REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Research Program of The Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CDMHA) aims to facilitate the discovery and application of scientific knowledge related to disaster preparedness and mitigation in the Americas. In pursuit of this mission, the center announces its 2001 request for proposals on "Collaborative Research on Disasters in the Americas."Approximately $600,000 is available to fund 4-6 one-year projects with budgets up to $150,000 each, including indirect costs. The CDMHA's competitive grant program is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) through the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
Proposals will be considered in three areas of emphasis: (1) public health issues in disasters; (2) social science, disasters and development; and (3) information technology and decision science applied to disaster management. Priority will be given to proposals which focus on the following research issues: coordination between international, governmental, NGO and military groups in disaster preparedness and response; assessment of program effectiveness; integration of disaster management with long-term sustainable development; and use of technology to enhance information systems in disaster management. Also, studies which undertake research with relevance to U.S. military operations in disaster situations are encouraged. Examples of projects appropriate for this announcement include program evaluations with a strong research design, vulnerability assessments with practical relevance for the region, research on hazards management effectiveness, and sociocultural research on community preparedness and response. Projects must have a Latin America or Caribbean focus and involve institutional collaboration between North and South American researchers.
Applicants must submit proposals through a North or South American sponsoring institution, including research organizations, universities, consortia, NGOs, government and private agencies, and foundations. Projects involving human subjects, laboratory materials or other safety considerations must be reviewed by official research compliance committees (e.g. human subjects/institutional review boards).
Applicants interested in submitting proposals must send a 2 page Letter of Intent (LOI) by November 1, 2001. The LOI should summarize the project objectives, study design, significance, and budget, and should identify collaborating partners and institutional arrangements. Applicants who propose projects judged to fit best the identified criteria and priorities will be invited to prepare a full proposal, due March 1, 2001. Proposals will be evaluated by an outside Scientific Review Committee composed of experts in the field of disaster studies. The proposal format will follow the guidelines of the National Science Foundation (www.nsf.gov).
Letters of intent and proposals should be submitted by mail to: Research Grants Program, Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612.
September 15, 2001 Program announcement
November 1, 2001 Letter of Intent due
January 1, 2002 Selection of applicants for full proposal
March 1, 2002 Deadline for receipt of proposals
April 15, 2002 Scientific review committee convenes
May 1, 2002 Notice of awards/earliest start date
Jeannine Coreil, Ph.D., jcoreil@hsc.usf.edu, 813/974-6698;
Nick Colmenares, Ph.D., erminow@aol.com, 813/876-1113; or
Erin Hughey, ehughey@hsc.usf.edu, 813/974-2907.
For general information on the CDMHA see the center's website www.cdmha.org or contact cdmha@hsc.usf.edu (email), 813/974-2907 (tel.), 813/974-9980 (fax).