The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) of the Office of Energy Research (ER), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving peer-reviewable proposals for research in support of the Biological Research Program. This Program is a coordinated multidisciplinary research effort to develop creative, innovative approaches, resources, and technologies that lead to a molecular understanding of the human genome.
Funding is available for research that uses broad, interdisciplinary approaches and that takes advantage of the unique resources and capabilities of the national laboratories to understand complex biological processes. Special consideration will be given to research that includes significant collaborations with other national laboratories and/or with university or industrial partners although a few outstanding single investigator initiated proposals will also be considered. Proposals should include a description of how the National Laboratory is uniquely suited to carry out the proposed research.
In recent years, an astonishing conservation of gene structure and function across species has been revealed. Future biological understanding of the human will depend not only on understanding the structure and function of the encoded proteins and RNAs, but also on understanding the nature of the regulatory networks that control expression of batteries of genes in space and time. For example, we can more economically learn how genes and systems work in the genetically manipulable organisms such as bacteria, yeast, fruit fly, nematode, or Zebra fish. In addition, the mouse provides the opportunity to model and analyze many complex human conditions less suitably studied in invertebrates of lower vertebrates.
This solicitation is for research that capitalizes on our understanding and the manipulability of the genomes of model organisms, including yeast, nematode, fruitfly, Zebra fish, and mouse, to speed understanding of the complexity of human genome organization, regulation, and function. The solicitation is for studies of complex biological systems at a genomic or near-genomic scale, i.e., not, for example, for studies of individual enzymes, that facilitate understanding of human genome organization, regulation, and function. It is not for basic research on model organisms that only has the promise of a long-term payoff for understanding the human genome. Research is encouraged in a number of areas including, but not limited to:
This solicitation is not intended to support the development of new model systems that do not demonstrate utility for gene functional analysis in the human. For that reason, we intend to focus on relatively well-established model organisms.
DATES: Potential applicants are encouraged to submit a brief preproposal, consisting of a two to three page narrative describing the research project objectives and methods of accomplishment. Preproposals, referencing announcement LAB 98-10, should be sent by E-mail to: joanne.corcoran@oer.doe.gov no later than February 13, 1998. These will be reviewed relative to the scope and research needs of the DOE Biological Research Program. Telephone, telefax numbers, and Electronic mail addresses are required parts of the preproposals. A response to the preproposals will be provided by E-mail no later than February 19, 1998.
Formal proposals submitted in response to this notice must be received by 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., April 6, 1998, to be accepted for merit review and to permit timely consideration for award beginning in Fiscal Year 1999. Formal proposals must be sent to: Ms. Joanne Corcoran, ER-72, Mail Stop F-237, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, this address must also be used when submitting by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail, any commercial mail delivery service, or when hand carried.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Marvin Stodolsky, telephone: (301) 903-4475 or Dr. David Thomassen, telephone: (301) 903-9817, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, ER-72, Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290.
It is anticipated that up to $4.0 million will be available for awards during FY 1999, contingent upon the availability of funds.
Any recipient of an award from ER to perform research involving recombinant DNA molecules and/or organisms and viruses containing recombinant DNA molecules shall comply with the National Institutes of Health "Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules," which is available via the world wide web at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/odhsb/biosafe/nih/nih97-1.html, (59 FR 34496, July 5, 1994), or such later revision of those guidelines as may be published in the Federal Register.
The instructions and format described below should be followed. Reference announcement LAB 98-10 on all submissions and inquiries about this program.
Proposals from national laboratories submitted to the Office of Energy Research (ER) as a result of this program announcement, will undergo scientific/technical merit review. The following guidelines for content and format are intended to facilitate an understanding of the requirements necessary for ER to conduct a merit review of a proposal. Please follow the guidelines carefully, as deviations could be cause for declination of a proposal without merit review.
1. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be subjected to formal merit review (peer review) and will be evaluated against the following criteria which are listed in descending order of importance:
The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement, the uniqueness of the proposer's capabilities, and demonstrated usefulness of the research for applications in other DOE Program Offices as evidenced by a history of programmatic support directly related to the proposed work.
2. Summary of Proposal Contents
2.1 Number of Copies to Submit
An original and seven copies of the formal proposal/FWP must be submitted.
3. Detailed Contents of the Proposal
Proposals must be readily legible, when photocopied, and must conform to the following three requirements: the height of the letters must be no smaller than 12 point with at least 2 points of spacing between lines (leading); the type density must average no more than 17 characters per inch (the type in this paragraph meets the guidelines); the margins must be at least one-half inch on all sides. Figures, charts, tables, figure legends, etc., may include type smaller than these requirements so long as they are still fully legible.
3.1 Field Work Proposal Cover Sheet
(DOE ONLY)
The Field Work Proposal (FWP) Cover Sheet is to be prepared and submitted consistent with policies of the investigator's laboratory and the local DOE Operations Office.
Laboratories may submit proposals directly to the ER Program office listed above. A copy should also be provided to the appropriate DOE operations office.
3.2 Face Page
The face page is to include the following information.
Use of vertebrate animals in proposed project:
Signature of PI, date of signature
Signature of official, date of signature*
*The signature certifies that personnel and facilities are available as stated in the proposal, if the project is funded.
Provide an abstract of no more than 250 words. Give the broad, long-term objectives and what the specific research proposed is intended to accomplish. State the hypotheses to be tested. Indicate how the proposed research addresses the ER scientific/technical area specifically described in this announcement.
