FY 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Cultural Grants Program
The Embassy continues to offer grants for well-designed and managed projects that encourage and promote cultural and artistic cooperation, collaboration and exchange between the United States and Slovenia. The focus of successful projects should be the presentation and promotion of American values, culture, and/or history through art, music, literature, dance, and/or other cultural mediums, to Slovenian audiences. Projects which demonstrate cultural cooperation between Slovenia and the United States that is indicative of the strong transatlantic relationship between the two nations and their people are of particular interest. For this grant period, consideration will be given to project proposals focusing on promotion of American values and culture, and presentation of American history, society, art, or other culture. We are particularly interested in supporting projects that demonstrate the mutually-beneficial, productive, and successful history and/or future of cultural cooperation between Slovenia and the United States that is indicative of the strong transatlantic relationship between the two nations and their people. Funding for cultural grants is decided through a competitive application process, and each proposal is reviewed by an internal embassy committee. Funding authority rests in the Smith-Mundt Act and Fulbright-Hays Act, as amended. PLEASE NOTE: We recognize that the requirement for all program proposals to include a significant American component may be challenging in some cases given current restrictions that preclude Americans from traveling to Slovenia. We encourage prospective grant partners to be creative about leveraging of virtual resources, and capitalizing on local expertise during the August 2020 (Cultural or NGO) Grants cycle. Proposals that do not require the international travel of American artists, specialists, speakers or performers, or which outline an alternative virtual component will be more competitive for the limited funding available. EXAMPLE: A cultural program proposes a lecture series on American history for young schoolchildren. The primary program proposal envisions an American history teacher visiting Slovenia to conduct in-person lectures and teacher training for two weeks. Ideally, under the circumstances, the proposal should also include a backup plan to use video conferencing in lieu of international travel to conduct the lecture tour, in the event that COVID-19 travel restrictions make international travel impossible.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Slovenia
Deadline: August 17, 2020
Amount: $10,000
For more information: https://si.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grant-opportunities/cultural-grants/
FY 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity: NGO Small Grants Program
The U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Slovenian civil society organizations. The Embassy continues to offer grants for well-conceived and managed projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Slovenia. Eligible topics for projects are broadly defined to include democracy and human rights, security and defense issues, and economic and business development. Successful proposals will strengthen understanding of the United States, including its society, culture, politics and values, and support a priority theme listed below. Typically grant awards range from $3,000 to $5,000, though some exceptional projects are funded up to $10,000, and supplement other funding. Organizations who have not been awarded grants previously are encouraged to apply. Funding for NGO grants is decided through a competitive application process. Each proposal is reviewed by an internal embassy committee to determine the project’s potential to advance U.S. policy priorities: Regional and Trans-Atlantic Cooperation; Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Economic Reform, Promotion of Trade, Women in STEAM; International Security, Counter Terrorism, and Defense Issues; Energy Security and Diversification; Digitalization, Cyber Security, and Artificial Intelligence; Countering Corruption, Good Governance, Strengthening Rule of Law, and Transparency; Independent Media and Investigative Journalism; Human Rights (to include tolerance, respect for diversity, and support for historically marginalized communities.); Youth Engagement, Volunteerism, and Active Citizenship; Environmental Preservation and Sustainability. Funding authority rests in the Smith-Mundt Act andFulbright-Hays Act, as amended. PLEASE NOTE: We recognize that the requirement for all program proposals to include a significant American component may be challenging in some cases given current restrictions that preclude Americans from traveling to Slovenia. We encourage prospective grant partners to be creative about leveraging of virtual resources, and capitalizing on local expertise during the August 2020 (Cultural or NGO) Grants cycle. Proposals that do not require the international travel of American artists, specialists, speakers or performers, or which outline an alternative virtual component will be more competitive for the limited funding available. EXAMPLE: A cultural program proposes a lecture series on American history for young schoolchildren. The primary program proposal envisions an American history teacher visiting Slovenia to conduct in-person lectures and teacher training for two weeks. Ideally, under the circumstances, the proposal should also include a backup plan to use video conferencing in lieu of international travel to conduct the lecture tour, in the event that COVID-19 travel restrictions make international travel impossible.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Slovenia
Deadline: August 17, 2020
Amount: $10,000
For more information: https://si.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grant-opportunities/ngo-small-grants/
Characterizing causal mechanisms to prevent dental fear and anxiety (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to stimulate research to test causal mechanisms underlying the etiology or prevention of dental fear, anxiety, or phobia.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: November 25, 2020
For more information: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DE-21-001.html
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Boots on the Ground Assistance
NRCS, an agency under the USDA, in the South Carolina State Office, is seeking proposals from partners to provide “Boots on the Ground” assistance with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This assistance includes, administrative management of active contracts (completion of contract status reviews, practice reminder letters, processing payment applications, assembling customer folders, assisting with customer questions and assisting with contract progress), assistance with conservation practice implementation (design, layout, surveying and practice certification) and updating conservation plans and maps. In addition, the awardee will be expected to attend workshops and outreach meetings to provide information to landowners on services provided by NRCS and EQIP program opportunities available for those interested in conservation programs. NRCS is looking for approximately three (3), full-time equivalents (FTEs)e to be located in the USDA Service Center in the counties of Aiken, Florence, and Kershaw in South Carolina with technical assistance being provided to these counties as well as to neighboring counties as directed by NRCS with a focus on reaching historically underserved landowners. NRCS has $540,000 available for a 3-year agreement with an eligible entity who has experience with NRCS Farm Bill programs and business tools, such as but not limited to, ProTracts, Conservation Desktop (CD) and Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool (CART). Proposals are requested from tribal governments and organizations, State and local units of government, and institutions of higher learning for competitive consideration of a cooperative agreement award for projects 3 years in duration.
Funding Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Amount: $540,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #USDA-NRCS-SC-EQIP-20-NOFO0001028
Enabling Agricultural Innovations for Sustainable Food Security: Biotechnology and Seeds Systems in Asia and Africa
A key strategic goal for the U.S. Government (USG) and of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is to conduct international outreach and communication regarding the role and importance of science-based and risk proportionate decision-making for the adoption of existing and emerging agricultural biotechnologies as a tool for enabling innovation and helping address challenges to the sustainability of agriculture and global food security in the twenty-first century. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) seeks to partner with a U.S. land-grant university to carry out trainings and provide technical assistance for select Asian and African decision-makers, technical experts, and stakeholders focusing on informed strategies for enabling the science-based adoption of agricultural biotechnologies, including incorporating biotechnology into national and regional initiatives to modernize and strengthen seed systems for innovation. The purpose of this program is threefold: 1) To enhance understanding of policymakers and stakeholders in the Philippines of the role of modern biotechnology in agricultural innovation, and how such biotechnological innovations can be adopted with appropriate science- and risk-based considerations; 2) To enhance the understanding of African country governments’ policymakers and technical experts with responsibilities relevant to the African Union of the role of modern biotechnology in agricultural innovation, and how such biotechnological innovations can be adopted with appropriate science- and risk-based considerations, especially for seed production and trade; and 3) To identify and share ways in which biotechnological innovations can advance food security, and what trade policies in the Philippines and in the African Union may be needed to help ensure access by their farmers to such innovations.
Program Objectives and Priorities: a) Deliver tailored trainings for select Asian and African officials, technical experts, and stakeholders on key considerations for enabling the science- and risk-based adoption of agricultural biotechnologies, to include applications in plants and animals. b) Provide technical assistance to policymakers and regional stakeholders on successfully incorporating biotechnology and innovative breeding techniques into seed sector improvement initiatives, such as ensuring availability of high-quality seeds for small-scale producers. The land grant university will work with select developing country governments, regional organizations, and biotechnology stakeholder groups to support the successful deployment of agricultural biotechnology products. Work in this area may include consulting and technical assistance to incorporate biotechnology into seed system improvement initiatives; support for commercial or public sector research and development of genetically engineered or genome edited plants and/or animals; targeted outreach to key stakeholders in host governments; or other activities that enable adoption of agricultural biotechnology in Asia and Africa, in consultation with USDA/FAS. c) Ensure information sharing and increased awareness among participants of different patterns of adoption of agricultural biotechnologies among countries/regions, and of differences with approaches to seed sectors, and their impacts. d) Based on the input of the Asian and African participants, develop action plans for country/regional efforts moving forward on technical assistance activities, identifying key issues and gaps in needs and capacity building, e) Develop science-based, risk proportionate regulatory approaches that further regional regulatory alignment and cooperation that facilitates deployment of agricultural innovation. The trainings may take place on the campus of the university partner, in Asian and African partner countries, or virtually, over the period of the award (Fiscal Year 2021–2022). The trainings will be tailored to the needs and interests of the Asian and African audiences, reflecting the most recent knowledge and status of relevant policy and programmatic efforts and partnerships, and will include engagement by recognized U.S. and international technical and policy experts from a range of relevant disciples and fields (e.g., regulatory sciences, social scientists, legal experts, and experienced agricultural economic development practitioners). The trainings will address both country-specific issues and, where appropriate, regional collaboration, as well as general information sharing to provide all participants with a strong understanding of how different experiences and approaches to the adoption of emerging agricultural biotechnologies globally may be shaping varying results for improved outcomes for farmers, the environment, and other evidence and cost-benefit considerations. The land grant university will collaborate with USDA/FAS in the design and implementation of the trainings (virtual and/or in person), in the selection of countries, regional bodies, and experts, and in identifying indicators and measures of success. Specifically: I. U.S Training: 1. An Executive Course on GM technologies and Precision Biotechnology for policymakers. This activity aims to encourage deeper understanding and appreciation for a science-and evidence-based policy framework conducive to the advancement of biotechnological innovations. The activity is envisioned as a one-week executive course designed to educate participants on modern biotechnology, related national and international policies, biosafety regulation compliance, potential impacts of biotechnology policies and regulations, and socioeconomic considerations in decision making. The course shall include site visits to various state-of-the-art facilities for biotechnology to reinforce the participants’ learning experience. Target participants are policymakers and regulators from the Philippines (5 participants) and African Union (AU) countries (3 participants), either in separate or single training, which shall include an evaluation of participants’ increase in knowledge from the training. 2. Short-term training on any or all of the following topics: a. risk analysis of GM animals for food; b. advanced training on risk analysis of GM crops, targeting senior technical officers and middle-level managers in five government agencies implementing the Philippine Joint Department Circular on regulations on modern biotech; c. advanced training on risk management and risk communication; d. Laboratory tours, and sharing of experiences on the use of gene editing tools CRISPR-Cas, ZFN, TALEN, and ODM) and other plant breeding innovation methods; e. new breeding techniques for Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) researchers to improve the breeding programs of Philippine Department of Agriculture f. Biotechnology tools for rapid and precise detection of pests, diseases, and food contaminants to improve regulatory services; and, g. Use of bioinformatic tools for genomics studies. Trainings shall include an evaluation of participants’ increase in knowledge on topics listed above. Target participants (5 participants) include personnel from Philippine DA agencies directly involved in risk analysis of GM products as well as DA Biotech Center researchers. II. Regional Training for the African Union: 3. Conduct a Seed Biotechnology Regional Workshop in Ethiopia, for the African Union, for 10-15 participants.
