FAQs for NOFO: CDC-RFA-DP21-2106- Advancing Arthritis Public Health Priorities through National Organizations

Question: What is the total amount of funding available for the program?

Answer: Approximately $2,037,119 is available for annual funding, with between $150,000 to $500,00 awarded to each successful applicant annually. Total period of performance funding is approximately $10,185,595.

Question: What is the length of the cooperative agreement?

Answer: The cooperative agreement’s period of performance, or length, is 5 years, from September 30, 2021 to September 29, 2026.

Question: How many grantees/recipients will be funded?

Answer: It is expected that 7 recipients will be funded for this NOFO: 5-7 for Component 1, and 1 for Component 2.

Question: What is the average award?

Answer: Approximate average award is $350,000. The award ceiling is $1,000,000 and award floor is $150,000.

Question: How are funds recommended to be distributed among applicants?

Answer: CDC determines funding levels based on the objective review process, which involves the thorough and consistent examination of applications based on an unbiased evaluation of scientific or technical merit of the application. An objective review panel evaluates complete, eligible applications in accordance with the Criteria section of the NOFO. That said, CDC anticipates awarding 5-7 awards of $150-$500K under Component 1, and 1 award of $300-$500K under Component 2.

Question: Regarding the Letter of Intent: if submitting a Letter of Intent, do you have to do the required registration first?

Answer: No, the registrations are not required prior to submitting a Letter of Intent. Required registrations must be completed prior to submission of the application.

Question: Is there a preferred template for the Resumes/CVs (e.g., NIH Biosketch template)?

Answer: There is no preferred template for resumes or CVs.

Question: Regarding formatting requirements, is there a preferred font type (e.g., Times New Roman)? Also, can page numbers appear in the 1-inch margin?

Answer: No specific font type is required. Project Narrative should be single spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, and number all pages. Page numbers can be in the margin. Other PDF files listed under “Other Information” do not have font, formatting, or page restrictions.

Question: Is there a preferred style for citations/references, and are footnotes allowable? If footnotes are not allowable, does the reference list count toward page limit?

Answer: There is no preferred style for citations/references but if you are using references, please use a consistent standard style throughout (e.g. AMA, APA, etc.). Footnotes may be used. The reference list will not count toward any page limit.

Question: Is there a page limit for Budget Narrative document?

Answer: No

Question: I am having technical problems registering and inputting information into Grants.gov. Can you help?

Answer: For assistance with technical difficulties with the Grants.gov system, please contact:

GRANTS.GOV Applicant Support

1-800-518-4726; support@grants.gov

Question: Will any factors other than application objective review scores influence funding decisions?

Answer: The following factors also may affect the funding decisions:

• Consideration will be given to ensuring at least one recipient is funded for each part under the Component 1 strategy.
• Preference to organizations addressing broader geographic areas (i.e. preference may be given to applicants who describe plans to exceed the minimum required number of states addressed; or applicants who, in addition to meeting the minimum requirements, target states or geographic regions with higher burden of arthritis).
• Preference to organizations with the capacity to reach large numbers of adults nationwide, particularly those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and/or, most importantly, arthritis.

Question: What is the vision of NOFO Component 1 in lieu of transition from in-person programs to remotely delivered programs? Do you anticipate that any of the AAEBIs for Component 1 will have a continued telehealth focus over the project period?

Answer: Remote delivery methods, including telehealth and other methods, are currently being used and evaluated as alternate delivery methods for Arthritis Appropriate Evidence-Based Interventions  (AAEBIs) originally designed for in-person delivery. Applicants may elect to offer these or other interventions recognized as AAEBIs remotely using technologies or methods approved by the intervention developers. Additionally, applicants should consider offering interventions originally designed and proven effective for remote delivery such as Better Choices, Better Health® (BCBH), the internet-based version of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), BCBH for Arthritis, the Tool Kit for Active Living with Chronic Conditions (mailed CDSMP), or Walk With Ease Self-Directed. Further, CDC expects that the menu of AAEBI options will grow over time and, pending sufficient evidence, may include new options for evidence-based programs that can be delivered remotely in association with this NOFO.

Question: Would creation of a new arthritis intervention program fall within the scope of the NOFO?

Answer: Per the NOFO language, one of the main requirements for Component 1, Strategy C is to maintain and facilitate an active national alliance of organizations committed to addressing Osteoarthritis (OA) from a public health perspective.

