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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

93.390:  Academic Research Enhancement Award

Popular Name:  AREA

Objectives:  The AREA program has three objectives: (a) To develop the research environment at "smaller, less prominent, four-year, public and private colleges and universities which provide undergraduate training for a significant number of our nation's research scientists but which have not shared adequately in the growth of the NIH extramural program," (b) to expose students at such institutions to the research experience, and (c) to support meritorious research.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

93.390 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  (1) Individual health-professional schools and the combined other components of domestic educational institutions granting baccalaureate and higher degrees in the health sciences are eligible, except those schools/components that have received NIH research grants totaling more than $2 million per year in each of four or more of the last seven fiscal years; and (2) faculty members of such institutions who will not have an active NIH research grant at the time of award of an AREA grant.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Institutions as described above and the faculty and students of such institutions will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

93.390 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Prepare and submit Form PHS 398 (Rev. 4/98) according to modified (simplified) instructions in the AREA Program Guidelines. Form PHS 398 may be obtained from NIH's Extramural Research Home Page grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/funding.html and the Program Guidelines from the AREA home page grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm. Paper copies may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6207, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910. Phone: (301) 435-0714. Fax: (301) 480-0525. E-mail: grantsinfo@nih.gov. This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR 74.

Award Procedure:  Applications are reviewed for scientific and technical merit by a scientific review group and for program relevance by a national advisory council/board. When scientific merit and program relevance are essentially equivalent, funding preference is given to institutions with a strong record of educating undergraduates who have subsequently obtained doctoral degrees in the health sciences.

Deadlines:  Except for AIDS-related projects, applications must be postmarked by January 25, May 25 or September 25. Applications for AIDS-related projects must be postmarked by May 1, September 1, and January 2.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 8 to 9 months for projects that are not AIDS related. 4 to 5 months for AIDS related projects.

Appeals:  A principal investigator may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the staff of the NIH awarding component to which the application was assigned for potential funding. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedures is available on the NIH home page www.nih.gov/grants/guide/1997/97.11.21/97n2.html.

Renewals:  The policy on renewals was changed in 1997, and renewal (competing continuation, type 2) applications are now accepted.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Funding decisions are based on scientific merit (42 CFR 52h), program relevance, and an institution's record of having educated individuals at the baccalaureate level who subsequently obtained doctoral degrees in the health sciences. Scientific merit review encompasses: the significance, approach, and innovation of the proposed research; the competency of the principal investigator; the adequacy of the resources and environment; the proposed budget and requested period of support; and, where applicable, the adequacy of the measures for protecting against adverse effects upon humans, animals, or the environment.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Awards were made for health-related research projects that pertain to the missions of the various funding components of NIH. Lists of the awards made in fiscal year 1999 are available on the AREA home page (grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm).

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Up to $100,000 in direct costs may be requested. In addition to direct costs, facilities and administrative costs (formerly, indirect costs) at the negotiated rate(s) for the institution are included in the total award.

93.390 RELATED PROGRAMS:

93.390 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

93.390 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $17,634,000; FY 00 est $17,100,000; and FY 01 est $18,023,000.

Budget Account Number:  75-0846-0-1-552.

Authorization:  Public Law 104-91.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  45 CFR 74; 42 CFR 52. NIH Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. 94-50,000, (Rev.) April 1, 1994. The PHS 398 application form and the AREA Program Guidelines may both be obtained from the NIH Home Page (See Application Procedure above for URL addresses) or from the Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health (per above).

93.390 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Ms. Marie Willett, NIH AREA Coordinator, Office of Extramural Programs, Office of Extramural Research, Rockledge II, Room 6194, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910; Phone: (301) 435-2689; FAX: (301) 480-8443; E-mail: mw48@nih.gov. Also each NIH Institute has an AREA contact person, whose information is listed in the Program Guidelines, which are available on the AREA home page (grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm).

Headquarters Office:  Office of Extramural Programs, Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892. Phone: (301) 435-2689.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.390 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Awards are made in a single, lump sum and are expendable for up to 3 years.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  To support small-scale research projects, including feasibility or pilot studies, in health-related topics. The majority of the research must be conducted at the grantee institution.

93.390 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Annual progress reports are required. In addition, Progress, invention, and expenditure reports are required at the end of the project period.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records:  Expenditures and other financial records must be retained for 3 years from the day on which the grantee submits the last expenditure report for the grant period.