Who is providing the funding for this program?
The funding for this Public Health Services and Systems Research (PHSSR) program is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) is serving as the Administrative Service Organization (ASO) and is facilitating the call for proposals for this program.

Does this solicitation replace funding through AcademyHealth/HCFO for PHSSR?
Yes, this call for proposals in PHSSR is from the same funding stream and authorization as previous solicitations for PHSSR through AcademyHealth/HCFO.

Where do I go to submit my proposal?
http://grantmaking.rwjf.org/phs

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Applicant organizations must have 501(c)(3) or 509(a) status in order to be eligible to apply. Types of organizations include, but are not limited to, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and governmental public health agencies. Subcontracting is permissible as long as the primary applicant organization meets the eligibility requirements.

Are organizations that have been previously funded by RWJF eligible to apply?
Previous RWJF grantees are eligible to apply for this solicitation; however, proposed projects must be unique and wholly separate in scope from previously funded work.

Is preference given to any particular institutions?
Preference will be given to proposals submitted by multidisciplinary teams that include governmental public health agencies, nonprofit organizations and/or academic institutions. Practitioners, policymakers and researchers from law, public policy, economics, business administration, organizational behavior, finance, urban planning, public administration, and industrial and systems engineering are especially encouraged to apply to be principal investigators. First-time applicants to this solicitation are encouraged and will be given strong consideration.

What kinds of projects does the Public Health Services and Systems Research program fund?
This award will provide financial support to conduct research addressing the most critical issues facing the nation’s public health system. We will fund projects in the following priority areas:

Organizational Structure and Authority;
Public Health Finance;
Public Health Department Performance, Quality Improvement and Accreditation; and
Evidence-based Practice and Return on Investment.

Please see the Call for Proposals for more details.

Can or should proposals address more than one priority area?
While research questions or elements of a proposed project may address more than one priority area, applicants will be asked to select only one priority area when submitting their brief proposal.

Is there a geographic focus for the PHSSR Program?
The PHSSR program has a U.S. geographic focus. According to RWJF guidelines, applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories, and proposed projects must focus on the U.S. health system and its services. Proposed projects may be national or more local in scope; however, proposed projects at the local level should demonstrate that the research is relevant beyond that community.

Is there a preference as to whether primary or secondary data is utilized?
Depending on the focus of the project, primary data collection may be supported; however, proposals must demonstrate that collection and analysis can be completed within the given timeframe and budget. Both quantitative and qualitative data are permissible as long as qualitative data can be generalized.

What is meant by “first time applicants…are encouraged”?
RWJF encourages applications from researchers new to the field of PHSSR. Primary Investigators should have an established research background; however, they need not have a background in public health research.

What is meant by “multidisciplinary teams”?
Multidisciplinary teams refers to both the background/training of the investigators and the types of partner organizations involved in the project. As noted in the CFP, teams can include governmental public health agencies, nonprofit organizations and/or academic institutions. Practitioners, policy-makers and researchers from law, public policy, economics, business administration, organizational behavior, finance, urban planning, public administration and industrial and systems engineering are especially encouraged to apply to be principal investigators.

Can there be more than one primary investigator?
Yes. The brief proposal resume template allows applicants to include contact information and resumes for up to two primary investigators. If the co-primary investigators are from different institutions, the proposal will need to be submitted on behalf of one of the co-PI’s institutions.

What is the brief proposal narrative?
The brief proposal narrative is a six-page document that outlines the proposed research project, including the research questions to be addressed, methodology, the role of partnerships, a dissemination plan, the policy and practice significance of the project, and the impact on disparate populations. The brief proposal application also requires brief resumes for the principal investigator(s), which are uploaded as an additional document. Citations/references and resumes are not included in the six-page limit; however, references should be added as endnotes in the proposal narrative document.

What is the invited full proposal narrative?
The invited full proposal is an eighteen-page document that describes the research project in-depth, including the research questions to be addressed, methodology, the role of partnerships, a detailed dissemination plan, the policy and practice significance of the project, and the impact on disparate populations. The full proposal application also requires a complete budget, resumes of key staff, a timeline, and letters of support from partnering organizations outlining their role in the project.

Are letters of support required?
Letters of support are not required in the brief proposal stage. If invited to submit a full proposal, applicants will be required to submit a one-page letter of support for each collaborating agency.

Is there a maximum budget amount or time frame for this solicitation?
Grantees will receive up to $200,000 each in financial support to be used over a 24-month period. The project start date is May 1, 2010. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to complete the project as planned within two years; no-cost extensions are unlikely to be considered.

