s response to
the FOA will address the public health problem and support public health
priorities. (See CDC Project Description.)
ii. Purpose: Applicants must describe in 2-3 sentences specifically how their
application will address the problem as described in the CDC Project
Description.
iii. Outcomes: Applicants must clearly identify the outcomes they expect to
achieve by the end of the project period. All outcomes must indicate the
intended direction of change (i.e., increase, decrease, maintain). (See the
program logic model in the Approach section of the CDC Project Description.)
iv. Strategy and Activities: Applicants must provide a clear and concise
description of the strategies and activities they will to use to achieve the
project period outcomes. Whenever possible, applicants should use evidencebased program strategies as identified by the Community Guide 1 (or similar
reviews) and reference it explicitly as a source. Applicants may propose
additional strategies and activities to achieve the outcomes. Applicants must
select existing evidence-based strategies that meet their needs, or describe
the rationale for developing and evaluating new strategies or practice-based
innovations. (See CDC Project Description: Strategies and Activities section.)
1

http://www.thecommunityguide.org/index.html

Page 25

Applicants must file letters of support, as appropriate, name the file “Letters of
Support”, and upload it as a PDF file at www.grants.gov.]
c. Applicant Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan: Applicants must
provide an overall jurisdiction or community-specific evaluation and
performance measurement plan that is consistent with the CDC Evaluation and
Performance Measurement Strategy section of the CDC Project Description of
this FOA. Data collected must be used for ongoing monitoring of the award to
evaluate its effectiveness, and for continuous program improvement.
The plan must:
• Describe how key program partners will be engaged in the evaluation
and performance measurement planning processes.
• Describe the type of evaluations to be conducted (i.e., process and/or
outcome).
• Describe key evaluation questions to be answered.
• Describe other information, as determined by the CDC program (e.g.,
performance measures to be developed by the applicant) that must be
included.
• Describe potentially available data sources and feasibility of collecting
appropriate evaluation and performance data.
• Describe how evaluation findings will be used for continuous program
and quality improvement.
• Describe how evaluation and performance measurement will contribute
to development of that evidence base, where program strategies are
being employed that lack a strong evidence base of effectiveness.
Awardees will be required to submit a more detailed evaluation and
performance measurement plan within the first six months of the project, as
outlined in the reporting section of the FOA.
d. Organizational Capacity of Applicants to Implement the Approach:
Applicants should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of
project staff and their qualifications, in addition to how consultants and partner
organizations will contribute to achieving the project’s outcomes. Include
information about any contractual organization(s) that will have a significant
role(s) in implementing program strategies and achieving project outcomes.
Specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as:
leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress; preparation of
reports; program evaluation; and communication with other partners and CDC.
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Applicants must name this file “CVs/Resumes” or “Organizational Charts” and
upload it at www.grants.gov.]
11. Work Plan: (Included in the Project Narrative’s 25 page limit)
Applicants must prepare a work plan consistent with the CDC Project Description Work Plan
section. The work plan integrates and delineates more specifically how the awardee plans to
carry out achieving the project period outcomes, strategies, and activities, evaluation and
performance measurement, including key milestones.
Applicants must name this file “Work Plan” and upload it as a PDF file at www.grants.gov.
12. Budget Narrative:
Applicants must submit an itemized budget narrative, which may be scored as part of the
Organizational Capacity of Awardees to Execute the Approach. When developing the budget
narrative, applicants must consider whether the proposed budget is reasonable and consistent
with the purpose, outcomes, and program strategy outlined in the project narrative. The
budget must include:
• Salaries and wages
• Fringe benefits
• Consultant costs
• Equipment
• Supplies
• Travel
• Other categories
• Total Direct costs
• Total Indirect costs
• Contractual costs
For guidance on completing a detailed budget, see Budget Preparation Guidelines at:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/foamain.shtm.
If applicable and consistent with statutory authority, applicant entities may use funds for
activities as they relate to the intent of this FOA to meet national standards or seek health
department accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (see:
http://phaboard.org). Applicant entities include state, local, territorial governments (including
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), or their
bona fide agents, political subdivisions of states (in consultation with states), federally
recognized or state-recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribal governments, and
Page 27

