Systems for Action: Supplemental Research on COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Introduction & Purpose

This call for proposals (CFP) will provide supplemental research funding to teams that are already engaged in the study of a promising system alignment mechanism, with the objective of learning how this mechanism performs in addressing health and social needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible teams must have an active or recently completed research study (within 12 months of application submission) that can be extended through the use of supplemental research funding. This CFP is appropriate for studying an existing system alignment mechanism implemented prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, and about which some pre-COVID evidence has already been created by the applicant. Studies funded under this CFP will make use of existing data and established research procedures and relationships to produce new evidence about the system alignment mechanism on an accelerated time frame of 12 to 24 months. Studies may examine adaptations made to an existing system alignment mechanism to respond to new needs, opportunities, and constraints created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CFP is not appropriate for applicants seeking to test a new system alignment mechanism that has not been previously implemented and studied.The S4A program anticipates releasing a second CFP later in 2020 that will be appropriate for studying newly developed system alignment mechanisms that require larger awards and longer time frames for research and that do not necessarily focus on COVID-19.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

• Applicants must be either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations or nonfunctionally integrated Type III supporting organizations. The Foundation may require additional documentation from applicant organizations.
   
• Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories.
   
• Awards will be made to organizations, not to individuals. Multi-organizational consortia are encouraged to apply if a single eligible organization is designated as the primary applicant responsible for maintaining consortium agreements with other participating organizations. The primary applicant organization must have a demonstrated history of successfully managing funds awarded by foundation or government sources.

Key Dates & Deadlines

• July 6, 2020 (12 p.m. ET)
  Informational webinar for applicants. Registration is required. Please see the Systems for Action website for registration information: www.systemsforaction.org

• July 20, 2020 (3 p.m. ET)
  Deadline for receipt of one-page LOI via email to systemsforaction@ucdenver.edu

• August 5, 2020 (3 p.m. ET)*
  Deadline for receipt of full proposals via RWJF online system

• September 15, 2020
  Applicant finalists notified of funding recommendations.

• November 1, 2020
  Grants Initiated.

Total Awards

CFP will support studies that can be completed in either a 12-month or a 24-month project period with up to $100,000 per year in total funding from RWJF. Up to five awards will be selected for funding under this solicitation.

Each study will be expected to distribute its resources for stakeholder engagement, research implementation, and research dissemination in the most productive and equitable ways. Funded investigators are encouraged to leverage resources from other sources to support research, engagement, and dissemination activities.

The grant opportunity outlined in this CFP is contingent upon final funding confirmation from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for such grants.