Public Health Systems and Services Research:
Financing and Organization of the Public Health System

FAQs

Where do I go to submit my proposal?
http://grantmaking.rwjf.org/common/login.jsp?program=hfo3

What kinds of projects does the Public Health Systems and Services Research Special Topic Solicitation fund?
We fund innovative research and policy analysis, evaluation, and demonstration projects that will produce useful information for policymakers regarding public health systems and services research. We hope to stimulate projects that will improve the day-to-day performance of the public health system.

How will my proposal be evaluated?
Brief and Full Proposals will be evaluated for the:

• policy significance of the public health systems research issue being examined or demonstrated;
• the timeliness of the project for in formi ng policy or practice;
• the uniqueness of the project and its potential to significantly advance our understanding of the topic;
• the technical quality of the application, including the degree to which the applicant demonstrates a thorough understanding of the problem and has developed a research, demonstration, or evaluation design that addresses this problem;
• the strength of the proposed methodology, and the quality and availability of data to be used;
• the extent to which the applicant has clearly described the tasks that are to be undertaken and the milestones to be met in the completion of the proposed project;
• the reasonableness of the budget and the feasibility of achieving the project's objectives within schedule and on budget; and the
• applicant's experience and qualifications for conducting the proposed project and the time commitment of key project staff who have the skills and expertise to perform various operations and analytic tasks.

All proposals will be judged on the quality, clarity, and completeness of the written application.

What is the brief proposal narrative?
The brief proposal narrative is a four-page document that outlines the basic structure of the research project, including the project's principle objectives, the policy significance of the project, how it fits with ongoing/existing work in the area, and the basic methodology that would be used

What is an invited full proposal narrative?
The invited full proposal is a twenty page document that describes the research project in-depth, including the project's research questions, the policy significance of the project, how it fits with ongoing/existing work in the area, and a detailed description of the methodology that would be used. The full proposal application also requires Curriculum Vitas and a complete budget. AcademyHealth may invite a full proposal after a review of the brief proposal.

Is there a maximum budget amount or time frame for this solicitation?
There is no predetermined funding amount or grant duration. However, the proposals most likely to be successful will be for projects less than $200,000.

What is your deadline for applications?
All applicants are required to submit a brief proposal on or before May 21, 2008. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, it must be received on or before 12:00 pm ET on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.

Are staff available for consultation before I apply for funding?
AcademyHealth staff are available for general guidance. We are happy to talk to prospective applicants but cannot review written documents or officially recommend or reject an idea over the phone. We can, however, provide a sense of the questions reviewers will ask to assist you in deciding whether to prepare an application, and we can guide you to additional resources.

Do I have to submit my application online?
All applications must be made through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's online system. If you have any questions about how to apply online, please contact a member of the AcademyHealth PHSR staff by phone 202-292-6700 or via email: phsr@academyhealth.org

What date should I indicate as my grant start date?
All grants should begin by February 1, 2009.

How long does the application process take?
You will receive notification about the disposition of your brief proposal at the end of June. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, it must be submitted by 12:00 pm ET on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Final funding decisions will be made in December of 2008. All brief and full proposals will be reviewed simultaneously and competitively.

What are my chances of being funded?
This is a highly competitive process. In 2005, we received 28 full proposals and funded 4 projects. In 2006, we received 54 full proposals and funded 9 projects. In 2007, we received 68 brief proposals, invited 25 full proposals, and funded 6 projects. Click here to see the grants awarded.

How can I check the status of my proposal?
We try to keep you informed of the status as often as possible. You will receive an e-mail from the online grantmaking system confirming that you have submitted your proposal successfully. If you have a question about a specific proposal, send an e-mail to phsr@academyhealth.org or call (202) 292-6700. Please be sure to include the name of the institution and the principal investigator in your communication.

Will I receive specific comments on my proposal after a decision is made?
Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual critiques of brief proposals. In many cases, blinded reviews of full proposals are included with letters to the applicant.

Is there a specified indirect rate?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's indirect cost rate is 12 percent. This rate applies to all line items. However, if the Purchased Service category of a budget is more than 33 percent of direct costs, then the indirect cost rate allowed in that category is 4 percent. More detail can be found at rwjf.org/applications/faqlist.jsp#10.

What can grant funds be used for?
Grant funds may be used for project staff salaries, consultant fees, data processing, supplies, and other direct expenses, including a limited amount of equipment that is essential to the proposed project. In keeping with a longstanding policy of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, grant funds may not be used to subsidize individuals for the cost of health care, to support clinical trials of unapproved drugs or devices, to pay for patient care, for the construction or renovation of facilities, international programs, or as a substitute for funds currently being used to support similar activities.

View the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's budget guidelines.
To view the Foundation's specific budget guidelines, please visit rwjf.org/files/applications/Budget_Preparation_Guidelines_2006.doc.

What is required of grantees?
Project directors may be asked to attend periodic meetings and to give progress reports on their grants. At the close of each grant, project directors are expected to provide a written report on the project and its findings in a format and style and of a quality that would be suitable for publication in a refereed scholarly or policy journal. Grantees will be expected to meet the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's requirements for the submission of annual and final narrative progress and semi-annual financial reports. We require grantees to submit a one-page summary of the policy relevant findings. Additionally, AcademyHealth expects grantees to notify us of any forthcoming publications based on research conducted with grant funds.

Is preference given to any particular institutions?
Preference will be given to applicants that are public agencies or are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a).

Who will review my proposal?
All proposals will be reviewed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AcademyHealth. In addition, proposals may be peer reviewed by selected external reviewers who have extensive technical knowledge or expertise on the particular topic or methodology. There may be a limited number of applicants who, in the opinion of the technical reviewers and in consultation with AcademyHealth and the Foundation, meet the selection criteria but would benefit from assistance on the proposed project's methodology. Outside expertise on research design and methodological matters may be made available to these applicants.

Will you award grants to multiple institutions?
In some instances grants may be awarded to single institutions or agencies undertaking the development, implementation, and documentation components of a single project. In other cases, grants may support collaborative efforts among individuals housed at multiple institutions or agencies. When the latter is the case, grants will be made to a single institution that assumes overall responsibility for a collaborative effort through the use of subcontracting arrangements.