AHRQ NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARD INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH TRAINING GRANTS

RELEASE DATE:  May 2, 2002

RFA: HS-03-001

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTES AND CENTERS (ICs):

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
 (http://www.ahrq.gov)

LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE:  July 26, 2002

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: August 26, 2002 

THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

o   Purpose of this RFA
o   Research Objectives
o   Mechanism of Support 
o   Funds Available
o   Eligible Institutions
o   Individuals Eligible to become Principal Investigators
o   Special Requirements
o   Where to send Inquiries
o   Letter of Intent
o   Submitting an Application
o   Peer Review Process
o   Review Criteria
o   Receipt and Review Schedule
o   Award Criteria
o   Required Federal Citations 

PURPOSE OF THIS RFA   

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will award National 
Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants (T32) to eligible 
institutions who have demonstrated an interest in health services research to 
develop research training opportunities for qualified individuals. The 
mission of AHRQ is to support, conduct, and disseminate research that 
improves the outcomes, quality, access to, and cost and utilization of health 
care services. AHRQ achieves this mission through health services research 
designed to (1) improve clinical practice, (2) improve the health care 
system's ability to provide access to and deliver high quality, high-value 
health care, and (3) provide policymakers with the ability to assess the 
impact of payment and organizational changes on outcomes, quality, access, 
cost, and use of health care services. The purpose of the NRSA program is to 
help ensure that adequate numbers of highly trained individuals are available 
to carry out the Nation's health services research agenda, in order to 
improve quality, assure value for health dollars spent, and enhance access to 
services.  A goal of the NRSA program is to equip students with the necessary 
knowledge, skills, and experiences to conduct future research which will meet 
the needs of patients, providers, plans, purchasers, and/or policy makers.  
Accomplishing the above effectively will require fostering a mixture of 
academic and applied training opportunities to meet the needs of students who 
wish to pursue traditional academic careers, as well as those who opt for 
careers in applied research settings.

NRSA institutional training grants assist domestic institutions in supporting 
predoctoral and postdoctoral academic training.  The awards allow trainees to 
gain one or more years of experience in developing the necessary 
methodological and substantive expertise to address critical issues facing 
the Nation's health care delivery system.

Predoctoral Training:  Predoctoral research training must lead to the Ph.D. 
degree or a comparable research doctoral degree.  Students enrolled in health 
professional programs that are not part of a formal, combined program (e.g., 
M.D./Ph.D.) and who wish to postpone their professional studies in order to 
gain research experience may also be appointed to a T32 grant. Predoctoral 
research training must emphasize fundamental training in areas relevant to 
health services research.

Postdoctoral Training:  Postdoctoral research training is for individuals who 
have a Ph.D., M.D., Sc.D., Dr.P.H., doctor of nursing, D.D.S., Pharm.D., or 
comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign 
institution.  Research training at the postdoctoral level must emphasize 
specialized training to meet national priorities in health services research.

A research training grant is a desirable mechanism for the postdoctoral 
training of physicians and other health professionals who have extensive 
clinical training, but limited research experience. For such individuals, the 
training may be a part of a research degree program. In all cases, health-
professional postdoctoral trainees should agree to engage in at least two 
years of research, research training, or comparable activities beginning at 
the time of appointment, since the duration of training has been shown to be 
strongly correlated with post-training research activity.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Areas of Training

AHRQ-sponsored NRSA awards emphasize inter- and multidisciplinary health 
services research training.  Training should provide individuals with 
rigorous academic and health services research experiences that will allow 
them to address emerging issues in our changing health care system.  It is 
expected that AHRQ-supported health services research training programs be 
responsive to research needs associated with the ongoing shifts in the source 
and demand for services, and provide training in identified areas of need, 
such as outcomes/health status and quality measurement, biostatistics, 
epidemiology, health economics, decision analysis, cost effectiveness 
analysis, and health policy.  At the conclusion of the training program, 
trainees should have the
conceptual, methodological, and practical foundation to conduct research.  

Information and announcements describing AHRQ's research areas of interest 
can be found at http://www.ahrq.gov (see Funding Opportunities).  Applicants 
are encouraged to review this information and contact the Agency staff 
(listed under WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES) who match their research interests to 
seek additional guidance.  For a description of recent research topics of 
interest to the Agency, applicants are encouraged to review the following 
research solicitations:

o  Impact of Payment And Organization on Cost, Quality And Equity – 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-01-125.html

o  Patient-centered Care: Customizing Care to Meet Patients' Needs – 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-01-124.html

o Translating Research into Practice – Joint Program Announcement  – 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-066.html

Applicants are encouraged to propose training programs which address research 
issues critical to  priority populations, including: individuals living in 
inner city and rural (including frontier) areas; low-income and minority 
groups; women, children, and the elderly; and individuals with special health 
care needs, including those with disabilities and those who need chronic or 
end-of-life health care.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use the Institutional NRSA (T32) award mechanism.  Applicants 
are solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed 
project.  This RFA is a one-time solicitation.  AHRQ has not determined 
whether this solicitation will be continued beyond the current request.  The 
anticipated award date is July 1, 2003.
 
Duration of Support

Institutional NRSA research training grants (T32) may be made for periods of 
up to 5 years, but can be renewed on a competitive basis with the submission 
of a competitive continuation grant application submitted and peer-reviewed 
in response to a subsequent RFA.  Awards within an approved competitive 
segment are normally made in 12-month increments with support for additional 
years based on satisfactory progress and the continued availability of funds.

Trainee appointments are normally made in 12-month increments.  No trainee 
may be appointed for less than 9 months during the initial period of 
appointment, except with the prior approval of AHRQ.

