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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Center for Environmental Research
Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program

CLOSED - FOR REFERENCES PURPOSES ONLY

1998 Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program Research Grants

Opening Date: September 26, 1997
Closing Dates: See Sorting Codes section for each grant topic.

INTRODUCTION

In this announcement the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), invites research grant applications in the following areas of special interest to its mission:

This invitation provides relevant background information, summarizes EPA's interest in the topic areas, and describes the application and review process.

Background

    In fiscal year 1995 EPA began an expansion of its investigator-initiated research grants program for academic and not-for-profit institutions (the Science to Achieve Results STAR Program). Subsequently, this program increased in fiscal years 1996 and 1997, and in fiscal year 1998 EPA anticipates reaching its programmatic goal of $100 million. As a part of that program, this Request for Applications (RFA) describes several of the programmatic areas which are a part of the EPA 1998 solicitation. Additional program topic areas and joint programs with the National Science Foundation and other agencies will be announced separately.

EPA Mission and R&D Strategy

    The mission of EPA is to protect both environmental quality and human health through effective regulations and other policy initiatives. Achievement of this mission requires the application of sound science to assessment of environmental problems and to evaluation of possible solutions. A significant challenge is to support both long-term research that anticipates future environmental problems as well as research that fills gaps in knowledge relevant to meeting current Agency goals. This Request for Applications and the multi-agency solicitations are important steps toward promoting a sound scientific foundation for environmental protection.

RESEARCH TOPICS OF INTEREST

1. Ecological Indicators

Background

    The quality of human existence depends on interacting biotic and abiotic resources within spatially and temporally dynamic ecosystems. Activities associated with expanding human populations alter these complex interactions and threaten ecosystem integrity and sustainability. Broadly interpreted, integrity refers to the degree to which an ecosystem demonstrates a balanced, resilient community of organisms with biological diversity, species composition, structural redundancy, and functional processes comparable to that of natural habitats in the same region. Sustainability simply refers to the ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological integrity over time.

Objectives and Priorities

    The overriding objective of this RFA is to stimulate the development and evaluation of measurements, indices, and models that serve as indicators for improved monitoring and assessment of ecological integrity and sustainability for EMAP and other monitoring efforts. Research is solicited that leads to the development of indicators that characterize and quantify the integrity and sustainabilty of ecosystems. Research priorities, beginning with the highest, are described below:
Proposal Evaluation and Selection
    Research on indicators that are not applicable to ecological integrity and sustainability is not solicited in this RFA. Although indicators that employ measurements at any level of biological organization (including subcellular) are acceptable, the indicators must be directed toward an ecological interpretation. Each application must clearly identify and establish the linkage between the environmental value at risk, the assessment endpoint, and the proposed indicator. Furthermore, each proposal must clearly demonstrate a functional relationship of the indicator with anthropogenic stressors and the resource at risk.


2. Drinking Water

The Safe Drinking Water Act mandates that EPA identify and regulate drinking water contaminants, which may have any adverse health effects, and which are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems. EPA regulations addressing requirements of the Act require disinfection of surface water and certain groundwater supplies. Scientific evidence suggests that exposure to chemical byproducts formed during the disinfection process may be associated with adverse health effects. Reducing the amount of disinfectant or altering the disinfection process may decrease byproduct formation; however, these practices may increase the potential for microbial contamination. EPA's current challenge is to balance the health risks caused by exposure to microbial pathogens with the health risks caused by exposure to disinfection byproducts. EPA is also required under the Safe Drinking Water Act to publish a list of contaminants, which may be subject to regulation. Research is needed on some of these emerging contaminants.

This section of the solicitation invites research grant applications in three areas of special interest: (E1) Microbial Pathogens, (E2) Disinfection Byproducts, and (E3) Emerging Contaminants from the Contaminant Candidate List.

E1. Microbial Pathogens

    The incidence of waterborne disease in the U.S. is highly uncertain. While information on the health effects caused by many known drinking water pathogens is generally available, limited information exists on the prevalence of disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water and the doses and conditions that produce effects. This solicitation focuses on the development of new analytical methods to detect pathogens in water, research on biofilms to improve our understanding of conditions in the distribution system that might favor pathogen survival/growth, and research on host susceptibility to assist with microbial risk assessment. Improved methods will make it feasible to develop data on waterborne occurrence of pathogens. Future research on dose-response or treatment studies for specific pathogens can be prioritized based on their prevalence in drinking water and associated risks.

