Call for Applications
Express Outreach Award
The purpose of the Express Outreach Award is to support a wide range of outreach projects aimed at improving access to and use of the National Library of Medicine's databases to improve access to health and biomedical information.
A list of National Library of Medicine databases and resources can be found at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/.
Potential Projects
Projects can include but are not limited to (other creative ideas for outreach are encouraged):
- Training in effective use of electronic health information resources, with an emphasis on NLM databases, for example PubMed, MedlinePlus, Household Products Database, Partners in Information Access to the Public Health Workforce, and Genetics Home Reference;
- Promoting health information literacy;
- Improving access to health information and information technology;
- Exhibiting or presenting at local meetings or organizational events;
- Training on how to evaluate health information found on the Internet.
Projects may target a specific community or population including but not limited to: public libraries, healthcare professionals, members of the general public, state/local health departments, seniors, minority or ethnic populations, refugee health organizations, low-income residents, community or faith based organizations.
For a list of past Express Outreach Awards, see NN/LM SCR Funded Projects at: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/scrfunded.html#expressoutrch.
Eligibility
Network members in the NN/LM SCR (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) are eligible to apply. Network membership is free and open to institutions interested in providing health information. To apply for membership: http://nnlm.gov/scr/services/member.html.
Funding
Thirteen (13) projects up to $5,000 each will be awarded.
Deadline for Applications
There are two application cycles: August 3, 2009, 5:00 CST and February 1, 2010, 5:00 pm CST
To Apply
See: http://nnlm.gov/scr/funding/exp_outreach_app.doc.
Budget Guidelines
Funding will cover (these are examples only and are not meant to be all-inclusive): Personnel, equipment, software, Internet service provider fees, supplies, travel and reproduction. Funds requested to develop print collections of health materials or to purchase access to a commercial electronic health information product may not exceed 5% of the total amount of the project budget.
Food and Indirect Costs are not allowed.
If mobile technology or computer hardware is proposed, please be prepared to submit the following upon approval of the award:
- For technology or computer hardware purchases under $3,000 – submit catalog pricing.
- For technology or computer hardware purchases $3,000 or more per item – submit three (3) vendor quotes (valid preferably for 60 days, minimum of 30 days). Quotes may include General Service Administration (GSA) price lists. Reference: http://www.gsa.gov.
- For personal appeal Items such as cameras, MP3 Players, Smartphones, and laptop computers the proposal must address the following:
- Purpose: There is a legitimate purpose for the items, and use of the items by the awardee will be managed in accordance with institutional policy.
- Appropriate Use: Items will not be used in a way that would discredit the NN/LM, the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or the applicable Institution.
- Cost Effective: Must demonstrate requested items are cost effective and appropriate. For example, will generic brands satisfy the minimum requirements? If not, the proposal/request must describe 1) why it is necessary to purchase branded products, 2) benefits in brand name products. How will items further the mission of the NN/LM and achieve the objectives of the contract?
Vendor quotes are necessary to determine price reasonable for purchase of $3,000 or more. The absence of competitive quotes must be documented and justified.
Period of Performance
Up to 12 months from date of the award.
Evaluation Criteria
Criteria for selection include: clear understanding of target audience, feasibility of plan to meet project objectives and to reach target audience, identified need for the project, reasonable goals and project plan, project evaluation plan and appropriate budget.
Special consideration will be given to first-time applicants for this award.
Reporting Requirements
One semiannual report of project activities, including progress made toward goals and problems encountered, and completion of outreach reporting activity forms are required. A final report covering the entire period of performance is due within 30 days of the close of the project.
If training is conducted as part of the project, the subcontractor will complete a record of the event in the online outreach activity and reporting system within 2 weeks of the activity. The NN/LM SCR office will provide an instruction manual for inputting this information into the system.
Publication and Publicity
The awardee shall acknowledge the support of the National Library of Medicine whenever publicizing the work under this contract in any media by including an acknowledgment substantially as follows:
This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. N01-LM-6-3505 under the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library.
NIH Policy on Enhancing Public Access to Archived Publications Resulting from NIH-Funded Research
As of April 7, 2008, final peer-reviewed manuscripts arising from NIH funds must be submitted to PubMed Central upon acceptance for publication.
The NIH Public Access Policy at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/policy.htm ensures that the public has access to the published results of NIH funded research. It requires scientists to submit final peer-reviewed journal manuscripts that arise from NIH funds to the digital archive PubMed Central (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/) upon acceptance for publication. To help advance science and improve human health, the Policy requires that these papers (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/FAQ.htm#b1) are accessible to the public on PubMed Central no later than 12 months after publication.
The NIH Public Access site should be consulted for additional information: http://publicaccess.nih.gov/policy.htm.
Website Compliance
If a website is developed under this award, the website must adhere to Section 508 compliance. Resources for this compliance include the National Library of Medicine Web Applications/Site Development Guidelines (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/web/documentation/index.html) and Summary of Section 508 Standards (http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=11).
Need help?
Arkansas applicants:
Ruicha (Re) Mishra, ruicha.mishra@exch.library.tmc.edu, Phone: 1-800-338-7657
Louisiana applicants:
Shikun (KK) Jiang, shikun.jiang@exch.library.tmc.edu, Phone: 1-800-338-7657
New Mexico applicants:
Ruicha (Re) Mishra, ruicha.mishra@exch.library.tmc.edu, Phone: 1-800-338-7657
Oklahoma applicants:
Karen Vargas, karen.vargas@exch.library.tmc.edu, Phone: 1-800-338-7657
Texas applicants
Karen Vargas, karen.vargas@exch.library.tmc.edu, Phone: 1-800-338-7657