No individual trainee may receive more than 5 years of aggregate NRSA support 
at the predoctoral level or 3 years of support at the postdoctoral level, 
including any combination of support from institutional training grants and 
individual fellowship awards, except by an extension approved by the director 
of AHRQ.  Waivers for extensions must be made in writing by the trainee, 
endorsed by the director of the training program and the appropriate 
institutional official, and addressed to AHRQ Grants Management Office.  The 
request must show good cause and a compelling justification for an extension 
of the statutory limits on the period of support.  

FUNDS AVAILABLE

AHRQ expects to award up to $7.0 million in total costs (direct costs plus 
facilities and administrative costs) in fiscal year 2003 to support the first 
year of up to 30 projects under this RFA.  The total project period for 
applications submitted in response to the present RFA may not exceed five 
years.  The actual number of awards is dependent on the AHRQ NRSA budget and 
the number of high quality applications and their individual budget 
requirements; it is not the intent of AHRQ that the awards be equal in size. 

Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of AHRQ, awards 
pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the 
receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.  Funding beyond 
the initial budget period will depend upon annual progress reviews by AHRQ 
and the availability of funds.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Institutions

Only domestic non-profit private, public institutions, and faith-based 
organizations may apply for grants to support doctoral and postdoctoral 
health services research training programs. Foreign institutions may not 
apply, nor may they be involved as a collaborating institution.  The 
applicant institution must have the staff and facilities required for the 
proposed program.

Eligible Trainees

Trainees appointed to the proposed training program must have the opportunity 
to carry out supervised health services research with the primary objective 
of extending their research skills and knowledge in preparation for a health 
services research career.  Prospective trainees must be U.S. citizens or non-
citizen nationals or permanent residents of the United States in possession 
of an Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of 
such status at the time of appointment. Individuals on temporary or student 
visas are not eligible.

Positions on NRSA institutional grants may not be used for study leading to 
the M.D., D.D.S., or other clinical, health professional degrees except when 
those studies are a part of a formal combined research degree program, such 
as the M.D./Ph.D. Similarly, trainees may not accept NRSA support for 
clinical training that is part of residency training leading to clinical 
certification in a medical specialty or subspecialty, except when the 
residency program credits a period of full-
time, postdoctoral research training toward board certification and the 
trainee intends to pursue a research career. In such instances, coverage can 
only be requested for the portion of the residency training in which the 
trainee engages in full-time research training.

Predoctoral trainees must have received a baccalaureate degree by the 
beginning date of their NRSA appointment, and must be training at the 
postbaccalaureate level and enrolled in a program leading to a Ph.D. or in an 
equivalent research doctoral degree program.  Health-professional students 
who wish to interrupt their studies for a year or more to engage in full-time 
research training before completing their professional degrees are also 
eligible.

At the beginning of a the NRSA appointment, a postdoctoral student must have 
a Ph.D., M.D., O.D., D.D.S., Dr.P.H., Sc.D., D.N.Sc., or other doctoral 
degree, or an equivalent degree from any accredited domestic or foreign 
institution. (Persons holding the J.D., as the sole advanced degree, are not 
considered postdoctoral for purposes of NRSA appointments.) Certification by 
an authorized official of the degree-granting institution that all 
requirements for the doctoral degree have been met is acceptable.

Trainees are required to pursue their research training on a full-time basis, 
devoting at least 40 hours per week to the program. Within the 40 hours per 
week training period, research trainees in clinical areas must devote their 
time to the proposed research training and must confine clinical duties to 
those that are an integral part of the research training experience.

Part-Time Training:  Under unusual and pressing personal circumstances, a 
Program Director may submit a written request to the awarding component to 
select a trainee or change a trainee appointment to less than full-time.  
Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved 
by AHRQ for each budget period.  The nature of the circumstances requiring 
the part-time training might include medical conditions, disability, or 
pressing personal or family situations such as child or elder care.  
Permission for part-time training will not be approved to accommodate other 
sources of funding, job opportunities, clinical practice, clinical training, 
or for other responsibilities associated with the trainee's position at the 
institution.  In each case, the Program Director must submit a written 
request countersigned by the trainee and the institutional business official 
that includes documentation supporting the need for the part-time training.  
The written request also must include an assurance by the trainee that he/she 
intends to return to full-
time training when that becomes possible and that he/she intends to complete 
the research training program.  Also, the grantee must have a trainee slot 
available to allow reappointment if and when the part-time trainee returns to 
full-time training.  In no case will it be permissible for the trainee to be 
engaged in NRSA supported research training for less than 20 hours per week.  
Individuals who must reduce their commitment to less than 20 hours per week 
must take a leave-of-absence from the training program.  The stipend will be 
pro-rated in the grant award during the period of any approved part-time 
training, and the slot occupied by the part-time trainee will count as one of 
the slots approved for support by AHRQ.  Part-time training may also affect 
the rate of accrual or repayment of the service obligation for postdoctoral 
trainees.  

INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Training Program Directors or Principal Investigators (PIs)
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to 
organize and implement a high quality research training program is invited to 
work with their institution as the director of the research training program 
in order to develop an application for support.  Individuals from 
underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with 
disabilities are always encouraged to apply for AHRQ programs.  The research 
training program director at the institution will be responsible for the 
selection and appointment of trainees to the NRSA research training grant and 
for the overall direction, management, and administration of the program.

SPECIAL PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS

Recruitment of Underrepresented Minorities

The primary objective of the NRSA program is to prepare qualified individuals 
for careers that significantly impact the Nation's research agenda.  Within 
the framework of the program's longstanding commitment to excellence and 
projected need for investigators in particular areas of research, attention 
must be given to recruiting individuals from racial or ethnic groups 
underrepresented in research.  The following groups have been identified as 
underrepresented in research nationally: African Americans, Hispanic 
Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Use of 
the term "minority" in this announcement will refer to these groups.