Funding Agency: Technical Agricultural Assistance 10.960
Deadline: August 17, 2020
Amount: $350,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-20-0025
Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance with the Bobwhite Quail Working Lands for Wildlife 2.0 Initiative under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in South Carolina
NRCS, an agency under the USDA, in the South Carolina State Office, is seeking proposals from partners to provide “Boots on the Ground” conservation planning and technical assistance with the Bobwhite Quail Working Lands for Wildlife 2.0 Initiative under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This assistance includes conservation planning for new program applications, administrative management of active contracts (completion of contract status reviews, assembling customer folders, assisting with customer questions and assisting with contract progress), assistance with conservation practice implementation (design, layout and practice certification) and updating conservation plans and maps. In addition, the awardee will be expected to attend workshops and outreach meetings to provide information to landowners on services provided by NRCS and EQIP program opportunities available for those interested in conservation programs focusing on wildlife habitat. This technical assistance would be statewide but focused in the four South Carolina Bobwhite Quail Focal Areas: Webb, Palachuccola, and Hamilton Ridge Area (Hampton, Allendale) or Sandhills Area (Lee, Chesterfield, Darlington) or Oak Lea Area (Clarendon, Orangeburg or Calhoun) with a focus on reaching historically underserved landowners. NRCS has $450,000 available for a 3-year agreement with an eligible entity who has wildlife biology expertise and experience with NRCS programs and business tools, such as but not limited to, ProTracts, Conservation Desktop (CD), and Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool (CART). Proposals are requested from tribal governments and organization, State and local units of government, and institutions of higher learning for competitive consideration of a cooperative agreement for a project 3 years in duration.
Funding Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Amount: $450,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #USDA-NRCS-SC-EQIP-20-NOFO0001029
Monitoring Soil Health Impacts of CRP
FPAC is announcing the availability of cooperative agreement funding to collect, analyze, and use soil health and grassland stand data from CRP-enrolled fields to estimate the relationship between soil health and the quality of the cover. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academic institutions are eligible to apply for the $500,000 of available funding. Applications are due July 28, 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
Funding Agency: Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
Deadline: July 28, 2020
Amount: $500,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity # USDA-FPAC-MULTI-CRP-20-NOFO0001030
Controlling certain invasive aquatic species in Arizona and New Mexico
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Program supports landscape-scale conservation by working collaboratively with other Department of the Interior agencies and external partners on landscape-level shared priorities. A primary function of Science Applications is to identify and consult on a peer-to-peer basis with State Fish and Wildlife agencies on the most important conservation and management issues. Science Applications facilitates the co-development of science, research and planning needs with partners and provides resources to support shared strategies for fish and wildlife conservation. Focal activities for Science Applications include: Collaborative Landscape Conservation – Science Applications supports landscape-scale conservation by establishing and leading collaborations across multiple jurisdictions to meet shared goals. Components of Collaborative Landscape Conservation include developing frameworks to identify shared landscape-scale conservation goals and objectives, providing strategies for monitoring progress, supporting coordination for allocation of pooled resources toward shared conservation needs, and identifying science and research needed to advance conservation (see also Science Planning and Support); Supporting At-Risk and Listed Species – Science Applications supports conservation of federally listed and at-risk species, providing internal science capacity and/or external funding for science that supports Species Status Assessments and listing decisions, in addition to facilitating collaborative partnerships that can implement conservation to prevent additional listings and/or support downlisting or delisting; Science Planning and Support – Science Application’s approach to Collaborative Landscape Conservation and species support depends on the foundation of best-available science. Science Applications identifies, through collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs, other Department of the Interior agencies, and State Fish and Wildlife agencies, shared actionable science needs that can support conservation delivery. Science Applications provides internal technical capacity and/or funds external scientific studies that continuously improve best-available science to provide decision support for conservation. The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network is a national consortium of federal agencies, tribes, academic institutions, state and local governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and other partners working together to support informed public trust resource stewardship. The CESU Network provides research, technical assistance, and education to federal land management, environmental, and research agencies and their partners. Eligible applications for this NOFO are the more than 450 non-Federal partners of the CESU Network. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Science Applications supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission by working with partners to achieve landscape conservation that benefits fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats across multiple jurisdictions. This program and funding opportunity supports the following Department of the Interior Priorities for Financial Assistance: Create a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt: The program and funding opportunity will support the development of essential information to improve the collaborative management of invasive aquatic species across multiple jurisdictions to achieve conservation goals shared across Federal and State Fish and Wildlife agencies; Restore trust and be a good neighbor: The program and funding opportunity will foster the development of trust between State and Federal agencies and with the scientific community. Projects to be funded through this announcement will be co-developed by a partnership of Federal and non-federal partners; Strike a regulatory balance: This program and funding opportunity will improve the best-available science needed to support listing and de-listing decisions. Identification of Priority Information Needs – To develop science that supports collaborative landscape conservation and at-risk species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Program (based out of the Albuquerque, NM Regional Office) in Interior Regions 6, 7, and 8 has been facilitating and convening other Service programs and State Fish and Wildlife agencies to identify high-priority challenges for specific aquatic invasive species that limit our collective ability to achieve and deliver landscape-scale conservation for at-risk and federally listed species. Partners directly involved in this effort include biologists and resource managers from Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs (Ecological Services, Refuges, and Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation) from Interior Regions 6, 7, 8, and 10. Science Applications is also identifying research needs that, if supported, could help overcome those shared challenges. In the southwestern United States, where scarce water resources support myriad species of conservation priority, native and invasive non-native aquatic species compete for limited habitat and resources; invasive species must be addressed in order to achieve our shared conservation objectives for native species. Purpose: Some success has been achieved in control and removal of invasive aquatic species in some locations. In order to improve the scale and effectiveness of this work, there is a need to advance: 1) our understanding of invasive species distributions and impacts on native species and their habitats in Arizona and New Mexico, and 2) the practice of invasive species control. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is intended to support both topics through a competitive funding announcement. The Science Applications Program is soliciting proposals on collaborative landscape-scale applied scientific research that will address at least one of the following invasive non-native species: 1) American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), and 2) crayfish (e.g., northern [virile] crayfish [Orconectes virilis], red swamp crayfish [Procambarus clarkii], rusty crayfish [Faxonius rusticus]). Research must specifically address control techniques, inventory and monitoring (I&M) to support management decision-making or document effectiveness of invasive species control, novel I&M protocol development and/or determination of how these species impact native Federal or State-listed or at-risk species (e.g., Apache trout [Oncorhynchus apache], Chiricahua leopard frog [Lithobates chiricahuensis], Gila trout [Oncorhynchus gilae], lowland leopard frog [Lithobates yavapaiensis], narrow-headed gartersnake [Thamnophis rufipunctatus], northern Mexican gartersnake [Thamnophis eques megalops], and Sonora mud turtle [Kinosternon sonoriense]) in terms of population viability, abundance, survival, productivity, and distribution/range at various stages of life history. At-risk are generally considered to be those species not currently listed where collaborative conservation actions can help preclude the need for listing. Research must have conservation and management outcomes that will benefit State Fish and Wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies and partners with management responsibility for native and invasive aquatic species. On-the-ground research and monitoring must be conducted in Arizona and/or New Mexico (hereafter project region). This on-the-ground research must be coordinated with the appropriate State agency(ies). Projects proposing the development of novel technology for control or monitoring techniques in a laboratory setting (e.g., genetic techniques) can be completed outside of geography specified above, provided that the techniques developed remotely are directly applicable for on-the-ground work in the project region. For this announcement, all proposed scientific projects must be fully completed with deliverables (including all collected and developed data) and final report within 3 years of the award date. To be considered for funding research outcomes for proposals must have direct management and conservation implications, and projects must be at least one of the following project categories. Project Categories: Quantification of the impacts of invasive bullfrogs and/or crayfish on native fish and wildlife in the project region. Proposals must address science needs for state species of greatest conservation need, federally listed (threatened and/or endangered) species, and/or at-risk species. Examples of projects that may be considered for this funding category include: Investigation of the physiological and demographic consequences, and the associated drivers (e.g., predation, competition, disease), of interactions between bullfrogs and/or crayfish and native fish and wildlife species at all stages of life history; Metapopulation dynamics, resiliency, and susceptibility of populations of native fish and wildlife species and their habitats in relation to bullfrogs and/or crayfish introduction, invasion, and colonization; Quantifying changes in food web and trophic dynamics in bullfrog and/or crayfish-invaded aquatic communities (e.g., before-after-impact-assessment) and impacts on native fish and wildlife species; Development and testing of innovative control techniques for invasive bullfrogs and crayfish within the project region. Proposals for on-the-ground research on control techniques must clearly identify how the river, basin, or watershed being proposed for research will benefit from experimentation and specify how methods are not harmful to native species and the realized population and ecological benefits of these methods for native species; Development, testing, and validation of innovative and novel mechanical, chemical, biological, and/or genetic control techniques for bullfrogs and/or crayfish across all stages of life history. Demonstration of large-scale applications, economic feasibility, and absence of negative impacts on native species or the environment. On-the-ground research must be conducted within the project region. Laboratory-based assessments may be completed outside of the project region; however, proposals must clearly state how developed techniques could be implemented on-the-ground within the project region; Inventory and monitoring of bullfrogs and/or non-native crayfish to assess threats to native species and/or support implementation of native species recovery actions. Examples of projects that may be considered for this funding opportunity include: Presence-absence surveys of crayfish across the project region that support planning and implementation of on-the-ground conservation and recovery work; A census of waters and bullfrog populations in key geographies (e.g., watersheds) within the project region targeted for recovery of native fish and wildlife species. Evaluation of the degree to which control efforts for bullfrogs and/or crayfish promote (or do not promote) native species recovery, and how results may have varied due to environmental variability or habitat setting (e.g., prey availability, physical setting of aquatic habitat), interspecific interactions (e.g., competition, predation), and population dynamics and demography (e.g., survival, reproduction, population growth, dispersal). Development of techniques and demonstration of successful translocations, reintroductions, and recolonization/reestablishment of native fish and wildlife species in previously bullfrog- and/or crayfish-invaded aquatic communities and ecosystems. Measuring the population response (e.g., abundance, productivity, survival) of native species to bullfrog and/or crayfish control. Investigation of changes in habitat selection by native species as a result of bullfrog and crayfish control.
Funding Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Deadline: July 30, 2020
Amount: $500,000
For more information: For more information go to grants.gov and search opportunity #F20AS00160
Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities and Demonstration and Training Programs: National Technical Assistance Center on Transition for Students and Youth with Disabilities CFDA Number 84.326E
Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768),or at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf. Purpose of Programs: The purpose of the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program is to promote academic achievement and to improve results for children with disabilities by providing TA, supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating useful information, and implementing activities that are supported by scientifically based research. The purpose of the Demonstration and Training program is to provide competitive grants, including cooperative agreements, to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to expand and improve the provision of vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Rehabilitation Act), or to further the purposes and policies in sections 2(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act by supporting activities that increase the provision, extent, availability, scope, and quality of rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act, including related research and evaluation activities. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.326E.