What is your deadline for applications and late submission policy?
Selected applicants will be notified November 17, 2009 if invited to submit a full proposal. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, it must be received on or before 3:00pm ET December 15, 2009. To be accepted for review, your proposal must be completed and submitted by the deadline. To be fair to all applicants, RWJF enforces a strict deadline policy.

Are staff available for consultation before I apply for funding?
ASO 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. We can, however, answer questions about the application process and 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 grantmaking online system: http://grantmaking.rwjf.org/phs If you have any questions about how to apply online, please contact a member of the NNPHI PHSSR staff by phone 504-301-9854 or via email: phssr@nnphi.org

How will I know that my proposal has been successfully submitted?
There are three ways to confirm your proposal has been successfully submitted: you will see a screen confirming your submission; you will receive an email message confirming your submission; and, on logging in to the Grantmaking Online system, you will see a red "submitted" message at the top of your Home page.

What date should I indicate as my grant start date?
All grants should begin on May 1, 2010. Projects should be completed before April 30, 2012.

How will my proposal be evaluated?
All proposals will be assessed by a committee composed of RWJF staff, ASO staff, and a team of multi-disciplinary expert reviewers. The following criteria will be used to assess proposals, with emphasis on the first six criteria at the brief proposal stage:

The degree to which the findings from the project will improve the performance of the health agency/system;
Extent to which the research draws its questions from practice, and the potential for results to inform decisions addressing the most critical issues relating to public health systems;
Uniqueness of the project and its potential to improve both the public health system and population health;
The appropriateness and feasibility of the methodology (including access to and use of relevant data);
Potential for research findings to impact minorities and disparate populations;
Project team experience and qualifications (including multi-disciplinary partnerships) for conducting the proposed project and the time commitment of the project team participants in relation to the proposed tasks;
Plans for translating and disseminating research findings to inform public health practice and policy;
Demonstrated track record in public health systems research, health services research, organizational behavior, financing, public health law, or economics.

How long does the application process take?
You will receive notification about the status of your brief proposal on November 17, 2009. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, it must be submitted by 3:00pm ET December 15, 2009. Finalists will be notified April 8, 2010.

What are my chances of being funded?
Up to 12 awards will be made through this solicitation.

How can I check the status of my proposal?
We will 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 phssr@nnphi.org or call 504-301-9854. 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 applications/proposals.

What can grant funds be used for?
Grant funds may be used for project staff salaries and benefits, consultant fees, data collection and analysis, meetings, supplies, project-related travel, and other direct project expenses, including a limited amount of equipment essential to the project. In keeping with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation policy, grant funds may not be used to subsidize individuals for the costs of their health care (excluding health insurance for project staff), to support clinical trials of unapproved drugs or devices, to construct or renovate facilities, for lobbying, or as a substitute for funds currently being used to support similar activities.

Are matching funds required for this grant?
Matching funds are not required; however, they are encouraged.

What are the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's budget guidelines? Does RWJF allow indirect costs?
To view the Foundation's specific budget guidelines, including guidance on indirect costs, please visit rwjf.org/files/applications/Budget_Preparation_Guidelines_2006.doc

What is required of grantees?
Principal investigators may be asked to participate in periodic meetings and give progress reports on their grants. Progress reports on interim results will be required on a biannual (semi-annual) basis. In addition, the grantee will develop two briefs - one during the first quarter of the project that will include a basic description of and rationale for the project and a summary of the gaps in PHSSR that it will address, and a policy brief, to be developed in the final quarter of the project, that will detail findings from the project, policy/practice implications and recommendations. At the close of each grant, the grantee is expected to provide a written report on the project and its findings suitable for wide dissemination. Grantees are expected to meet RWJF requirements for the submission of narrative and financial reports, as well as provide periodic information needed for overall project performance monitoring and management. Additional information about RWJF reporting requirements can be found at http://www.rwjf.org/grantees/grantreporting.jsp.

Will RWJF award grants to multiple institutions to work on the same research project?
Approximately $2.4 million will be awarded to up to 12 applicants through this solicitation. 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, the grant will be made to a single institution that assumes overall responsibility for the grant including overseeing the collaborative effort with multiple institutions through the use of subcontracting arrangements.

Can an institution or team submit more than one proposal for distinct research projects?
Yes, however, it is unlikely that RWJF will fund more than one proposal per institution. We advise that you pick the strongest proposal to submit.

Where can I find additional resources?
Additional Resources and Links:

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Public Health

PHSSR Subset of the National Library of Medicine’s Health Services and Sciences Research Resources

UK Center for Public Health Systems & Services Research

PHSSR Reference Library

Association of State & Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

National Association of City & County Health Officials (NACCHO)

Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)

AcademyHealth HCFO: previous RWJF research grants in PHSSR

National Network of Public Health Institutions

Fostering Innovations that Improve Health

PHSSR FAQs