|
|
|
FAQ General FAQs
What is the application deadline and late submission policy?
The full proposal deadline is 2pm Eastern Daylight Time on September 1, 2009. To be accepted for review, your proposal must be completed and submitted by the deadline. To be fair to all applicants, RWJF enforces a strict deadline policy.
How will I know that my proposal has been successfully submitted?
NOTE: Once you have completed all requirements, you must return to the home page of the Grantmaking Online system to click on the blue CONTINUE button to gain access to the SUBMIT button.
There are three ways to confirm your proposal was successfully submitted:
1. You will see a screen confirming your submission.
2. You will receive an email message confirming your submission, if you registered with a valid email address.
3. Log in to the Grantmaking Online system with your applicant ID and password. Go to your Home page. If you have successfully submitted your proposal, a message will appear in red at the top of the Home page stating that your proposal has been submitted.
How can I check on the status of my proposal once it is submitted?
If you have a question about a specific proposal, please send an e-mail to info@projecthealthdesign.org. In addition to your specific question, please be sure to include the name of the applicant institution, the principal investigator and contact information in your communication.
How will intellectual property used or developed with these grant funds be handled?
Intellectual property developed using RWJF funds will be owned by the grantee (with certain license rights granted to RWJF) but must be made publicly available through open source licensing (in the case of software) or under Creative Commons licensing (in the case of other intellectual property). In developing an overall solution, projects may make use of proprietary products and grantees may use RWJF funds to purchase those products or pay for those services. However, any enhancements to those proprietary products must be paid for out of non-RWJF funds unless they are subsequently released as open source.
Budget and Use of Funds Questions
What is the maximum amount of funding we can request?
$480,000. There is a two-stage process for proposal submission. No budget information is requested for the brief proposal. You will be required to submit a budget and budget narrative only if you are invited to submit a full proposal.
Do I need to submit a budget with the full proposal?
Yes.
What budget information will we need to submit in our proposal?
You will need to submit a complete line item budget spreadsheet and accompanying narrative that explains the cost for the entire project in the full proposal stage. This includes such things as personnel salary and benefits, travel, supplies and any other expenses that are relevant to the proposed project. Please note: the budget is divided into two periods, totaling up to $480,000 – both are 12-month periods.
Is funding available for the purchase of equipment?
There is a limited amount of funds that will be available for the purchase of equipment. No specific dollar amount has been determined, and this will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We encourage applicants to seek in-kind contributions to offset the cost for major equipment expenses.
Can resources from other sponsoring agencies be used in conjunction with Foundation funding to carry out the project?
Yes. Commitment of funds and/or in-kind support from applicant organizations is acceptable, but is not required.
When developing the budget for travel, how many trips are the applicants responsible for in the grant period? How many people are expected to attend these meetings?
You should budget for a total of six Design Workshops: three Design Workshops in each of the two 12-month budget cycles. Each meeting involves a 1-night stay. Plan to send 2-3 team members to each of these workshops.
What is the indirect cost rate? Must we include this in the maximum $480,000 budget request?
The indirect cost rate is 12 percent for all grants awarded after July 1, 2006. The indirect rate is less if purchased services exceed 33% of the RWJF portion of the budget; see instructions for calculating indirects below. The $480,000 reflects the TOTAL budget, both direct cost and indirect amounts.
How do I calculate the indirect rate if purchased services exceed 33% of the RWJF portion of the budget?
The Foundation’s approved indirect rate is 12 percent of all RWJF costs (Personnel, Other Direct Costs, and Purchased Services) associated with the project. However, if the Purchased Services category represents more than 33 percent of the RWJF portion of the budget, the indirect rate allowed in this category is 4 percent. In other words, the indirect rate for the entire Purchased Services category is 4 percent when this category exceeds 33 percent, but the indirect rate for the remaining expenses is 12 percent.
Can a grantee team purchase devices for use by participants in their project? Is this a legitimate expense?
Yes, the RWJF allows the purchase of devices by grantee organizations if they are pertinent to the project. If the devices were not included in the original budget, these purchases must be reviewed by the NPO and the RWJF Financial Officer and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Design Workshop Questions
What are the Design Workshops about?
Design Workshops are held at the Vanderbilt Center for Better Health in Nashville, TN. They are experts in a process designed to facilitate groups to innovate and create strategic solutions and action plans to solve complex problems. By enabling grantees to bring full attention to key issues for intense periods of time – fusing planning, design, decision-making and action – these workshops allow for teams to accomplish results in a few days that might otherwise take months to achieve.
Why are there six Design Workshops?
We envision the workshops to be interspersed with work in your home site. Workshops will focus on goal achievement as well as collaboration across teams. Synergy among the design teams is envisioned as an important byproduct of the joint design effort.
Eligibility Questions
Can organizations based outside of the U.S. and its territories participate as team members or subcontractors?
