Tips For Writing NADPRP Proposals - USDA

Tips forWritingNADPRPProposalsNATIONAL ANIMAL DISEASE PREPAREDNESS &RESPONSE PROGRAM (NADPRP)Julie Wallin, VS Program CoordinatorMelinda Springer, Management AnalystJuly 30, 2020

Today’s AgendaI. General Informationabout the 2020 NADPRPFunding OpportunityII. The Work Plan TemplateA. Executive SummaryB. Project Goals, Objectives,Need for AssistanceC. ApproachD. Budget JustificationE. Performance andOutcomesF. SupplementalInformationG. Additional Information2

Funding Opportunity BasicsAbout the NADPRP 2020 Funding Opportunity APHIS will make up to 10 million available forNADPRP projects in 2020. Proposals must directly support one or more of the2020 funding priorities. Applicants may submit more than one proposal. Applicants who submit more than one proposalmust submit each proposal as a separateapplication package that includes a separate workplan. Cooperative or interagency agreements. Most awards 25,000 - 500,000. Projects expected to start in January – March 2021 & becompleted in 24 months or less.3

2020 theFundingPrioritiesAboutNADPRP2020 Funding Opportunity1. Livestock depopulation and carcass disposalduring a high consequence animal diseaseoutbreak responseAPHIS will support projects that will improve capabilities andcapacities for rapid and large-scale animal depopulation and/orcarcass disposal during a high consequence animal diseaseoutbreak response.2. Livestock BiosecurityAPHIS will support projects that will enhance U.S. livestockbiosecurity.4

Application must include theNADPRP2020 Funding Opportunity: How toToday’sApplyFocus!following: Work Plan Financial Plan SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance (completed directly inezFedGrants) SF-424A – Budget Information (completed directly in ezFedGrants) Certification Regarding Lobbying - For awards greater than 100K SF-LLL – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities - awards 100K, ifactivities to disclose Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement - If claiming indirectcosts Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Correspondence – If applicableAll forms can be found on theNADPRP website5

The Proposal Work Plan The Work Plan is the body of yourproposal. It’s what reviewers will use toscore your proposal. All information requested in the templateis required for all NADPRP proposal workplans, even if the template is not used. The project proposal work plan mustaddress at least one of the fundingpriorities described in the 2020 NADPRPFunding Opportunity Announcement. Provide detailed information.6

Work Plan Template:General Information

What is the project title? What organization issubmitting the proposal? Which priority(ies) will theproject address? How much funding isrequested? When will the project begin andend? Who is the principleinvestigator, co-investigator(s),and financial point of contact?Basic Required Information8

General InformationProject Title:A sentence that tells which priority area is being addressed with this proposaland indicates what the project will accomplishEXAMPLE:Avoid these project titles:“Biosecurity”, “Livestock Depopulation”, “Animal Disease Preparedness inSTATE AA”9

for Writing NADPRP ProposalsGeneral InformationSelect one of these 2020 NADPRP priorities thatthis proposal moststrongly supports: Advance capabilities and capacities related to rapid largescale animal depopulation and carcass disposal in ahigh-consequence animal disease outbreak Enhance U.S. livestock biosecurity10

General InformationTotal Funding Amount Requested: 00,000 (what will it take to carry out thisproject?)Period of Performance: The date the project will begin and endMMM DD, YYYY (from) – MMM DD, YYYY (to)Recommendation: Select a start date between January and March of 2021.EXAMPLE:11

General InformationSubmitting Organization and Contacts:Principle Investigator/Primary Point of ContactFinancial Point of ContactCo-InvestigatorEXAMPLES:12

Work Plan Template:Executive Summary

What is it?An executive summary is abrief overview of the proposal.Include: An overview of the project. The problem that the projectsolves. What will be delivered/accomplished. The target audience that willbenefit/use the results.14

Your Executive Summary Will be frequently referenced during the review /approval process. Make sure it represents yourproject well! May be used for media purposes, program reports,and project snap shots for upper echelons ofgovernment. Limit to 350 words!15

Work Plan Template:Project Goals,Objectives, andNeed for Assistance

Project Goals, Objectives,and Need for AssistanceThese are the building blocks for theproposal and answers the questionsNeed forAssistance Why do the project? What are the expected results or benefits? What approach will be taken for conductingactivities?ProjectGoalsObjectives17

ObjectivesThese are the building block cornerstone for theproject achievementsMake them SMART18

SMART ObjectivesSpecific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-boundTo make a SMART objective, create a sentence using the following format:Time Action Verb Activity PurposeAttainable?Example: After reading this slide, I will be able to create SMARTobjectives to submit with my Farm Bill proposal.Time: At the completion of this project, we will be able to Action Verb: Select a verb that suggests knowledge, comprehension,application, analysis, synthesis, or evaluation.Activity: Where will the skill be gained?HINT: Depopulation, Carcass Disposal, BiosecurityPurpose: Why this activity?What problem will it solve or gap will it address?19