    Research is needed in the following areas:

    At present little is known about the occurrence of certain emerging pathogens in the source waters of the United States. It is possible that some of these emerging pathogens may have been the cause of some of the waterborne disease outbreaks for which no etiologic agent has been identified. Analytical methods to detect these pathogens in source water are either not available or not very useful. Practical analytical methods are needed to assist in quantifying the occurrence and viability of these organisms in source water and to identify the cause of waterborne disease outbreaks in drinking water supplies. Factors to be considered in the usefulness of analytical methods research for these organisms include sensitivity and specificity of the method, the ability of the method to quantify the organism in environmental samples, cost of the method, time and skills needed for analysis, and accuracy and precision of the method. Listed in order of priority are the pathogens for which development and field testing of analytical methods is needed: (1) caliciviruses, (2) adenoviruses 40, 41, and 1-39, (3) microsporidia (septata and enterocytozoon), (4) hepatitis A virus (HAV), (5) Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAC), (6) Helicobacter pylori, (7) Legionella pneumophila, (8) Toxoplasma gondii.
E2. Disinfection Byproducts
    Public water systems disinfect drinking water with chlorine or alternate disinfectants. While chlorine reduces microbial risk, the use of chlorine creates new potential risks from disinfection byproducts formed during the water treatment process. Research is needed to improve methods for estimating human exposures (via the oral, inhalation, and dermal routes) to the byproducts of different disinfection treatments.

E3. Emerging Contaminants from the Contaminant Candidate List

    The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 require EPA to publish a list of contaminants which, at the time of publication, are not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR), that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and which may require regulations under the SDWA [section 1412(b)(1)]. The 1996 Amendments specify that EPA must publish the first list of contaminants ("Contaminant Candidate List," or CCL) not later than 18 months after the date of enactment, i.e., by February 1998, and every five years thereafter.

3. Air Pollution Chemistry and Physics

Widespread air pollutants, such as fine particulate matter and ozone continue to pose serious public health risks for susceptible members of the U.S. population and risks to sensitive ecosystems. The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires that EPA establish and periodically review and revise, as appropriate, criteria and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants such as particulate matter and ozone. The most recent review cycle led to the July 1997 revision of the NAAQS for both particulate matter and ozone. The Act also requires the preparation of State Implementation Plans which describe control strategies that State and local authorities will employ to bring nonattainment areas into compliance with NAAQS.

Tropospheric ozone research is being coordinated through the North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone (NARSTO), a public/private sector cooperative 10-year research effort to both improve the technical understanding of the tropospheric ozone issue and support future evaluations and adjustments to attainment strategies. The EPA/ORD contribution to the NARSTO program emphasizes the areas of atmospheric chemistry and modeling, ambient measurement methods, and emissions research.

A similar cooperative multi-year research effort for fine particulate matter is also emerging and will be closely aligned with NARSTO. Many of the research needs for tropospheric ozone and fine particulate matter are closely related. Exploration of the most important unknowns in tropospheric ozone chemistry emphasizes atmospheric oxidation reactions which also play an important role in aerosol (particle) formation. Modeling the transport and fate of both ozone and particulates relies on similar meteorological processes and the same computational frameworks. Precursor nitrogen oxide emissions and ambient nitrate concentrations are also important to both. Long range transport is being shown to make critical contributions to excessive concentrations of ozone and fine particulate matter, existing models are inadequate for describing this transport in many key areas.

The EPA seeks applications for research aimed at generating new knowledge in the areas of fine particulate matter and tropospheric ozone. When applicable, investigators are encouraged to use and evaluate existing bases in conducting their research.

Research is needed in the following areas:

Atmospheric Chemistry

    (1) Laboratory smog chamber studies of oxidant and aerosol production from irradiated hydrocarbon (HC)/NOx/SO2/NH3 mixtures, including the production of organic nitrates from HC/NOx mixtures.

    (2) Theoretical and laboratory investigations of the chemical by heterogeneous reactions involved in atmospheric ozone and fine particulate matter formation over the full range of meteorological conditions experienced in the ambient environment.