American Indian or Alaska Native tribally designated organizations. Activities include those that
enable a public health organization to deliver public health services such as activities that
ensure a capable and qualified workforce, up-to-date information systems, and the capability
to assess and respond to public health needs. Use of these funds must focus on achieving a
minimum of one national standard that supports the intent of the FOA. Proposed activities
must be included in the budget narrative and must indicate which standards will be addressed.
Applicants must name this file “Budget Narrative” and upload it as a PDF file at
www.grants.gov. 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 must have
been made less than 12 months earlier. Applicants must name this file “Indirect Cost Rate” and
upload it at www.grants.gov.
13. Tobacco and Nutrition Policies:
Awardees are encouraged to implement tobacco and nutrition policies.
Unless otherwise explicitly permitted under the terms of a specific CDC award, no funds
associated with this FOA may be used to implement the optional policies, and no applicants will
be evaluated or scored on whether they choose to implement these optional policies.
CDC supports implementing evidence-based programs and policies to reduce tobacco use and
secondhand smoke exposure, and to promote healthy nutrition. CDC encourages all awardees
to implement the following optional recommended evidence-based tobacco and nutrition
policies within their own organizations. The tobacco policies build upon the current federal
commitment to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, specifically The Pro-Children Act, 20
U.S.C. 7181-7184, that prohibits smoking in certain facilities that receive federal funds in which
education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided
to children.
Tobacco Policies:
1. Tobacco-free indoors: Use of any tobacco products (including smokeless tobacco) or
electronic cigarettes is not allowed in any indoor facilities under the control of the
awardee.
2. Tobacco-free indoors and in adjacent outdoor areas: Use of any tobacco products
or electronic cigarettes is not allowed in any indoor facilities, within 50 feet of
doorways and air intake ducts, and in courtyards under the control of the awardee.
3. Tobacco-free campus: Use of any tobacco products or electronic cigarettes is not
allowed in any indoor facilities or anywhere on grounds or in outdoor space under
the control of the awardee.
Nutrition Policies:
1. Healthy food-service guidelines must, at a minimum, align with HHS and General
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Services Administration Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions
and Vending Operations. These guidelines apply to cafeterias, snack bars, and
vending machines in any facility under the control of the awardee and in accordance
with contractual obligations for these services (see:
http://www.gsa.gov/graphics/pbs/Guidelines_for_Federal_Concessions_and_Vendi
ng_Operations.pdf).
2. Resources that provide guidance for healthy eating and tobacco-free workplaces
are:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/hwi/toolkits/tobacco/index.htm
http://www.thecommunityguide.org/tobacco/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/guidelines/food-serviceguidelines.htm.
14. Health Insurance Marketplaces:
A healthier country is one in which Americans are able to access the care they need to prevent
the onset of disease and manage disease when it is present. The Affordable Care Act, the
health care law of 2010, creates new Health Insurance Marketplaces, also known as Exchanges,
to offer millions of Americans affordable health insurance coverage. In addition, the law helps
make prevention affordable and accessible for Americans by requiring health plans to cover
certain recommended preventive services without cost sharing. Outreach efforts will help
families and communities understand these new options and provide eligible individuals the
assistance they need to secure and retain coverage as smoothly as possible. For more
information on the Marketplaces and the health care law, visit: www.HealthCare.gov.
15. Intergovernmental Review:
The application is subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, as governed by
Executive Order 12372, which established a system for state and local intergovernmental
review of proposed federal assistance applications. Applicants should inform their state single
point of contact (SPOC) as early as possible that they are applying prospectively for federal
assistance and request instructions on the state’s process. The current SPOC list is available at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/.
16. Funding Restrictions:
Restrictions that must be considered while planning the programs and writing the budget are:
• Awardees may not use funds for research.
• Awardees may not use funds for clinical care.
• Awardees may use funds only for reasonable program purposes, including
personnel, travel, supplies, and services.
• Generally, awardees may not use funds to purchase furniture or equipment. Any
such proposed spending must be clearly identified in the budget.
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•
•