Funding Agency: Department of Education
Deadline: August 28, 2020
Amount: $4,100,000
For more information: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-06-29/pdf/2020-13975.pdf
Nonhuman Primate Reagent Resource (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits applications for an immunologic reagent resource to support and facilitate the optimal use of nonhuman primate (NHP) models for vaccine and adjuvant development, transplantation, and infectious and immune-mediated diseases. This resource will identify, obtain, develop, characterize, evaluate, produce, and distribute to the scientific community key immunologic reagents for NHP research that are not commercially available or, if commercially available, are not optimized for use in NHPs. In addition, the resource will develop and provide a public website that includes a searchable database of information about immunologic reagents, commercial and non-commercial, that cross-react with NHP cells or proteins. The research tools generated and provided through this initiative will enable and accelerate NHP research on cures, vaccines, and treatments for immune-mediated diseases and emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: November 19, 2020
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-20-043.html
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)
The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) award is to enable promising predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The proposed mentored research training must reflect the candidates dissertation research project and is expected to clearly enhance the individuals potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientist. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial, but does allow candidates to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: August 8, 2023
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-20-246.html
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will support students at institutions without NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs. The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA, dual-doctoral degree, predoctoral fellowship (F30) is to enhance the integrated research and clinical training of promising predoctoral students, who are matriculated in a combined MD/PhD or other dual-doctoral degree training program (e.g. DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, DVM/PhD), and who intend careers as physician/clinician-scientists. Candidates must propose an integrated research and clinical training plan and a dissertation research project in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The fellowship experience is expected to clearly enhance the individual’s potential to develop into a productive, independent physician/clinician-scientist. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial, but does allow candidates to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: May 7, 2023
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-20-245.html
BRAIN Initiative: Theories, Models and Methods for Analysis of Complex Data from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This FOA solicits the development of theories, computational models, and analytical tools to derive understanding of brain function from complex neuroscience data. Proposed tools could include tools to integrate existing theories or formulate new theories; conceptual frameworks to organize or fuse data to infer general principles of brain function; multiscale/multiphysics models to generate new testable hypotheses to design/drive future experiments; new analytical methods to either support or refute a stated hypothesis about brain function.. It is expected that the tools developed under this FOA will be made widely available to the neuroscience research community for their use and modification. Investigative studies should be limited to model parameter estimation and/or validity testing of the tools being developed.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: September 14, 2021
Amount: $250,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-20-002.html
NICHD Research Education Programs (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This FOA will support creative educational activities that focus primarily on research skills development. Although activities focused primarily on mentoring activities or professional skills development are not within the scope of this funding announcement, the informal mentoring activities and professional skills development that are usually associated with courses for research skills development are permitted.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: May 25, 2022
Amount: $150,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-20-250.html
PrEP for HIV Prevention among Substance Using Populations (R01 – Clinical Trial Optional)
NIDA is interested in research that addresses research gaps related to PrEP and its use among substance users, with the goals of improving PrEP management and implementation. Current US Public Health Service PrEP guidelines recommend PrEP for people who inject drugs (PWID) and mention alcohol and illicit drug use as potential concerns for clinical management. Only one clinical trial has evaluated PrEP among PWID and systematic data regarding the broader use of PrEP among substance users are limited. There is a need to better understand the effects of substance use on PrEP effectiveness and better inform PrEP implementation among substance users. More systematic data are needed regarding the impact of substance use on PrEP management and adherence, along with investigating potential unintended consequences of PrEP use that may be unique to substance users. This RFA is restricted to projects conducted in the United States, although foreign components are permitted where they support domestic research in the United States. Applications are encouraged that propose research in states and counties identified in the US Governments Ending the HIV Epidemic (EtHE) initiative as described here: Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/ending-the-hiv-epidemic/overview. Applications to work in locales that are not included in the EtHE initiative must provide an epidemiologic justification for their inclusion in the research.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: November 12, 2020
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-21-024.html
Young Pacific Leaders Civic Leadership Workshop
The U.S. Embassy in Australia announces an open competition for organizations and individuals to submit applications to carry out a sub-regional workshop on civic leadership designed to provide emerging Pacific leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to become leaders in the region’s civic development. As a Pacific nation, the United States has long been committed to working with partners in the region to ensure continued regional security, as well as economic growth and development. This program for young leaders will create ties across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands to ensure that we are better prepared to address challenges together in the future. For the past six years, the State Department has convened a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Conference, which has taken place in American Samoa, Samoa, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Fiji, with the goal of building leadership capacity and creating ties among emerging leaders from across the Pacific region. This activity is a sub-regional workshop that will convene a group of emerging leaders aged 25-35 with the goal of providing them with practical leadership skills and a deeper knowledge of regional issues related to the civic leadership pillar of YPL. The sub-regional workshop should also help participants grow their networks and enable them to work with their peers on issues that affect the region. The sub-regional workshop should emphasize experiential learning and capacity building to equip participants with the tools they need for success. We encourage pre- and post-workshop programming that will reinforce the themes of the workshop. The location of the workshop should be in Australia and should be selected based on needs of the program, including ease of travel, as well as an opportunity to showcase connections between the United States and Pacific nations. Goals of the workshop include: Developing the knowledge and skills of youth in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands to become leaders who cooperate across the region to address difficult issues; Ensuring that emerging Pacific leaders see the United States as a partner in solving regional and global challenges; Building a network of emerging Pacific leaders that can share best practices and collaborate on shared challenges; Increasing participants’ knowledge of current issues related to good governance, as well as strategies for increasing civic engagement among youth. Possible program themes related to civic leadership can include, but are not limited to: Democratic governance, anti-corruption, and transparency; Press freedom, media literacy, countering disinformation; Political and civic engagement, which could include running for office, increasing voter turnout, advocacy with government agencies, and/or volunteerism; Policy development and implementation.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Australia
Deadline: August 31, 2020
Amount: $200,000
For more information: https://au.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grants-programs/
BRAIN Initiative: Proof of Concept Development of Early Stage Next Generation Human Brain Imaging (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA), in support of the NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, aims to support early stage development of entirely new noninvasive imaging methods or unusually bold approaches for existing noninvasive imaging methods that will lead to transformative advances in our understanding of the function and connectivity of the human brain. The FOA solicits small-scale projects to prove exceptionally innovative, original and/or unconventional concepts.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: September 3, 2021
Amount: $300,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EB-20-001.html
State, Local, Tribal and Territorial National Information Exchange Model Cyber Pilot
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Stakeholder Engagement Division seeks to award a new cooperative agreement for a pilot titled “State, Local, Tribal and Territorial National Information Exchange Model Cyber Pilot” in fiscal year 2020. The activities contemplated in this agreement advance CISA’s mission as defined in authorities within the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018, specifically regarding providing shared situational awareness to enable real-time, integrated, and operational actions across the Federal Government and non-Federal entities to address cybersecurity risks and incidents. The nature of the cybersecurity threat to America is growing, and our nation’s cyber adversaries move with speed and stealth. To keep pace, all types of organizations, including those beyond traditional critical infrastructure sectors, need to be able to share information and respond to cyber risk. The National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) is a common vocabulary that enables efficient information exchange across diverse public and private organizations. NIEM connects communities of people who share a common need to exchange information in order to advance their mission. For over 10 years, NIEM has facilitated information exchanges across a variety of mission spaces and subject areas. What began as a solution for the law enforcement and homeland security communities has since evolved into a wide range of subject matters and areas. CISA is building on these community efforts by facilitating the implementation of the NIEM model to enhance data and information exchanges through the NIEM Cyber Domain. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to explore the development of a prototype data exchange standard format based on NIEM with a select group of States that can eventually be rolled out for implementation across State, Local, Tribal and Territorial (SLTT) agencies. This implementation will result in an effective model for cyber-physical information sharing. and development for improved SLTT information exchange capabilities.
Funding Agency: Office of Procurement Operations – Grants Division
Deadline: July 27, 2020
Amount: $625,000
For more information: https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs/preaward/previewPublicAnnouncement.do?id=77174
FY20 State, Local, Tribal and Territorial (SLTT) High Value Asset (HVA) Pilot
The Stakeholder Engagement Division (SED), Partnerships Branch seeks to award a new cooperative agreement titled “State, Local, Tribal and Territorial (SLTT) High Value Asset (HVA) Pilot” in fiscal year 2020. The activities contemplated in this agreement advance CISA’s mission as defined by authorities within the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018, specifically regarding providing shared situational awareness to enable real-time, integrated, and operational actions across the Federal Government and non-Federal entities to address cybersecurity risks and incidents, as well as providing information and recommendations on security and resilience measures to Federal and non-Federal entities to facilitate information security and strengthen information systems against cybersecurity risks and incidents.Justification: the nature of the cybersecurity threat to America is growing, and our nation’s cyber adversaries move with speed and stealth. To keep pace, SLTT agencies need to be able to identify, categorize, and prioritize their HVAs in order to protect these assets from compromise, subsequently protecting HVAs that are so critical to an organization that the loss of access or corruption of these assets would have serious impact to the organization’s ability to perform its mission or conduct business. Key to this effort, SLTT jurisdictions require guidelines, templates, and tools to facilitate implementation of these processes within the context of their own risk management framework, available resources, and authorities.The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is to establish a HVA pilot that aligns with the Federal Government’s HVA programs (reference Office of Management and Budget memo M-17-09 found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/memoranda/2017/m-17-09.pdf and CISA Binding Operational Directive found at https://cyber.dhs.gov/assets/report/bod-19-02.pdf ) and is flexible enough to be implemented by SLTT jurisdictions based on their individual requirements. The outcomes of this cooperative agreement will provide standardized methods for the identification, categorization, and prioritization of high value assets, and provide guidance, templates, and tools to mitigate risk associated with identified vulnerabilities.
Funding Agency: Office of Procurement Operations – Grants Division
Deadline: July 27, 2020
Amount: $1,250,000
For more information: https://www.grantsolutions.gov/gs/preaward/previewPublicAnnouncement.do?id=77173
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will support students at institutions with NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs. The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA, dual-doctoral degree, predoctoral fellowship (F30) is to enhance the integrated research and clinical training of promising predoctoral students, who are matriculated in a combined MD/PhD or other dual-doctoral degree training program (e.g. DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, DVM/PhD), and who intend careers as physician/clinician-scientists. Candidates must propose an integrated research and clinical training plan and a dissertation research project in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The fellowship experience is expected to clearly enhance the individual’s potential to develop into a productive, independent physician/clinician-scientist. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for candidates proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial, but does allow candidates to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: May 7, 2023
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-20-248.html
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards senior individual research training fellowships to experienced scientists who wish to make major changes in the direction of their research careers or who wish to broaden their scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities as independent investigators in research fields relevant to the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) does not allow candidates to propose to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow candidates to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: May 7, 2023
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-20-247.html
Improving Clinical and Public Health Outcomes through National Partnerships to Prevent and Control Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease Threats
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides support for domestic and global infrastructure to prevent and control infectious diseases that threaten the public’s health. The proposed cooperative agreement would fund organizations that represent professionals at the front line of preventing and controlling the spread of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats such as COVID-19, including clinicians, other healthcare professionals, healthcare systems, and other organizations and institutions responsible for infectious disease prevention and control in the United States. This NOFO is intended to establish a roster of organizations that would be pre-identified and pre-approved for rapid funding by CDC to address emerging and re-emerging public health threats. This NOFO will establish an Approved-But-Unfunded (ABU) list of grantees. This ABU list will be utilized by CDC to effectively respond to, manage, and address the identified public health threat, in partnership with national and regional organizations. Applications seeking to conduct activities outside the scope of the program activities will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered. Under the proposed umbrella cooperative agreement, CDC would provide funding, as available, in support of a set of strategies that target prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Collaborative activities would extend from the following program strategies: DISSEMINATE AND ADOPT – Support CDC in the dissemination and adoption or implementation of guidance, clinical guidelines, and best practices for the prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases; INFORM AND ADAPT – Inform and support CDC in the development and adaptation of guidance, tools, and best practices, including tailoring existing guidance to the needs of specific patient populations , clinical specialties, and workplace industry sectors; TARGET AND TRAIN – Engage frontline personnel and lead training in CDC best practices for the broader workforce supporting the prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Target guidance and tools to better reach higher risk communities and reduce disease spread in targeted workplaces; INTEGRATE AND EXTEND – Develop integrated and cross-sub-specialty networks for information sharing, problem-solving, and sharing of promising practices, including the development of rapid or living learning networks. Extend networks to reach vulnerable or hard-to-reach populations; EVALUATE AND IMPROVE – Evaluate the impact and effectiveness of strategies for improved infection prevention and control practices. Implement continuous improvement by assessing and monitoring performance metrics related to prevention programs and program strategy.
