Technology Improvement Award
Call for Applications (CFAs)
The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region (NN/LM GMR), under contract with the National Library of Medicine (NLM)
, announces the availability of Technology Improvement Awards for the purchase, installation, and/or upgrading
of information technologies that enhance access to health information.
The GMR plans to fund five awards for up to $4,500 each in Option Year 02 (May 2013-April 2014). If you have questions regarding this award, contact Tiffany Tawzer, Technology Coordinator. Email Tiffany or send an email to gmr4u@uic.edu. To contact the GMR by phone, call 1-800-338-7657 and press one (1) for the Regional Network Office. The first deadline for submission is April 12, 2013.
Award recipients will be publicized on the GMR website and/or in The Cornflower, the GMR blog. A list of previous Technology Improvement Award Recipients is available.
Purpose
A Technology Improvement Award may be used to improve knowledge-based information services to health professionals and health care consumers through the application of appropriate technologies; to improve the adequacy of Internet connections in NN/LM GMR libraries; or to introduce National Library of Medicine (NLM) services to a hospital that previously lacked access to these services.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from NN/LM GMR Full and Affiliate Members.
Suggested Projects
- Purchasing equipment and/or software to assist library professionals in delivering health information over the Internet, e.g. scanner, Web server.
- Paying for Internet access for one year and/or wiring and installation of new connections;
- Upgrading or purchasing computer equipment to enhance library services;
- New technology that enhances user access to electronic health information.
Technical Application Instructions
The respondent should complete the Technology Improvement Award Application 
. Submit the completed application and supporting documents (e.g. resumes, letters of support and equipment quotes) attached to an email addressed to gmr4u@uic.edu. Supporting documents may be in Word or PDF format. Include "TI" and your LIBID in the subject line of the email.
The GMR staff will respond to your application within two weeks of receipt.
Cost Application Instructions
Total cost must not exceed $4,500.
Funding will be processed on a cost reimbursement basis. This award is not a grant. Line item invoices must be submitted for reimbursement of expenditures. Reimbursement takes an average of four (4) weeks.
Allowable expenses include:
- Travel
- Equipment
- Supplies
- Communications and Internet access
- Reproduction
- Other Costs
Non-allowable expenses include:
- Library collections in excess of 5% of the budget
- Personnel
- Furniture
- Food
- Indirect costs
- Promotional materials (see HHS policy)
For IT/Computer Hardware, please include the following as part of your cost proposal/application process:
- For IT/Computer Hardware under $3,000, submit catalog pricing. List equipment type (printer, scanner, etc.), brand name and model number.
- For IT/Computer Hardware of $3,000 or more, submit three (3) vendor
quotes (preferably valid for 60 days, minimum of 30 days). Quotes may include General Service
Administration (GSA) price lists (Reference: http://www.gsa.gov
). Vendor quotes are
necessary to determine price reasonable for purchase of over $3,000 or more. The absence of competitive quotes
must be documented and justified. An institutional policy that outlines preferred vendor requirements
is an example of such documentation.
are requested, the following statement must
appear in the budget justification:
The recipient of the funding agrees that there is a legitimate purpose for the personal appeal items and use of the items by the Subcontractor(s) will be managed in accordance with policy. Items will not be used in a way that would discredit the NN/LM, the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or the applicable Institution.
Period of Performance
Projects must be completed by April 30, 2014. Questions about the period of performance should be directed to Ruth Holst, Associate Director . Email Ruth.
Application Review Process
Applications are reviewed by the GMR staff and the Regional Advisory Council. Questions and comments from these review bodies may be sent to the applicant for clarification and revision of the application. The merits of each application will be carefully evaluated, based on responsiveness to the RFP and the thoroughness and feasibility of the technical approach proposed. Applicants must submit information sufficient to evaluate the application based on the criteria listed below.
Evaluation Criteria
IDENTIFICATION OF NEED
Application describes why the technology is needed and how it will improve access to health information
for health professionals and/or consumers.
50 points
METHODOLOGY AND TECHNICAL APPROACH
Methods are logical and feasible and strategies for evaluation of the project are included.
35 points
EXPERIENCE OF RESPONDENT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Adequate evidence is provided about the qualifications of the personnel and
organizational resources available to assure successful completion of the project. Documentation includes
resumes, letters of support and equipment quotes.
15 points
Total Possible Points: 100
Reporting Requirements
Final reports are required and will be entered and submitted to the Online Contract Reports (OCR) System: https://outreach.nlm.nih.gov/. Contact your GMR program coordinator for additional information on the OCR and/or to obtain an account for a funded project.
In addition, recipients are encouraged to report on the project experience in The Cornflower, the GMR blog, and agree to allow the NN/LM GMR to republish reports and materials.
Additional Requirements
Publications Resulting from NN/LM Funded Projects
As of April 7, 2008, final peer-reviewed manuscripts arising from NIH funds must be submitted to PMC (PubMed Central) upon acceptance for publication. The NIH Public Access Policy (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/policy.htm ) ensures that the public has access to the published results of NIH funded research. It requires scientists to submit final peer-reviewed journal manuscripts that arise from NIH funds to the digital archive PMC (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ ) upon acceptance for publication.
To help advance science and improve human health, the Policy (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/FAQ.htm ) requires that these papers are accessible to the public on PubMed Central no later than 12 months after publication. The NIH Public Access site should be consulted for additional information: (http://publicaccess.nih.gov/policy.htm ).
Development of Training Materials
Successful applicants are expected to use or adapt existing training materials before developing new materials. Consult the Medical Library Association (MLA) Educational Clearinghouse, http://cech.mlanet.org prior to developing materials. Training materials developed as part of the award should be submitted to the MLA Educational Clearinghouse.
508 Compliance
The Department of Health and Human Services synopsis of Section 508 accessibility requirements, requires that all Federal agencies are obligated to make all electronic and information technology (EIT) that they develop, maintain or use compliant with Section 508. EIT purchases made on or after June 25, 2001, are subject to Section 508.
Federal regulations and guidelines (e.g., Section 501 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) require equal access for individuals with disabilities. Therefore, Federal agencies are required, upon request, to provide information and data to individuals with disabilities through an alternative means of access that can be used by the individuals.
The National Library of Medicine is a part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recipients of National Library of Medicine funding through the NN/LM must also meet these requirements.
Credit Statement
The awardee shall acknowledge the support of the National Library of Medicine whenever publicizing the work under this award in any media by including an acknowledgment substantially as follows:
This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, under Contract No. HHSN-276-2011-00005C with the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Availability of Funding
The following statement is required to be included in this solicitation to comply with regulations for annual appropriation of federal funds:
All awards issued under the NLM Contract with University of Illinois at Chicago are subject to the Government's availability of appropriated funds in compliance of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.232-18, Availability of Funds. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this contract and until the Contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer.
All awards spanning more than a 12 month period of performance are subject to FAR Clause 52.232-20, "Limitation of Costs"; FAR Clause 52.232-22, "Limitation of Funds", under the NLM Prime Contract.
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