•
•
•

Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
Other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships, no funds
may be used for:
o publicity or propaganda purposes, for the preparation, distribution, or use
of any material designed to support or defeat the enactment of legislation
before any legislative body
o the salary or expenses of any grant or contract recipient, or agent acting
for such recipient, related to any activity designed to influence the
enactment of legislation, appropriations, regulation, administrative action,
or Executive order proposed or pending before any legislative body
See Additional Requirement (AR) 12 for detailed guidance on this prohibition and
additional guidance on lobbying for CDC awardees.
The direct and primary recipient in a cooperative agreement program must perform
a substantial role in carrying out project outcomes and not merely serve as a conduit
for an award to another party or provider who is ineligible.
Projects that involve the collection of information from 10 or more individuals and
are funded by a grant/cooperative agreement will be subject to review and approval
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction
Act.

17. Other Submission Requirements:
a. Electronic Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically at
www.grants.gov. The application package can be downloaded at
www.grants.gov. Applicants can complete the application package off-line and
submit the application by uploading it at www.grants.gov. All application
attachments must be submitted using a PDF file format. Directions for creating
PDF files can be found at www.grants.gov. File formats other than PDF may not
be readable by PGO Technical Information Management Section (TIMS) staff.
Applications must be submitted electronically by using the forms and
instructions posted for this funding opportunity at www.grants.gov.
If Internet access is not available or if the forms cannot be accessed online,
applicants may contact the PGO TIMS staff at 770- 488-2700 or by e-mail at
pgotim@cdc.gov, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except federal
holidays. Electronic applications will be considered successful if they are
available to PGO TIMS staff for processing from www.grants.gov on the deadline
date.
b. Tracking Number: Applications submitted through www.grants.gov are
time/date stamped electronically and assigned a tracking number. The
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applicant’s Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) will be sent an e-mail
notice of receipt when www.grants.gov receives the application. The tracking
number documents that the application has been submitted and initiates the
required electronic validation process before the application is made available to
CDC.
c. Validation Process: Application submission is not concluded until the validation
process is completed successfully. After the application package is submitted,
the applicant will receive a “submission receipt” e-mail generated by
www.grants.gov. A second e-mail message to applicants will then be generated
by www.grants.gov that will either validate or reject the submitted application
package. This validation process may take as long as two business days.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to check the status of their application to
ensure that submission of their package has been completed and no submission
errors have occurred. Applicants also are strongly encouraged to allocate ample
time for filing to guarantee that their application can be submitted and validated
by the deadline published in the FOA. Non-validated applications will not be
accepted after the published application deadline date.
If you do not receive a “validation” e-mail within two business days of
application submission, please contact www.grants.gov. For instructions on
how to track your application, refer to the e-mail message generated at the time
of application submission or the Application User Guide, Version 3.0, page 57.
d. Technical Difficulties: If technical difficulties are encountered at
www.grants.gov, applicants should contact Customer Service at
www.grants.gov. The www.grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays. The Contact Center is available by
phone at 1-800-518-4726 or by e-mail at support@www.grants.gov. Application
submissions sent by e-mail or fax, or on CDs or thumb drives will not be
accepted. Please note that www.grants.gov is managed by HHS.
e. Paper Submission: If technical difficulties are encountered at www.grants.gov,
applicants should call the www.grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or
e-mail them at support@www.grants.gov for assistance. After consulting with
the Contact Center, if the technical difficulties remain unresolved and electronic
submission is not possible, applicants may e-mail or call CDC GMO/GMS, before
the deadline, and request permission to submit a paper application. Such
requests are handled on a case-by-case basis.
An applicant’s request for permission to submit a paper application must:
1. Include the www.grants.gov case number assigned to the inquiry;
2. Describe the difficulties that prevent electronic submission and the efforts
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3.

taken with the www.grants.gov Contact Center to submit electronically;
and
Be postmarked at least three calendar days before the application deadline.
Paper applications submitted without prior approval will not be considered.
If a paper application is authorized, PGO will advise the applicant of specific
instructions for submitting the application (e.g., original and two hard
copies of the application by U.S. mail or express delivery service).

E. Application Review Information

1. Review and Selection Process: Applications will be reviewed in these phases.
a. Phase I Review:
All applications will be reviewed initially for completeness by CDC PGO staff and will be
reviewed jointly for eligibility by the CDC NCEH and PGO. Incomplete applications and
applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not advance to Phase II review.
Applicants will be notified that their applications did not meet eligibility or published
submission requirements.
b. Phase II Review:
A review panel will evaluate complete, eligible applications in accordance with the “Criteria”
section of the FOA.
i.

