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Grant Competition:
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Models on College Campuses (CFDA #84.184N)
(FY 2006)
Frequently Asked Questions
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What steps can I take to maximize my chances of receiving a grant?
What is an indirect cost rate?
An indirect cost is an expense that you incur that is necessary to implementing the grant, but may be difficult to identify with your grant. For example, indirect costs may include money spent for heat, light, rent, telephone, security, accounting, and Internet use.
If your organization prefers to use all of its grant funds for direct project costs, you are not required to charge the grant for indirect costs. If you wish to charge indirect costs, however, you must use a federally negotiated indirect cost rate for this competition.
The indirect cost rate is the negotiated rate between the applicant and cognizant federal agency. For the majority of institutions of higher education, the cognizant federal agency will be the Department of Health and Human Services (in other cases, it may be the Department of Education, Department of the Interior, or the Office of Naval Research).
For more information, please visit http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/fipao/abouticg.html.
Is there a restricted indirect cost rate for this program?
No. Applicants may use their full negotiated indirect cost rate.
For my GEPA 427 statement (see page 28), is it adequate to state that our organization does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, etc.?
No. An organization’s non-discrimination statement is not sufficient to meet the GEPA requirements. A GEPA statement should outline an entity’s potential barriers and solutions to equal access.
What kinds of activities are likely to be “human subjects research”?
ED’s regulations for the protection of human subjects, 34 CFR Part 97, defines research as a systematic investigation (including program evaluation) designed to develop or contribute to general knowledge. A “systematic” investigation typically uses scientific methods (such as adequate sample sizes, surveys, control groups, and/or randomization). Research becomes “human subjects” research when the researcher obtains data about an individual through an intervention or otherwise obtains identifiable private information about individuals for research purposes. For additional information on human subjects research go to:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/humansub.html
If "human research activities" are planned, what should the applicant do?
Grants under this program that involve nonexempt human subjects research will need to obtain a federal wide assurance to abide by the Department's regulations for protection of human subjects in research and be reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before beginning non-exempt activities. An IRB is a special panel responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of human research subjects. Studies of alcohol and other drug abuse reduction programs may fit the definition of “research” by some agencies under a Federal policy governing human subjects if they are designed so that the findings transcend the study site or population studied and it contributes to the development of new knowledge about what works (and how) in alcohol and other drug abuse reduction. While not every program will require IRB review, applicants should consult early on with someone knowledgeable in the field of human subjects research to determine whether or not the project requires IRB review.
A registry of Institutional Review Boards is available online at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Human Research Protection website, http://ohrp.cit.nih.gov/search/asearch.asp#ASUR. Applicants whose programs require review by an IRB should budget appropriate costs into their application. If an applicant fails to budget ahead of time for IRB review and then discovers later that IRB approval is needed, no additional grant funds will be awarded for the review. For additional information about human research subjects and the need for IRB approval, please reference the Department of Education’s website for Grants Policy and Oversight Staff at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/humansub.html.
If you have any questions about your responsibilities under these requirements, you may contact ED’s Protection of Human Subject Coordinator at (202) 245-6153.
How does the Freedom of Information Act affect my application?
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was enacted in 1966 and provides the right to request access to federal agency records or information. All agencies of the U.S. Government are required to disclose records upon receiving a written request for them, except for those records that are protected from disclosure by the nine exemptions listed in the FOIA. All applications submitted for funding consideration under this grant competition are subject to the FOIA. To read the text of the Freedom of Information Act, visit www.usdoj.gov/04foia/foiastat.htm.
Why do I need a valid e-mail address?
We often have questions about aspects of the application that need to be clarified. These questions usually arise late in the application review process and require a rapid response. Valid e-mail addresses of persons who are knowledgeable about the application and can answer questions are essential. In addition, we no longer mail peer reviewer comments. We will send you instructions via e-mail on how to get access to reviewer comments on your application on-line.
Are electronic application submissions required under this competition?
Yes. As outlined in the Federal Register notice for this grant competition, applications must be submitted electronically. You must submit your application using the Grants.gov Apply site.
What is the deadline date for transmittal of applications under this grant competition?
March 22, 2006.
May I get an extension of the deadline date?
Waivers for individual applications failing to meet the deadline will not be granted, regardless of the circumstances. Under extraordinary circumstances the Department may change the closing date for a grant competition. When this occurs, the Department announces such a change in a notice published in the Federal Register.
Who is eligible to apply?
This grant competition is open to institutions of higher education that offer an associate or baccalaureate degree.
My institution received an award as a model program several years ago. May I apply again this year?
To be eligible, your institution must not have received an award under this competition (CFDA 84.184N) during the previous five fiscal years. That would include any competitions held in fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
How long must programs have been implemented in order to be eligible?
Programs must have been implemented for at least two full academic years. We are defining an academic year as the fall through spring semesters (or equivalent, for those institutions that are not on a semester system). Therefore, for the purposes of this competition, a program should have begun implementation no later than spring 2004.
How much money is available under this grant competition?
The Department expects to make available approximately $750,000 for this program in fiscal year 2006.
What are the program elements that applicants must address?
A project funded under this absolute priority must include all of the following activities:
(1) A description of an alcohol or other drug prevention program that has been implemented for at least two full academic years on the applicant’s campus;
(2) Evidence of the effectiveness of the program on the applicant’s campus;
(3) A plan to enhance and further evaluate the program during the project period; and
(4) A plan to disseminate information to assist other IHEs in implementing a similar program.
Does the applicant need to address all four program elements to be considered for this competition?
Yes. Applicants that do not clearly address all four required elements of the absolute priority will be considered non-responsive to the absolute priority for this program.
How many new awards will be made?
It is estimated that 5 new awards will be made.
What is the project and budget period for these grants?
15 months.
Do I need to submit a budget narrative for each year?
The budget period will be one 15-month period. Please submit a budget narrative that reflects this one 15-month budget period. For additional guidance on preparing a budget narrative, please see http://www.ed.gov/admins/grants/apply/techassist/resource_pg8.html.
What is the average amount of each grant?
Projects will be funded for approximately $125,000 to $175,000 depending on the scope of work. These figures are only estimates and do not bind the Department of Education to a specific number of grants or amount of any grant.
Is there a matching requirement?
No.
Are there guidelines for how much money can be spent on consultants? What is the daily limit and is there a cap?
There is no daily limit or cap for consultant fees. Information related to these fees should be included on ED Form 524 under the budget categories of “Contractual” or “Other.” Applicants should be sure to fully substantiate all expenditures in the budget narrative. All costs must be necessary and reasonable and consistent with the purposes of the grant.
When might a grant application that is submitted for funding under this competition be deemed ineligible for review?
An application submitted for funding under this competition will be deemed ineligible for review if it does not meet all four elements of the absolute priority. Also, any IHE that has received funds under this grant competition (CFDA 84.184N) during the previous five fiscal years (fiscal years 2001 through 2005) is not an eligible applicant.
Will all applicants receive a site visit as part of the review?
No. Only high-scoring applicants will be selected for site visits. We expect to conduct site visits to high-scoring applicants in April 2006 and expect applicants selected for site visits to be available during that time.
Who do I contact for more information about this grant competition?
Vera Messina, Education Program Specialist, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3E258, Washington, DC 20202-6450, Phone: (202) 260-8273, Fax: (202) 260-7767, E-mail: vera.messina@ed.gov
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Ruth Tringo, Education Program Specialist, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3E338, Washington, DC 20202-6450, Phone: (202) 260-2838, Fax: (202) 260-7767, E-mail: ruth.tringo@ed.gov
Last Update: February 7, 2005