Duration of Training and Transition of Trainees

Other considerations relate to the duration of training and the transition of 
trainees to individual support mechanisms.  Studies have shown that the 
length of the appointment to a training grant for postdoctoral trainees with 
health-professional degrees strongly correlates with subsequent application 
for and receipt of independent research support.  Training grant program 
directors, therefore, should limit appointments to individuals who are 
committed to a career in research and plan to remain on the training grant or 
in post-training grant research experience for a cumulative minimum of 2 
years.  It has also been shown that transition to independent support is 
related to career success.  Therefore, program directors should encourage 
postdoctoral trainees to apply for the individual postdoctoral fellowships 
(F32) or mentored career development awards (K awards).  During the review of 
training grants applications, peer reviewers will examine the training record 
to determine the average duration of training appointments for health-
professional postdoctoral trainees and whether there is a record of 
transition to individual support mechanisms.

Past studies have shown that health professional trainees, who train in 
combined programs with postdoctoral researchers with an intensive research 
background, are more likely to apply for and receive research grant support.  
Programs located in clinical departments that focus on research training for 
individuals with an M.D. or other health-professional degrees should consider 
developing ties to basic science departments or modifying their program to 
include individuals with research doctorates when this approach is consistent 
with the goals of the program.  Applications should describe the basic 
science department's contribution to the research training experience and 
also indicate if both health professional trainees and trainees with research 
doctorates are included in the training program.

Ongoing Program Evaluation

Finally, Program Directors are encouraged to develop methods for ongoing 
evaluation of the quality of the training program.  Although the T32 
application process requires extensive career tracking of former trainees, it 
is often useful to obtain more proximal feedback.  For example, Training 
Program Directors are encouraged to develop plans to obtain feedback from 
current and former trainees to help identify any weaknesses in the training 
program and to provide suggestions for program improvements.  Applicants are 
encouraged to include such plans in their competing applications, and as 
noted below, competing continuation applicant need to include these results 
in their applications.

Payback Provisions

As specified in the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, which AHRQ currently 
follows, NRSA recipients incur a service payback obligation only during their 
first 12 months of postdoctoral support.  Additionally, the NIH 
Revitalization Act of 1993, specifies that the second and subsequent years of 
postdoctoral NRSA training will serve to payback a postdoctoral service 
payback obligation.  Accordingly, the following guidelines apply:

o   Predoctoral trainees are not required to sign the payback agreement and 
do not incur a service payback obligation.

o   Postdoctoral trainees in the first 12 months of postdoctoral NRSA support 
must sign the payback agreement form (PHS form 6031) before initializing an 
appointment and will incur 1 month of service payback obligation for each 
month of support.

o   Postdoctoral trainees in the 13th and subsequent months of NRSA 
postdoctoral support are not required to sign the payback agreement form and 
will not incur a service payback obligation.

o   The 13th and subsequent months of postdoctoral NRSA support are 
considered acceptable payback service for prior postdoctoral support.  
Individuals who continue under an award for 2 years, have fulfilled their 
obligation by the end of the second year.  Service payback obligations can 
also be paid back by conducting health-related research or teaching an 
average of more than 20 hours per week of a full work year after the award.

o   Recipients with service obligations must begin to provide acceptable 
payback service on a continuous basis within two years of termination of NRSA 
support.  The period for undertaking payback service may be delayed for such 
reasons as temporary disability, completion of residency requirements, or 
completion of the requirements for a graduate degree.  Requests for an 
extension must be made in writing to the AHRQ Division of Grant and Contract 
Management specifying the need for additional time and the length of the 
required extension.

o   Recipients of NRSA support are responsible for informing the AHRQ 
Division of Grant and Contract Management of changes in status or address.

o   For individuals who fail to fulfill their obligation through service, the 
United States is entitled to recover the total amount of NRSA funds paid to 
the individual for the obligated period plus interest at a rate determined by 
the Secretary of the Treasury. Financial payback must be completed within 3 
years, beginning on the date the United States becomes entitled to recover 
such amount.

o   Under certain conditions, the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (or those delegated this authority) may extend the period for 
starting service or repayment, permit breaks in service, or in cases in which 
service or financial repayment would constitute an extreme hardship, may 
waive or suspend the payback obligation of an individual.

o   Officials at the awardee institution have the responsibility of 
explaining the terms of the payback requirements to all prospective training 
candidates before appointment to the training grant. Additionally, all 
trainees recruited into the training program should be provided with 
information related to the career options available to individuals who 
complete the program and whether the types of positions available are 
consistent with the nature of the training provided and where applicable 
whether those positions are likely to satisfy any outstanding service payback 
obligation.

Trainee Reporting Requirements

The institution must submit a completed Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 
2271) for each trainee appointed or reappointed to the training grant. This 
Form must be completed at the beginning of the initial appointment and 
annually thereafter.  Additionally, a completed Payback Agreement (PHS Form 
6031) must be submitted for each trainee in his/her first twelve months of 
postdoctoral support. Within 30 days of the end of the total support period 
for each trainee, the institution must submit a Termination Notice (PHS Form 
416-7).  Failure to submit the required forms in a timely, complete, and 
accurate manner may result in an expenditure disallowance or a delay in any 
continuation funding for the award.  The forms are available on the AHRQ 
website at http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/training/tools.htm#forms.

Leave

In general, trainees may receive stipends during periods of vacation and 
holidays observed by individuals in comparable training positions at the 
grantee institution.  For the purpose of these awards, however, the period 
between the spring and fall semesters is considered to be an active time of 
research and research training, and is not considered to be a vacation or a 
holiday.

Trainees may receive stipends for up to 15 calendar days of sick leave per 
year.  Sick leave may be used for the medical conditions related to pregnancy 
and childbirth pursuant to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (42 USC 2000 
e(l)).  Trainees may also receive stipends for up to 30 calendar days of 
parental leave per year for the adoption or the birth of a child when those 
in comparable training positions at the grantee institution have access to 
paid leave for this purpose and the use of parental leave is approved by the 
program director.