Approach (60 Points):
• Background and need (5 of 60 points):
To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program within
the geographic area?
• Work plan (35 of 60 points):
• Is the plan adequate to carry out the proposed objectives?
• Are alternative plans for achieving success available?
• How complete and comprehensive is the plan for the entire project
period?
• Does the project plan include a comprehensive plan for the first
budget year of the project?
• Is this plan adequate to ensure that the applicant can complete the
project period plan?
• Are partnerships described?
• Do the goals and objectives include timelines for completion?
• Methods (20 of 60 Points):
• Are the proposed methods feasible, and do they clearly describe the
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•

processes to be used to accomplish the work plan?
To what extent will the methods accomplish the program goals?

ii. Evaluation and Performance Management (15 points)
• Does the plan include performance measures?
• Does the applicant’s narrative clearly demonstrate how they will meet
these measures?
iii. Applicant’s Organizational Capacity to Implement the Approach (25 points)
• Organizational capacity statement (15 of 25 Points)
• Do the staff members have appropriate experience?
• Does the team include a member with appropriate environmental
public health experience and training?
• Does the team include someone with communication training and
experience?
• Are the staff roles clearly defined?
• As described, will the staff be sufficient to accomplish the program
goals?
• Are CVs and resumes of principal investigators (PIs) and program
managers included?
•

Project Management (10 of 25 Points)
• Does the applicant’s organization demonstrate the ability and
experience to implement the project?

•

Budget – Reviewed but not scored. Although the budget is not scored,
applicants should consider the following when developing their budget:
• Is the project’s budget itemized, and is the budget’s justification
reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and planned
program activities?
• Does the budget allow for a minimum of two project staff and for
management staff to attend a yet-undetermined CDC hosted meeting
or training session for each budget year?
• If the applicant requests 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 have been made less than 12
months earlier. The indirect cost-rate agreement should be uploaded
as a PDF file with “Other Attachment Forms” when submitting online.
The applicant can obtain guidance for completing a detailed justified
budget on the CDC Web site, at
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
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In addition, the following factor(s) may affect the funding decision:
• Geographic distribution to ensure equal dispersion across the United States.
CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank order.
Not more than thirty days after the Phase II review is completed, applicants will be notified
electronically if their application does not meet eligibility or published submission
requirements.
2. Announcement and Anticipated Award Dates:
Awards will be announced at the earliest possible date. Awardees will receive an electronic
copy of the Notice of Award (NOA) from CDC PGO, and unsuccessful applicants will be
notified by e-mail.

F. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices:
Awardees will receive an electronic copy of the Notice of Award (NoA) from CDC PGO. The NoA
shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the awardee and CDC. The NoA will
be signed by an authorized GMO and e-mailed to the awardee program director.
Any applicant awarded funds in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, SAM
Registration, and Federal Funding Accountability And Transparency Act Of 2006 (FFATA)
requirements.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of these results by e-mail with delivery receipt
or by U.S. mail.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:
Awardees must comply with the administrative requirements outlined in 45 C.F.R. Part 74 or
Part 92, as appropriate. Brief descriptions of relevant provisions are available at
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/additional_req.shtm.
The following Administrative Requirements (AR) apply to this project:
•
•
•

AR-7: Executive Order 12372
AR-8: Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9: Paperwork Reduction Act
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

AR-10: Smoke-Free Workplace
AR-11: Healthy People 2020
AR-12: Lobbying Restrictions
AR-13: Prohibition on Use of CDC Funds for Certain Gun Control Activities
AR-14: Accounting System Requirements
AR-24: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
AR-25: Release and Sharing of Data
AR-29: Compliance with EO13513, “Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging
while Driving,” October 1, 2009
AR-30: Compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
AR-33: Plain Writing Act of 2010
AR-34: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (e.g., a tobacco-free campus
policy and a lactation policy consistent with S4207)