This national alliance will be charged with addressing priorities and implementing strategies outlined in A National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis: 2020 Update (OA Agenda). Particular emphasis should be placed on the following strategies:

1) promotion of function, pain and physical activity screening to prompt healthcare provider counseling and referral as needed;

2) engagement of healthcare providers to embrace physical activity counseling and referral behaviors; and

3) creation or identification of new, evidence-based, programs effective for improving arthritis-specific health or behavior outcomes, including alternative, low-cost, flexible delivery options.

While the creation or identification of new, evidence-based programs effective for improving arthritis-specific outcomes is one of the OA Agenda related strategies, the creation of a specific arthritis intervention program is not a stand-alone activity in this NOFO.

Question: Page 14 mentions that Component 2 recipients are required to pilot the healthcare provider approach in at least 1 large health system. There is no definition in the NOFO of a “large health system.” Can you provide additional information on how CDC defines large health systems?

Answer: A large health system should have a metropolitan, regional, state-wide and/or national reach that serves a high percentage of Medicare/Medicaid eligible patients/clients and/or veterans with arthritis. The health system may include Health Management Organizations, Veterans Administration Hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other large healthcare practices. A health system that uses a nationally available medical record systems such as Epic, Cerner, Allscripts, etc. would be advantageous for a pilot.

Note, if you refer to Approach under the Review and Selection Process—the corresponding rating criteria is “the extent to which the applicant describes a feasible plan to pilot the approach with a large health system that serves a high percentage of Medicare/Medicaid eligible patients/clients or veterans” (p.42). The point allocation is 5 points (out of 100 total).

Question: What is the process for identifying and using milestones to track performance?

Answer: Milestones should represent a key deliverable, decision or significant event that concludes a major task or phase towards the attainment of an objective. Major tasks or phases are made up of smaller tasks and activities. So, for example, if your SMART objective is to implement a health communications campaign by a certain date, in specific counties and achieve a minimum number of exposures, you might “chunk” all related activities into 3-4 major phases or tasks such as,

1. planning the campaign,
2. preparing and distributing campaign materials,
3. implementing the campaign, and
4. evaluating campaign implementation.

Next, you would identify milestones and due dates for the completion of each of these phases/major tasks. The following would be appropriate milestones:

1. for campaign planning—“completed campaign implementation plan”
2. for materials prep/distribution—“all materials in hands of distributors”
3. for implementation—“activity reports and clippings collected from local organizations”
4. for evaluation—“evaluation of campaign reach report completed.”

Question: When is the Informational Conference Call?

Answer: On February 2, 2021, CDC hosted an information conference call for potential grant applicants, which included a brief overview and a question and answer session. Following the call, Q&As and other information were posted at FAQs for NOFO: CDC-RFA-DP21-2106- Advancing Arthritis Public Health Priorities through National Organizations and Advancing Arthritis Public Health Priorities through National Organizations (CDC-RFA-DP21-2106). In addition, an email address has been established to receive and respond to NOFO questions: ArthritisDP21-2106@cdc.gov. Download the Information Call Transcript [PDF – 244 KB].

1) NOFO Modification 1 made on February 26, 2021.

A) Refer to page number 26 of the NOFO.

Applicants are required to submit a budget within the range noted for each Component and corresponding strategy. If the proposed budget exceeds the Component and Strategy funding range, the application will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process.

Component 1 Funding Range:

• Strategy A – $300K-$500K
• Strategy B – $150K-$250K
• Strategy C – $400K-$500K
• Strategy D – $200K-$300K

Component 2 Funding Range – $300K-$500K

B) Refer to page number 9 of the NOFO.

Select at least one option from CDC’s menu of recognized and promising arthritis-appropriate evidence-based interventions (AAEBIs) that promote quality of life for adults with arthritis.

2) NOFO Modification 2 made on March 23, 2021

Refer to page number 51 of the NOFO.

Component 2 applicants are required to describe past experience conducting healthcare education and training programs, and upload this information with their application as a PDF document at www.grants.gov and title the document “Health Ed Training Experience” (Bullet #2, found on p. 21).  “Health Ed Training Experience” has been added as an “Optional Attachment as determined by CDC Programs” under Section H – Optional Attachments to ensure that Component 2 applicants will not be eliminated from the review if they upload this attachment (see p. 51).

For more details and information about applying, see the notice on grants.gov: CDC-RFA-DP21-2106 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)