Funding Agency: Centers for Disease Control – NCEZID
Deadline: July 31, 2020
For more information: For more information go to grants.gov and search opportunity #CDC-RFA-CK20-2003
Strengthening West African Community Phytosanitary Practices
Program Overview: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Office of Capacity Building and Development (OCBD) seeks to strengthen and further the technical assistance to the West Africa region to increase governmental capacity to meet international phytosanitary standards. The project aims to provide teaching to the National Plant Protection Officers (or their delegates) in strong collaboration with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional stakeholders. This project will enable the ability of ECOWAS countries to meet some of the objectives laid out in the action plan to improve regional phytosanitary systems by supporting international collaboration between countries as well as between ECOWAS and member countries. This project enhances the ability for West Africa to work collectively as a region to harmonize standards, procedures to better facilitate trade by initiating technical working groups among other activities. The selected recipient will work with ECOWAS, NPPOs and USDA/FAS to build the capacity of ECOWAS member states to meet international phytosanitary standards and better harmonize and recognize phytosanitary systems within the region. These efforts will also help West African countries achieve their objectives under the African Continental Free Trade Area and contributions to the African Union’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework for Africa.
Strengthening West African Community Phytosanitary Priorities: These activities may be conducted in concert with other Land-Grant Universities, outside subject matter experts, research institutions, both public and private African institutions, including but not limited to universities, research and government institutions, and non-governmental organizations. During the technical assistance interaction with ECOWAS countries, an in-depth understanding of the US system/approaches to the topics being discussed is necessary, to enable greater US-ECOWAS-East Africa interactions. In addition, the selected recipient should work with local USDA and USAID offices, and the to-be-selected recipient for the USDA Food for Progress SPS Program in West Africa.
Objectives: USDA/FAS is seeking partners with whom to collaborate throughout the West Africa region. Objectives focused on improving the region’s phytosanitary systems are: Successfully provide regional assistance to ECOWAS countries to accomplish objectives and activities laid out in the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan; Provide teaching to foreign governments to enable their capacity to harmonize import and export inspection procedures and protocols in West Africa, and; Improve coordination for regional harmonization and compliance with international standards and regional participation in setting international standards; Develop guidance documents and other communication materials on improving regional phytosanitary systems that can be shared widely across the continent.
The Priority activities/deliverables are to conduct at least three regional activities with ECOWAS to include: Training of NPPOs on identification, detection, pest surveillance and response to invasive pests; Training on risk-based inspections and phytosanitary certification; Training on conducting quarantine treatments and application, including instruction on conducting treatments safely; Strengthening the infrastructure of the NPPOs; Strengthening information sharing among the NPPOs within the region; Developing standard operational procedures (SOPs) for phytosanitary measures (or building upon possible current efforts in region or within the international community); Work closely with USDA APHIS colleagues to help facilitate technical exchanges of African experts to travel to the US to learn about harmonization of phytosanitary practices, including inspection and other regulatory border activities, and improved food security and agricultural resilience from invasive pests. Activities would be conducted on a regional basis through the Africa regional plant protection organization, Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU/IAPSC); Provide technical trainings on science-based systems to gather analyze and disseminate information on the presence and prevalence of high-risk diseases, pests, or food safety hazards in the region; Provide technical assistance to conduct a survey to identify institutional gaps and pinpoint in adequacies that hinder the development of establishing an Africa NPPO plant health safeguarding capacity building program; Monitoring the program, evaluating progress in achieving objectives, and reporting outcomes.
Funding Agency: Technical Agricultural Assistance 10.960
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Amount: $350,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-20-0027
FY 2021 RSVP Competition
Through this competition, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) seeks to compete multiple geographic service areas to identify sponsoring organizations for RSVP programs. RSVP engages people age 55 and over in a diverse range of volunteer activities that serve communities to create measurable impact, benefit volunteers through the service experience, and create community capacity.
Funding Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service
Deadline: September 1, 2020
Amount: $518,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #CNCS-07-01-20
Network of the National Library of Medicine Evaluation Center (U24) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites cooperative agreement (U24) applications for organizations to serve as the Evaluation Center for the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). The goal of the NNLM is to advance the progress of medicine, improve public health by providing U.S. health professionals and the public with equal access to biomedical data and information, and improve individual’s access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health. The NNLM works through libraries and other member organizations to support a workforce for biomedical and health information resources and data, improve health literacy, and increase health equity. Seven health sciences libraries function as the Regional Medical Library (RML) for their respective region. The RMLs work together to coordinate a network of member libraries and other organizations to carry out local, regional and national programs. These Network members develop collaborations with other organizations to improve access to biomedical information resources throughout the nation. The NNLM program is coordinated by the NLM Office of Engagement and Training. The NNLM Evaluation Center (NEC) will coordinate the assessment of the impact, efficacy and value of NNLM activities, services, and resources. A special focus will be placed on assessing community engagement and measuring its impact on persons who experience health disparities, and populations underrepresented in biomedical research. The NECs activities will include, among others, developing evaluation tools, planning studies, providing evaluation training to the RMLs, Offices, Centers, and sub-awardees of the NNLM, and assessing the effectiveness of national initiatives and selected programs. The NEC will provide NNLM with essential information for developing, maintaining, and evolving effective health information engagement and outreach activities for diverse populations.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: September 28, 2020
Amount: $610,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-LM-20-002.html
BJA FY 20 State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Information Sharing Technical Assistance Program
Many accomplishments have been made since 9/11 in the collection, sharing, coordination, and integration of information for the purpose of defeating terrorism and improving homeland security. These accomplishments are remarkable, considering the complexity of the fabric of the nation’s counterterrorism and homeland security enterprise, which consists of the private sector; state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement, fire/emergency services, and emergency management; state and major urban area fusion centers; federal law enforcement and federally supported regional information sharing programs such as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) and Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS); the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The above accomplishments, though significant, are not an end state. There is much work to be accomplished, in particular focusing on the domestic nexus of national security and public safety. As emerging threats become more distributed and decentralized, it is essential to define a more aggressive approach to further share terrorism-related information and improve homeland security. To help achieve this goal, the DHS and DOJ, in partnership with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI); the FBI; and experts from the state and local communities-including the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) and the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC)-have worked together to facilitate the development of SLTT intelligence and analytic capabilities. Through discrete, targeted activities such as workshops, seminars, exchanges, and technical assistance offerings, this consortium has achieved significant success in providing the support necessary to assist the SLTT partners in improving their capability and capacity as required by and in accordance with national policy and doctrine, including the National Strategy for Information Sharing (NSIS), the Fusion Center Guidelines, and the Baseline Capabilities for State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers. In order to continue to capitalize on the successes of this consortium to facilitate the development of state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) intelligence and analytic capabilities, as well as the increased levels of experience and expertise that are being gained from the collaborative efforts of DHS and DOJ, BJA, in collaboration with DHS, will partner to administer this Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) program to support the standardization of information sharing practices; the identification and sharing of SLTT information; the exchange of promising practices and lessons learned; and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI).
Funding Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Amount: $200,000
For more information: https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17372
NIDA Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) encourages applications for institutional research career development (K12) programs that propose to support intensive supervised research training and career development experiences for clinician scientists (Scholars) leading to research independence in the area of substance use and substance use disorder research.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: November 15, 2023
Amount: $500,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-20-249.html
U.S. Embassy Abuja Northwest Programs
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Embassy Abuja Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for individuals and organizations to submit program proposals to support Nigeria’s response to the ongoing instability in the North West and North Central regions. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Priority Region: Nigeria’s North West and North Central regions. Program Objectives: PAS seeks to award a limited number of grants to individuals, educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations that are actively working to support the Nigerian government’s community outreach efforts towards fostering inter-communal and interfaith dialogue, establishing forums for constructive advocacy and conflict resolution, early warning mechanisms, and/or amplifying government’s security efforts in under served areas. PAS will prioritize grant program proposals that protect against security threats and foster peace and stability through measures to prevent and counter violent extremism, mitigate rural violence and encourage peaceful dialogue and non-violent conflict resolution. This funding will prioritize individuals and organizations that have already commenced projects, can demonstrate capacity to manage programming, and have clear records of achievement. Humanitarian assistance, social welfare and construction are not allowed under this funding instrument. Projects must be safe and follow current healthcare regulations. Applicants are permitted to submit only one proposal per individual/organization. Participants and Audiences: The funding is intended to target the root cause of violence in the region through grassroots efforts that encourage participation from youth, women, religious leaders/credible voices and the security apparatus.
FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION: Length of performance period: Six (6) months to Twelve (12) months. Number of awards anticipated: Dependent on individual amounts. Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $5,000.00 to a maximum of $50,000.00. Type of Funding: FY20 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds & Fulbright-Hays Act. Anticipated programs start date: September 1st, 2020. Funding Instrument Type: Grant – Fixed Amount Award.
ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION: 1. Eligible Applicants: The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations; Public and private educational institutions; Individuals; Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions. 2. Other Eligibility Requirements: In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.
APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION: 1. Address to Request Application Package; Application forms required below are available at: ng.usembassy.gov, grants.gov.; 2. Content and Form of Application Submission; Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application: Please ensure: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity: All documents are in English; All budgets are in U.S. dollars; All pages are numbered. The following documents are required: 1. Mandatory application forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals), SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs); 2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.; 3. Proposal: The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate. Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. 4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget, use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. 5. Attachments: 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program; Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner; If your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file; Official permission letters, if required for program activities; Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Required Registrations: All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge: Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number); NCAGE/CAGE code; www.SAM.gov registration. Step 1: Apply for a DUNS number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously). DUNS application: Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet. If your organization does not have one already, you may obtain one by calling 1-866-705-5711 or visiting http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. NCAGE application: Application page here: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx. Instructions for the NCAGE application process: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf. For NCAGE help from within the U.S., call 1-888-227-2423. For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766. Email NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code. Step 2: After receiving the NCAGE Code, proceed to register in SAM.gov by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications are due no later than July 31, 2020, 11:59pm WAT. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. All applications should be submitted to PASAbujaGrants@state.gov using the subject line “NW NC Submission”. Please note that there is not a required template or format, but due to the volume of submissions, applications should be no more than 3 pages. 4. Funding Restrictions Activities that are not funded include, but are not limited to: Social welfare projects; Tuition assistance; Individual travel to conferences; Construction projects; Completion activities for projects begun with other funds; Projects that are inherently political in nature or that convey partisan support to individual or single party electoral campaigns; and, Political party activities. Authorizing statutes for the funding opportunity are: 1) Fulbright-Hays Act, which allows the Department of State to use funds for the purpose of supporting international exchanges that address issues of mutual interest to the United States and host nations: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/fulbrighthaysact.pdf 2) Smith-Mundt Act that outlines the terms by which the U.S. government engages global audiences: http://www.state.gov/pdcommission/library/177362.htm 5. Other Submission Requirements: Proposals should be submitted online to PAS, U.S. Embassy Abuja at PASAbujaGrants@state.gov by July 31, 2020 no later than 11:59pm WAT. Please indicate “NW NC Submission” in the subject line. Applications and all supporting documents are accepted in English only. While budget figures may be calculated in naira before converting to U.S. dollars, final budget figures must be stated in U.S. dollars (use $1=N381).
APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION: 1. Criteria: Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below. Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 20 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 20 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated, and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. Budget – 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. Monitoring and evaluation plan – 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it can measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured. American Content – 10 points: American content emphasizes informing others about the U.S. and increasing their understanding of U.S. policy, values, etc. This can be as complex as having a U.S. citizen speaker or trainer (virtual), or as simple as having alumni run a program. The key is to visibly tie the program in some way to the U.S., our priorities, and established Public Diplomacy programs/exchanges. Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program. 2. Review and Selection Process: A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. 3. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS): For any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity, if the Federal awarding agency anticipates that the total Federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold on any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity may include, over the period of performance (see §200.88 Simplified Acquisition Threshold), this section must also inform applicants: i. That the Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313); ii. That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM; iii. That the Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.
FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS: If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: Public Affairs Section, PASAbujaGrants@state.gov
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Nigeria
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Amount: $50,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #DOS-NGA-PD-ABV-FY20-006
OSERS: OSEP: National Center to Improve Faculty Capacity to Use Educational Technology in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel Preparation and Leadership Personnel Preparation Programs CFDA Number 84.327F
Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768),or at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf. Purpose of Program: The purposes of the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program are to (1) improve results for children with disabilities by promoting the development, demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support educational activities designed to be of educational value in the classroom for children with disabilities; (3) provide support for captioning and video description that is appropriate for use in the classroom; and (4) provide accessible educational materials (AEM) to children with disabilities in a timely manner.[1] Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.327F. [1] Applicants should note that other laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.; 28 CFR part 35) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794; 34 CFR part 104), may require that State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) provide captioning, video description, and other accessible educational materials to students with disabilities when these materials are necessary to provide equally integrated and equally effective access to the benefits of the educational program or activity, or as part of a “free appropriate public education” as defined in 34 CFR 104.33.
Funding Agency: Department of Education
Deadline: August 21, 2020
Amount: $500,000
For more information: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-07-01/pdf/2020-13862.pdf
Moscow American Center Program
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow (PAS Moscow) invites proposal submissions for a cooperative agreement to assist in providing administrative, technical and programmatic support for the American Center program. The American Center at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, is one of approximately 650 American Spaces supported by the U.S. Department of State. The American Center is a technology-forward, welcoming, and engaging environment where Embassy personnel, U.S. visitors, and implementing partners connect with Russians, especially young leaders and young professionals, to inspire dialogue on issues that matter most to U.S.-Russia relations. The grant recipient will be responsible for assisting with the operations of an existing stand-alone American Center on the U.S. Embassy compound in Moscow. Key program activities under this cooperative agreement will include hiring new, and supporting existing American Center staff members, who have expertise in program and event management; purchasing and maintaining all necessary technology, materials, and supplies to provide a basis for engagement with Russian audiences; and designing a flexible and dynamic program of activities each month to interact with Russian visitors to the center and encourage visitors to return regularly. Decisions on staffing and program content will be made in close consultation with the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Final decisions regarding hiring and program implementation will require the approval of the U.S. Embassy.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Russia
Deadline: August 15, 2020
Amount: $400,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #DOSRUS20CA008
Biomarkers of Dietary Intake and Exposure (U2C Clinical Trial Required)
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to invite applications from multidisciplinary teams for the development of metabolomics-based dietary intake biomarkers and validate them against current benchmark dietary biomarkers and dietary assessment approaches.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: October 21, 2020
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-20-005.html
Biomarkers of Dietary Intake and Exposure Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites cooperative agreement applications under U24 mechanism for a Data Coordination Center to participate and coordinate in a dietary biomarker development study. A companion FOA (RFA DK-20-005), Biomarkers of Dietary Intake and Exposure (U2C Clinical Trial Required) invites multidisciplinary teams to discover, develop and validate dietary biomarkers of intake of wide range of food groups and food types and evaluate the performance of these markers and compare them with dietary assessment methodologies and other benchmark predictive markers.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: October 21, 2020
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-20-007.html
Continuation of the Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP) for Type 1 Diabetes (HPAP-T1D) (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites a cooperative agreement application to continue the mission of the existing Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP). This FOA will support one team of investigators with combined expertise in human pancreas physiology and pathophysiology; collection, processing and multimodal analysis of human pancreatic tissues; and biological database building, curation and management, that will be tasked to: 1) identify, collect and intensively characterize primary pancreatic tissues from patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or at risk of developing the disease, as well as age-matched controls; and 2) analyze, organize and share the data resulting from the study of these tissues through the existing PANC DB open-access resource database. HPAP is a component of the Human Islet Research Network or HIRN. HIRN was created in 2014 to support innovative and collaborative translational research to understand how human beta cells are lost in T1D, and to find innovative strategies to protect and replace functional human beta cell mass.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: November 10, 2020
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-20-016.html
Russian-American History Showcase – Online
The U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section in Moscow (PAS Moscow) invites proposal submissions for a cooperative agreement to implement the 2020 Russian-American History Showcase (formerly the Fort Ross Quest), which will be conducted entirely online. The grant recipient will work closely with Public Affairs and Cultural Affairs at Mission Russia to create an activity that motivates teams of Russian secondary school students and teachers to explore the shared history of the United States and Russia. The result of the showcase will be a student-made showcase project (a website, app, AR or VR platform, etc.) that then becomes a useful outreach tool for further engagement with a broader audience on shared U.S.-Russian History. The showcase will include learning opportuneness in the form of online workshops and seminars to help participants in their desire to learn more about emerging computer technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and app development. The showcase also supports the purchase and shipping of tools to winning teams to help them further their educational, creative and technological endeavors. The Russian-American History Showcase proactively promotes a broader understanding of U.S. history while also promoting tolerance, shared values, teamwork, and English language learning.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Russia
Deadline: August 15, 2020
Amount: $50,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #DOSRUS20CA009
U.S. Subject Matter Experts Program
The U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section in Moscow (PAS Moscow), invites proposal submissions for a cooperative agreement to provide technical and logistical support for the U.S. Subject Matter Experts Program. The grant recipient will work closely with Public Affairs and Cultural Affairs at Mission Russia to identify and recruit American experts to travel to Russia or virtually address audiences through lectures, short or long-term workshops and seminars, appearances in foreign media, and in a consultant capacity. The Subject Matter Experts Program proactively promotes understanding of U.S. culture, society and U.S. foreign policies on topics identified by the Embassy and its partner organizations and provides space for dialogue between the peoples of the two countries. The program also fosters American engagement with a wide range of Russian audiences through a range of speaking events, including participation in conferences, festivals and professional meetings, and through online engagements and programs.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Russia
Deadline: August 15, 2020
Amount: $300,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #DOSRUS20CA003
English Language Teaching Logistical Support
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow invites proposal submissions for a cooperative agreement to provide technical and logistical support for English Language Programming from the English Language Office (ELO) in Russia. Award recipients will consult closely with the Regional English Language Officer, based in Tallinn, and PAS Moscow throughout the development, implementation, and evaluation of each English Language Program. Each English Language Program professionally develops teachers, increases the English language skills of students, or assists an expert to professionally develop other teachers of English in Russia. These include, but are not limited to: Umbrella and National Association of Teachers’ of English) NATE conferences, English Teaching Assistant (ETA) support to visit English Access camps, Teacher Associations’ and USG alumni support, travel of Russian English teachers to Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Convention and other international conferences, printing, purchasing, and distributing relevant materials, and targets of opportunity. The grantee will be responsible for providing logistical support during major ELO events and projects in Russia in the form of venue negotiations and arrangements, transportation, transfers, hotel and meal arrangements, purchasing of materials and supplies, chaperoning American experts, and other technical and/or logistical support, as directed by PAS Moscow. The Grantee will be required to provide the Embassy with program account records on a regular basis.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Russia
Deadline: August 15, 2020
Amount: $480,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #DOSRUS20CA005
English Access and Advance
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow invites proposal submissions for a cooperative agreement to provide technical and logistical support for English Language Programming from the English Language Office (ELO) in Russia. Award recipients will consult closely with the Regional English Language Officer, based in Tallinn, and with PAS Moscow throughout the development, implementation, and evaluation of each English Language Program. Each English Language Program professionally develops teachers, increases the English language skills of students, or assists an expert to professionally develop other teachers of English in Russia. These include, but are not limited to: Administering English Access Microscholarship Programs and Advance through Vocational English Programs in Russia; as well as providing and supporting in-person and online professional development opportunities for Access and Advance teachers and staff. The Grantee will be required to provide the Embassy with program account records on a regular basis.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to Russia
Deadline: August 15, 2020
Amount: $300,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #DOSRUS20CA004
Aging, Cancer-Initiating Cells, and Cancer Development (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Through this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute on Aging (NIA) will promote research to advance the understanding of the mechanistic factors and cellular interactions during aging that contributes to cancer initiation. Collaborations are strongly encouraged between scientists in the fields of aging biology and cancer biology. Applications should address key questions regarding how hallmarks of aging that lead to impaired cellular activities (metabolic alterations, proteostasis, epigenetic changes, and DNA repair) and alterations in the microenvironment (inflammation and immunosenescence) contribute to the development and outgrowth of cancer-initiating cells.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: February 17, 2021
Amount: $300,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-20-040.html
Rural Cooperative Development Grant
The primary objective of the RCDG program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas by assisting individuals or entities in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other business entities. Grants are awarded competitively on an annual basis to Rural Cooperative Development Centers who in turn provide technical assistance to individuals and entities.
