Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OD 09 010
Apply for RFA OD 09 010
- The National Institutes of Health in the health other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act Limited Competition Building Sustainable Community Linked Infrastructure to Enable Health Science Research (RC4)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.701 Trans NIH Recovery Act Research Support.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 18, 2009 and posted on Sep 18, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 11, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Small businesses City or township governments Independent school districts Private institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession This FOA is particularly directed towards Academic Health Centers who have engaged with the community and may have collaborated on projects of mutual interest. The AHC should be able to demonstrate a track record of positive engagement with community entities. The NIH is particularly interested in community organizations that deliver and/or support health promotion, disease prevention, disease management, health care, or related services. Included in this definition are public health departments, health agencies, treatment agencies and providers, community coalitions, state health agencies, schools, social service agencies, business community collaborations, campus community partnerships, and other types of community based organizations. Community may be defined geographically (e.g., a neighborhood or county), demographically (e.g., Native Americans), by health condition (e.g., mental health, wellness, primary care), or by a common interest (e.g., community coalitions, churches, local businesses). Research institutions are eligible to submit applications so long as an individual in one of the above listed entities is also named as a Community Research Associate on the application for at least 15 percent effort (contributed or compensated). See Section III Eligibility Information for more information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act Limited Competition Building Sustainable Community Linked Infrastructure to Enable Health Science Research (RC4) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-OD-09-010) was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Its main goal was to strengthen and modernize the practical infrastructure needed for real, sustained partnerships between academic health centers and community-based organizations so that health science research could be carried out more effectively in community settings. Rather than focusing on a single research study or a narrow scientific question, this program emphasized building the underlying capacity, systems, and working relationships that make high-quality community-engaged research possible and repeatable over time.
At the center of the opportunity was the idea that collaboration between academic health centers and community organizations should meaningfully change how research happens outside traditional academic environments. NIH was looking for projects that could speed up the overall research process in communities, increase productivity, and improve how quickly findings are shared, adopted, and put into practice. Applications were especially encouraged to build on collaborative structures that already existed, including partnerships and infrastructure previously supported by other federal agencies, with the expectation that Recovery Act funding would expand, reconfigure, or connect those assets into something more sustainable and broadly useful.
The funding used the RC4 grant mechanism, and the NIH planned to commit up to $30 million across fiscal years 2009 and 2010, aiming to support 30 or more awards if enough strong, scientifically sound applications were submitted. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowered the barrier for participation by community organizations and institutions that might not have had the resources to meet matching expectations.
Eligibility was broad and included many kinds of U.S.-based entities across the public, private, nonprofit, and tribal sectors. Eligible applicants included state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; small businesses and other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses were also explicitly listed); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The FOA also highlighted specific eligible institution types and community-focused entities such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and Native American tribal governments, including federally recognized tribes and other tribal governments.
Although many organization types could apply, the announcement was particularly directed toward academic health centers that already had a history of community engagement and could show a record of positive, constructive collaboration with community partners. NIH also signaled strong interest in community organizations involved in health promotion, disease prevention, disease management, health care delivery, and related services. Examples explicitly included public health departments and health agencies, treatment agencies and providers, community coalitions, state health agencies, schools, social service agencies, business-community collaborations, campus-community partnerships, and other community-based groups. The term "community" was intentionally broad and could be defined by geography (like a neighborhood or county), demographics (such as Native American communities), a health condition or service area (like mental health, wellness, or primary care), or a shared interest (such as church networks, local business groups, or coalition-based organizing).
A key structural requirement reinforced the community-linked nature of the program: research institutions could submit applications as long as someone from an eligible community entity was formally integrated into the project as a Community Research Associate with at least 15 percent effort, whether that effort was paid or contributed in-kind. This requirement was designed to ensure that community participation was not symbolic, but embedded in project planning, governance, and execution, helping align infrastructure investments with real community priorities and on-the-ground realities.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on September 18, 2009, with an original and final closing date of December 11, 2009, and it was archived on January 11, 2010. The program fell under CFDA 93.701 (Trans-NIH Recovery Act Research Support). Overall, the FOA represented a Recovery Act-funded push to leave behind durable community-academic research infrastructure that could continue improving the reach, relevance, and implementation of health research well beyond the life of the award.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Recovery Act Limited Competition Building Sustainable Community Linked Infrastructure to Enable Health Science Research (RC4)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-OD-09-010.
