Collaboration for Improving and Promoting Standardized Cancer Staging Using the Collaborative Stage Data Collection System | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity supports work to improve and promote standardized cancer staging through the Collaborative Stage (CS) Data Collection System. The overall aim is to strengthen the consistency and quality of cancer staging data so it can be compared reliably across facilities, states, and time periods.

2) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

3) What kind of funding instrument is this?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. That generally means the CDC is expected to have substantial involvement in the funded work, with the recipient and CDC coordinating closely on objectives, methods, deliverables, and dissemination.

4) What does "cooperative agreement" mean for how the project is carried out?

Based on the description provided, the cooperative agreement structure indicates the recipient would not operate in a fully independent, hands-off grant arrangement. Instead, CDC and the recipient would be expected to coordinate on key parts of the work such as project goals, technical approach, deliverables, and how results or products are shared.

5) What project or system is at the center of this opportunity?

The project centers on the Collaborative Stage (CS) Data Collection System, which is used to collect consistent and standardized cancer staging information.

6) Why is standardized cancer staging important?

Standardized staging matters because it helps ensure cancer registries, clinicians, researchers, and public health agencies are using the same definitions and coding rules. When staging is consistent, it becomes easier to compare cases and trends across different locations and over time, evaluate screening and treatment outcomes, and assess disparities.

7) What problem is this opportunity trying to address?

The opportunity is intended to reduce issues that arise when staging information is collected inconsistently. Inconsistent staging can make it harder to track trends, evaluate outcomes, or assess disparities accurately. The focus here is on strengthening data quality and uniform implementation of common staging practices through collaboration around the CS system.

8) What is the official identifier for this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is identified as "CDC RFA DP13 131004CONT16."

9) Is this a new grant or a continuation?

This opportunity is described as a continuation cooperative agreement. That indicates it is continuing an existing partnership-based effort rather than launching a brand-new standalone program.

10) What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is listed as health.

11) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 93.283, which is associated with CDC cancer-related surveillance and public health activities (as described in the provided summary).

12) When was the opportunity posted and created?

It was posted and created on February 5, 2016.

13) What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was April 22, 2016.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

The summary text lists eligibility as "Others" and does not define it further. Applicants are directed to review the additional eligibility information in the full announcement for clarification.

15) Does the summary list an award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?

The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the summary fields. In practice, that can mean the ceiling was not stated in the simplified listing, was determined elsewhere in the continuation documentation, or was negotiated based on continuation performance and available appropriations.

16) Does the summary specify how many awards will be made?

No. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided fields.

17) How should applicants interpret missing or unclear funding details in the summary?

Based on the information provided, some fields (like award ceiling and expected number of awards) may be incomplete in the simplified listing. The description suggests those details may have been handled in the full continuation documentation, negotiated based on continuation performance, tied to available appropriations, or otherwise not represented in the simplified summary.

18) What are the broader public health benefits described for this work?

The broader goal described is to improve cancer surveillance and increase the usefulness of registry data for public health action by ensuring cancer staging data is consistent, high quality, and broadly comparable.

19) What types of stakeholders benefit from improved CS-based staging data?

The summary specifically notes cancer registries, clinicians, researchers, and public health agencies as groups that benefit from consistent standardized cancer staging information.

20) What is the main emphasis of the opportunity beyond funding?

The emphasis is on collaboration and coordinated implementation through the CS system, with CDC expected to be substantially involved in shaping and supporting the work under a cooperative agreement model.