A period of terminal leave is not permitted and payment may not be made from 
grant funds for leave not taken. Individuals requiring periods of time away 
from their research training experience longer than specified must seek 
approval from AHRQ's Grants Management Office for an unpaid leave of absence. 
At the beginning of a leave of absence, the trainee must submit a Termination 
Notice (PHS Form 416-7) and upon return from the leave of absence, the 
trainee must be formally reappointed to the grant by submitting an updated 
Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271). Trainees within the first twelve 
months of postdoctorate support must also submit a Payback Agreement (PHS 
Form 6031) upon return from a leave of absence.

Allowable Costs

Stipends

National Research Service Awards provide funds in the form of stipends to 
predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. A stipend is provided as an allowance 
for trainees to help defray living expenses during the research training 
experience. It is not provided as a condition of employment with either the 
Federal Government or the institution.  Stipends must be paid to all trainees 
at the levels approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 
Services.  Trainees may not receive stipends for periods during which they 
are not enrolled in the training program.  Stipend levels are adjusted nearly 
every year and current stipend levels are available on the NIH website at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-028.html.

In FY 2002 predoctoral students will receive a stipend of $18,156.  For 
appointments of less than a full year, the stipend will be based on a monthly 
or daily proration.  The monthly stipend amount is calculated by dividing the 
current annual stipend by 12.  The daily stipend is calculated by dividing 
the current annual stipend by 365.

For postdoctoral trainees, the current annual stipend for postdoctoral 
trainees is determined by the number of FULL years of relevant postdoctoral 
experience at the time of appointment.  Relevant experience may include 
research experience (including industrial), teaching, internship, residency, 
clinical duties, or other time spent in full-time studies in a health-related 
field following the date of the qualifying doctoral degree. Current 
postdoctoral stipend levels, effective October 1, 2001, are as follows:

Full years of                     Stipend
relevant experience

Less than 1                       $ 31,092
1                                   32,820
2                                   38,712
3                                   40,692
4                                   42,648
5                                   44,616
6                                   46,584
7 or more                           48,852

A trainee with a health-professional doctoral degree who is enrolled in a 
graduate degree program is considered to be in postdoctoral training and will 
receive the appropriate postdoctoral stipend listed above.

No departure from the established stipend schedule may be negotiated by the 
institution with the trainee. The stipend for each additional full year of 
stipend support is the next level in the stipend structure and does not 
change in the middle of an appointment. The grantee institution is allowed to 
provide funds to an individual in addition to the stipends paid by AHRQ. Such 
additional amounts may be either in the form of augmented stipends 
(supplementation) or in the form of compensation, such as salary or tuition 
remission for services such as teaching or serving as a laboratory assistant, 
provided the following conditions are met:

o   Stipend Supplementation. Supplementation or additional support to offset 
the cost of living may be provided by the grantee institution, but must not 
require any additional obligation from the trainee. Federal funds may not be 
used for supplementation unless specifically authorized under the terms of 
both the program from which such supplemental funds are to be received and 
the program whose funds are to be supplemented. Under no circumstances may 
PHS funds be used for supplementation.

o   Compensation. An institution may provide additional funds to a trainee in 
the form of compensation (as salary and/or tuition remission) for services 
such as teaching or serving as a laboratory assistant. A trainee may receive 
compensation for services as a research assistant or in some other position 
on a Federal research grant, including a PHS research grant.  However, 
compensated services should occur on a limited, part-time basis apart from 
the normal research training activities, which require a minimum of 40 hours 
per week.  In addition, compensation may not be paid from a research grant 
supporting research that is part of the research training experience.  
Without the prior approval of AHRQ, the level of effort devoted to 
compensated services must not exceed 10 hours per week.  Requests for 
compensated services in excess of 10 hours per week must be requested by the 
training program director in a letter countersigned by the trainee and an 
appropriate institutional business official.  The letter must describe the 
nature of the requested additional effort and how it relates to the current 
training experience.  The letter should also provide assurances that the 
additional effort will not interfere or prolong the NRSA supported training 
experience.

Under no circumstances may the conditions of stipend supplementation or the 
services provided for compensation interfere with, detract from, or prolong 
the trainee's approved NRSA training program.

Educational Loans or G.I. Bill.  An individual may make use of Federal 
educational loan funds and assistance under the Veterans Readjustment 
Benefits Act (G.I. Bill).  Such funds are not considered supplementation or 
compensation.

Concurrent Awards. A NRSA traineeship may not be held concurrently with 
another federally sponsored fellowship or similar Federal award that provides 
a stipend or otherwise duplicates provisions of the NRSA.

Tuition Fees and Health Insurance

The AHRQ will offset the combined cost of tuition, fees, and health insurance 
(either self-only or family as appropriate) at the following rate: 100 
percent of all costs up to  $3,000 and 60 percent of costs above $3,000.  
Costs associated with tuition, fees, and health insurance are allowable only 
if they are required for all individuals in a similar research training 
status at the institution regardless of the source of support.  A full 
description of the tuition policy is contained within the Grants Policy 
Statement at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/gps

Other Training Costs

Trainee travel, including attendance at scientific meetings that the 
institution determines to be necessary to the individual's research training, 
is an allowable trainee expense.  In addition, support for travel to a 
research training experience away from the institution may be permitted. 
Research training experiences away from the parent institution must be 
justified considering the type of opportunities for training available, how 
these opportunities differ from those offered at the parent institution, and 
the relationship of the proposed experience to the trainee's career stage and 
goals. Justification for research training experience away from the 
institution must be described in detail in the budget justification section 
of the application.

Institutional costs of up to $2,200 a year per predoctoral trainee and up to 
$3,850 a year per postdoctoral trainee may be requested to defray the costs 
of other research training related expenses, such as staff salaries, 
consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and staff travel.