Examples of Smart Objectives1. Develop an online module on New World screwworm to increasecapabilities of foreign animal disease diagnosticians across the UnitedStates in conducting disease outbreak investigations.2. Deliver an after‐action report to industry identifying prioritizedrecommendations for effective vaccine use decision making andimplementation logistics during a high‐consequence animal diseaseoutbreak.3. Perform informational outreach to animal stakeholders in FL about FMDthrough meetings, email messages, website information, brochures, andinformation sheets to enhance stakeholder understanding about thedisease.20

Critical Need or Problem Solution What problem will this project solve? How does this align with the priority area?21

Background and Significance Why do this project, how is it valuable? Describe any existing data that supports the need for this project. Include documents that justify the need for this project.22

State(s) where the Project will be Conducted? Where will the project be carried out? Use 2 digit State code(s)23

Target Audience? Who will directly benefit from this project outcome? Examples:Livestock ProducersVeterinariansState Emergency Management Personnel24

Expected Impact and Value? What will the target audience andother stakeholders gain related toimpact and value? Reviewers will use this information tocritique proposals for rating. Don’tmake reviewers draw their ownconclusions; tell them who will beimpacted and what value this projectwill have on the target audience.25

Work Plan Template:Approach

ApproachWhat is the plan of attack? Milestones and Timelines Methods Additional Contributors Need for APHIS Assistance Potential Problems and AnticipatedSolutions Best Practices, Innovations, orUnusual Features27

Milestones andTimeline For each objective, describe the majorproject milestones or achievementsthat will lead to completing the overallobjective. Include start and end dates. Makesure the schedule is reasonable.28

Methods Describe the methods that you will use toachieve each milestone for each objective. Include any applicable protocols, guidelines,or standards that will be met.Objectives&MilestonesMethods29

AdditionalContributorsWho are the Project Players? In addition to the principalinvestigator(s), who isneeded to carry out thisproject? What role will they play? Include partnerships – withindividuals or withorganizations – that theproject will leverage toassure success.30

VS will be a cooperator. Inaddition to overseeing theproject, what type of supportor assistance will be neededfrom APHIS VeterinaryServices to complete theproject? E.g., We need the APHISVeterinary Services AreaVeterinarian in Charge (AVIC)from our State to participatein our on-site exercise.Need for APHISAssistance31

Potential Problems/Anticipated SolutionsWhat issues might become a factorwhen carrying out this project andhow do you plan to address thoseissues when the arise?Best Practices,Innovation, orUnusual FeaturesWhat best practices does thisproject use?Is this a new method or idea?Is there a unique feature to theproject plan?32

Work Plan Template:Budget Justification

Budget Justification Narrative describing what funds areneeded to carry out the project. Be sure this section aligns with yourFinancial Plan. The Financial Plan template (Excelformat) is on the NADPRP website. Refer to Guidelines for Use of Funds foradditional information All costs must be reasonable andnecessary to complete the project.34

Budget JustificationSections: Personnel funded by project Equipment Supplies Travel Contracts/ Sub-Agreements Other Costs In-Kind Contributions35

Personnel Funded by Project What positions / people are needed toaccomplish each objective & milestone? What will they specifically do relative toeach objective & milestone? Justification.36

Equipment Type- what do you need? Purpose- how will it beused? Quantity- How many doyou need? Planned Disposal- whenproject is complete? Justification.37

Type- what do you need? Purpose- how will it be used?Supplies(Consumable) Quantity- How many do you need? Planned Disposal- when project is complete? (Forunused supplies totaling more than 5000) Justification.38

Travel Who is traveling- name and title? Purpose- why are they traveling? Number of trips? Means- How are they traveling? (air, car) Number of nights of lodging per trip? Justification.39

Contract and SubAgreementsOther CostsIn-KindContributions toProject Name of contractor/ contributor? Type of contractor/ contributor? Purpose for the contract/ agreement? Be Specific! Describe other costs listed in the Financial Plan andthe justification for including these costs in theproposal. Describe any in-kind contributions to the project.40

Work Plan Template:Performance &Outcomes

Performance &Outcomes For each objective and milestone,how will success be determined?Include quantitative and qualitativemeasures. Examples: number and type ofpeople who will be trained, numberof training events provided, numberof materials produced, number ofsurveys to be conducted and howresults will be interpreted / used.42

Work Plan Template:SupplementalInformation

Supplemental Information Relationship to Other Projects Qualifications and Relevant Experience44

Relationship to Other Projects Is there other work plannedthat relates to this project? Do you anticipate other relatedwork being performed? Do you have any other Federalgrants or awards related tothis project?45

QualificationsandRelevant Experience Describe the relevant experience of thePrincipal Investigator & Lead Technical Experts. This helps reviewers understand whether theapplicants have the skills and experience toconduct the project.46

Work Plan Template:AdditionalInformation

Naming Convention for DocumentsThis naming convention should be used for all submitted proposal Work PlansFORMATEXAMPLEFunding Year- NADPRP- Document Type - Dateof Submission2020 NADPRP Work Plan 05.28.2020MORE on FORMATDocument Type Proposal Work Plan use Work Plan48

Proposal Submission Deadline September 14, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET Submit through ezFedGrants Those submitted after the deadline will not beconsidered for funding49