For more information on the C.F.R., visit the National Archives and Records Administration at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
3. Reporting
a. CDC Reporting Requirements:
Reporting provides continuous program monitoring and identifies successes and challenges
that awardees encounter throughout the project period. Also, reporting is a requirement for
awardees who want to apply for yearly continuation of funding. Reporting helps CDC and
awardees because it:
• Helps target support to awardees, particularly for cooperative agreements;
• Provides CDC with periodic data to monitor awardee progress towards meeting the
FOA outcomes and overall performance;
• Allows CDC to track performance measures and evaluation findings to validate
continuous program improvement throughout the project period and to determine
applicability of evidence-based approaches to different populations, settings, and
contexts; and
• Enables CDC to assess the overall effectiveness and influence of the FOA.
As described in the following text, awardees must submit an annual performance report,
ongoing performance measures data, administrative reports, and a final performance and
financial report. A detailed explanation of any additional reporting requirements will be
provided in the Notice of Award to successful applicants.
b. Specific reporting requirements:
i. Awardee Evaluation and Performance Measurement Plan: Awardees must
provide a more detailed evaluation and performance measurement plan
within the first six months of the project. This more detailed plan must be
developed by awardees as part of first-year project activities, with support
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from CDC. This more detailed plan must build on the elements stated in the
initial plan, and must be no more than 25 pages. At a minimum, and in
addition to the elements of the initial plan, this plan must:
• Indicate the frequency that evaluation and performance data are to
be collected.
• Describe how data will be reported.
• Describe how evaluation findings will be used to ensure continuous
quality and program improvement.
• Describe how evaluation and performance measurement will yield
findings that will demonstrate the value of the FOA (e.g., effect on
improving public health outcomes, effectiveness of FOA as it
pertains to performance measurement, cost-effectiveness, or costbenefit).
• Describe dissemination channels and audiences (including public
dissemination).
• Describe other information requested and as determined by the
CDC program.
When developing evaluation and performance measurement plans, applicants
are encouraged to use the Introduction to Program Evaluation for Public Health
Programs: A Self-Study Guide, available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/eval/guide/index.htm
ii. Annual Performance Report: This report must not exceed 45 pages excluding
administrative reporting; attachments are not allowed, but Web links are
allowed.
The awardee must submit the Annual Performance Report via
www.grants.gov 120 days before the end of the budget period. In addition,
the awardee must submit an annual Federal Financial Report within 90 days
after the end of the calendar quarter in which the budget year ends.
This report must include the following:
• Performance Measures (including outcomes)–Awardees must report on
performance measures for each budget period and update measures, if
needed.
• Evaluation Results–Awardees must report evaluation results for the work
completed to date (including any data about the effects of the program).
• Work Plan –Awardees must update work plan each budget period.
• Successes
• Awardees must report progress on completing activities outlined in
the work plan.
• Awardees must describe any additional successes (e.g., identified
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•

•

•

through evaluation results or lessons learned) achieved in the past
year.
• Awardees must describe success stories.
Challenges
• Awardees must describe any challenges that might affect their ability
to achieve annual and project-period outcomes, conduct
performance measures, or complete the activities in the work plan.
• Awardees must describe any additional challenges (e.g., identified
through evaluation results or lessons learned) encountered in the
past year.
CDC Program Support to Awardees
• Awardees must describe how CDC could assist them in overcoming
challenges to achieving annual and project-period outcomes and
performance measures, and completing activities outlined in the
work plan.
Administrative Reporting (No page limit)
• SF-424A Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs.
• Budget Narrative–must use the format outlined in “Content and Form
of Application Submission, Budget Narrative” section.
• Indirect Cost-Rate Agreement.

For year 2 and beyond of the award awardees may request that as much as 75% of their
estimated unobligated funds be carried over into the next budget period.
The carryover request must:
• Express a bona fide need for permission to use an unobligated balance;
• Include a signed, dated, and accurate Federal Financial Report (FFR) for
the budget period from which funds will be transferred (as much as 75%
of unobligated balances); and
• Include a list of proposed activities, an itemized budget, and a narrative
justification for those activities.]
The awardee must submit the Annual Performance Report via www.grants.gov 120 days before
the end of the budget period.
iii. Performance Measure Reporting: CDC programs must require awardees to
submit performance measures annually as a minimum, and may require
reporting more frequently. Performance measure reporting must be limited
to data collection. When funding is awarded initially, CDC programs must
specify required reporting frequency, data fields, and format.

