Coordinating Center for Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (U24) | RFA AG 18 008

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 18 008

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), released a discretionary funding opportunity (RFA-AG-18-008) to support a single Coordinating Center (CC) for the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAIC) program. This award uses a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means the funded organization is expected to work closely with NIH staff and play an active, hands-on role in coordinating and supporting a larger research network rather than operating as a standalone research project. The overall purpose is to strengthen the OAIC program nationally by improving coordination across OAIC sites and by helping translate OAIC goals and findings to both scientific audiences and the broader public.

The Coordinating Center is intended to function as the hub for OAIC site-to-site interaction. In practical terms, that means the CC is expected to facilitate communication, collaboration, and alignment across multiple OAIC locations, helping the network operate efficiently as a cohesive program. The announcement emphasizes that the CC is not just an administrative office; it should have enough scientific depth in geriatrics and closely related fields to serve as a national clearinghouse for the program. That clearinghouse role implies collecting, organizing, and distributing key OAIC information and outputs, helping ensure that methods, lessons learned, and research products can be shared across the network and outward to other stakeholders.

A second major expectation is translation and dissemination. The CC is described as a conduit for translating OAIC objectives and findings to both scientific and general audiences. This suggests responsibilities such as developing consistent messaging about OAIC priorities, summarizing and communicating research advances in ways appropriate for clinicians, investigators, policymakers, and lay audiences, and supporting broader awareness of OAIC contributions to clinical aging research and the promotion of independence among older adults. The intent is to make OAIC work more accessible and usable beyond the individual centers, increasing impact and visibility of the program as a whole.

Eligibility is broad in the sense that many organization types can apply, including federal recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations, state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, for-profit entities (other than small businesses), and small businesses. However, the announcement makes clear that, despite this wide eligibility list, the CC should only be proposed by institutions that can demonstrate two specific strengths: first, a proven ability to coordinate multi-site projects, evidenced by previous HHS funding for a coordinating center tied to a multi-site research grant; and second, demonstrated scientific expertise in clinical aging research. In other words, applicants are expected to show they have already operated in a similar national coordination role and that they bring credible geriatrics-related scientific leadership, not only project management capability.

The opportunity fell under the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.866. The funding details specified an award ceiling of $350,000 and anticipated a single award, reinforcing that this was designed to select one organization to serve as the central coordinating entity for the OAIC program nationwide. The funding opportunity record shows a creation date of April 25, 2017, with an original closing date of October 19, 2017.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coordinating Center for Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (U24)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 25, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 19, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $350,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA AG 18 008

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