Under exceptional circumstances, which can include accommodating the 
disabilities of a trainee, it is possible to request institutional costs 
above the standard rate. Requests for additional costs must be explained in 
detail and carefully justified in the application. Consultation with program 
staff in advance of such requests is strongly advised.

A facilities and administration cost allowance (indirect cost allowance) of 8 
percent of total allowable direct costs (this excludes tuition, fees, health 
insurance and equipment) may be requested. Applications from State and local 
government agencies may request full indirect cost reimbursement (see PHS 
Grants Policy Statement).  Information on Facilities and Administrative Costs 
is available in the Grants Policy Statement at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/gps

Tax Liability

Internal Revenue Code Section 117 applies to the tax treatment of all 
scholarships and fellowships. Under that section, non-degree candidates are 
required to report as gross income all stipends and any monies paid on their 
behalf for course tuition and fees required for attendance. Degree candidates 
may exclude from gross income (for tax purposes) any amount used for tuition 
and related expenses such as fees, books, supplies, and equipment required 
for courses of instruction at a qualified educational organization.

The taxability of stipends, however, in no way alters the relationship 
between NRSA trainees and institutions.  NRSA stipends are not considered to 
be salaries.  In addition, trainees supported under the NRSA are not 
considered to be in an employee/employer relationship with the AHRQ or within 
the awardee institution.

It must be emphasized that the interpretation and implementation of the tax 
laws are the domain of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the courts.  
AHRQ takes no position on what the status may be for a particular taxpayer, 
and it does not have the authority to dispense tax advice. Individuals should 
consult their local IRS office about the applicability of the law to their 
situation and for information on their tax obligations.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Publication Transmittal: General AHRQ Requirements

To allow the Agency to evaluate its fulfillment of a statutory mandate to 
translate the results of AHRQ-funded research into practice and policy, 
grantees and/or contractors are expected to inform the Office of Health Care 
Information (OHCI) when articles from their studies are accepted for 
publication in the professional literature.  Grantees and contractors should 
also discuss any ideas about other dissemination and marketing efforts with 
OHCI staff.  The goal is to ensure that efforts to disseminate research 
findings are coordinated with other Agency activities to maximize awareness 
and application of the research by potential users, including clinicians, 
patients, health care systems and purchasers and policymakers.  This is 
critical when outreach to the general and trade press is involved.  Contact 
with the media will take place in close coordination with OHCI and the press 
offices of the grantee's or contractor's institutions.  In cases when 
products are created (such as annual or final reports, Web-based tools, CD-
ROMs), grantees and contractors will be asked to submit to OHCI a brief plan 
describing how the product will be publicized.  An OHCI staff person will be 
assigned to each product and will coordinate AHRQ information dissemination 
activities with the grantee's or contractor's plan, especially issues related 
to printing and electronic dissemination, and outreach to the media.

Position (slot) Request, Approvals, and Funding 

Institutions may apply for support for predoctoral students, postdoctoral 
students, or a combination. Applicants should include a rationale for their 
proposed choice of supporting the type and number of positions requested, 
including the requested level(s) of postdoctoral students. An applicant may 
request as many postdoctoral or predoctoral positions as the proposed program 
can adequately accommodate; but the number of positions awarded will be 
determined by the review process, program needs, and availability of funds.

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

AHRQ welcomes the opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from 
potential applicants who have read the RFA.  Written and telephone inquiries 
concerning this RFA are encouraged.  Direct inquiries regarding programmatic 
issues, including information on the inclusion of women, minorities, and 
children in study populations to:
 
Karen Rudzinski, Ph.D.
Office of Research Review, Education and Policy
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 400W
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone:  (301) 594-1449
FAX: (301)594-0154
Email: training@AHRQ.gov

Direct your questions about peer review issues to:

Scott Andres, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 400W
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone: (301) 594-6408
FAX: (301) 594-0154
Email: sandres@AHRQ.gov

Direct your questions about financial or grant management matters to:
 
George B. Gardner
Grants Management Specialist
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 601
Rockville, MD  20852
Telephone: (301) 594-6826
FAX: (301) 594-3210
Email: ggardner@AHRQ.gov

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes 
the following information:

o   Descriptive title of the proposed research
o   Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o   Names of other key personnel
o   Participating institutions
o   Number and title of this RFA
 
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not 
enter into consideration of a subsequent application, the information that it 
contains allows AHRQ staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan 
the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed at the beginning of 
this document.  The letter of intent should be sent to Karen Rudzinski, Ph.D. 
(see address under WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES).

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applications must be prepared using Section V, "Institutional National 
Research Service Award" of the PHS 398 research grant application 
instructions and form (rev. 5/2001).  The PHS 398 is available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive 
format.  For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone 301-435-0714, 
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.   AHRQ recommends applicants use Arial 12.  State 
and local government applicants may use PHS 5161-1, Application for Federal 
Assistance (rev. 5/96), and follow those requirements for copy submission.  
In instances in which instructions provided in this announcement differ from 
those listed in the PHS 398, the former will take precedence.

USING THE RFA LABEL:   The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) 
application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the 
application.  Type the RFA number on the label.  Failure to use this label 
could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not 
reach the review committee in time for review.  In addition, the RFA title 
and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form 
and the YES box must be marked.  The RFA label is also available at: 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf.

SENDING AN APPLICATION TO AHRQ:  Submit a signed, typewritten original of the 
application, including the checklist, and three signed photocopies in one 
package to:

Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040 - MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD  20892-7710
(20817 for express/courier service)
 
All grant applications submitted to CSR must come via United States Postal 
Service or a recognized delivery/courier service.  Individuals may not 
personally deliver packages to CSR.  For further information please see 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-012.html.

