AHRQ Small Grant Program for Conference Support

AHRQ Small Grant Program for Conference Support is sponsored by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This program supports conferences that further AHRQ's mission to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare for all Americans. While not exclusively heart health, conferences focusing on cardiovascular care improvement would be relevant.

Expired PA-09-231: AHRQ Small Grant Program for Conference Support (R13) This notice has expired. Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices. Part I Overview Information of Health and Human Services Participating Organizations Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), ( http://www.

ahrq. gov ) of Participating Organizations Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), ( http://www. ahrq.

gov ) Title: AHRQ Small Grant Program for Conference The policies, guidelines terms and conditions stated in this announcement may differ from those used by the NIH. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is a re-issue of PA-06-074 which was previously released November 18, 2005. Update: The following updates relating to this announcement have been issued: November 8, 2012 - This PA has been reissued as PA-13-017.

August 16, 2010 - IMPORTANT NOTE! NIH has eliminated the error correction window for due dates of January 25, 2011 and beyond. As of January 25, all corrections must be complete by the due date for an application to be considered on-time.

See NOT-OD-10-123 . September 29, 2010 (NOT-OD-11-007) - NIH to Require Use of Updated Electronic Application Forms in 2011. Adobe B1 forms are required for due dates on or after May 8, 2011.

This FOA has been updated to reflect the new requirements from NIH’s Enhancing Peer Review Initiative. The new requirements are effective for submissions intended for due dates January 25, 2010 and beyond. If submitting an application intended for a due date of January 25, 2010 and beyond, follow the guidance below and be sure to use the Adobe-Forms-B version of the application forms and instructions.

If applying for a due date before January 25, 2010, follow the guidance in the archived version of this FOA and be sure to use the Adobe-Forms-A version of the application forms and instructions. NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants. gov ( http://www.

grants. gov ) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF424 (R&R) MAY NOT BE SUBMITTED IN PAPER FORMAT. must be read in conjunction with the application guidelines included with this announcement in Grants.

gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter called Grants. gov/Apply). registration process is necessary before submission and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four (4) weeks prior to the grant submission date.

See Section of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s) Release/Posted Date: August 21, 2009 Opening Date: September 20, 2009 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to Grants. gov) NOTE: On-time submission requires that applications be successfully submitted to Grants. gov no later than 5:00 p.

m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization).

Date(s): In 2009: October 20, December 21; In 2010: February 22, April 20, June 21, August 20, October 20, December, 20; In 2011: February 22, April 20, June 21, August 22, October 20, December 20; In 2012: February 21, April 20, June 20, August 20, and October 22 Peer Review Date(s): Generally two months after receipt date Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): Generally three months after peer review date Expiration Date: October 23, 2012 Additional Overview Content Purpose .

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), announces its continued interest in supporting conferences through its Small Grant Program for Conference Support. AHRQ seeks to support conferences that help to further its mission to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.

The types of conferences eligible for support include: 1) Research development - conferences where issues or challenges in the practice and delivery of health care are defined and a research agenda or strategy for studying them is developed; 2) Research design and methodology - conferences where methodological and technical issues of major importance in the field of health services research are addressed or new designs and methodologies are developed; 3) Dissemination and implementation conferences - where research findings and evidence-based information and tools are summarized, communicated and used by organizations and individuals that have the capability to use the information to improve the outcomes, quality, access to, and cost and utilization of health care services; and/or, 4) Research training, infrastructure and career development -conferences where faculty, trainees and students are brought together with stakeholders to develop, share or disseminate research products, experiences, curricula, syllabi, training especially interested in supporting conferences that demonstrate strategies that include plans for disseminating complimentary conference materials and products beyond the participants attending the event.

Such strategies might include, but are not limited to, submitting articles for publication, posting information on a Web site, and seeking formal opportunities to discuss conference information with others. Mechanism of Support.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will use the conference grant (R13) Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards: Because the nature and scope of the proposed conference will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary.

Although the financial plans of AHRQ provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications Budget and Project Period The total direct costs awarded under this Funding Opportunity Announcement for conferences must not exceed $50,000 for the entire project period of a maximum of one year.

Facilities and administrative (F&A) costs (indirect costs) are not allowed for small conference grants. Conference grant applications requesting more than $50,000 direct costs may not be submitted in response to this FOA and must be sent in accordance with the AHRQ Grant Program for Large Conference Support PA (PA 06-378) for large conference grants, published in the NIH Guide.