International organizations may be eligible to participate. Questions about their eligibility should be addressed to the National Program Office during the planning stages. Eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Is it necessary to have a consumer representative on our project team?
No, but it may be beneficial. A major goal of Project HealthDesign is to shift the focus of PHR development from designing from a “provider-out” perspective−in which the PHR is seen as an instrument of the health care delivery system−to a social, person-centered perspective. This entails PHR systems being designed to support individuals, with the help of their care partners, in managing their health. Inclusion of the consumer perspective on your design team may be an important component in achieving this goal.
Is it really necessary to have a clinical practice on our project team?
Each team MUST include a clinical practice partner. Clinical practices could include, but are not limited to, individual or group physician practices, nurse-managed clinics, federally qualified health centers, public health clinics, school-based clinics or hospital-based clinics.
A member of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) is also affiliated with our organization. Are we still eligible to apply? How will this relationship affect our proposal review?
Potential applicants who are associated with a NAC member are eligible to submit an application. Applicants are reminded that NAC members cannot discuss any aspects of the grant process or specific ideas with individual applicants; if questions arise, applicants should contact Project HealthDesign staff for assistance. NAC members adhere to a strict conflict of interest policy and will not review proposals from individuals or organizations with whom they have an existing relationship. Applicants should not contact a NAC member directly. To preserve their impartiality, NAC members will not provide assistance or field questions regarding individual applications.
What would be the ideal composition of a project team?
Each team must include a clinical practice partner. The ideal project team will be multidisciplinary in nature, including representation from such disciplines as informatics, medicine or other health disciplines, design, evaluation and behavioral science. Inclusion of a consumer representative may be useful, but is not required.
Application and Review Process Questions
What is the two-stage process for proposal submission and review?
The NPO, RWJF staff and three NAC members will screen and review each full proposal. Following this review and deliberation, up to five teams will be recommended for funding. The final decision on funding rests with the RWJF.
Can we send our proposal by e-mail, mail or fax?
No. Submissions must be entered only on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Grantmaking Online Web site .
Can Project HealthDesign connect potential applicants with common interests/ goals?
Project HealthDesign cannot formally generate collaborations. However, interested applicants can find resources to assist them with identifying potential collaborators in the resources section on the Project HealthDesign Web site at http://www.projecthealthdesign.org/cfp/resources.
I’d really like to participate but I don’t have someone with technical expertise – can you connect me with someone?
We encourage you to participate in one or both of the applicant Web conference calls (Webinars) about Project HealthDesign. This will give you the opportunity to hear from people who may have similar interests and varied expertise. In addition, applicants are encouraged to check the resources for identifying potential collaborators on the Project HealthDesign Web site at http://www.projecthealthdesign.org/cfp/resources
Will proposals submitted before the deadline be reviewed early?
No. All proposals will be reviewed after the submission deadline has passed.
What are the system requirements for using Grantmaking Online?
To avoid any technical problems with the submission process, we recommend that you upgrade your Web browser to the most recent version that your computer's operating system will accommodate. We also suggest that you have only one browser window open at a time. DO NOT cut and paste between browser windows, as this may cause you to lose data.
Can we submit a proposal after the deadline?
No. Proposals will not be accepted after September 1, 2009 at 2pm EDT. The online submission process for this CFP will be deactivated after this time. We recommend that you start the submission process early to avoid last-minute technical problems.
Who has access to the information we submit in our proposal?
All information that you submit in your proposal is done through a secure server, encrypting the data to prevent unauthorized access. Project HealthDesign, its National Advisory Committee members, other potential funders of these projects and RWJF will have access to the information provided by applicants in the proposal submission. However, this information and the related review processes will be kept confidential, including the name of any individual or organization that has submitted or may be collaborating on a project, the proposal content, all discussions and reviews about any proposal, subsequent recommendations for funding awards, and who reviewed specific proposals. We reserve the right to use aggregated, de-identified data from submissions (including the removal of any proprietary information) or to grant third-party access to such data for research purposes. If an organization is awarded funding, Project HealthDesign will be responsible for releasing basic information about grant recipients (i.e., organization name, investigators, funding amount).
Who reviews the grants and makes the final decision about which proposals are funded?
Project HealthDesign’s National Program Office and its National Advisory Committee are responsible for screening and reviewing grant proposals. The National Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Final funding decisions reside with the Foundation.
Who serves on the National Advisory Committee?
Confirmed NAC members and brief bios are posted on the Project HealthDesign Web site.
Can we receive copies of successful proposals?
No. All proposals submitted to Project HealthDesign are confidential. Basic information about the grantees will be posted on our Web site.
Will applicants receive written feedback about their proposals?
No. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation does not provide individual critiques of proposals submitted.