    (3) Theoretical and laboratory investigations of the partitioning of semi-volatile compounds between the gas and aerosol phases.

Modeling Research
    (1) Development and diagnostic evaluation of emissions-based models which focus on interactions of urban and point source plumes with the surrounding regional atmosphere in the formation, transport, and fate of ozone and/or fine particulates, using coding approaches compatible with EPA's Models-3 framework.

Ambient Measurement and Analysis Methods

    (1) Development and evaluation of a real-time instrument for determining the size-dependent chemical composition of atmospheric particulate matter, including its fine and coarse, biochemical, biogenic, volatile, insoluble, and aqueous fractions.

    (2) Developing new, more sensitive techniques for ambient measurement on short time scales of chemically-significant, stable and unstable trace gases and substances participating in the photochemistry of ozone and/or the formation of fine particulate aerosols.

    (3) Developing instrument methods and innovative data analysis techniques useful in meeting the PAMS objectives for cost-effectiveness and accurate monitoring.

Emissions

    (1) Developing algorithms for comparison of emission inventories and ambient observations (intended as a check on the accuracy of the inventory) and source apportionment techniques for important ozone precursors and/or fine particle contributors.

    (2) Developing methods and measurements for: condensible organic compounds from diesel engines; fugitive dust (including its size distribution by individual particle counting), and ammonia emissions from sources such as wastewater treatment and farm impoundment lagoons.

    (3) Development of new methods to improve transportation models used to estimate mobile source spatial and temporal activity patterns.

    (4) Developing new analytical techniques to measure polar and nonpolar, oxygenated biogenic volatile organic compound emissions from trees and other vegetation.


4. Urban Air Toxics

Toxic chemicals found in the air may pose serious public health risks. There is, however, considerable uncertainty surrounding the potential health effects, both cancer and non-cancer, associated with air toxics emissions from stationary sources (major point and area) and mobile sources. Mobile sources account for approximately one third of air toxics emissions, major sources account for another third, and area sources for the remainder. The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires a phased approach to control toxic air pollutant emissions from both point and area sources. A technology-based control program is mandated which uses Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) for major point sources emitting one or more of 189 listed hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). A comprehensive national strategy to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants from area sources in urban areas is also mandated. The strategy must control 90% or more of the emissions of the 30 most hazardous toxic pollutants in urban areas.

With much of the MACT program underway, research emphasis has turned to urban air toxics, including area sources and mobile sources. The CAA Amendments of 1990 require EPA to develop an "Area Source Program" that includes both a national strategy and a research program. The mandated research program is intended to provide the scientific basis for development of a comprehensive national strategy to control emissions of HAPs from area sources. The research program is to include "ambient monitoring," "analysis to characterize the sources...and the contribution that such sources make to public health risks," and "consideration of atmospheric transformation and other factors which can elevate public health risks."

The human health effects to be considered under the research program include carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive dysfunction, and other acute and chronic effects of urban air pollutants. The CAA requires the national strategy to "identify not less than 30" HAPs that "present the greatest threat to public health in the largest number of urban areas." The strategy is to be fully implemented by the year 2000 and must provide guidelines for controlling the area source emissions of the 30 or more identified HAPs, while simultaneously ensuring a reduction of at least 75% in the "incidence of cancer attributable to exposure to hazardous air pollutants." Title II of the CAA requires standards for air toxics emitted from mobile sources by 2000. Additional research is needed to determine the health effects, exposures, risks, and controls associated with mobile source pollution.

A discussion of research needs for this area of interest is included in the EPA report "Urban Area Source Research Program: A Status Report on Preliminary Research" (EPA 600-R-95/0 27). EPA invites applications addressing the critical research questions highlighted below:

    (1) What direct observational evidence (i.e., epidemiologic data) is there to link health effects with ambient levels of exposure to HAPs? Such research should focus on HAPs for which little information now exists and should use a multi-disciplinary approach to address both exposure and the resultant human health effects. Opportunities to leverage observational data from community-based studies already in place should be exploited.

    (2) What approaches could be used to identify the most toxic HAPs and HAPs mixtures in the urban air? What is the impact of mixtures of urban air pollutants on public health? Urban air pollution is a "soup" of chemicals; the chemicals come from many sources, are modified by atmospheric transformation, and may exhibit a variety of health effects. The risks posed by individual and mixtures of such toxic pollutants need to be characterized.

