Region 4 Engagement & Outreach Award Year 5

The purpose of the Engagement & Outreach Award funding to build partnerships and collaborations with local community groups and other key groups. Applications should demonstrate how it will 1) reach underserved populations with health information outreach projects, 2) use community-led approaches to increase access to health information by working through libraries and other members to support a highly trained workforce in biomedical, health information, data science resources, etc., and 3) support specific Region 4 Core Aims, the NNLM mission, and the NLM 2017-2027 Strategic Plan.

Restrictions apply, review the application instructions carefully.

This award is administered by the University of Utah with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement Number UG4LM013732 with the University of Utah.

NOTICES:

Human Subject Research Restriction: All research activities included in project applications MUST fall into the category of Exempt Research, which is defined in the Basic HHS Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects §46.104(d). Additional human subjects research requirements may apply.
Institution Tax ID: Applicant must provide the 9-digit tax identification number for your institution. Professional Development Awards reimbursement requests paid to an individual are excluded.
Institution Unique Entity ID: Please confirm your organization’s Unique Entity ID (UEI) with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). If your organization does not have a UEI, register for one as soon as possible. Professional Development Awards reimbursement requests paid to an individual are excluded.
Funded projects are displayed on the publicly accessible NNLM website and are often provided by NLM in response to data requests from NIH, HHS, OMB, Congress, and the White House.

Funding Summary

Period of Performance: June 1, 2025 - April 15, 2026
Amount: Up to $25,000
Number of Awards Available: 2
Application Deadline: November 15, 2024, 5:00 pm Mountain Time
Eligibility: These awards are intended for use by NNLM Region 4 member institutions

Important Information:

Awards are cost-reimbursable and:
- May be issued to NNLM member institutions or individuals affiliated with a member institution within Region 4. Check to see if your institution is a member.
- In some cases, awardees are encouraged to have their expenses purchased directly by the University of Utah (airfare, registrations, etc.)
This award is administered through the University of Utah under a Cooperative Agreement with the National Library of Medicine Award Number UG4LM013732
Applicants are NOT required to budget to the maximum amount if the proposal cannot justify it.
Applications that include speaker fees over $1000 MUST sufficiently justify the expense.
The NNLM Region 4 Administration Office provides all subaward agreement or a memorandum of agreement documents for ALL approved projects.
Sub-awardees are NOT to begin their project until the University of Utah has completed and signed all necessary documentation.

Pre-Award Support - We want to learn about your project or activity ideas!

You are strongly encouraged to contact john.bramble@utah.edu, NNLM Region 4 Executive Director or your state primary point of contact, to discuss your projects:

Primary goal,
Expenses,
Timeline,
Populations served,
How you will measure impact.

Proposal Writing Support

Grant writing aids and tips are available in the NNLM Proposal Writing Toolkit
Evaluation design aids and tips are available at the National Evaluation Center
Funding FAQs

Purpose of the Engagement & Outreach Award

Potential Project Ideas

Potential projects may include but are not limited to:

Training unaffiliated, minority, urban or rural health professionals in effective use of electronic health information resources for evidence-based practice with an emphasis on NLM databases and NNLM resources.
Exhibiting or presenting at local meetings or organizational events to share completed outreach projects and promote NLM products and services
Evaluating health information and training needs of a target audience and implementing a training plan for that audience
Programs on locating and evaluating consumer health information found on the Internet
Incorporating NLM health and science information resources into new or existing health programs (See  National Health Observances web page for some ideas)
Developing supplemental educational materials using NLM resources for educators/teachers
Train-the-trainer projects that enhance the skills of library/organization staff and other consumer health information intermediaries to train a target population on locating and evaluating health information.

Notice: Applicants should plan to align their proposal with 1) the Region 4 Core Aims, 2) the mission of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public's health by providing U.S. researchers, health professionals, public health workforce, educators, and the public with equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data, 3) should demonstrated how it supports the NLM 2017-2027 Strategic Plan.

Award Focus & Impact

Applicants should plan to describe how their COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH project anticipates it will improve health information access for community members, patients, or clients. Past successful projects have included the development cultural and linguistically appropriate health education materials, teaching skills in accessing or using health information resources, exploring issues surrounding health information access, etc.

Commitment to Improve Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility for Priority Populations

Successful applications will demonstrate how community-based health organizations, public health organizations, and libraries work together in addressing the health information needs of NNLM priority populations (see NNLM Overview, section "Underrepresented Populations" for details).