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application, labeled 
"Advanced Copy" must also be sent to:

Karen Rudzinski, Ph.D. 
NRSA Project Officer 
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
2101 East Jefferson St., Suite 400 
Rockville, MD 20852-4908 
E-mail: training@AHRQ.gov

APPLICATION PROCESSING:   Applications must be received by the receipt dates 
listed in the heading of this RFA.  If an application is received after that 
date, it will be returned to the applicant without review.  The CSR and AHRQ 
will not accept any application in response to this RFA that is essentially 
the same as one currently pending initial review unless the applicant 
withdraws the pending application.  The CSR and AHRQ will not accept any 
application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed.  This does 
not preclude the submission of substantial revisions of applications already 
reviewed, but such applications must include an Introduction addressing the 
previous critique.

Applicants are encourage to read all PHS Forms 398 instructions prior to 
preparing an application in response to this RFA.  The PHS 398 type size 
requirements (p.6) will be enforced rigorously and non-compliant applications 
will be returned.  State and local government applicants may use PHS 5161-1, 
Application for Federal Assistance (rev. 5/96), and follow those requirements 
for copy submission.

The RFA is available on AHRQ's Web site, http://www.AHRQ.gov, (see "Funding 
Opportunities) and through AHRQ InstantFAX at (301) 594-2800.  To use 
InstantFAX, you must call from a facsimile (FAX) machine with a telephone 
handset.  Follow the voice prompt to obtain a copy of the table of contents, 
which has the document order number (not the same as the RFA number).  The 
RFA will be sent at the end of the ordering process.  AHRQ InstantFAX 
operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  For comments or problems concerning 
AHRQ InstantFax, please call (301) 594-6344.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by CSR and 
responsiveness to the RFA by AHRQ.  Incomplete and/or non-responsive 
applications or applications not following instructions given in this RFA 
will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.  
Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated 
for scientific, technical, and educational merit by an appropriate peer 
review group convened in accordance with standard AHRQ peer review 
procedures.  As part of the merit review, all applications will:

o   Receive a written critique
o   Undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the 
highest scientific merit will be discussed and assigned a priority score. 

All applications will be judged on the basis of the scientific merit of the 
proposed training plan and the documented ability of the applicant to meet 
the research objectives of the RFA.  Although the technical merit of the 
proposed project is important, it will not be the sole criterion for 
evaluation of a program, as noted below. 

REVIEW CRITERIA

The reviewers will comment on the following aspects of the application in 
their written critiques in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed 
research training grant will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of the 
above goals.  Each of these criteria will be addressed and considered by the 
reviewers in assigning the overall score weighting them as appropriate for 
each application.  Note that the application does not need to be strong in 
all categories to be judged likely to have a major scientific impact and thus 
deserve a high priority score. 

1.   Program Characteristics

o   Objectives, design, and direction of the research training program -- 
including the probability of achieving stated goals.

o   Substantive and methodological content of the proposed program and its 
relevance to the Program Objectives noted above, including relevant 
descriptions of courses and experiential opportunities offered and/or 
required.

o   The extent to which proposed approaches address areas in need of research 
given changes in the health care delivery system.

o   Innovativeness of program design.

o   The inclusion of a firmly grounded plan for mentoring students, available 
to students, including options for students to be involved in selection of 
mentors.

o  Caliber of preceptors as researchers, including successful competition for 
research support in areas directly related to the proposed research training 
program.

o The formation of partnerships with:

-  other universities traditionally not involved in extensive health services 
research and newly emerging centers of excellence such as recipients of AHRQ 
Building Research Infrastructure and Community Grants (BRIC) and Minority 
Research Infrastructure Support Program (M-RISP) grants.  More information on 
these programs can be obtained at 
http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2001/infrapr.htm, and/or
–  state governments to provide trainees first hand experience in conducting 
rigorous health services research to address state government information 
needs for improving health programs and developing health policy, and (to the 
extent feasible and applicable)
–  components of the health care delivery system.

2.   Program Support and Organizational Structure and Plans

o   Quality of the institutional training environment for NRSA supported 
trainees and the relationship of the NRSA program to the broader training 
program (if appropriate).  The level of institutional commitment, quality of 
facilities, availability of appropriate courses, and the availability of 
research and research training support, including offices and computers.

o   Organizational structure of the proposed training program, including 
delineation of administrative responsibilities for planning, oversight, and 
evaluation.

o   Demonstration of cooperation by any proposed collaborating facilities, 
institutions, or departments in providing research experiences and/or sites 
for trainees, including (where applicable) documentation of mechanisms by 
which trainees will be integrated into the ongoing health services research 
activities of other entities.

o   Demonstration of extent to which and ways in which AHRQ support will be 
(has been in the past) leveraged to maximize health services research 
training within the institution.

o   Availability of other relevant support.

3.   Trainee Recruitment & Retention Plans

o   Quality of the applicant pool and the selection of individuals for 
appointment to the training grant.  This assessment will include 
consideration of the diversity of the trainee pool, taking into account 
various recruitment and retention efforts as well as the availability of 
individuals from underrepresented minority groups within the relevant pool of 
applicants (see below for details).  

o  The targeting of AHRQ priority populations -- in addition to 
underrepresented minority groups -- (e.g., low income populations, elderly, 
children, chronically ill, persons with special health needs, women, and 
inner city, rural and frontier populations) in both the research portfolio 
and trainee applicant pool. 

o   For applicants submitting competing continuations, their record in 
recruiting and retaining trainees, noting past annual success rates in 
filling committed slots.

o   When appropriate, record (including appropriate statistical rates) of the 
research training program in retaining health-professional postdoctoral 
trainees for at least two years in research training or other research 
activities.