    (3) Are there subpopulations that may be at increased risk from HAPs, due to higher exposures, or exposure to complex mixtures of pollutants? What is the distribution of human exposures to the various HAPs, both for susceptible subpopulations and the general public? By what route, and how effectively, do the HAPs reach humans?

    (4) What are the most significant sources of toxic pollutants of concern in urban areas? How can the most critical sources be identified and their contribution to exposures and risk be quantified?

    (5) How can monitoring and modeling (including emissions modeling, dispersion modeling, source apportionment modeling, and human exposure modeling) best be linked to estimate exposure and risk? How can the distribution of human exposures best be estimated for populations living and working near identified point sources? What is the relationship of ambient monitoring to personal exposure? What atmospheric transformations occur that alter the toxicity of HAPs?

    (6) How can current dose-response assessment methods (e.g., single point NOAEL, Benchmark, categorical regression, Bayesian) be improved or supplemented to further reduce the use of defaults and reduce uncertainty in both cancer and noncancer (chronic and acute exposures) health effects assessments?

    Funding: About $2 million will be awarded in FY 98 in this program, subject to the availability of funds. Proposals in the $50,000 to $200,000/year range are encouraged. Duration of awards may be up to three years.

5. Health Effects and Exposures to Particulate Matter and Associated Air Pollutants

Air pollution in the United States is regulated under the authority of the Clean Air Act to protect public health and welfare. Recently, EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee reviewed and reached consensus that there is increasing scientific confidence, based on numerous epidemiological studies, that particulate matter (PM) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and these effects occur at exposure levels below the standards. In July 1997, EPA published new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM to provide increased protection against a wide range of PM-related health effects.

Many epidemiological studies have demonstrated statistically significant increases in mortality and morbidity associated with short term increases in PM levels in urban areas. Few studies are available regarding links between long-term exposure to PM and life shortening and other long-term health effects. Studies are needed to assess the health effects associated with long-term exposures to PM, as well as linkages between health effects and personal exposures to physical-chemical subclasses of PM.

Animal toxicology studies have reproduced at higher concentrations the effects reported in humans: mortality, asthma-like effects, and increased infection-related morbidity. While several hypotheses regarding possible mechanisms underlying recently reported PM effects have been proposed, little research has been conducted to evaluate these hypotheses and to explore issues of dose-response and exposure scenarios. The lack of understanding about biological mechanisms that could explain (a) the observed effects; (b) the reported independence of effects from particle composition; and (c) the lack of an obvious threshold for effects (i.e., the effects observed at very low exposures) underscores the critical need for research on mechanisms of PM toxicity.

In addition, there are important scientific uncertainties regarding PM exposures. Uncertainties regarding exposure assessment (e.g., particle concentration, size, chemical speciation, spatial and temporal variability, and copollutants) for important subpopulations (e.g., children, the elderly, individuals with pre-existing disease) are critically important since they affect interpretation of the epidemiological studies on which PM risk estimates are based. Understanding regional and temporal variability in particle characteristics (e.g., Western versus Eastern U.S.) and toxicity (e.g., coarse natural fugitive dust particles versus fine combustion derived particles) may also lead to more effective risk management.

Research is needed in the following areas:

Chronic Epidemiology

    Epidemiologic studies are needed that investigate associations between long term exposure to PM (and other air pollutants) and adverse health effects, including time of life lost, chronic illness, and conditions that increase susceptibility to air pollutants. Of special interest are studies that will produce more information from existing cohorts, make use of populations or cohorts that are being (or have been) studied for factors other than air pollution, advance our understanding of the relative public health burdens of long-term and short-term exposure to ambient PM (and other air pollutants), or investigate lifestyle or exposure factors that differ among communities and which might influence health outcomes.

