CDMRP Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Focused Program Award | W81XWH 20 PRMRP FPA

PRMRP Focused Program Award (FPA) - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PRMRP Focused Program Award (FPA)?

The PRMRP Focused Program Award (FPA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) funding mechanism under the CDMRP Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) that supports a coordinated, multi-project research program. Its purpose is to push a defined research area forward faster by funding a structured set of complementary projects rather than a single standalone study.

What is the main goal of this funding mechanism?

The main goal is to accelerate answers and practical solutions to a high-impact, clearly defined problem by creating a deliberately integrated portfolio of projects that together produce more progress than those same projects would if funded independently.

What is the required "overarching challenge"?

Every application must be built around a single unifying overarching challenge: one critical question or urgent problem in research and/or patient care. The challenge must be clearly defined, tied to a real bottleneck in the field, and directly relevant to at least one Congressionally directed FY20 PRMRP Topic Area.

Can the overarching challenge be broad or exploratory?

No. The overarching challenge cannot be vague or purely exploratory. Reviewers will expect a strong program-level rationale that explains what the obstacle is, why it matters now, and why a coordinated multi-project approach is the most credible and fastest way to overcome it.

How many research projects must be included in an application?

Applications must include multiple distinct research projects, each led by its own project leader. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include at least four research projects, and more are allowed.

Do individual projects need to be strong on their own?

Yes. Each project must be scientifically strong independently. At the same time, the overall program is expected to achieve synergy, where the projects are intentionally complementary and integrated toward solving the overarching challenge.

What does "synergy" mean in this program?

Synergy means the projects are designed to work together in a coordinated way, covering different angles, hypotheses, or viewpoints, and producing an integrated solution. The intent is that the combined program advances the field more than separate, uncoordinated awards would.

Are "domino-chain" project designs allowed?

The solicitation discourages domino-chain designs where later projects depend on earlier projects succeeding. The program should remain productive even if one project experiences setbacks, with each project still capable of generating meaningful and field-relevant results.

What types of research are allowed across the translational pipeline?

The scientific scope is broad. Individual projects may range from early exploratory or hypothesis-generating research through translational work and into small-scale clinical trials up to Phase II (or equivalent).

Is there an expectation that the program moves toward clinical or translational outcomes?

Yes. Even if early-stage science is included, the overall program should clearly show intent to move toward translational or clinical application during the life of the award. The emphasis is on outcomes that can realistically influence future research directions, clinical practice, or patient care.

What is the implementation plan and how is it treated in review?

The implementation plan is a major component of the application and is treated as a serious management and execution roadmap, not just a basic timeline. Applicants are expected to define critical milestones, describe resources and technical innovations, and explain how progress will be tracked at both the project level and the program level (progress toward the overarching challenge).

Is a statistical plan required?

Where applicable, the program expects a robust statistical plan and demonstrated statistical expertise, reflecting priorities for rigor and reproducibility.

Can applicants include an External Advisory Board (EAB)?

Applicants are encouraged to propose an External Advisory Board to strengthen guidance and accountability.

Can specific External Advisory Board members be named or contacted during application preparation?

No. To avoid conflicts of interest during peer review, applicants must not contact, recruit, or name specific individuals in the application.

What additional expectations apply to multi-institutional programs?

Multi-institutional applications must describe how the team will coordinate and govern the collaboration, including communication approaches, secure and efficient data transfer, and how shared assets such as datasets, specimens, or study products will be handled across sites.

Is an intellectual and material property plan required?

Yes. The application must include an intellectual and material property plan that is agreed to by all participating organizations and included in the supporting documentation. This is intended to resolve collaboration and ownership issues up front so research is not delayed later by administrative disputes.

Who leads the overall program and what experience is expected?

The overall program is led by a Principal Investigator (PI) who is expected to have proven experience managing large, focused efforts and the ability to actively drive collaboration across disciplines.

What is the minimum effort commitment for the Principal Investigator?

The PI must commit at least 20 percent effort to the award, indicating the program is expected to be actively led rather than lightly supervised.

What is expected of project leaders?

Each distinct research project must be led by its own project leader. Project leaders are expected to bring distinct expertise, and together with the PI they should form a multidisciplinary team capable of executing an integrated program.

What is the role of DoD program oversight in the award?

The program anticipates active engagement with DoD oversight. The PRMRP Science Officer assigned to the award should be invited to research team meetings (such as annual full-team meetings), and the plan for those interactions should be included in the proposal.

Is there a formal milestone or checkpoint during the award?

Yes. After Year 2, the PI is required to present a progress update at a Milestone Meeting held in the National Capital Area.

Who can attend the Year 2 Milestone Meeting?

The PI may bring up to three additional team members. The meeting includes the PRMRP Programmatic Panel, CDMRP staff, the USAMRAA Grants Officer, and other DoD stakeholders.

Which agency issues this opportunity?

The funding opportunity is issued by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, through USAMRAA.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is W81XWH-20-PRMRP-FPA.

What is the CFDA number and program area?

The listing references CFDA 12.420 and identifies the supported area as science and technology and other research and development activities.

What type of award instrument is used (grant or cooperative agreement)?

The opportunity allows either cooperative agreements or grants.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any additional clarifications in the full notice.

How many awards were expected for this FY20 cycle?

For the FY20 cycle described, the posting indicated an expected total of four awards.

When was the opportunity created and when was it originally due?

The opportunity was created on February 28, 2020, with an original closing date of August 6, 2020.

What is the award ceiling?

The public listing shows an award ceiling of 0. This typically indicates that applicants should rely on the full program announcement for budget limits, or that ceilings are handled through other documentation rather than the summary field.