4.   Program Record and Evaluation Plans

o  Proposed methods for monitoring and evaluating performance of trainees and 
the overall program, including tracking of graduates after completion of 
training, record of trainees in obtaining individual research awards or 
fellowships following training and in establishing careers in health services 
research.

o   For applicants submitting competing continuation applications, their past 
research training record of both the program and the designated preceptors as 
determined by the success of former trainees in seeking further career 
development and in establishing productive scientific careers, as well as 
satisfaction of former students with their training, and indication that the 
program has incorporated student, faculty, and labor market input into 
continuous quality improvement. Evidence of further career development can 
include receipt of fellowships, career awards, and similar accomplishments.  
Evidence of a productive scientific career can include a record of successful 
competition for individual research grants, receipt of special honors or 
awards, a record of publications, receipt of patents, promotions in academe 
or industry, and any other appropriate measure of success consistent with the 
nature and duration of the training received.

o For applicants submitting competing continuation applications, the outcomes 
and impact on improvements in the delivery of health care or health care 
policy stemming from their investment in training.

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA:   In addition to the above criteria, your 
application will also be reviewed with respect to the following:

Minority Recruitment Plan:  The AHRQ remains committed to increasing the 
participation of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in health 
services research. All applications for institutional NRSA research training 
grants must include a specific plan to recruit minorities. If an application 
is received without a plan, it will be considered incomplete and will be 
returned to the applicant without review.

The plan should include information on the racial/ethnic distribution of:

o  Students or postdoctorates who applied for admission or positions within 
the department(s) relative to the training grant;

o  Students or postdoctorates who were offered admission to or a position 
within the department(s);

o  Students actually enrolled in the academic program relevant to the 
training grant; and

o  Students or postdoctorates who were appointed to the research training 
grant.

For those trainees who were appointed to the grant, the report should include 
information about the duration of research training and whether those 
trainees finished their training in good standing.

AHRQ will now be strengthening these efforts in line with recent procedures 
implemented and announced by the National Institute for Child Health and 
Human Development (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-
HD-02-004.html.  After the overall educational and technical merit of an 
application has been assessed, peer reviewers will examine and evaluate the 
minority recruitment plan and any record of recruitment and retention.  
Following standard initial review of T32 applications, AHRQ staff will review 
the comments of the review panel with respect to the peer reviewers' judgment 
of inclusion plans and, when appropriate, the record of inclusion.  The AHRQ 
will then categorize further this component of the application.  Each 
"acceptable" application will now be categorized as either "acceptable" or 
"exemplary.  To be defined as "exemplary," applications must describe 
comprehensive and creative strategies for recruiting individuals from 
underrepresented minority groups. Exemplary competing continuation 
applications also must have demonstrated significant success in recruiting 
and retaining underrepresented minority trainees during the previous award 
period, given the program's institutional and geographical environment.  
Exemplary new and competing continuation applications will be eligible for 
additional training positions when they are awarded and to receive additional 
training positions at the end of each Federal fiscal year subsequent to the 
initial award, in each case up to the review panel's recommended level, 
depending on availability of funds. 

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research: Every Predoctoral and 
Postdoctoral NRSA trainee supported by an institutional research training 
grant must receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research. (For 
more information on this provision, see the NIH Guide for Grants and 
Contracts, Volume 21, Number 43, November 27, 1992.)

Applications must include a description of a program to provide formal or 
informal instruction in scientific integrity or the responsible conduct of 
research.  Applications without plans for instruction in the responsible 
conduct of research will be considered incomplete and may be returned to the 
applicant without review.

o   Although the AHRQ does not establish specific curricula or formal 
requirements, all programs are encouraged strongly to consider instruction in 
the following areas: conflict of interest, responsible authorship, policies 
for handling misconduct, policies regarding research on human subjects, and 
data management (including confidentiality).  Within the context of training 
in scientific integrity it is also useful to discuss the mutual 
responsibilities of the institution and the graduate students or 
postdoctorates appointed to the program.

o   Plans must address the subject matter of the instruction, the format of 
the instruction, the degree of faculty participation, trainee attendance, and 
the frequency of instruction.

o   The rationale for the proposed plan of instruction must be provided.

o   Program reports on the type of instruction provided, topics covered, and 
other relevant information, such as attendance by trainees and faculty 
participation, must be included in future competing continuation and 
noncompeting applications.

The AHRQ encourages institutions to provide instruction in the responsible 
conduct of research to all graduate students and postdoctorates in a training 
program or department, regardless of the source of support.

AHRQ initial review groups will assess the applicant's plans on the basis of:

o   ACCEPTABILITY:  Including the  the appropriateness of syllabus of study, 
topics, format, amount and nature of faculty participation, and the frequency 
and duration of instruction.  The plan will be discussed after the overall 
determination of merit, so that the quality of the plan will not be a factor 
in the determination of the priority score.  Plans will be judged as 
acceptable or unacceptable.  The acceptability of the plan will be described 
in an administrative note on the summary statement.  Regardless of the 
priority score, applications with unacceptable plans will not be funded until 
a revised, acceptable plan is provided by the applicant. The acceptability of 
the revised plan will be judged by AHRQ staff (See 42 CFR 66.206).

o   PROTECTIONS:  Including the adequacy of the proposed protection of human 
research subjects or the environment, to the extent they may be adversely 
affected by the research proposed to be conducted by trainees.

o   INCLUSION:  Including the adequacy of plans to include subjects from both 
genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as 
appropriate for the scientific goals of the research.  Plans for the 
recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated.  (See Inclusion 
Criteria included in the section on Federal Citations, below.)

DATA SHARING

Data Privacy

Pursuant to section 924(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 299c-
3(c)), information obtained in the course of any AHRQ-study that identifies 
an individual or entity must be treated as confidential in accordance with 
any explicit or implicit promises made or implied regarding the possible uses 
and disclosures of such data.  In the Human Subjects section of the 
application, applicants must describe procedures for ensuring the 
confidentiality of the identifying information to be collected.  The 
description of the procedures should include a discussion of who will be 
permitted access to the information, both raw data and machine readable 
files, and how personal identifiers and other identifying or identifiable 
data will be restricted and safeguarded. 