How many grants will be awarded?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation plans to award a maximum of five grants totaling approximately $2.4 million through this 2009 Call for Proposals (CFP).
Will we be notified if we are not selected?
Yes.
If we are awarded funding, can we publish the results?
Yes. Grantees are encouraged to publish their results using a variety of dissemination modes.
What technical support and assistance will be provided during the proposal submission process?
Interactive group teleconference calls (Webinars) will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 and on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 2 pm EST to guide applicants. The Webinar will feature a presentation and a Question & Answer component. The content that is presented in these calls will be the same, so there is no need to attend both (though you may, if you wish). In addition, if you are not able to attend one of these sessions, the audio and visual portions of each Webinar will be posted on our Web site for your review. Refer to the CFP Timetable for more information
and to register. Health 2.0 Accelerator will also hold webinars to assist with exploring and identifying potential collaborators. You can also contact Project HealthDesign at 877-674-3170 or by e-mail at info@projecthealthdesign.org for additional information and assistance.
What if I have specific questions about my proposal?
Applicants are encouraged to contact the National Program Office at info@projecthealthdesign.org or 877-674-3170 with additional questions about the initiative or their proposal.
If an applicant is not funded at either the brief or full proposal stage, will the information in their applications remain confidential?
Specific proposal content will be kept confidential and not shared by RWJF and the National Program Office. However, RWJF reserves the right to use aggregated, de-identified data from submissions (including the removal of any proprietary information) or to grant third-party access to such data for research purposes. RWJF also reserves the right to share grant applications with other funders that might be interested in providing additional support to the program.
Conflict of Interest Questions
Who may NOT apply for funds under this initiative?
No individual's participation in the program will preclude his or her organization's eligibility to apply for a grant. Potential applicants from the University of Wisconsin who inquire about the program will be referred to another RWJF National Program Office or the RWJF staff for assistance.
What other issues are addressed in the conflict of interest policy?
No one involved in the review or selection process can participate directly (i.e. charge their time) in a grant or provide consulting (paid or unpaid) to a grant applicant. In the event that a University of Wisconsin applicant receives a grant, their performance will be monitored directly by RWJF staff. Program consultants, members of the national advisory committee and other expert reviewers are prohibited from discussing the program with applicants.
How have conflict of interest concerns related to the proposal review process been addressed?
Program consultants, members of the national advisory committee and other expert reviewers will be required to recuse themselves from the review or discussion of any proposal from an institution in which they have a financial interest, any proposal about which they do not believe they could provide an objective review, or any proposal that creates a perception of a conflict of interest. They also will not review, or be in discussions about, proposals that are similar to ones submitted by their own institutions or organizations (or other organizations where conflicts exist), to prevent any appearance that the review process placed directly competing proposals at a competitive disadvantage.
Proposal Content Questions
How is this Call for Proposals different from the CFP that was issued in 2006?
This Call for Proposals builds on the first, but is substantively different. In this CFP, we focus on the identification, capture and storage of relevant observations of daily living (ODLs); interpretation of the ODLs; and their integration into clinical practice. For this reason, it is critical that you include a clinical practice partner on your team.
What are the differences among the three phases of Project HealthDesign?
The program will be divided into three phases:
• Refine/design: project teams will participate in a design workshop in December 2009 to share their proposals and evaluate contributions to program goals. The culmination of this phase will be the submission of a revised proposal to the RWJF.
• Implementation: teams will work with their target population and clinical practice partners to achieve integration of ODLs to clinical practice.
• Evaluation: over a 6- to 12-month period, teams will provide care for 30-50 individuals with two or more chronic concerns and assess the marginal value of including ODLs in the care process.
What if the space allotted on the Full Proposal Narrative template in Grantmaking Online is not sufficient to fully explain the nature of our project?
Please try to be succinct and concise when completing your proposal. Determine what you believe to be the key aspects of your proposed project. Full Proposal Narratives that are longer than the prescribed page limit may not be reviewed.
How should we cite references in our proposal?
References should be cited in the Reference/Bibliography Template in Grantmaking Online, using the style of the American Psychological Association.
Should we submit a letter of agreement from design team members who are collaborating with us?
No, this is not required for the full proposal. You DO need letters of commitment from the senior leadership of your project’s clinical practice partner and from the clinical partner’s senior information management/technology leader
Will special consideration be given to projects that target underserved populations?
Project HealthDesign encourages teams to design innovative personal health applications. Efforts to reach specific diverse populations−including ethnic and racial minorities, older adults, low-income families and persons with disabilities−are desirable to the extent that they are encompassed in the vision espoused by the team.
I plan to include a technical partner on my team. Do I need to have an established relationship with the partner before submitting the full proposal?
Yes, your full proposal should provide evidence that your technical partner understands the demands of your project and has recommended the approach you are proposing. For the full proposal, you will need to document a commitment from any partners.
|
|
