Review of NOFA RequirementsCircles of Care and Standard

Infrastructure Grants

Jill Shepard Erickson, MSW

Project Officer

Center for Mental Health Services

Application Review Information

Page 21, Infrastructure Grants

Page11, Circles of Care

Section A: Statement of Need, 10 points

• Describe target population, numbers, language, culture, geography, and socioeconomic factors

• Document the need, tribal, state, SAMHSA data. • Describe service gaps, barriers

– Describe stakeholders and resources– Identify initiatives funded by Indian Health Service,

Department of Justice, other SAMHSA grants, etc.– Describe how initiatives will be coordinated

• Describe needs related to priorities of state, county, or tribe. (Copies of strategic plans in Appendix 5)

Section B: Proposed Approach35 Points

• State purpose with goals, objectives per NOFA and community

• Describe proposed project• Provide logic model• Describe advisory body• Describe partner organizations, (letters of commitment

in Appendix 1)– Describe and include community schools and tribal college if

available

Section B continued

• Describe how age, race/ethnicity, culture, language, sexual orientation, disability, and gender will be addressed

• Describe how members of the target population have been and will be involved in proposal

• Describe potential barriers• Describe how activities will improve substance abuse

prevention and treatment and/or treatment of mental health services

• Provide a plan for sustainability

Section C: Staff, Management, Relevant Experience - 25 points

• Time line on chart or graph, (include within narrative)• Capability and experience with target population• List staff and roles each will play• Describe racial/ethnic and linguistic characteristics of

staff, re target population• Describe resources, facilities

Section D: Evaluation and Data30 points

• Describe the process and outcome evaluation, performance measures and target outcomes re goals and objectives

• Describe ability to collect and report required performance measures per NOFA

• Describe plans for data collection, management, analysis, interpretation and reporting (instruments in Appendix 2)

• Describe reliability and validity of evaluation methods and instruments per gender/age/culture of target population

• Describe how collection, analysis, and reporting of data will be integrated• Describe how project staff will work with evaluation staff to support the

evaluation effort, informing each other in a constant cycle, locally and collectively

Evaluation and Data #2GPRA Measures (Preliminary)

Document plan for collecting and reporting:

1. Involvement of community leaders, consumers and families in planning, policy development and strategy for treatment planning implementation in: – quarterly reports

– Completion of cross-site evaluation tasks

– Minutes from community planning meetings

Evaluation and Data #3GPRA Data

2. Plan for documenting improved access to quality care for AI/AN children, youth and families of community, examples include:– New sources of funding– Increased use of telemedicine, telepsychiatry

Evaluation and Data #4GPRA Measures

3. Adherence to the TA guidance provided

– Products developed– Timely completion of phases of activities– Feedback on satisfaction with TA provided

Individual clinical/patient data will not be collected

SAMHSA Standard Grant Announcements and NOFA’s

Basics of the Funding Opportunity

FY 2005

Jill Erickson, CMHS Project Officer

Four Standard Grant Announcements

1. Infrastructure: Increase capacity of service systems to support effective programs and services

2. Services: Funding to implement services3. Best Practices Planning and Implementation: ID

practices and adapt for pilot-testing4. Service to Science: Document and evaluate

innovative practices to fill gaps, not yet formally evaluated.

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA/Circles of Care)

• Used in addition to a Standard Grant Announcement• Specifies purpose, target population, issue area, and

other requirements of the program• Identifies funding, expected size and number of awards• Provides deadline• Specifies eligibility, allowable activities,

evaluation/GPRA requirements.

Application and Submission

• Call for kit to be mailed, – Mental Health: 1-800-798-2647 – Substance Abuse: 1-800-729-6686

• Download from www.samhsa.gov, “grant opportunities”

• Download from www.grants.gov.

Infrastructure Grants, Basic Expectations

• Allowable Activities

• Data and Performance Measurement: Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, GPRA

• Grantee Meetings

• Evaluation

Application Requirements

• Application Kits contain the following and must be used:– PHS 5161-1 Application forms: face page, budget

forms, assurances, certification, and checklist– Program Announcement (PA)– Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), as

published in the Federal Register, www.samhsa.gov, and www.grants.gov .

Required Components

• Face Page: SF 424, part of PHS 5161-1. – Including a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number, obtainable

from www.dunandbradstreet.com, or 1-866-705-5711

• Abstract: 35 lines maximum, used in publications.• Table of Contents• Budget Form: SF 424A• Project Narrative and Supporting Documentation• Appendices• Assurances, Certifications, Disclosure of Lobbying, and

Checklist

Application Formatting Requirements

• Non compliance results in proposal being screened out prior to review:– Type size in narrative cannot exceed an average of

15 characters per inch. (excludes type size within charts, graphs, footnotes)

– Text cannot exceed 6 lines per vertical inch– White paper, 8.5inch by 11.0 inch– Margins at least 1 inch– 25 page limit for narrative.

Formatting Recommendations

• Type single space in black ink, one column per page• Number pages including cover page #1, Abstract #2,

Table of Contents through the Appendices.• 30 page limit for Appendices• Send original and 2 copies to mailing address in

Section IV-6.1. • No staples, paper clips, fasteners, heavy papers,

posters, CD-ROM’s, etc. • Proposal must be easily copied.

Electronic Submission Option

• Use the www.grants.gov apply site• Find application package by CFDA #• Download copy of application package,

complete off line• Submit via www.grants.gov, e-mail submissions

not accepted.• Use Microsoft, font Times New Roman 12, or

PDF files.

Prior Requirements for Electronic Submission (allow 2 wks+)

• Obtain DUNS number• Obtain Central Contractor Registry (CCR)• Obtain Credential Provider registration• Obtain Grants.gov registration• User guide available at www.grants.gov, • Or e-mail: support@grants.gov• Or call 1-800- 518-4726, 7:00 am-9:00 pm, Eastern,

Monday through Friday.

Back Up Paper Submission

• Label as “Back up for electronic submission”• Paper copy must meet “postmark” requirements• If both received, electronic version will be official• Automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov with

Grants.gov tracking number• Electronic signatures cannot be accepted now, so

signed paper originals of face page, assurances, and certifications must be mailed, referencing the grants.gov tracking number, within 5 business days of the electronic submission.

Budget Form

• SF 424A, from the 5161-1

• Fill out Sections B, C, E.

• Follow the sample budget and justification from Appendix D of Standard Announcement

• Include figures for each year of the grant

• Total budget will include direct cost and negotiated indirect cost rate.

SAMHSA’s Guidelines for Assessing Cultural Competence

• Experience with the target population

• Training and staffing, gender/age/cultural competence

• Language accommodations

• Materials appropriate for target population

• Evaluation, methods and instruments appropriate for population

• Community representation on boards

• Plan for implementation

Part II

• General Policies and Procedures Applicable to all SAMHSA Applications for Discretionary Grants and Cooperative Agreements.

• Used in addition to the Program Announcement/NOFA and Standard Grant Announcement

• Contains the Cultural Competence