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iv. Federal Financial Reporting (FFR): The annual FFR form (SF-425) is required
and must be submitted through eRA Commons2 within 90 days after each
budget period ends. The report must include only those funds authorized
and disbursed during the timeframe covered by the report. The final report
must indicate the exact balance of unobligated funds, and may not reflect
any unliquidated obligations. The final FFR expenditure data and the
Payment Management System’s (PMS) cash transaction data must
correspond; no discrepancies between the data sets are permitted. Failure to
submit the required information by the due date may affect adversely the
future funding of the project. If the information cannot be provided by the
due date, awardees are required to submit a letter of explanation and
include the date by which the information will be provided.
v. Final Performance and Financial Report: At the end of the project period,
awardees must submit a final report including a final financial and
performance report. This report is due 90 days after the project period ends.
(CDC must include a page limit for the report with a maximum of 40 pages).
At a minimum, this report must include:
• Performance Measures (including outcomes)–Awardees must report final
performance data for all performance measures for the project period.
• Evaluation Results–Awardees must report final evaluation results for the
project period.
• Impact/ Results–Awardees must describe the effects or results of the
work completed over the project period, including success stories.
• Additional forms as described in the Notice of Award, including
Equipment Inventory Report and Final Invention Statement.
Awardees must email the report to the CDC PO and the GMS listed in the
“Agency Contacts” section of the FOA.
4. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA):
The FFATA and Public Law 109-282, which amends the FFATA, require full disclosure of all
entities and organizations that receive federal funds including awards, contracts, loans, other
assistance, and payments. This information must be submitted through the single, publicly
accessible Web site, www.USASpending.gov.
Compliance with these mandates is primarily the responsibility of the federal agency. However,
two elements of these mandates require information to be collected and reported by
applicants: 1) information on executive compensation when not already reported through SAM;
2

https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/

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and 2) similar information on all sub-awards, subcontracts, or consortiums for greater than
$25,000.
For the full text of these requirements, see:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=BILLS.

G. Agency Contacts

CDC encourages inquiries concerning this FOA.
For programmatic technical assistance, contact:
Alex Charleston, Project Officer
Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4770 Buford Highway, MS F60
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: (770)488-3183
Email: aac4@cdc.gov
For financial, awards management, or budget assistance, contact:
Terrian J. Dixon, Grants Management Specialist
Department of Health and Human Services
CDC Procurement and Grants Office
2920 Brandywine Road, MS K-70 Atlanta, GA 30341-4146
Telephone: 770-488-2774
Email: thd4@cdc.ogv
For assistance with submission difficulties related to www.grants.gov, contact the Contact
Center by phone at 1-800-518-4726.
Hours of Operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays.
For all other submission questions, contact:
Technical Information Management Section
Department of Health and Human Services
CDC Procurement and Grants Office
2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14
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Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: 770-488-2700
E-mail: pgotim@cdc.gov
CDC Telecommunications for persons with hearing loss is available at: TTY 1-888-232-6348.

H. Other Information
Following is a list of acceptable attachments that applicants can upload as PDF files as part of
their application at www.grants.gov. Applicants may not attach documents other than those
listed; if other documents are attached, applications will not be reviewed.
• Project Abstract
• Project Narrative
• Budget Narrative
• CDC Assurances and Certifications
• Work Plan
• Table of Contents for Entire Submission
[Insert optional attachments, as determined by CDC programs]
• Resumes/CVs
• Letters of Support
• Organizational Charts
• Non-profit organization IRS status forms, if applicable
• Indirect Cost Rate , if applicable
• Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• Bona Fide Agent status documentation, if applicable