Applicants may request full or partial support for conferences. The objective review will consider the overall structure and design of the conference as well as the sub-component for which support is being requested. AHRQ encourages applicants to seek co-sponsorship of conferences.

As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project. Awards issued under this FOA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the Application Research Strategy Length: The Research Strategy component of this application may not exceed 10 pages , including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts. Eligible Organizations: Institutions/organizations III, 1. A.

are eligible to apply. Eligible Project Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs): Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research are invited to work with their institution/organization to develop an application for support.

Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for AHRQ Number of PDs/PIs: Only one PD/PI may be designated on the application. Number of Applications: Applicants may submit more than one application, provided each application is scientifically distinct.

Resubmissions: Applicants may submit one resubmission application, but such applications must include an Introduction addressing the previous peer review critique Renewals: Renewal applications are not permitted in Special Date(s): This FOA uses non-standard due Review and Anticipated Start Dates . Application Materials. See Section IV.

1 for application materials. General Information. For general information on SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission, see these Web sites: SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information: http://grants.

nih. gov/grants/funding/424/index. htm General information on Electronic Submission of Grant Applications: http://era.

nih. gov/ElectronicReceipt/ Hearing Impaired: Telecommunications for the hearing impaired are available at: TTY awards are made to institutions rather than individuals, this announcement and its instructions are written to inform individual researchers of this funding opportunity and facilitate the submission of grant applications by their II Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description III.

Eligibility Information 2. Cost Sharing or Matching 3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria IV.

Application and Submission Information 1. Request Application Information 2. Content and Form of Application Submission 3.

Submission Dates and Times A. Submission, Review, and Application Electronically to AHRQ 4. Intergovernmental Review 6.

Other Submission Requirements V. Application Review Information 2. Review and Selection Process 3.

Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates VI. Award Administration Information 2. Administrative and National Policy 1.

Scientific/Research Contact(s) 2. Peer Review Contact(s) 3. Financial/Grants Management Contact(s) VIII.

Other Information - Required Federal Citations Part II - Full Text of Announcement Section I. Funding Opportunity Description for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), announces its continued interest in supporting conferences through the AHRQ Small Grant Program for Conference Support.

A conference is a symposium, seminar, workshop, or any other organized and formal meeting, whether conducted face-to-face or via the Internet, where individuals assemble (or meet virtually) to exchange information and views or explore or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of knowledge, whether or not a published report results from such meeting.

A meeting that is conducted as part of the normal course of doing business is not considered a conference. AHRQ small conference grants are those with direct costs of $50,000 or less over the project period.

This Program is intended to complement and promote AHRQ's core research and implementation activities by providing a mechanism for Agency stakeholders and others to (1) develop health services research agendas and identify strategies and mechanisms for studying them, (2) discuss and develop consensus around health services research methodological and technical issues, (3) disseminate and implement health services research information and tools for formulating or evaluating health policy, managing health care programs, (4) improving quality and effectiveness of health care or purchasing health services, and (5) develop partnerships with stakeholder organizations and building their capacity to participate in research activities and using the results of health services Opportunity Announcement describes the procedures and criteria for the Program.

It updates and supersedes the "Small Grant Program for Conference published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on November 18, 2005. to support conferences that help to further its mission to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.

The types of conferences eligible for support include: development - conferences where issues or problems in the practice and delivery of health care defined and a research agenda or strategy for studying design and methodology - conferences where methodological and technical issues of major importance in the field of health services research are addressed or new designs and methodologies are developed; and implementation conferences - where research findings and evidence-based information and tools are summarized, communicated and used by organizations and individuals that have the capability to use the information to improve the outcomes, quality, access to, and cost and utilization of health care services; training, infrastructure and career development - conferences where faculty, trainees and students are brought together with stakeholders to develop, share or disseminate research products, experiences, curricula, especially interested in supporting conferences that demonstrate strategies which include plans for disseminating conference materials and products beyond the participants attending the event.

Such strategies might include, but are not limited to, submitting articles for publication, posting information on a Web site, implementation of conference findings and seeking formal opportunities to discuss conference information with others. VIII, Other Information - Required Federal Citations , for policies related to this announcement. Section II.

Award Information This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will use the AHRQ Small Grant Program for Conference Support (R13) award mechanism. As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed conference. using the Modular Grant Application and Award Process.

Applications submitted in modular format will not be reviewed. nature and scope of the proposed conferences will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary.

