Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Administrative Resource (U24) | RFA AA 17 008

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AA 17 008

The Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Administrative Resource (U24) funding opportunity (RFA-AA-17-008) is a National Institutes of Health grant run through the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Its purpose is to continue support for CIFASD, an established multidisciplinary consortium that brings together domestic and international research teams focused on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The overall CIFASD program is built around three connected goals: preventing FASD, improving diagnosis across the full range of problems linked to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and developing or testing interventions that can reduce impairments or improve functioning for people affected by PAE. A major emphasis is speeding up translation, meaning moving key findings more efficiently from basic and clinical research into practical approaches that can inform screening, diagnosis, prevention strategies, and treatment supports.

This particular announcement is not asking for individual research projects in isolation. Instead, it is seeking applications for the Administrative Resource component of the CIFASD consortium under a cooperative agreement mechanism (U24). In practical terms, the U24 is meant to provide the centralized infrastructure that helps a complex, multi-site consortium function as a coordinated whole. The administrative resource would be expected to support consortium operations that foster collaboration and integration across clinical, basic, and translational research efforts, helping investigators align protocols and priorities, share information and resources, and keep the consortium moving toward common deliverables. Because it is a cooperative agreement, NIH staff are expected to have substantial involvement compared with a standard grant, reflecting an ongoing partnership in guiding and coordinating the consortium’s activities.

The activity category is health, and the relevant CFDA number is 93.273. The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, such as state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is handled in a specific way. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply directly, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which means the consortium can still incorporate international collaboration through allowable foreign components even though the prime applicant organization must be eligible and domestic.

Key administrative details included in the source information are that the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument. The original closing date listed is November 29, 2016, and the posting creation date is August 29, 2016. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as support for the organizational backbone of CIFASD, with the aim of strengthening coordination and collaboration so that research on prevention, diagnosis, and intervention for FASD advances more quickly and translates more effectively into real-world impact.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Administrative Resource (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-11-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA AA 17 008

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