I. Glossary
CDC may add to glossary.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements, Additional Requirements (ARs):
Administrative requirements found in 45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92 and other requirements
mandated by statute or CDC policy. All ARs are listed in the Template for CDC programs. CDC
programs must indicate which ARs are relevant to the FOA; awardees must comply with the ARs
listed in the FOA. To view brief descriptions of relevant provisions, see
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http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/additional_req.shtm.
Award: Financial assistance that provides support or stimulation to accomplish a public
purpose. Awards include grants and other agreements (e.g., cooperative agreements) in the
form of money, or property in lieu of money, by the federal government to an eligible
applicant.
Budget Period or Budget Year: The duration of each individual funding period within the
project period. Traditionally, budget periods are 12 months or 1 year.
Carryover: Unobligated federal funds remaining at the end of any budget period that, with the
approval of the GMO or under an automatic authority, may be carried over to another budget
period to cover allowable costs of that budget period either as an offset or additional
authorization. Obligated but liquidated funds are not considered carryover.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): A catalog published twice a year that describes
domestic assistance programs administered by the federal government. This catalog lists
projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public. This
catalog is available at
https://www.cfda.gov/index?s=agency&mode=form&id=0bebbc3b3261e255dc82002b8309471
7&tab=programs&tabmode=list&subtab=list&subtabmode=list.
CFDA Number: A unique number assigned to each program and FOA throughout its lifecycle
that enables data and funding tracking and transparency.
CDC Assurances and Certifications: Standard government-wide grant application forms.
Competing Continuation Award: A financial assistance mechanism that adds funds to a grant
and adds one or more budget periods to the previously established project period (i.e., extends
the “life” of the award).
Continuous Quality Improvement: A system that seeks to improve the provision of services
with an emphasis on future results.
Contracts: An award instrument that establishes a binding, legal procurement relationship
between CDC and a recipient, and obligates the recipient to furnish a product.
Cooperative Agreement: A financial assistance award with the same kind of interagency
relationship as a grant except that it provides for substantial involvement by the federal agency
funding the award.
Cost Sharing or Matching: Refers to program costs not borne by the federal government but by
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the awardees. It may include the value of allowable third-party, in-kind contributions, as well as
expenditures by the awardee.
Direct Assistance: An assistance support mechanism, which must be specifically authorized by
statute, whereby goods or services are provided to recipients in lieu of cash. Direct assistance
generally involves the assignment of Federal personnel or the provision of equipment or
supplies, such as vaccines. http://intranet.cdc.gov/ostlts/directassistance/index.html.
DUNS: The Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is a
nine-digit number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information Services. When applying for
Federal awards or cooperative agreements all applicant organizations must obtain a DUNS
number as the Universal Identifier. DUNS number assignment is free. If requested by
telephone, a DUNS number will be provided immediately at no charge. If requested via the
internet, obtaining a DUNS number may take one to two days at no charge. If an organization
does not know its DUNS number or needs to register for one, visit Dun & Bradstreet at
http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA): Requires that
information about federal awards, including awards, contracts, loans, and other assistance and
payments, be available to the public on a single Web site at www.USAspending.gov.
Fiscal Year: The year for which budget dollars are allocated annually. The federal fiscal year
starts October 1 and ends September 30.
Grant: A legal instrument used by the federal government to transfer anything of value to a
recipient for public support or stimulation authorized by statute. Financial assistance may be
money or property. The definition does not include a federal procurement subject to the
Federal Acquisition Regulation; technical assistance (which provides services instead of money);
or assistance in the form of revenue sharing, loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies,
insurance, or direct payments of any kind to a person or persons. The main difference between
a grant and a cooperative agreement is that in a grant there is no anticipated substantial
programmatic involvement by the federal government under the award.
Grants.gov: A "storefront" Web portal for electronic data collection (forms and reports) for
federal grant-making agencies at www.grants.gov.
Health Disparities: Differences in health outcomes and their determinants among segments of
the population as defined by social, demographic, environmental, or geographic category.
Healthy People 2020: National health objectives aimed at improving the health of all Americans
by encouraging collaboration across sectors, guiding people toward making informed health
decisions, and measuring the effects of prevention activities.
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Inclusion: Both the meaningful involvement of a community’s members in all stages of the
program process and the maximum involvement of the target population that the intervention
will benefit. Inclusion ensures that the views, perspectives, and needs of affected communities,
care providers, and key partners are considered.
Indirect Costs: Costs that are incurred for common or joint objectives and not readily and
specifically identifiable with a particular sponsored project, program, or activity; nevertheless,