Although the financial plans of the AHRQ provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious direct costs awarded under this FOA will not exceed $50,000 for the entire project period of a maximum of one year. III. Eligibility Information 1.

A. Eligible Institutions submit an application(s) if your institution/organization has any of the following characteristics: Public or non-profit private institution, such as a university, college, or a faith-based or community-based organization; Units of local or State government; Eligible agencies of the Federal government.

Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized); Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organizations. authorizing legislation does not allow for-profit organizations to be eligible to lead applications under this research mechanism, thus for the purpose of this FOA, AHRQ will make grants only to non-profit organizations.

For-profit organizations may participate in projects as members of consortia or as subcontractors only. Because the purpose of this program is to improve healthcare in the United States, foreign institutions may participate in projects as members of consortia or as subcontractors only. Applications submitted by for-profit organizations or foreign institutions will be returned without review.

Organizations described in section 501(c) 4 of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying are not eligible. In the case of an international conference, the U.S. representative organization of an established international scientific or professional society is the eligible grantee. Grant funds may not be used to provide general support for international conferences held outside the United States or Canada.

However, grant funds may be awarded to support specific aspects of an international conference held outside the United States or Canada provided the applicant is the U.S. representative organization of an established international scientific individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed conference as the PD/PI is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for AHRQ support. does not require cost sharing for applications in response to this FOA. is no cost sharing requirement included in this FOA, AHRQ welcomes applicant institutions, including any collaborating institutions, to devote resources to this effort.

An indication of institutional support from the applicant and its collaborators indicates a greater potential of success and sustainability of the project. Examples of institutional support would include: donated equipment and space, institutional funded staff time and effort, or other resource investments.

Applicant institutions should indicate institutional support by outlining the specific contributions to the project and providing assurances that their organization and any collaborators are committed to providing these funds and resources to the Other-Special Eligibility Criteria Applications : Applicants may submit more than one application, provided each application is distinct and describes a stand alone conference.

However, AHRQ will not accept similar grant applications with essentially the same conference focus from the same applicant applicant seeks conference grant support for multiple years or has received funding from the AHRQ Small Grant Program for Conference Support for a specific conference for three consecutive years, the applicant must apply to the Grant Program for Large Conference Support.

conferences which have received AHRQ funding for three consecutive years through AHRQ’s Small Grant Program for Conference Support are ineligible to submit an application for the same conference through the Small Grant Program for Conference Support for a period of at least 1 year after the date of the most recently funded annual conference.

The applicant may submit an application for the recurring conference under the Grant Program for Large Resubmissions : Applicants may submit a resubmission application, but such applications must include an Introduction addressing issues raised in the previous critique (Summary Statement). Up to one resubmission application for the same meeting will be allowed. Renewals : Applicants may not submit a renewal application.

IV. Application and Submission Information a SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for completing the SF424 (R&R) forms for this FOA, use the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or link to http://www. grants.

gov/Apply/ and follow the directions provided on that Web site. registration is required for institutions/organizations at both: Grants. gov ( http://www.

grants. gov/applicants/get_registered. jsp ) eRA Commons ( http://era.

nih. gov/ElectronicReceipt/preparing. htm ) should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the NIH eRA Commons.

additional separate actions are required before an applicant can submit an electronic application, as follows: Organizational/Institutional Registration in Grants. gov/Get Registered http://www. grants.

gov/applicants/get_registered. jsp Your organization will need to obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) as part of the Grants. gov registration process.

If your organization does not have a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN), allow for extra time. A valid TIN or EIN is necessary for CCR registration. The CCR also validates the EIN against Internal Revenue Service records, a step that will take an additional one to two business days.

Direct questions regarding Grants. gov registration to: Business Hours: M-F 7:00 a. m.

- 9:00 p. m. Eastern Time 2) Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons To find out if an organization is already Commons-registered, see Organizations Registered in NIH eRA Commons.

Direct questions regarding the Commons registration to: Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free) Business hours M-F 7:00 a. m. 8:00 p.

m. Eastern Time Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the NIH eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) The individual(s) designated as PDs/PIs on the application must be registered also in the NIH eRA Commons. In the case of multiple PDs/PIs, all PDs/PIs must be registered and be assigned the PI role in the eRA Commons prior to the submission of the application.

Each PD/PI must hold a PD/PI account in the Commons. Applicants should not share a Commons account for both an Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) role and a PD/PI role; however, if they have both a PD/PI role and an Internet Assisted Review (IAR) role, both roles should exist under one Commons account. A PD/PI at the applicant organization must be affiliated with that organization.