NNLM Region 4 Core Aims

Project proposals are intended to support the following core aims of NNLM Region 4 program:

Construct a rich culture built on a foundation of inclusive programming designed to attract and engage a diverse regional network.
Use community-driven approaches to increase access to health information.
Work through libraries and other members to support a highly trained workforce in biomedical, health information, and data science resources.

Human Subjects Research Restrictions

All research activities included in project proposals, including Professional Development Applications, MUST fall into the category of Exempt Research, which is defined in the Basic HHS Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects §46.104(d)

Additional human subjects research requirements may apply. All applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their institutional review board or contact john.bramble@utah.edu for questions.

Application Preferences

All projects must incorporate one or more National Library of Medicine resources such as, ClinicalTrials.gov, or MedlinePlus. Refer to NLM Products and Services for a complete overview of resources by topic.

Preference will be given to projects that reach underserved, minority, and underrepresented communities including but not limited to:

Racial and ethnic minority populations
Sexual and gender minority populations
Populations reported below the federal poverty level
Populations with limited access to medical care
Populations with physical and/or mental disabilities
Soldiers, veterans, and military families
Rural populations.

Application Format

Applicants are required to use the following proposal outline and submit as a Microsoft Word Document. You may use this Application Template.

Submit your Application

Please submit your application: reg4_funding@lists.utah.edu.

Application Sections

Project Title: Describe the project with an external audience in mind. Funded projects are displayed on the NNLM website and are provided by NLM in response to data requests from NIH, HHS, OMB, Congress, and the White House.
Lead Organization: Identify the institution that will lead and receive funding to conduct the proposed project.
Project Lead: If you are the Project Lead, provide your own name. If you are submitting this application on behalf of the Project Lead, provide their name.
Institution Tax ID: Provide the 9-digit tax identification number for your institution.
Institution Unique Entity ID: Please confirm your organization’s Unique Entity ID (UEI) with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). If your organization does not have a UEI, register for one as soon as possible.
Have you/your institution previously received NNLM funding in the current grant cycle? Yes, No, or I don’t know.
Amount Requested: The amount specified should not exceed max award amount. Provide the amount to the nearest whole dollar.
Project Summary: Furnish a one-paragraph description that summarizes the proposed project. Funded projects are displayed on the NNLM website and are provided by NLM in response to requests from NIH, HHS, OMB, Congress, and the White House.
Partner Organizations: Provide the names of up to three (3) organizations that will partner with the lead organization to conduct/complete the project. 
Training Provided as Part of This Award: Yes or No.
Proposed Start and End Dates for the Project: Select the appropriate dates. Contact your RML/Office before applying if your project will extend more than one year.
Evidence of Need: Provide a statement of how the project proposed will support the mission of NNLM, explain the need for the project, and describe the audience or population that will be reached through this project. Please clearly document if this project will engage traditionally underrepresented populations and/or involve medically underserved areas. When possible, support the stated need using data such as known needs assessments or statistics.
Project goal and objectives: State the primary goal and specific objectives(s) of the proposed project. Both should be written so it aligns with the Region 4 Core Aims, the mission of the NNLM, and with the NLM 2017-2027 Strategic Plan.
Populations Served: Describe primary populations your project will reach.
Preference will be given to projects that reach underserved, minority and underrepresented communities including but not limited to:
- Racial and ethnic minority populations
- Sexual and gender minority populations
- Populations reported below the federal poverty level
- Populations with limited access to medical care
- Populations with physical and/or mental disabilities
- Soldiers, veterans, and military families
- Rural populations including underserved, minority and underrepresented communities
Implementation & Evaluation Plan:
- Implementation: Describe what will be done to meet project objectives and its rationale. Include tasks to be performed and who will perform them.
- Evaluation Plan: Describe how the project will measure success. Include data collection frequency, type of data to be collected, tools, and how data will be used or disseminated.
- Human Subject Research Restriction: All research activities included in project applications MUST fall into the category of Exempt Research, which is defined in the Basic HHS Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects §46.104(d). Additional human subjects research requirements may apply.
- Please review the National Evaluation Center  resources for information on how to create evaluation plans and objectives.
Schedule / Timeline: Include a detailed timeline for implementing the plan to meet objectives.
Publicity / Promotion: Describe how you intend to promote your project to the target population. Please specify which NLM resources or NNLM national initiatives will be used, how they will be promoted, and how they will be used throughout the project.
Continuity/Sustainability Plan: Describe the activities that will sustain project services and/or communication to the targeted community beyond the agreement performance period.