Mechanisms of PM Toxicity

    Research is needed in normal and sensitive subpopulations to better understand causal mechanisms by which PM, alone and/or in combination with other air pollutants, may cause health effects at current ambient levels. Research is also needed to examine chronic effects of PM exposure and the relationship between acute and chronic biological responses. Studies using intermediate biological endpoints (i.e., which might relate to morbidity) hypothesized to be important to a causal mechanism(s) are needed to simultaneously test mechanism hypotheses and be indicative of dose-response relationships for PM toxicity. Priority will be placed on research investigating associations between PM composition components (e.g., organic constituents, acidity, nitrates) and PM size components (e.g., ultrafine, fine or accumulation mode, and coarse particles including bioaerosols) and response pathways and potency, and on studies exploring the existence and nature of responses at environmentally-relevant doses of PM.

Exposure Error
    Studies are also solicited that will provide information on the magnitude and variability of the errors in the assessment of exposure due to the following: (a) measurement error in the mass of fine mode and coarse mode particles as determined through measurement of particle size distribution including the effect of intentional dehumidification; (b) errors in total mass and mass of ammonium nitrate and semi-volatile organic compounds due to loss of such semi-volatile species during sampling and equilibration of filter samples; (c) exposure error introduced by failing to account for spatial variation across a community(i.e., the use of a concentration measurement at one point in a city to represent the community average); and (d) the use of such a community average (based on one or several monitors) to represent the average personal exposure to ambient pollution of individuals in the community. This will require differentiation of (1) outdoor concentration, (2) concentrations of outdoor pollutants that have infiltrated indoors, and (3) concentrations of indoor-generated pollutants.

Eligibility

Academic and not-for-profit institutions located in the U.S., and state or local governments are eligible under all existing authorizations. Profit making firms and other federal agencies are not eligible to receive assistance from EPA under this program.

Federal employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. However, federal agencies, national laboratories funded by federal agencies (FFRDCs), and federal employees are not eligible to submit applications to this program and may not serve in a principal leadership role on a grant. Under exceptional circumstances the principal investigator's institution may subcontract to a federal agency or FFRDC to purchase unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector. Examples are purchase of satellite data, census data tapes, chemical reference standards, unique analyses or instrumentation not available elsewhere, etc. A written justification for such federal involvement must be included in the application, along with an assurance from the federal agency which commits it to supply the specified service.

Potential applicants who are uncertain of their eligibility should contact Dr. Robert E. Menzer in NCER, phone (202) 564-6849, Email: menzer.robert@epamail.epa.gov

Standard Instructions for Submitting an Application

    This section contains a set of special instructions related to how applicants should apply for an NCER grant under the appropriate solicitation. Proposed projects must be for research designed to advance the state of knowledge in the research areas described in this solicitation.
Sorting Codes
In order to facilitate proper assignment and review of applications, each applicant is asked to identify the topic area in which their application is to be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to correctly identify the proper sorting code. Failure to do so will result in an inappropriate peer review assignment. At various places within the application, applicants will be asked to identify this topic area by using the appropriate Sorting Code. The Sorting Codes correspond to the topic areas within the solicitation. The Sorting Codes and application deadlines for this solicitation are shown below:

Topic Area Sorting Code Due Date
Ecological Indicators 98-NCERQA-D1 February 26, 1998
Drinking Water Microbial Pathogens 98-NCERQA-E1 February 26, 1998
Disinfection Byproducts 98-NCERQA-E2 February 26, 1998
Emerging Contaminants from the Contaminant Candidate list 98-NCERQA-E3 February 26, 1998
Air Pollution Chemistry and Physics 98-NCERQA-F1 January 29, 1998
Urban Air Toxics 98-NCERQA-G1 February 12, 1998
Health Effects of Particulate Matter and Associated Air Pollutants 98-NCERQA-K1 January 29, 1998

The Sorting Code must be placed at the top of the abstract (as shown in the abstract format), in Box 10 of Standard Form 424 (as described in the section on SF424), and should also be included in the address on the package that is sent to EPA (see the section on how to apply).

The Application

The initial application is made through the submission of the materials described below. It is essential that the application contain all the information requested and be submitted in the formats described. If it is not, the application may be rejected on administrative grounds. If an application is considered for award, (i.e., after external peer review and internal review) additional forms and other information will be requested by the Project Officer. The application should not be bound or stapled in any way. The Application contains the following:

    A. Standard Form 424: The applicant must complete Standard Form 424 (see attached form and instructions). This form will act as a cover sheet for the application and should be its first page. Instructions for completion of the SF424 are included with the form. The form must contain the original signature of an authorized representative of the applying institution. Please note that both the Principal Investigator and an administrative contact should be identified in Section 5 of the SF424.