The awardee should ensure that computer systems containing confidential data 
have a level and scope of security that equals or exceeds those established 
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in OMB Circular No. A-130, 
Appendix III - Security of Federal Automated Information Systems.  The 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published several 
implementation guides for this circular.  They are: An Introduction to 
Computer Security: The NIST Handbook; Generally Accepted Principals and 
Practices for Securing Information Technology Systems; and Guide for 
Developing Security Plans for Information Technology Systems.  The circular 
and guides are available on the web at
http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-12/.  The application of these 
confidentiality and security standards to subcontractors and vendors, if any, 
should be addressed.

Rights in Data

AHRQ grantees may copyright or seek patents, as appropriate, for final and 
interim products and materials including, but not limited to, methodological 
tools, measures, software with documentation, literature searches, and 
analyses, which are developed in whole or in part with AHRQ funds.  Such 
copyrights and patents are subject to a worldwide irrevocable Federal 
government license to use and permit others to use these products and 
materials for government purposes.  In accordance with its legislative 
dissemination mandate, AHRQ purposes may include, subject to statutory 
confidentiality protections, making research materials, data bases, results, 
and algorithms available for verification or replication by other 
researchers; and subject to AHRQ budget constraints, final products may be 
made available to the health care community and the public by AHRQ or its 
agents, if such distribution would significantly increase access to a product 
and thereby produce public health benefits.  Ordinarily, to accomplish 
distribution, AHRQ publicizes research findings but relies on grantees to 
publish research results in peer-reviewed journals and to market grant-
supported products.

Important legal rights and requirements applicable to AHRQ grantees are set 
out or referenced in the AHRQ's grants regulation at 42 CFR Part 67, Subpart 
A (Available in libraries and from the GPO's website
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html).

In carrying out its stewardship of research programs, the AHRQ, at some point 
in the future, may begin requesting information essential to an assessment of 
the effectiveness of Agency research programs.  Accordingly, grant recipients 
are hereby notified that they may be contacted after the completion of awards 
for periodic updates on publications resulting from AHRQ grant awards, and 
other information helpful in evaluating the impact of AHRQ-sponsored 
research.  

AHRQ expects grant recipients to keep the Agency informed of publications as 
well as the known uses and impact of their Agency-sponsored research.  
Applicants are to agree to notify AHRQ immediately when a manuscript based on 
research supported by the grant is accepted for publication, and to provide 
the expected date of publication as soon as it is known, regardless of 
whether or not the grant award is still active. 

To receive an award, applicants must agree to submit an original and 2 copies 
of an abstract, executive summary, and full report of the research results in 
the format prescribed by AHRQ no later than 90 days after the end of the 
project period.  The executive summary should be sent at the same time on a 
computer disk which specifies on the label the format used (WP5.1 or WP6.0 is 
preferable).

o   BUDGET:  The reasonableness of the proposed project budget and the 
requested period of support in relation to the proposed research.

RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:    July 26, 2002
Application Receipt Date:         August 26, 2002
Peer Review Date:                 November 2002
Earliest Anticipated Start Date:  July 1, 2003

AWARD CRITERIA

Funding decisions will be based on peer review, research program and 
population priorities, the need for research personnel in specified program 
areas, creating a sustained partnership with newly emerging institutions 
involved in health services research, balance among types of research 
training supported by AHRQ, and the availability of funds. 

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS

INCLUSION OF WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND CHILDREN IN RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS:  
It is the policy of AHRQ that women and members of minority groups be 
included in all AHRQ-supported research projects involving human subjects, 
unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification are provided that 
inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the 
purpose of the research.  

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
UPDATED "NIH Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects 
in Clinical Research," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on 
August 2, 2000 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not-od-00-
048.html).  A complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_update.htm.  To the 
extent possible, AHRQ requires adherence to these NIH Guidelines.

Investigators may obtain copies from the above sources or from the AHRQ 
Publications Clearinghouse, listed under INQUIRIES, or from the NIH Guide Web 
site http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html.  AHRQ Program staff may 
also provide additional information concerning these policies (see 
INQUIRIES).

AHRQ also encourages investigators to consider including children in study 
populations, as appropriate.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT:   The 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to 
provide public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA) under some circumstances.  Data that are (1) first produced in a 
project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds and (2) 
cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an action 
that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed 
through FOIA.  It is important for applicants to understand the basic scope 
of this amendment.  NIH has provided guidance at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.  It is 
not likely that data gathered under projects supported through this 
initiative will be used as a basis for federal regulation or action having 
the force and effect of law.  However, should applicants wish to place data 
collected under this PA in a public archive, which can provide protections 
for the data (e.g., as required by the confidentiality statute applicable to 
AHRQ supported projects, 42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c) and manage the distribution of 
non-identifiable data for an indefinite period of time, they may.  The 
application should include a description of any archiving plan in the study 
design and include information about this in the budget justification section 
of the application.  In addition, applicants should think about how to 
structure informed consent statements and other human subjects procedures 
given the potential for wider use of data collected under this award.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010:   The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to 
achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy 
People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting health improvement 
priorities for the United States.  AHRQ encourages applicants to submit grant 
applications with relevance to the specific objectives of this initiative.  
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at 
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS:   This program is described in the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance, Number 93.225.  Awards are made under Sections 
304 (a) and 487 (d)(3) and Title IX of the Public Health Service Act as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 242 b and 42 U.S.C, 288 (d) (3) and 299-299c-7 as amended 
by P.L. 106-129, 1999).  Awards are administered under the PHS Grants Policy 
Statement and Federal Regulations, see in particular, 42 CFR 66, Subpart B, 
Part 67, Subpart A, and 45 CFR Parts 74 or 92.  This program is not subject 
to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or 
Health Systems Agency review.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a 
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products.  In 
addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking 
in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which 
regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood 
development services are provided to children.  This is consistent with the PHS 
mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American 
people.

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