Agreement to comply with required tasks

Include in your application that you acknowledge and agree to:

You will share the information gained with colleagues in your institution/RML/Office as required by the Request for Proposal.
You will submit regular, interim, and final reports, as requested by the funding agency and stipulated in the Request for Proposal.
Any web-based resources developed for this project will ensure accessibility to the greatest possible number of people.

Additional documentation will need to be completed should your project be awarded. Please consult with john.bramble@utah.edu for details.

Member Information

Member Organization: If the reimbursement is NOT going to an individual, identify the institution that will receive funding.
- Primary Contact: If you are the primary contact, list your own name.
- Institution Tax ID: Enter the 9-digit tax identification number for your institution. Check with your Region 4 Medical Library to see if this is a requirement. Professional Development Awards reimbursement requests paid to an individual are excluded.
- Institution Unique Entity ID: Please confirm your organization’s Unique Entity ID (UEI) with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). If your organization does not have a UEI, register for one as soon as possible.. Check with your Region 4 Medical Library to see if this is a requirement. Professional Development Awards reimbursement requests paid to an individual are excluded.
- Have you/your institution previously received NNLM funding in the current grant cycle? Select Yes, No, or I don’t know.
Populations Served: These should be the primary populations served by the funded activity.
Participant’s Roles: These are the primary roles of the participants of the program/event/educational activity.

Personnel Qualifications: Submit resumes or CVs for personnel listed as attachments with your completed application if appropriate.

NOTE:

Food, promotional items, or furniture are not allowable expenses.
Promotional items include but are not limited to: clothing and commemorative items such as pens, mugs/cups, folders/folios, lanyards, and conference bags that are sometimes provided to visitors, employees, grantees, or conference attendees.
Refer to the NIH Policy on Allowability of Costs/Activities.
Applicants are required to limit their expenses based on the Schedule of Allowable Rates for University of Utah Travel.

Budget & Justification Instructions

Applications must include 3-column budget table (or spreadsheet) that includes detailed budget Expense Categories described below, explaining the purpose of each item in the project. This template is available for you to use.
- Column 1 will contain the expense title (e.g. Personnel, Consultant Costs, Fees, Travel, Hotel, etc.)
- Column 2 will contain a bulleted list that briefly (1 sentence) describes each item and costs (e.g. under the Equipment category…1) List each equipment item being requested, 2) How it will be used to support the project, and 3) costs per unit multiplied by number of units)
- Column 3 will contain a total cost for item category (e.g. Personnel, Consultant Costs, Fees, Travel, Hotel, etc.)
If a budget line is not applicable for your project, leave it blank.

Enter each amount to the nearest whole dollar.

Expense Categories

Personnel: Include (hourly rate x estimated hours) or (% time x annual salary) in the budget justification attachments or descriptions. Check with your RML/Office for specifics on personnel.
Consultant Costs: Estimated expenses from consultants, such as marketing firms or other agencies. Prior to hiring consultants, submit the following information to the RML/Office: name of consultant, description of work, hourly rate, total amount/not to exceed amount, and period of performance.
Supplies: Quotes for printing, publication costs and other materials. Include description and any quotes in the attached budget or as other attachment.
Communications: Media, publicity, or other communication costs. Include description and any quotes in the attached budget or as other attachment.
Reproduction: Printing materials or other reproduction costs.
Travel: Estimates for travel. Please complete this travel form and include as an attachment.
Other: Include description and any quotes in the attached budget or as other attachment.

Indirect Costs (IDC) or Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs: 

Apply at your institution’s non-research rate. If your institution has no negotiated rate, a 10% Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) can be applied if you wish to claim it.
Indirect costs need to be factored into your overall budget. The total budget cannot exceed the limit defined by the RML/Office you are applying to, including indirect costs.

Reporting Requirements

The following reports are required for NNLM sub-awardees.

All reports will be submitted through the NNLM Data Reporting System (DRS).
Within the first five days of the month following an activity or exhibit, sub-awardees are required to submit an Activity Report, including participant data.
Sub-awardees are required to submit a Final Report within 30 days after completing a project or period of performance.
If technology is purchased or provided as part of the project, sub-awardees are required to submit a Technology Report.
If funds are included for librarian professional development as part of the project, sub-awardees are required to submit a Professional Development Report within 30 days after completing the professional development.