A PD/PI located at another institution need not be affiliated with the applicant organization, but must be affiliated with his/her own organization to be able to access the Commons. This registration/affiliation must be done by the AOR/SO or his/her designee who is already registered in the Commons. and AOR/SO need separate accounts in the NIH eRA Commons since both are authorized to view the application image.

the steps of the registration process could take four weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their organization/institution is already registered in both Grants. gov and the Commons .

AHRQ/NIH will accept electronic applications only from organizations that have completed all 1. Request Application Information Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for this FOA through Grants. gov/Apply .

the forms package directly attached to a specific FOA can be used. You will not be able to use any other SF424 (R&R) forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from another FOA), although some of the "Attachment" files may be useable For further assistance, contact GrantsInfo -- Telephone 301-710-0267, Email: [email protected] .

Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY: (301) 451-5936 Content and Form of Application Submission applications using the SF424 (R&R) application forms for this FOA through Grants. gov/Apply and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide ( http://grants. nih.

gov/grants/funding/424/index. htm ). (R&R) Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to AHRQ.

Some fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components, although not marked as mandatory, are required by NIH ( e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PD/PI’s assigned eRA Commons User ID ). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide.

For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications . (R&R) application has several components. Some components are required, others are optional.

The forms package associated with this FOA in Grants. gov/APPLY includes all applicable components, required and optional. A completed application in response to this FOA includes the data in the following SF424 (R&R) (Cover component) Research & Related Project/Performance Research & Related Other Project Research & Related Senior/Key Person PHS398 Cover Page Supplement Research & Related Budget (See Section IV.

6 . , regarding appropriate required budget Research & Related Subaward Budget Involving a Single Institution single institution is involved, follow the instructions contained in the SF424 Involving Multiple Institutions multiple institutions are involved, one institution must be designated as the prime institution and funding for the other institution(s) must be requested via a subcontract to be administered by the prime institution.

When submitting a detailed budget, the prime institution should submit its budget using the Research & Related Budget component. All other institutions should have their individual budgets attached separately to the Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form. See Section 4.

8 of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for further instruction regarding the use of the Submission Dates and Times 3. A. Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates Opening Date: August 21, 2009 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to Grants.

gov) Application Due Date(s): In 2009: October 20, December 21; In 2010: February 22, April 20, June 21, August 20, October 20, December, 20; In 2011: February 22, April 20, August 22, October 20, December 20; In 2012: February 21, April 20, June 20, August 20, and October 22 Peer Review Date(s): Generally two months after receipt date Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): Generally three months after peer review date intent is not required for the funding opportunity.

Submitting an Application Electronically to the NIH/AHRQ To submit an application in response to this FOA, applicants should access this FOA via http://www. grants. gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.

jsp and follow Steps 1-4. Note: Applications must only be submitted electronically . PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

All attachments must be provided to AHRQ in PDF format, filenames must be included with no spaces or special characters, and a pdf extension must be used. may be submitted on or after the opening date and must be successfully received by Grants. gov no later than 5:00 p.

m. local time (of the applicant institution/organization) on the application due IV. 3.

A. for all dates.) If an application is not submitted by the due date(s) and time, the application may be delayed in the review process or not reviewed.

applications must meet the following criteria to be considered on-time : registrations must be complete prior to the submission deadline application must receive a Grants. gov tracking number and timestamp (or eRA help desk ticket confirming a system issue preventing submission) by 5:00 p. m.

local time on the submission deadline date. system identified errors/warnings must be corrected and the submission process completed within the error correction window. visit http://era.

nih. gov/electronicReceipt/app_help. htm for detailed information on what to do if Grants.

gov or eRA system issues threaten your ability to submit on time. Submission to Grants. gov is not the last step applicants must follow their application through to the eRA Commons to check for errors and warnings and view their assembled application!

Window to Correct eRA Identified Errors/Warnings IMPORTANT NOTE! NIH has eliminated the error correction window for due dates of January 25, 2011 and beyond. As of January 25, all corrections must be complete by the due date for an application to be considered on-time.

See Once an application package has been successfully submitted through Grants. gov, NIH provides applicants a two day error correction window to correct any eRA identified errors or warnings before a final assembled application is created in the eRA Commons. The standard error correction window is two (2) business days, beginning the day after the submission deadline and excluding weekends and standard federal holidays.

