American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Supplemental Funding for Improving Data Quality and Enhancing Assessment at Immunization Information Systems (IIS) Sentinel Sites | Apply Online

FAQs: ARRA Supplemental Funding for Improving Data Quality and Enhancing Assessment at IIS Sentinel Sites (CDC Cooperative Agreement)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Supplemental Funding for Improving Data Quality and Enhancing Assessment at Immunization Information Systems (IIS) Sentinel Sites. It was offered by CDC as a discretionary grant opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism.

2) What is the official Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is CDC RFA IP08 80303ARRA09.

3) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on June 2, 2009.

4) What was the application due date and time?

Applications were due by July 2, 2009, no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

5) What is the overall purpose of the ARRA supplemental funding?

The overall intent was to use ARRA supplemental resources to strengthen Immunization Information Systems (IIS) at designated sentinel sites, with a focus on improving immunization data quality, expanding and refining IIS functionality and scope within the surveillance domain, and building analytic capacity so IIS data can be used more effectively for immunization program evaluation and epidemiologic work.

6) What are the main outcomes or focus areas described in the opportunity?

The opportunity emphasizes three related outcomes:

• Improved data quality in IIS
• Enhanced IIS functionality and scope in the surveillance area
• Expanded analytic capacity to use IIS data for evaluation and epidemiologic activities

7) What kinds of improvements are implied by "improving data quality" in IIS?

Based on the description, improving data quality typically involves efforts such as increasing completeness and accuracy of vaccination records, reducing duplicate or mismatched patient entries, improving timeliness of data submission, and strengthening validation routines and quality assurance processes.

8) What does "enhancing IIS functionality and scope within the surveillance domain" mean in this context?

The notice describes surveillance-related enhancements generally as improving the IIS capability to support public health monitoring and response. Examples mentioned or implied include more reliable coverage estimation, improved ability to identify under-immunized populations, better provider reporting integration, and strengthened interoperability with other systems that contribute to surveillance.

9) What is meant by "expanded analytic capacity" for IIS sentinel sites?

The notice indicates that sentinel sites were expected to better use IIS data for immunization program evaluation and epidemiologic activities, such as assessing program performance, monitoring trends, supporting targeted interventions, and producing more actionable analyses for decision-making within immunization programs.

10) How many awards were expected?

The funding was structured around eight expected awards.

11) Was this a limited competition?

Yes. The opportunity reflects a limited competition, with eligibility restricted to specific jurisdictions already receiving supplemental IIS sentinel site funds under FOA IP08 803.

12) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was restricted to the eight jurisdictions already receiving supplemental IIS sentinel site funds under FOA IP08 803: Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New York City, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

13) Could jurisdictions outside the listed eight apply?

No. The eligibility language provided indicates the opportunity was restricted to those eight jurisdictions and was designed to accelerate progress at established sentinel sites rather than bring new sites into the project.

14) What was the estimated total funding amount for the opportunity?

The estimated total funding amount is described as about $1,200,000 overall.

15) What was the expected range for individual award amounts?

Individual award amounts were expected to fall between $125,000 (floor) and $175,000 (ceiling).

16) How much funding was noted as available in fiscal year 2009?

The narrative notes that approximately $600,000 would be available in fiscal year 2009 to support the eight awards.

17) Why do the totals mention both about $1,200,000 overall and about $600,000 for FY2009?

The text suggests that the overall estimate (about $1,200,000) may have covered funding beyond fiscal year 2009 or reflected a broader projection, while the approximately $600,000 figure represented the immediate FY2009 allocation for the ARRA-supported tranche.

18) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or matching requirement was attached.

19) What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement?

Because it was a cooperative agreement rather than a traditional grant, recipients should have expected substantial federal involvement from CDC in planning, implementation, technical guidance, and monitoring. The description notes that cooperative agreements often include close collaboration on methods, performance measures, data standards, and dissemination of findings.

20) What does the opportunity suggest about CDC's role during the project?

The description indicates CDC involvement would likely include collaboration on planning and implementation, technical guidance, monitoring, and alignment around consistent methods, performance measures, data standards, and dissemination of findings across sentinel sites.

21) Why was eligibility limited to existing IIS sentinel sites?

The provided narrative indicates the limitation suggests the program was designed to accelerate progress at established sentinel locations rather than bring new sites into the project, likely because these jurisdictions already had technical infrastructure, governance arrangements, and operational experience needed to implement enhancements quickly under ARRA timelines.

22) Where could applicants get help if they could not obtain the full announcement electronically?

The notice directs applicants who had difficulty obtaining the full announcement electronically to contact PGO TIMS by phone at 770-488-2700.

23) Is an email contact provided in the text?

An email is referenced generally, but the specific email address is not included in the provided information.

24) Where would applicants find complete requirements and deliverables?

The notice points to a full funding announcement link for complete requirements, which would typically include detailed work plan expectations, reporting requirements, budget guidance, and any specific deliverables tied to data quality improvement and assessment activities.