National Center for Construction Safety and Health Research and Translation (U54)

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice RFA-OH-24-001_National_Construction_Center_U54.pdf (85 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.

Award size and project length

• Project period: 5 years · p. 18

  “NIOSH intends to commit approximately $28.75 million in total costs (direct and indirect) over the entire project period (up to 5 years).” Open page 18

• Award amounts here are for the whole project · p. 18

  “NIOSH intends to commit approximately $28.75 million in total costs (direct and indirect) over the entire project period (up to 5 years).” Open page 18

• Award amounts here are per year · p. 18

  “Award Budget $5,750,000 Total Costs per budget period Award Ceiling: $5,750,000 total costs per budget period Award Floor: $3,000,000 total costs per budget period It is anticipated that the maximum amount for each application/award will be $5,750,000 in…” Open page 18

• Project period: 3 years · p. 22

  “A Center application for a period of performance of 3 years or less will be considered non- responsive, and CDC/NIOSH will notify the applicant that the application does not meet the submission requirements and will ask that it be withdrawn.” Open page 22

Registrations you need first (3)

• Grants.gov, eRA Commons · p. 3

  “Applicants will use a system or platform to submit their applications through Grants.gov and eRA Commons to CDC.” Open page 3

• Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 20

  “Applicants must have a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number in order to begin each of the following registrations.” Open page 20

• SAM.gov · p. 20

  “The UEI replaced the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and is generated as part of SAM.gov registration.” Open page 20

Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist

Steps before the deadline

• Letter of intent · p. 2

  “Posted Date August 28, 2023 Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) November 1, 2023 Letter of Intent Due Date(s) The first Letter of Intent due date is November 1, 2023.” Open page 2

• Letter of intent · p. 22

  “Responsiveness A letter of intent is required.” Open page 22

• Letter of intent · p. 24

  “A letter of intent is required, the information that it contains allows NIOSH staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.” Open page 24

What to submit

• Form SF-424 · p. 4

  “Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise in this NOFO.” Open page 4

• Project abstract or summary · p. 17

  “Applicants should provide a brief statement about expected outputs/products of the research and outcomes of their proposed research in the Description (Abstract) and in the Research Strategy (Significance) in Section IV.” Open page 17

• Data management plan · p. 26

  “Detailed descriptions for a multi-institution-involved Data Management Plan (and data portals) will be required.” Open page 26

• Letters of support or commitment · p. 30

  “Include signed letters of support or collaboration from participating institutions.” Open page 30

• Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 32

  “If named, specify Project Role of 'Other' with Category of 'Associate Director.' Include a single Biographical Sketch for each Senior/Key person listed in the application regardless of the number of components in which they participate.” Open page 32

• Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 66

  “If requesting indirect costs in the budget based on a federally negotiated rate, a copy of the indirect cost rate agreement is required.” Open page 66

• Form HHS 690 · p. 69

  “Should the applicant organization successfully compete for an award, recipients of federal financial assistance (FFA) from HHS will be required to complete an HHS Assurance of Compliance form (HHS 690) in which the recipient agrees, as a condition of…” Open page 69

• Audit or financial statements · p. 77

  “Reporting When multiple years are involved, recipients will be required to submit the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) in eRA Commons at least annually and financial statements as required in the HHS Grants Policy Statement.” Open page 77

Length limits

• Page limit (see quote): 6 pages max · p. 24

  “Past performance and/or prior accomplishments, whether for new or renewal applicants, is limited to 6 pages per component and should be attached to the Appendix of the PHS 398 Research Plan (i.e., "13.” Open page 24

• Page limit (see quote): 10 pages max · p. 27

  “A 10-page limit will apply. j.” Open page 27

• Page limit (see quote): 12 pages max · p. 44

  “The research strategy should be limited to 12 pages.” Open page 44

• Translation of Research: 1 page max · p. 79

  “Translation of Research (1 page maximum).” Open page 79

• Public Health Relevance: 1 page max · p. 80

  “Public Health Relevance and Impact (1 page maximum).” Open page 80

Dates in the notice

• August 28, 2023 · p. 2

  “Posted Date August 28, 2023 Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) November 1, 2023 Letter of Intent Due Date(s) The first Letter of Intent due date is November 1, 2023.” Open page 2

• December 1, 2023 · p. 2

  “Thereafter, 30 days prior to the application due date Application Due Date(s) December 1, 2023;” Open page 2

Mistakes that get applications rejected (8)

• Could get your application rejected: Generally, proposals of laboratory-only basic research will not be considered unless there is a compelling... · p. 10

  “Generally, proposals of laboratory-only basic research will not be considered unless there is a compelling rationale, such as studying a new or emerging problem/exposure in the construction sector.” Open page 10

• Could get your application rejected: New and Renewal applications will not be accepted for future application due dates. · p. 17

  “New and Renewal applications will not be accepted for future application due dates.” Open page 17

• Outside what the program funds: An application that does not propose multi-scientific collaboration with academic institutions will be... · p. 22

  “An application that does not propose multi-scientific collaboration with academic institutions will be deemed non-responsive, and CDC/NIOSH will request its withdrawal.” Open page 22

• Outside what the program funds: These types of applications will be considered non-responsive, and CDC/NIOSH will request their withdrawal. · p. 22

  “These types of applications will be considered non-responsive, and CDC/NIOSH will request their withdrawal.” Open page 22

• Missing a required part: Overall Planning, Administrative, and Evaluation Core Construction Industry Data and Statistical Core... · p. 26

  “Overall Planning, Administrative, and Evaluation Core Construction Industry Data and Statistical Core Communication, Outreach, and Education Core Research-to-Practice Core Applied Research Projects Any application that does not include all required…” Open page 26

• Sent the wrong way or format: Paper applications will not be accepted. · p. 49

  “Paper applications will not be accepted.” Open page 49

• Missing a required part: Applications that are incomplete and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed. · p. 50

  “Applications that are incomplete and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.” Open page 50

• Not an eligible applicant: Applications submitted without the required DMP may be deemed ineligible for award unless submission of... · p. 65

  “Applications submitted without the required DMP may be deemed ineligible for award unless submission of DMP is deferred to a later period depending on the type of award, in which case, funding restrictions may be imposed pending submission and evaluation.” Open page 65