All errors must be corrected to successfully complete the submission process. Warnings will not prevent the application from completing the submission process. Please note that the following application submission must be on-time.

AOR/institutions is expected to enforce that application changes made within the error correction window are restricted to those necessary to address system-identified errors/warnings. NIH may reject any application that includes additional changes. Proof of on-time submission (e.g., Grants.

gov timestamp and tracking number) and description of all changes made within the window must be documented in the PHS 398 Cover Letter component of the application.

an Application in the eRA Commons Once any eRA identified errors have been addressed and the assembled application has been created in the eRA Commons, the PD/PI and the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) have two weekdays (Monday Friday, excluding Federal holidays) to view the assembled application before it automatically moves forward to NIH for further processing.

acceptable, no further action is necessary. The application will automatically move forward to the Division of Receipt and Referral in the Center for Scientific Review for processing after two weekdays, excluding Federal holidays. deadline, the AOR/SO can Reject the assembled application and submit a changed/corrected application within the two-day viewing window.

This option should be used if it is determined that some part of the application was lost or did not transfer correctly during the submission process, the AOR/SO will have the option to Reject the application and submit a Changed/Corrected application. In these cases, please contact the eRA Help Desk to ensure that the issues are addressed and corrected.

Once rejected, applicants should follow the instructions for correcting errors in Section 2. 12 of the SF 424 (R&R) application guide, including the requirement for cover letters on late applications. The Reject feature should also be used if you determine that warnings are applicable to your application and need to be addressed now.

Remember, warnings do not stop further application processing. If an application submission results in warnings (but no errors), it will automatically move forward after two weekdays if no action is taken. Some warni ngs may need to be addressed later in the process.

the two-day window falls after the submission deadline, the AOR/SO will have the option to Reject the application if, due to an eRA Commons or Grants. gov system issue, the application does not correctly reflect the submitted application package (e.g., some part of the application was lost or didn t transfer correctly during the submission process).

The AOR/SO should first contact the eRA Commons Helpdesk to confirm the system error, document the issue, and determine the best course of action. NIH will not penalize the applicant for an eRA Commons or Grants. gov system issue.

the AOR/SO chooses to Reject the image after the submission deadline for a reason other than an eRA Commons or Grants. gov system failure, a changed/corrected application still can be submitted, but it will be subject to guidelines and may not be accepted. The reason for this delay should be explained in the cover letter attachment.

the AOR/SO and PD/PI will receive e-mail notifications when the application is rejected or the application automatically moves forward in the process after Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH, and AHRQ . Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. will be an acknowledgement of receipt of applications from Grants.

gov and the Commons . The submitting AOR/SO receives the Grants. gov acknowledgments.

The AOR/SO and the PI receive Commons acknowledgments. Information related to the assignment of an application to a Scientific Review Group is also in the Commons. unreliable, it is the responsibility of the applicant to check periodically on their application status in the Commons.

any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial merit review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. AHRQ will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. However, AHRQ will accept a resubmission application, but such application must include an Introduction addressing the critique from the previous review.

Review Board (IRB) approval of human subjects is not required prior to peer review of an application (see http://grants. nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-00-003.

html ). However, initiation of IRB review, if necessary or applicable, is strongly encouraged to assure timely commencement of research.

there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding assignment within This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental efficient grant administration, AHRQ grant administration procedures will be used and conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement.

The Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://www. ahrq. gov/fund/hhspolicy.

htm costs are allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without AHRQ prior approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new award if such costs are necessary to conduct the project and would be allowable under the grant, if awarded, without AHRQ prior approval.

If specific expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain AHRQ approval before incurring the cost.

AHRQ prior approval is required for any costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial budget The incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing award imposes no obligation on AHRQ either to make the award or to increase the amount of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred.

AHRQ expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing against future support and that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's ability to accomplish the conference objectives in the approved time frame or in any way adversely affect the conduct of the 6.

Other Submission Requirements Allowable Costs : Salary (in proportion to the time or effort spent directly on the conference/meeting); rental of necessary equipment; travel and per diem or subsistence allowances; supplies needed for conduct of the meeting (only if received for use during the budget period); conference services; publication Transportation costs exceeding U.S. carrier coach class fares; Entertainment; tips; bar charges Personal telephone calls; laundry charges; dues Honoraria or other payments for the purpose of conferring distinction or communicating respect, esteem or admiration Alterations or renovations Facilities and administrative costs/indirect costs are not all inclusive, and the applicant should contact AHRQ staff