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
This was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative.
What law or funding source supported this program?
The program was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
What was the main purpose of the RC4 program?
The main goal was to strengthen and modernize practical infrastructure that supports real, sustained partnerships between academic health centers and community-based organizations, so health science research could be carried out more effectively in community settings.
Was this program focused on a single research study or specific scientific question?
No. Rather than funding a single study or narrow scientific question, the program emphasized building capacity, systems, and working relationships that make high-quality community-engaged research possible and repeatable over time.
What kinds of outcomes was NIH trying to achieve through this infrastructure investment?
NIH was looking for projects that could meaningfully change how research happens outside traditional academic environments by speeding up the overall research process in communities, increasing productivity, and improving how quickly findings are shared, adopted, and put into practice.
Did NIH encourage applicants to build on existing partnerships or federally supported infrastructure?
Yes. Applications were especially encouraged to build on collaborative structures that already existed, including partnerships and infrastructure previously supported by other federal agencies, with the expectation that Recovery Act funding would expand, reconfigure, or connect those assets into something more sustainable and broadly useful.
What grant mechanism was used?
The opportunity used the RC4 grant mechanism.
How much total funding did NIH plan to commit, and over what period?
NIH planned to commit up to $30 million across fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
How many awards were anticipated?
NIH aimed to support 30 or more awards if enough strong, scientifically sound applications were submitted.
Was cost-sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included many kinds of U.S.-based entities across the public, private, nonprofit, and tribal sectors.
Which government entities were eligible applicants?
Eligible government applicants included state, county, city/township, and special district governments, as well as U.S. territories or possessions. Native American tribal governments were also eligible, including federally recognized tribes and other tribal governments.
Were colleges, universities, and other education-related entities eligible?
Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education were eligible. The FOA also highlighted Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Could nonprofits apply, including organizations without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) were listed as eligible applicants.
Could for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. Small businesses and other for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses) were explicitly included as eligible.
Were public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities were listed as eligible applicants.
Were faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlighted faith-based and community-based organizations as eligible community-focused entities.
What types of applicants was the announcement particularly directed toward?
Although many organization types could apply, the announcement was particularly directed toward academic health centers that already had a history of community engagement and could demonstrate positive, constructive collaboration with community partners.
What kinds of community organizations did NIH express strong interest in?
NIH signaled strong interest in community organizations involved in health promotion, disease prevention, disease management, health care delivery, and related services.
What are examples of community organizations mentioned in the FOA?
Examples included public health departments and health agencies, treatment agencies and providers, community coalitions, state health agencies, schools, social service agencies, business-community collaborations, campus-community partnerships, and other community-based groups.
How did the FOA define "community" for purposes of this program?
The term "community" was intentionally broad. It could be defined by geography (such as a neighborhood or county), demographics (such as Native American communities), a health condition or service area (such as mental health, wellness, or primary care), or a shared interest (such as church networks, local business groups, or coalition-based organizing).
What was a key structural requirement to ensure community involvement?
Research institutions could submit applications as long as someone from an eligible community entity was formally integrated into the project as a Community Research Associate with at least 15 percent effort.
Did the Community Research Associate effort have to be paid?
Not necessarily. The required at least 15 percent effort could be paid or contributed in-kind, based on the information provided.
What was the intent behind requiring a Community Research Associate?
The requirement was designed to ensure community participation was not symbolic, but embedded in project planning, governance, and execution, aligning infrastructure investments with community priorities and practical realities.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on September 18, 2009.
What were the application closing dates?
The original and final closing date was December 11, 2009.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was archived on January 11, 2010.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program fell under CFDA 93.701 (Trans-NIH Recovery Act Research Support).
What lasting impact was the program intended to have?
The FOA represented a Recovery Act-funded push to leave behind durable community-academic research infrastructure that could continue improving the reach, relevance, and implementation of health research beyond the life of the award.
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