these costs are necessary to the operations of the organization. For example, the costs of
operating and maintaining facilities, depreciation, and administrative salaries generally are
considered indirect costs.
Intergovernmental review: Executive Order 12372 governs applications subject to
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. This order sets up a system for state and local
governmental review of proposed federal assistance applications. Contact the state single point
of contact (SPOC) to alert the SPOC to prospective applications and to receive instructions on
the State’s process. Visit the following Web address to get the current SPOC list:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/.
Letter of Intent (LOI): A preliminary, non-binding indication of an organization’s intent to
submit an application.
Lobbying: Direct lobbying includes any attempt to influence legislation, appropriations,
regulations, administrative actions, executive orders (legislation or other orders), or other
similar deliberations at any level of government through communication that directly expresses
a view on proposed or pending legislation or other orders, and which is directed to staff
members or other employees of a legislative body, government officials, or employees who
participate in formulating legislation or other orders. Grass roots lobbying includes efforts
directed at inducing or encouraging members of the public to contact their elected
representatives at the federal, state, or local levels to urge support of, or opposition to,
proposed or pending legislative proposals.
Maintenance of Effort: A requirement contained in authorizing legislation, or applicable
regulations that a recipient must agree to contribute and maintain a specified level of financial
effort from its own resources or other nongovernment sources to be eligible to receive federal
grant funds. This requirement is typically given in terms of meeting a previous base-year dollar
amount.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA): Document
that describes a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties expressing a convergence
of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in
cases where the parties either do not imply a legal commitment or cannot create a legally
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enforceable agreement.
New FOA: Any FOA that is not a continuation or supplemental award.
Nongovernment Organization (NGO): Any nonprofit, voluntary citizens' group that is organized
on a local, national, or international level.
Notice of Award (NoA): The only binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC
that confirms issue of award funding. The NoA will be signed by an authorized GMO and
provided to the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.
Performance Measurement: The ongoing monitoring and reporting of program
accomplishments, particularly progress toward pre-established goals, typically conducted by
program or agency management. Performance measurement may address the type or level of
program activities conducted (process), the direct products and services delivered by a program
(outputs), or the results of those products and services (outcomes). A “program” may be any
activity, project, function, or policy that has an identifiable purpose or set of objectives.
Objective Review: A process that involves the thorough and consistent examination of
applications based on an unbiased evaluation of scientific or technical merit or other relevant
aspects of the proposal. The review is intended to provide advice to the persons responsible for
making award decisions.
Outcome: The observable benefits or changes for populations or public health capabilities that
will result from a particular program strategy.
Plain Writing Act of 2010: Requires federal agencies to communicate with the public in plain
language to make information more accessible and understandable by intended users,
especially people with limited health literacy skills or limited English proficiency. The Plain
Writing Act is available at www.plainlanguage.gov.
Program Strategies: Public health interventions or public health capabilities.
Program Official: Person responsible for developing the FOA; can be either a project officer,
program manager, branch chief, division leader, policy official, center leader, or similar staff
member.
Project Period Outcome: An outcome that will occur by the end of the FOA’s funding period.
Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB): National, nonprofit organization that improves
tribal, state, local, territorial, and U.S. public health departments and strengthens their quality
and performance through accreditation.

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System for Award Management (SAM): The primary vendor database for the U.S. federal
government. SAM validates applicant information and electronically shares secure and
encrypted data with federal agencies' finance offices to facilitate paperless payments through
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). SAM stores organizational information, allowing
www.grants.gov to verify identity and pre-fill organizational information on grant applications.
Statute: An act of the legislature; a particular law enacted and established by the will of the
legislative department of government, expressed with the requisite formalities. In foreign or
civil law any particular municipal law or usage, though resting for its authority on judicial
decisions, or the practice of nations. Black’s Law Dictionary 2 Kent, Comma 450.
Statutory Authority: Authority provided by legal statute that establishes a federal financial
assistance program or award.
Technical Assistance: Advice, assistance, or training pertaining to program development,
implementation, maintenance, or evaluation that is provided by the funding agency.
Work Plan: The summary of annual strategies and activities, personnel and/or partners who
will complete them, and the timeline for completion. The work plan will outline the details of all
necessary activities that will be supported through the approved budget.

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