AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center FAQs

OTA applications must be submitted through the ASSIST system. See full instructions.

We used feedback from the RFI and Virtual Forum to inform the development of this Research Opportunity. The feedback we received will also help plan future stakeholder engagement and phases of the AIM-AHEAD program.

Applicants do not need to have fully formed multi-institutional teams when submitting the Letter of Intent. Teaming arrangements can be proposed in the full applications. Furthermore, through the Other Transaction Authority, NIH may select components from the applicant pool to form teams that best meet the needs of the program.

The LOIs are not binding so changes between the LOI and full application are permissible.

No. NIH will only consider invited applications.

NIH will review the LOIs and aims to send notifications and invitations to submit a full proposal within a few days of the LOI submission deadline. The exact dates are still tentative.

The Leadership/Administrative Core will collaborate with other cores in the A-CC to recruit and establish the consortium during this award period.

Demonstration of a core mission may include dedicated programs or activities focused on unique needs of these groups.

NIH is particularly interested in applications led by institutions and organizations that have a core mission to serve under-represented or underserved groups impacted by health disparities.

The PI (or contact PI) for the Leadership/Administrative Core should be from such an institution or organization.

The annual budget for the entire program is $50,000,000.
Some of this will support the Coordinating Center institutions themselves. It’s expected that most of these funds will be used by the Coordinating Center to support engagements, investment, and projects with or for the consortium.

Yes, applicants may apply for one core. Applicants may submit a Letter of Intention (LOI) for each core to which they wish to apply. For example, an applicant who wishes to apply for the Leadership\Administrative and Infrastructure cores should submit two LOI: one for the Leadership\Administrative core and one for the Infrastructure core. If this applicant were invited to make full proposals for both cores, the applicant would submit two proposals: one for the Leadership\Administrative core and one for the Infrastructure core. Each proposal has a 12-page limit, i.e., the Leadership\Administrative core proposal page limit is 12 and the Infrastructure proposal page limit is 12.

Yes, there will be additional opportunities to participate as a consortium member and receive funding. The AIM-AHEAD program is designed to progress in phases and this ROA is only the beginning of the first phase of the program.

There are two aspects of the budget that applicants should consider. The first aspect is the estimated direct cost of the personnel and resources applicants expect to spend. To estimate this aspect of the budget, applicants would follow their institutional/internal instructions to budget their own spending. The second aspect is the estimated cost of engagements with consortium members. For example, what is the estimated cost of recruiting 10 consortium members? What is the estimated number of meetings and the estimated cost of those meetings? Estimating the first aspect of the budget will be more accurate than the second aspect. For the second aspect, applicants should include their assumptions for their good faith estimates, for example, the number of engagements your estimate would support. Applicants should also remember that all costs will be negotiated prior to award.

Applicants do not need to have fully formed multi-institutional teams when submitting the Letter of Intent.

NIH strongly encourages applicants who wish to apply to more than one core to submit a Letter of Intent and cover letter for each core.

The same organizations and individuals may appear multiple proposal submissions.