    B. Key Contacts: The applicant must complete the Key Contacts Form (attached) as the second page of the submitted application.

    C. Abstract: The abstract is a very important document. Prior to attending the peer review panel meetings, some of the panelists may read only the abstract. Therefore, it is critical that the abstract accurately describe the research being proposed and convey all the essential elements of the research. Also, in the event of an award, the abstracts will form the basis for an Annual Report of awards made under this program. The abstract must not exceed one 8.5 x 11 inch page of single-spaced standard 12-point type with 1 inch margins. The abstract should include the following information, as indicated in the example format provided:

      1. Sorting Code: Use the correct code that corresponds to the appropriate RFA topic. (Be sure to substitute the appropriate code for the "XX" in 98-NCERQA-XX).

      2. Title: Use the exact title as it appears in the rest of the application.

      3. Investigators: List the names and affiliations of each investigator who will significantly contribute to the project. Start with the Principal Investigator.

      4. Project Summary: This should summarize: (a) the objectives of the study (including any hypotheses that will be tested), (b) the experimental approach to be used (which should give an accurate description of the project as described in the proposal), (c) the expected results of the project and how it addresses the research needs identified in the solicitation, and (d) a brief description of the improvement in risk assessment or risk management that will result from successful completion of the work proposed.

      5. Supplemental Keywords: A list of suggested keywords is provided for your use. Do not duplicate terms already used in the text of the abstract.

    D. Project Description: This description must not exceed fifteen (15) consecutively numbered (center bottom), 8.5x11-inch pages of single-spaced standard 12-point type with 1-inch margins. The description must provide the following information:

      1. Objectives: List the objectives of the proposed research and the hypotheses being tested during the project and briefly state why the intended research is important. This section can also include any background or introductory information that would help explain the objectives of the study (one to two pages recommended).

      2. Approach: Outline the methods, approaches, and techniques that you intend to employ in meeting the objective stated above (five to 10 pages recommended).

      3. Expected Results or Benefits: Describe the results you expect to achieve during the project, the benefits of success as they relate to the topic under which the proposal was submitted, and the potential recipients of these benefits. This section should also discuss the utility of the research project proposed for addressing the environmental problems described in the solicitation (one to two pages recommended).

      4. General Project Information: Discuss other information relevant to the potential success of the project. This should include facilities, personnel, project schedules, proposed management, interactions with other institutions, etc. (one to two pages recommended).

      5. Important Attachments: Appendices and/or other information may be included but must remain within the 15 page limit. References cited are in addition to the 15 pages.


    E. Resumes: The resumes of all principal investigators and important co-workers should be presented. Resumes must not exceed two consecutively numbered (bottom center), 8.5x11-inch pages of single-spaced standard 12-point type with 1-inch margins for each individual.

    F. Current and Pending Support: The applicant must identify any current and pending financial resources that are intended to support research related to that included in the proposal or which would consume the time of principal investigators. This should be done by completing the appropriate form (see attachment) for each investigator and other senior personnel involved in the proposal. Failure to provide this information may delay consideration of your proposal.

    G. Budget: The applicant must present a detailed, itemized budget for the entire project. This budget must be in the format provided in the example (see attachment) and not exceed two consecutively numbered (bottom center), 8.5x11-inch pages with 1-inch margins. Please note that institutional cost sharing is not required and, therefore, does not have to be included in the budget table. If desired, a brief statement concerning cost sharing can be added to the budget justification.

    H. Budget Justification: This section should describe the basis for calculating the personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and other costs identified in the itemized budget and explain the basis for their calculation (special attention should be given to explaining the travel, equipment, and other categories). This should also include an explanation of how the indirect costs were calculated. This justification should not exceed two consecutively numbered (bottom center), 8.5x11-inch pages of single-spaced standard 12-point type with 1-inch margins.

This is the end of the file. You need the required forms to complete an application for this grant. The grant forms are available in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) and can be downloaded and then read on screen and printed only if you have Adobe Acrobat Reader 2.1 or higher. The Forms can also be obtain via our Hotline automated FAX server (1-800-490-9194).

I need Adobe Acrobat Reader first...please click here to the Adobe download site.

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