The following may be required, depending on the project:

NNLM Training Evaluation Form: If training is provided to librarians as part of the project, sub-awardees are required to use the NNLM Training Evaluation Form to collect and share feedback on their training activities with NNLM
Participant Activity Survey for Subawardees (PAS-SUB): Awardees must provide participants with survey to collect data on activities supported by the award. Awardees must coordinate with their Region 4 Engagement Specialist to set this up prior (allow for at least two weeks lead time) to the activity taking place. Learn more about this reporting requirement.

For any questions about reporting, please contact john.bramble@utah.edu.

508 Compliance

Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to web applications, web pages and all attached files on the intranet as well as internet. 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 NNLM must meet all requirements under Section 508. Information on 508 compliance.

NIH Public Access Policy

Recipients of NNLM funding are required to deposit any peer-reviewed manuscript upon acceptance for publication in PubMed Central in accordance with the NIH Public Access Policy.

Data Sharing and Development of Training Materials

To facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and information associated with the NNLM Cooperative Agreement Award, all sub-awardees are required to share any data or training material resulting from funding. This information must be submitted to the following collection sites as applicable:

Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) website;
Other websites specifically designated by the NLM as part of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (considering changes in the project and data repositories required to maintain sharing within the Network).

In addition, recipients of funding are expected to use or adapt existing training materials before developing new materials. Consult with your RML/Office and the NNLM Training Office (NTO) prior to developing materials.

Publication and Copyrighting

Per Section 8.2.1. – Right in Data (Publication and Copyrighting) of the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH must be given a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license for the Federal government to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use any materials developed as a result of funding and to authorize others to do so for Federal purposes, i.e. the ongoing development of the Network of the National Library of Medicine. Data developed by sub-awardees/consortium participants and consultants are also subject to this policy.

NIH Acknowledgement

Any resources developed with project funds must include an acknowledgement of NIH grant support and a disclaimer.

“This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement Number UG4LM013732 with the University of Utah. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health."

Reviewers & Scorecards

Reviewers are selected by the RML/Office that is made up of Network members who may represent the Region, public libraries, health sciences libraries, or community organizations.

Reviewers use a standardized RFP scorecard (Program Improvement & Engagement and Outreach Application Scorecard).

Reviewers make recommendations for funding to the Executive Director of the RML.

Applicants will receive a copy of reviewer comments along with a final decision regarding funding.

Application Scoring Criteria

The Scored Review Criteria is on a scale of 1-100. A minimum passing score is 70.

The application will be scored in the following areas:

Significance (15 points max) : Does the proposed program make a significant contribution to the mission of NNLM? Is there information on the target population provided? Are there estimates of the potential population and the portion expected to be reached? Is the target group or population described and the actual or perceived need for the proposed program discussed?
Methodology/Approach (40 points max): Does the statement show the logic and feasibility of the technical approach to reaching the target group or community? Are the types of outreach services provided for the target population appropriate, creative and cost-effective? Does the project plan demonstrate sustainability or the ability to provide lessons learned for future programs? Does the proposed project add value to other initiatives? Does the project use local partners? Does the proposal include a timeline or implementation schedule for major events and activities? Does the program specify what NLM resources or NNLM national initiatives will be promoted and how they will be utilized throughout the project?
Evaluation (15 points max): Is there an evaluation plan? Does the plan make sense given the goals and objectives? Is there a timeline and are individuals assigned responsibility for milestones or tasks? Are there other forms of evaluation that the project should consider or add? Is the plan thorough enough or feasible for the project?
Project Staff (15 points max): Do the proposed personnel have experience in developing and conducting outreach and/or training programs in health information for patients, the public or health professionals? Do the proposed personnel have prior experience working with the target group? Is there evidence of institutional facilities and resources adequate to support the proposed programs? If applicable, do project partners bring experience to the project team?
Budget (10 points max):  Is the proposed budget within funding limits? Is the budget justification sound? Could budget items be eliminated or reduced without jeopardizing the project? Does it include money within allowable line items? Do they have line items that account for all the requested money?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (5 points max): Does the application identify inequities and disparities or target underserved populations? Is the organization using an inclusive, community-engaged process for planning and implementation if they are proposing community-based programming?
NIH-designated U.S. health disparity populations include Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underserved rural populations, individuals with a physical or mental disability, sexual and gender minorities, individuals under 18 or over 65, and individuals with less than a high school degree.

Is the applicant a first-time applicant?