Funding Agency: Business and Cooperative Programs
Deadline: August 3, 2020
Amount: $200,000
For more information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-cooperative-development-grant-program
Standing Announcement for Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Division of Unaccompanied Children’s Operations (DUCO), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), provides temporary shelter care and other child welfare-related services to unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in ORR custody. Residential care services begin once ORR accepts a UAC for placement and ends when the UAC is released from ORR custody, turns 18 years of age, or the UAC’s immigration case results in a final disposition of removal from the United States. Residential care and other child welfare-related services are provided by state-licensed residential care programs in the least restrictive setting appropriate for the UAC’s age and needs. ORR is announcing this FOA to seek long term foster care (LTFC) providers. LTFC providers are required to be licensed in the state in which they are located to provide foster care services and are required to meet the needs of UAC by providing quality care in a community setting. UAC who may qualify for placement in LTFC include the following: UAC between the ages of 0-17 years of age; sibling groups; pregnant/parenting teens; and/or UAC who are especially vulnerable or with other needs. All entities funded under this FOA must also comply with Flores v. Reno, Case No. CV 85-4544RJK (C.D. Cal. 1996) (Flores settlement agreement), pertinent regulations, laws, and ORR policies, instructions, and procedures. ORR encourages applicants to review ORR’s policies, instructions, and procedures available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/children- entering-the-united-states-unaccompanied as these will be critical to the overall program design.
Funding Agency: Administration for Children and Families – ORR
Deadline: September 4, 2020
Amount: $10,000,000
For more information: https://ami.grantsolutions.gov/HHS-2021-ACF-ORR-ZU-1787
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31-Diversity)
The purpose of this Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research award is to enhance the diversity of the health-related research workforce by supporting the research training of predoctoral students from diverse backgrounds including those from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research workforce. Through this award program, promising predoctoral students will obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting well-defined research projects in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The proposed mentored research training is expected to clearly enhance the individual’s potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientist. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) does not allow candidates to propose to lead an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial, but does allow candidates to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: May 7, 2023
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-20-251.html
Combating Discrimination and Social Injustice through Capacity Building and Policy Reform
Equip at least 25 young community leaders in South India with tools to develop realistic strategies to counter discrimination and foster a more inclusive and democratic society. This will be evidenced by pre-and post-event surveys of the participants to gauge the impact of the training. Inspire projects among at least 15 social media influencers and encourage them to use their online influence as a platform to oppose discrimination and intolerance. Progress will be evaluated using pre- and post-event surveys, and how workshop participants use techniques and lessons within their social media platforms. Induct at least 40 project participants into a network of alumni of U.S. Government projects in South India, including the recent Volunteer for India project. Establish and lead efficient and effective social media interventions by participants on different platforms as a result of the interactions with the U.S. speaker, as measured by Engagement parameters that include comments, shares, change in followers, and views on multimedia content published on social media platforms. This would be done through analytical reports submitted periodically.
Funding Agency: U.S. Mission to India
Deadline: July 21, 2020
Amount: $30,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #C-NOFO-20-106
Tobacco Use and HIV in Low and Middle-Income Countries (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to encourage research focused on tobacco use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in low and middle income countries (LMICs). In particular, applications are encouraged that focus on the development and evaluation of tobacco cessation interventions tailored to HIV positive populations, including those with co-morbidities such as tuberculosis (TB), in low-resource settings in LMICs. This FOA provides funding for research planning, intervention delivery, and follow-up activities.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: September 24, 2020
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-20-037.html
Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Exploratory/Developmental Projects (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for NIH Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) exploratory/developmental (R21) projects. The mission of the NIH CounterACT program is to foster and support research that will advance development of new and improved therapeutics to mitigate the health effects of chemical threats. Chemical threats are toxic chemicals that could be used in a terrorist attack or accidentally released from industrial production, storage or shipping. They include traditional chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, pesticides, and pharmaceutical-based agents. The scope of the research includes basic toxicological research on the chemical threat for the purpose of target and therapeutic hit identification, hit validation, lead optimization, and demonstration of in vivo ADME/Tox and efficacy. Projects supported by this FOA are expected to generate preliminary data that would facilitate the development of competitive applications for more extensive support from the NIH CounterACT Cooperative Agreement programs or other related initiatives.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: May 20, 2023
Amount: $200,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-20-253.html
Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Using Untrusted Vendors for 5G
This will be a single-stage open competitive process. Interested applicants will submit a full proposal addressing all the proposed program objectives. Proposals will be thoroughly evaluated and scored by a merit review panel. Proposal review will consider the proposal’s alignment with program objectives, as well as the applicant’s documented capacity to deliver timely results on the proposed objectives.
Funding Agency: US Mission to France
Deadline: July 24, 2020
Amount: $300,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #DOS-PARIS-PD-2020-CA-004
Caring for OutPatiEnts after Acute Kidney Injury (COPE-AKI) Clinical Centers (U01 Clinical Trial Required)
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity, including increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Severity, duration, and frequency of episodes of AKI as well as age, pre-existing CKD, and other comorbidities are associated with greater risks of CKD progression and death. There is limited evidence to inform recommendations for processes of care or therapeutic interventions targeting progression of kidney disease and the associated morbidity and mortality in AKI survivors. This is a missed opportunity to prevent chronic disease and premature death. The Caring for OutPatiEnts after Acute Kidney Injury (COPE-AKI) consortium composed of 3 to 4 Clinical Centers (CCs) and a Scientific and Data Research Center (SDRC) will develop and test interventions that aim to reduce morbidity compared with usual care in AKI survivors.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: November 4, 2020
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-20-011.html
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP): Technical Assistance on State Data Collection–IDEA Data Management Center CFDA Number 84.373M
Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768),or at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf. Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance on State Data Collection program is to improve the capacity of States to meet IDEA data collection and reporting requirements. Funding for the program is authorized under section 611(c)(1) of IDEA, which gives the Secretary the authority to reserve not more than \1/2\ of 1 percent of the amounts appropriated under Part B for each fiscal year to provide TA activities authorized under section 616(i), where needed, to improve the capacity of States to meet the data collection and reporting requirements under Parts B and C of IDEA. The maximum amount the Secretary may reserve under this set-aside for any fiscal year is $25,000,000, cumulatively adjusted by the rate of inflation. Section 616(i) of IDEA requires the Secretary to review the data collection and analysis capacity of States to ensure that data and information determined necessary for implementation of section 616 of IDEA are collected, analyzed, and accurately reported to the Secretary. It also requires the Secretary to provide TA (from funds reserved under section 611(c)), where needed, to improve the capacity of States to meet the data collection requirements, which include the data collection and reporting requirements in sections 616 and 618 of IDEA. Additionally, the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019; and the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 give the Secretary authority to use funds reserved under section 611(c) to “administer and carry out other services and activities to improve data collection, coordination, quality, and use under parts B and C of the IDEA.” Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019; Div. B, Title III of Public Law 115-245; 132 Stat. 3100 (2018). Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020; Div. A, Title III of Public Law 116-94; 133 Stat. 2590 (2019). Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.373M.
Funding Agency: Department of Education
Deadline: August 24, 2020
Amount: $2,700,000
For more information: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-07-08/pdf/2020-14072.pdf
Alignment of Pesticide Regulations and Standards
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to align pesticide registration systems and maximum residue limit (MRL) standard setting across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and to do so based on U.S. regulatory systems and international standard setting bodies. Alignment of registration systems and trade standards is a complex process, involving multiple regulatory agencies and technical staff across regions and continents, and requires a multifaceted approach involving experts from a broad array of subject matters. Aligned trade standards support exports of U.S. agricultural products to foreign markets. Access to new, low-risk pesticide products continues to be challenging for farmers around the world. Even when the products are available, farmers in all countries face trade barriers when residue standards differ, or do not exist, in export markets. Efforts to build regulatory capacity and encourage the adoption of import tolerances and Codex MRLs, when appropriate, can help reduce these trade barriers and ensure critical pest control tools are available to farmers. Objectives: This program aims to support both bilateral and regional approaches to strengthen and align pesticide regulatory systems with those of the United States and international standard setting bodies by engaging in four categories, including 1) Registrations, 2) Standards (i.e., MRLs), 3) Compliance, and 4) Research. To accomplish this, this project will need to develop a cadre of technical and regulatory experts to conduct strategy development, create action plans, lead workshops, discussions and other engagements with foreign partners, provide education and extension in regulatory sciences to foreign agricultural specialists, conduct pesticide-focused research, and support the creation of domestic and international residue standards. Page 2 of 16 Experts will assist in identifying areas where pesticide registration systems and standards can be better aligned, prioritize those areas, develop short and long-term work timelines, identify and secure experts to lead implementation of themes within the broader strategy, and support a series of inter-related workshops, extension training, and research to achieve identified goals. The program will cover an anticipated 3-year period with activities occurring throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America, among others. Experts may be external to the partner organization and may require subcontracting individuals or entities on part of the partner organization. The selected partner will need to work closely with other implementing organizations, U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities, U.S.-based pesticide research programs, and U.S. and foreign agricultural associations and exporters to coordinate efforts and provide the technical expertise to related activities. Core areas of engagement will include, but are not limited to, the following topics: Regional Alignment; Regional Alignment of Registration Systems and Standards Adoption; MRLs; MRL Adoption Pathways; Import Tolerances; Residue Data for MRLs; Registration; Registration Formats; Data Requirements; Risk Assessment – Basic; Risk Assessment – Advanced; Biopesticide Registration; Crop Group/Efficacy; Efficacy Data Recognition; Crop Grouping; Monitoring/Testing; Sampling/Monitoring (domestic and imports); Diagnostics (labs); Communications; Public/NGO pesticide communications and public engagement; International Organizations; WTO-SPS Committee Engagement; Joint Statements and Declarations; Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues; APEC Initiatives; Technical Experts. Technical experts in these above areas will develop implementation teams to carry out recommended action plans, based on a common, unified strategy led by this Principal Investigator (PI) in consultation with FAS and other partners. It is anticipated that 8-10 technical experts will be required to implement the program. Implementation of the action plan can be conducted directly by the recipient, by leveraged funds managed by other coordinating partner organizations, or by sub-awards to this program, as deemed necessary. In short, this recipient will be expected to play a leadership role to secure internal and external talent, identify and leverage other programs, and build a coalition to achieve the program’s goals as quickly and efficiently as possible. Regulations, Standards, and Compliance: This program will work with foreign regulators to build regulatory capacity within national and regional pesticide registration systems with the aim to align these systems as closely as possible with those of the United States. This will include topics covering registration formats, data requirements, risk assessment, MRL adoption pathways, establishment of crop group systems, promoting mutual recognition of efficacy and other related data, and domestic monitoring systems. Communications: This program will concurrently work to provide pesticide communication strategies and tools to foreign regulators and other foreign stakeholders (e.g., agricultural associations, exporters, private sector), with the aim to strengthen abilities to defend science-based regulatory decisions and ensure confidence in the safety of food products. This can be delivered in the form of training sessions, printed materials, or other tools. Research: The Inter-Regional Research Project #4 (IR-4) in the United States conducts pesticide residue research to help register agricultural pesticide products on specialty crop and to establish U.S. pesticide tolerances (or MRLs). For the past 10 years, IR-4 has worked with the USDA and foreign counterparts to collaboratively generate pesticide residue data to establish Codex MRLs. Recently a new Minor Use Foundation was established to assist IR-4 in this mission to collaborate with foreign researchers. This project will look at ways to enhance the work of both IR-4 and the Minor Use Foundation by expanding residue collaborations and bolstering the number of MRLs within Codex, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and foreign national systems when appropriate.