3.5 Narrative
The narrative comprises the research plan for the project and is limited to 25 pages. It should contain the following subsections:
Background and significance Briefly sketch the background leading to the present proposal, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the gaps which the project is intended to fill. State concisely the importance of the research described in the proposal. Explain the relevance of the project to the research needs identified by the Office of Energy Research. Include references to relevant published literature, both to work of the investigators and to work done by other researchers.
Preliminary Studies Use this section to provide an account of any preliminary studies that may be pertinent to the proposal. Include any other information that will help to establish the experience and competence of the investigators to pursue the proposed project. References to appropriate publications and manuscripts submitted or accepted for publication may be included.
Research Design and Methods Describe the research design and the procedures to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Describe new techniques and methodologies and explain the advantages over existing techniques and methodologies. As part of this section, provide a tentative sequence or timetable for the project.
Subcontract or Consortium Arrangements If any portion of the project described under "Research Design and Methods" is to be done in collaboration with another institution, provide information on the institution and why it is to do the specific component of the project. Further information on any such arrangements is to be given in the sections "Budget and Budget Explanation", "Biographical Sketches", and "Description of facilities and resources".
3.6 Literature Cited
List all references cited in the narrative. Limit citations to current literature relevant to the proposed research. Information about each reference should be sufficient for it to be located by a reviewer of the proposal.
3.7 Budget and Budget Explanation
A detailed budget is required for the entire project period, which normally will be three years, and for each fiscal year. It is preferred that DOE's budget page, Form 4620.1 be used for providing budget information*. Modifications of categories are permissible to comply with institutional practices, for example with regard to overhead costs.
A written justification of each budget item is to follow the budget pages. For personnel this should take the form of a one-sentence statement of the role of the person in the project. Provide a detailed justification of the need for each item of permanent equipment. Explain each of the other direct costs in sufficient detail for reviewers to be able to judge the appropriateness of the amount requested.
Further instructions regarding the budget are given in section 4 of this guide.
* Form 4620.1 is available at web site: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/forms.html
3.8 Other Support of Investigators
Other support is defined as all financial resources, whether Federal, non-Federal, commercial or institutional, available in direct support of an individual's research endeavors. Information on active and pending other support is required for all senior personnel, including investigators at collaborating institutions to be funded by a subcontract. For each item of other support give the organization or agency, inclusive dates of the project or proposed project, annual funding, and level of effort devoted to the project.
3.9 Biographical Sketches
This information is required for senior personnel at the laboratory submitting the proposal and at all subcontracting institutions. The biographical sketch is limited to a maximum of two pages for each investigator.
3.10 Description of Facilities and Resources
Describe briefly the facilities to be used for the conduct of the proposed research. Indicate the performance sites and describe pertinent capabilities, including support facilities (such as machine shops) that will be used during the project. List the most important equipment items already available for the project and their pertinent capabilities. Include this information for each subcontracting institution, if any.
3.11 Appendix
Include collated sets of all appendix materials with each copy of the proposal. Do not use the appendix to circumvent the page limitations of the proposal. Information should be included that may not be easily accessible to a reviewer.
Reviewers are not required to consider information in the Appendix, only that in the body of the proposal. Reviewers may not have time to read extensive appendix materials with the same care as they will read the proposal proper.
The appendix may contain the following items: up to five publications, manuscripts (accepted for publication), abstracts, patents, or other printed materials directly relevant to this project, but not generally available to the scientific community; and letters from investigators at other institutions stating their agreement to participate in the project (do not include letters of endorsement of the project).
4. Detailed Instructions for the Budget
(DOE Form 4620.1 "Budget Page" may be used)
4.1 Salaries and Wages
List the names of the principal investigator and other key personnel and the estimated number of person-months for which DOE funding is requested. Proposers should list the number of postdoctoral associates and other professional positions included in the proposal and indicate the number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) person-months and rate of pay (hourly, monthly or annually). For graduate and undergraduate students and all other personnel categories such as secretarial, clerical, technical, etc., show the total number of people needed in each job title and total salaries needed. Salaries requested must be consistent with the institution's regular practices. The budget explanation should define concisely the role of each position in the overall project.
4.2 Equipment
DOE defines equipment as "an item of tangible personal property that has a useful life of more than two years and an acquisition cost of $5000 or more." Special purpose equipment means equipment which is used only for research, scientific or other technical activities. Items of needed equipment should be individually listed by description and estimated cost, including tax, and adequately justified. Allowable items ordinarily will be limited to scientific equipment that is not already available for the conduct of the work. General purpose office equipment normally will not be considered eligible for support.
4.3 Domestic Travel
The type and extent of travel and its relation to the research should be specified. Funds may be requested for attendance at meetings and conferences, other travel associated with the work and subsistence. In order to qualify for support, attendance at meetings or conferences must enhance the investigator's capability to perform the research, plan extensions of it, or disseminate its results. Consultant's travel costs also may be requested.
4.4 Foreign Travel
Foreign travel is any travel outside Canada and the United States and its territories and possessions. Foreign travel may be approved only if it is directly related to project objectives.
4.5 Other Direct Costs
The budget should itemize other anticipated direct costs not included under the headings above, including materials and supplies, publication costs, computer services, and consultant services (which are discussed below). Other examples are: aircraft rental, space rental at research establishments away from the institution, minor building alterations, service charges, and fabrication of equipment or systems not available off-the-shelf. Reference books and periodicals may be charged to the project only if they are specifically related to the research.
a. Materials and Supplies
b. Publication Costs/Page Charges
c. Consultant Services
d. Computer Services
e. Subcontracts
4.6 Indirect Costs
Explain the basis for each overhead and indirect cost. Include the current rates.