Funding Agency: Technical Agricultural Assistance 10.960
Deadline: August 10, 2020
Amount: $813,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-20-0029
Development of Standard Core Clinical Outcomes Assessments (COAs) and Endpoints (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit applications for UG3/UH3 cooperative agreements to support the development of a publicly available core set(s) of COAs and their related endpoints for specific disease indications or for disease impacts that span multiple rare diseases of similar phenotypes. The UG3/UH3 Phase Innovation Award Cooperative Agreement involves 2 phases. The UG3 phase will provide funding for 1 to 2 years to conduct planning activities. The UH3 phase will provide funding for 3 to 4 years to projects that successfully complete the planning activities and reach the projected milestones set in the UG3 phase. UH3 phase awards will be awarded after administrative review of eligible UG3 phase awards that have met the scientific milestone and feasibility requirements necessary for UH3 phase implementation. The number of awards is dependent on the availability of funds. The UG3/UH3 application must be submitted as a single application, and applicants should note specific instructions for each phase in this FOA. The total award project period will not exceed 5 years.
Funding Agency: Food and Drug Administration
Deadline: October 14, 2020
Amount: $1,400,000
For more information: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-FD-21-004.html
Promoting Science and Rules Based Standards for Processed Food Ingredients in India and China
FAS’s mission is to create economic opportunity for American agriculture by expanding global markets. FAS collaborates with U.S. regulatory agencies, land-grant universities, and private sector organizations to eliminate or reduce technical barriers encountered by exporters of U.S. agricultural products to partner countries through the use of trade capacity building. FAS engages foreign governments to establish science-based trading systems that are consistent with U.S. policies and objectives, World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations, and international norms established through bodies such as the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), as well as international standards-setting bodies such as Codex Alimentarius (Codex), International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). The adoption of science and rules based standards for processed food ingredients will not only provide an opportunity for U.S. industry to fairly compete in this market, but will provide domestic consumers in Asian emerging markets, such as India and China, with access to safe and high-quality products for consumption from the U.S. Additionally, by participating in these workshops and contributing to the adoption of science and rules based standards, these target markets will enhance their domestic food safety structures and will be provided with access to a level of scientific advice that would not otherwise be affordable to these countries. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) seeks to partner with a U.S. university to design and implement two short workshops in India and China, to facilitate engagement in science-based exchange and dialogue with key officials from these countries. The goal of this exchange is to maintain positive trade trends in processed foods in China and encourage a trade-enabling regulatory environment in India. This engagement is designed to foster coordination and set the foundation for sound science and good regulatory practices so that globalization and harmonization of food additive regulations will be achieved, resulting in an increase of U.S. trade of processed foods. Program Objectives and Priorities, The objectives of this program are: 1) Enhance the policy and regulatory environment in India and China; 2) Provide information for future regulations on food ingredients to be based on sound science and good regulatory practices; and 3) Verify that countries are meeting guidelines under the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement, the Codex General Standard for Food Additives, and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee (JECFA) safety evaluations. To achieve these objectives, the recipient will collaborate (virtually and in-person) with USDA/FAS in the design and implementation of the two workshops, the selection of technical experts, and in identifying indicators and measures of success. The workshops will be led by U.S. technical experts with participation of high-level government officials from each country. The U.S. delegation will consist of current and former government officials and subject matter experts who will engage with local officials on international regulations, the use of sound science in the development of regulations, and the safety of food additives and chemicals. The two workshops (i.e. in India and China) should be implemented back to back (i.e. to allow attending U.S. experts to make a single trip). Each workshop is imagined to be approximately two days in duration. Technical experts from the U.S. (such as USDA, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), academia and/or U.S. industry) engage in science-based exchanges and dialogues with key officials from China and India, such as local officials from the Ministry of Health, local FDA, and/or Ministry of Agriculture. Workshop topics on the U.S. regulatory system for processed products, may include some or all of the following: How science and rules- based standards on processed food are created; Understanding toxicology and debunking safety myths; Dosage and safety exposure from chemicals; The safety, regulation, and use of chemicals as ingredients in processed foods; The Codex General Standard for Food Additives, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee (JECFA) safety evaluations, and the importance of applicable international commitments of WTO members. Through presentations in these conferences, the U.S. technical delegation will engage with local officials on international standards, speak on private-public partnerships and cooperation, and promote the benefits of harmonization to build technical capacity among high level officials from India and China. In addition, the conference shall provide ample time for representatives from host countries to present on related topics. Each workshop is expected to include approximately the following number of participants: Location to be Determined, China: 10-20 local government officials, 20-30 local and international industry representatives, and 10-15 U.S. officials and representatives.; New Delhi or Mumbai, India: 20-30 local government officials, 20-30 local and international industry representatives, and 10-15 U.S. officials and representatives.; Travel costs of U.S. Government technical experts, except those of FAS, should be accounted for in the program budget. The program will include speakers from USDA, academia, industry, and current or retired FDA official(s) as well as representatives from host countries with specific expertise in the use and safety of chemicals used as ingredients in processed foods. A plenary meeting with industry officials may also take place to facilitate these activities. The performance measures will be evaluated and finalized in consultation with USDA/ FAS and U.S. technical and regulatory experts, and will include the following: 1) Increased understanding of science and rules- based standards for food ingredients in target countries as measured through pre- and post-tests of workshop participants; 2) Number of interactions between participants and US technical advisors as a result of USDA program.
Funding Agency: Technical Agricultural Assistance 10.960
Deadline: August 20, 2020
Amount: $105,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-20-0039
BJA FY 20 Law Enforcement Training & Technical Assistance Response Center
BJA seeks to fund a national training and technical assistance provider to act as a single point of contact for law enforcement agencies at the state, local, and tribal levels to address issues currently affecting the law enforcement community. BJA requires the assistance of demonstrated national leaders in the field of law enforcement. Working with a one-stop TTA provider with deep knowledge of the law enforcement profession and constituency groups, acting as the dedicated repository and response center, they will pool their collective knowledge and expertise to provide TTA to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on the day-to-day issues that they face. Leveraging the experience and resources of these national organizations via this response center will increase cooperation and provide real-time support on issues that a single organization may not have had experience with in the past.
Funding Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance
Deadline: August 10, 2020
Amount: $3,000,000
For more information: https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18813
Mechanistic Studies of the Interaction between SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and Diseases and Organ Systems of Interest to NIDDK (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support basic and clinical mechanistic research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility, routes of infection, course of disease, morbidity and mortality in people with pre-existing diseases, or adverse acute or chronic outcomes in organs, tissues, and biological systems of specific interest to NIDDK. These include diabetes and other metabolic diseases, obesity, and endocrine, digestive, liver, pancreas, kidney, urological, and hematologic tissues and diseases.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: December 16, 2020
Amount: $250,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DK-20-021.html
Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grant
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is making up to $400,000 available in grant funds for education and training programs to help identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. The focus of these grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 will be training and training materials on powered haulage (in particular, reducing vehicle-on-vehicle collisions, increasing seat belt use, and improving belt conveyor safety), improving safety among contractors, reducing electrocutions, improving training for new and inexperienced miners, mine emergency prevention and preparedness, and other programs to prevent unsafe conditions in mines. Applicants for the grants may be states and other governments (to include the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) and private or public nonprofit entities (to include Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian-controlled organizations serving Indians, and Native Hawaiian organizations). MSHA could award as many as eight grants. The amount of each individual grant will be at least $50,000, and the maximum individual award will be $400,000. This notice contains all of the information needed to apply for grant funding. This program provides funding for education and training programs to better identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. The program uses grant funds to establish and implement education and training programs or to create training materials and programs. The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act) requires the Secretary to give priority to mine safety demonstrations and pilot projects with broad applicability. The MINER Act also mandates that the Secretary emphasize programs and materials that target miners in smaller mines, including training mine operators and miners on MSHA standards, high-risk activities, and other identified safety priorities. MSHA priorities for the FY 2020 funding of the annual Brookwood-Sago Grants will focus on powered haulage (in particular, reducing vehicle-on-vehicle collisions, increasing seat belt use, and improving belt conveyor safety), improving safety among contractors, reducing electrocutions, improving training for new and inexperienced miners, mine emergency prevention and preparedness, and other programs to prevent unsafe conditions in mines. MSHA expects Brookwood-Sago grantees to develop training materials or to develop and provide mine safety training or educational programs, recruit mine operators and miners for the training, and conduct and evaluate the training. MSHA will give special emphasis to programs and materials that target workers at smaller mines, including training miners and employers about new MSHA standards, high risk activities, or hazards identified by MSHA.
Funding Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration
Deadline: September 9, 2020
Amount: $400,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #FOA-BS-2020-1
Using Human Cell Animal Chimera Brains to Study HIV Latency and Pathology R01 – Clinical Trials Not Allowed
Recent technical advancements have enabled generating human cell-mice chimeric brains by engrafting human iPSC-derived primitive neural progenitor cells and/or cord blood-derived microglial progenitor cells into neonatal mouse. In the chimeric brain, human neural progenitor cells or microglial cells differentiate, migrate, and distribute throughout the mouse brain. They are eventually functionally integrated into various brain regions. Such successes provide opportunities to define the structure, function, genetics and plasticity of functional neural networks containing human cells. It can also serve as a rodent model to study HIV infectivity, provirus activity, reservoir formation, and the neuropathogenesis of HIV infection. It allows the study of HIV and substance abuse comorbidity in the brain of a fully functional, awake, behaving animal from the single cell to neural circuitry levels.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: November 13, 2020
Amount: $500,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-21-026.html
Limited Competition Emergency Awards: Shared Personal Protective Equipment Resources for COVID-19 Related Vaccine and Treatment Clinical Trials and Clinical Studies (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The purpose of this public health emergency funding opportunity is to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to directly support the needs of the NIAIDs vaccine and treatment clinical trials and clinical studies for COVID-19. This program will ensure that adequate protective equipment is available to directly assist in safely carrying out the clinical activities and direct interactions with the patients participating in the trial. Eligibility is limited to recipients conducting COVID-related clinical research and clinical studies supported by NIAIDs emergency appropriation provided by The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 and The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: July 7, 2021
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-20-256.html
NEA Arts & Artifacts Domestic Indemnity Program, FY2021
To allow time to resolve any problems you might encounter, we strongly recommend that you submit your application to Grants.gov by at least December 4, 2020, ten days prior to the Part 1 deadline.
Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Arts
Deadline: December 14, 2020
Amount: $100,000
For more information: https://www.arts.gov/artistic-fields/museums/arts-and-artifacts-indemnity-program-domestic-indemnity
NEA Arts & Artifacts International Indemnity Program, FY2021
To allow time to resolve any problems you might encounter, we strongly recommend that you submit to Grants.gov by at least September 4, 2020, ten days prior to the Part 1 deadline.
Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Arts
Deadline: September 14, 2020
Amount: $100,000
For more information: https://www.arts.gov/artistic-fields/museums/arts-and-artifacts-indemnity-program-international-indemnity
Funding Opportunity Announcement: Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers
The overall goal of the 2501 Program is to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, and beginning farmers and ranchers with owning and operating farms and ranches and in participating equitably in the full range of agricultural, forestry, and related programs offered by USDA. In partnership with the OPPE, eligible entities may compete for funding on projects that provide education and training in agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, agriculturally related services, and USDA programs and to conduct outreach initiatives designed to accomplish those goals. See attached package for additional information.
Funding Agency: DM-Office of Advocacy and Outreach
Deadline: August 26, 2020
Amount: $450,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #OPPE-014
NINDS Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research (P50 Clinical Trial Optional)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications for the Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinsons Disease Research program. The overarching goal of the specialized Udall Centers program is to establish a network of Centers that work collaboratively as well as independently to define the causes of and discover improved treatments for Parkinsons disease (PD). A more immediate goal for each Center is to rapidly advance synergistic, interdisciplinary research programs while serving as national leaders in PD research. Udall Centers also serve as local resources by organizing research career enhancement activities for Center investigators and periodic outreach to the PD patient/advocacy community. Applicants are expected to identify and address an overall research theme that defines a critical challenge in PD research. The stated theme, proposed research projects, and associated cores will inform the etiology, pathogenesis or treatment of PD; investigations on related synucleinopathies may be included if such studies directly address the identified PD research challenge. Requirements include 1) a minimum of three research projects; 2) research cores that are each essential to accomplish the aims of at least two proposed research projects, plus an Administrative Core; 3) a mission statement and plan for career enhancement of Center trainees and investigators; and 4) a plan for effective outreach, including dissemination of Udall Center research results, to the local patient and advocacy community. The NINDS Udall Centers program prioritizes innovative and integrative research with significant potential for discovery. A considerable degree of synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that successful completion of the aims could not be accomplished without the Center structure. The Udall Center Director (PD/PI) must be an established leader in scientific research with visionary leadership skills and proven expertise.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: September 26, 2022
Amount: $1,000,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-21-001.html
NINDS Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center Without Walls (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) requests Exploratory Grant (P20) applications for the planning and initiation of collaborative activities to advance Parkinson’s Disease (PD) research. The goal of this FOA is to convene new transdisciplinary research consortia and formalize the multi-institutional organizational and investigational structure necessary to resolve an essential challenge in Parkinson’s disease (PD) through a subsequent NINDS Udall Center without Walls (CWOW) approach. The most compelling applications will: (i) identify a fundamental PD research priority; (ii) build an exemplary research consortium; (iii) gather supportive preliminary data; and (iv) demonstrate exceptional potential to pursue a targeted strategy to remove a critical impediment blocking advancement of the understanding and treatment of PD. The stated challenge and related research feasibility projects will inform the etiology, pathogenesis or treatment of PD; investigations on related synucleinopathies may be included if such studies directly address the central PD research challenge. To foster the development of innovative research collaborations, this FOA will provide support for new research consortia only; continuation of established projects and teams will not be supported. Proposed consortia must include the optimal combination of specialized expertise required to resolve the stated challenge using a goal-driven approach. The Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) must be eminently qualified to provide visionary scientific leadership and effective oversight of consortium administrative activities. Participating investigators should be recognized as world-class experts in their fields. Teams must be anchored by at least one PD researcher. To maximize potential for new insights and incorporation of cutting-edge approaches, consortia will actively integrate at least one investigator with primary expertise in another, complementary research area. The applicant inst
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: September 28, 2020
Amount: $300,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-21-002.html
Promoting Research on Music and Health: Phased Innovation Award for Music Interventions (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to promote innovative research on music and health with an emphasis on developing music interventions aimed at understanding their mechanisms of action and clinical applications for the treatment of many diseases, disorders, and conditions. Given the emphasis on innovation, little or no preliminary data are needed to apply under this FOA. Because of the need for a multidisciplinary approach, collaborations among basic researchers, translational science researchers, music intervention experts, other clinical researchers, music health professionals, and technology development researchers are encouraged. The FOA utilizes a phased R61/R33 funding mechanism to support mechanistic research and to evaluate the clinical relevance of music interventions. The R61 phase will provide funding to either investigate the biological mechanisms or behavioral processes underlying music interventions in relevant animal models, healthy human subjects, and/or clinical populations, or can be used to develop innovative technology or approaches to enhance music intervention research. The second R33 phase will provide support for further mechanistic investigations in human subjects or animal models, intervention development, or pilot clinical studies. The pilot clinical studies may focus on intervention optimization/refinement, feasibility, adherence, and/or identification of appropriate outcome measures to inform future clinical research. Transition from the R61 to the R33 phase of the award will depend on successful completion of pre-specified milestones established in the R61.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: June 19, 2023
Amount: $350,000
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-20-266.html
Limited Competition: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs Program (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This limited competition Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits the renewal application for the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans. The IARC Monographs program, which is supported in part by the NCI, critically evaluates the published scientific evidence on carcinogenic hazards to humans. Monograph volumes are considered critical references that inform health policy and cancer research worldwide about carcinogenic hazards to reduce cancer burden globally.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health
Deadline: December 16, 2020
For more information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-20-045.html
Award for Fundamental Research in Socio-Mathematics of Information and Influence
Background: Information has become a domain of warfare that now extends well beyond compromising or disabling the data-handling platforms, and into subtler forms of content manipulation, in order to elicit specific psychological and sociological responses. The existence of systemic campaigns of disinformation is now well established, conducted or supervised by malicious state and non-state actors, using the cover of widespread social media outlets. These rely on automated software agents (“bots”), designed and engineered with increasing levels of sophistication, as well as trained human agents who can control the bot deployment, adjust the network, and refine the strategies. Modern technology greatly facilitates Internet-based programs of social hysteria propagation, propaganda, disinformation, and influence operations, and as technological capabilities improve, the threat will grow accordingly. In an environment of widespread information uncertainty, open societies lose coherence and risk disorderly devolvement, the ultimate objective of the adversaries. Relying on various, authoritative tools of data analysis and network science, the forensic evidence of this social manipulation is undeniable. Even so, this is far from an optimal situation: detection of such campaigns can be difficult and inaccurate when dealing with an adversary who can quickly adapt strategies, and finding a-posteriori evidence of malicious disinformation yields little opportunity for timely and effective counter-measure. Thus, there is a critical need for an ability to: a) detect and counteract disinformation in real-time, especially if the adversary is able to rapidly adapt, as well as; b) predict future strategies and tactics of information warfare in order to design the appropriate defenses. Given the rapidly growing complexity of the information networks for ubiquitous access to information, as well as the pervasive deployment of malicious bots with fast expanding learning capabilities, these detection and prediction tasks can only be achieved by intelligent software, armed with highly efficient algorithms and operating on modern computing platforms. However, disinformation also relies on subtle factors, based on the study of emotional and cognitive processes inherent to the human targets. Those cannot be modeled as rational actors when under such influences, vastly increasing the uncertainty of predictive scenarios. Therefore, it is equally essential to incorporate this knowledge into the models and methods for detection and prediction of malign influence operations.
Program Objective: The overarching goal of this research program is to enhance and extend the understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of future information warfare, towards rapid detection, tracking and prediction of attempts at social manipulation. The problem requires the deep integration of two, currently distinct scientific fields, mathematics and social sciences. While modern mathematical methods are often and well-used in social science studies, this research program is going well beyond the state of the art and is calling for the development of a new mathematical foundation for describing, analyzing and predicting human social behavior at multiple scales and in complex and dynamic environments, thus laying the groundwork for a new field. The first aspect concerns the mathematical understanding of the threat and the environment, leading to the design of efficient counter-measures. One must deal, especially, with the critical problems of malicious activity detection and inference of their sources in a very dynamic environment. The growing employment of Machine Learning (ML) methods, as well as other mathematical techniques for data analytics (e.g. topological data analysis – TDA, manifold reconstruction, etc.), provides some formidable capabilities, but is far from sufficient. For example, these tools deal with static data, not adversarial agents who can quickly adapt their strategies, effectively changing the rules of the game. The behavioral dynamics also evolve over a complex multi-layer network that includes cyber, media and a multitude of social dimensions. The true nature and scaling properties of these real-life networks may still be elusive, possibly disrupting an accurate interpretation of measurements, and these networks will evolve rapidly as technology and social conditions change. These are fundamental and unresolved problems for which current techniques are insufficient. The social dimension is the second aspect of the problem. It is already well appreciated how different forms of communication influence individual and group understandings of knowledge and behavior, but the acceleration of cyber influence by sophisticated software agents could have significant implications for social trust and how people live, learn, and communicate. Questions range up to the fundamental issues of how manipulating information at greater speeds and with greater specificity and customizability affects the social relations on which society relies. With the advent of 5G technology and beyond, people may be instantaneously exposed to a deluge of information, from the geo-political to the trivial. How does this accelerated information and network complexity impact social relations across micro, meso, and macro scales? Are new ways of manipulating opinion, even subtler than before, made accessible, and could we detect them? Who then become the principal agents of manipulation, whether complicit or unwitting? While relying on fundamental and exploratory studies in their respective fields, these two directions must eventually be integrated, as the mathematical models of the network, their agents, and the social behavior, must be based on realistic models at multiple scales of aggregation. The comprehensive basic research being sought-after in this opportunity should provide the basis for a unique ability to detect and predict evolving malign social influence, in realistic and ever-changing conditions.
Research Areas: The fundamental science behind the objective of this topic covers multiple, coupled areas, thus requiring a combination of expertise, for example: computer science and machine learning, mathematics, cognitive psychology and sociology, network theory and/or game theory. Some specific research topics to be addressed in this undertaking may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Carefully designed mathematical abstractions based on behavioral science for modeling the agent’s psychological and social variables, e.g.: emotional and cognitive states, human intent and belief, and group dynamics. These models should include approaches to multi-scale clustering for accurate comprehension and modeling of aggregate behavior, e.g. individual – group – nation. 2) Game-theoretical and Machine Learning concepts, e.g. multi-agent reinforcement learning (RL) or distributional RL, as well as other innovative ideas that can consider a hybrid distribution of irrational and rational agents, including artificial ones (e.g. bots). 3) Efficient mathematical methods and algorithms to detect malicious intent and learn agent behavior and objectives from limited and noisy observations. 4) Concepts and methods for strategy optimization (inverse design), which may include counter-messaging, network-based intervention, or other means. The list above is not exhaustive and is only intended to provide examples of research directions. Strong emphasis is placed on the novelty of suggested approaches, their potential for generalizability and scaling, and their rigorous underpinnings. A generative approach that considers a dual evolutionary co-design of threat and defense strategies is particularly welcome, in order to enhance the ability at some future time to predict threat scenarios and verify the defensive posture. Proposals should aim to produce novel conceptual frameworks that present disruptive ways of thinking about the fundamental scientific problems described above. The research is exploratory and can be conducted on publically available data-sets, synthetic data, or real data that can be readily obtained by the performer. Proposals should not rely on the need for data to be supplied by the Government, which does not already exist and is publicly available.
Funding Agency: Department of Defense
Deadline: August 28, 2020
Amount: $3,000,000
For more information: Go to grants.gov and search opportunity #BRO-20-SOMAII