**Supplements for caBIG^TM^ Technology Assessment and Implementation
Planning in NCI-Designated Cancer Centers**

**Purpose:**

These guidelines relate to the application for administrative
supplements to NCI-designated Cancer Centers to provide a pathway to
caBIG^TM^ compatibility. This compatibility will be achieved through
deployment of caBIG^TM^ compatibility products. These products include
the caBIG^TM^ Clinical Trials framework, the caBIG^TM^ Life Science
Distribution, and the caBIG^TM^ Data Sharing and Security Framework. It
is expected that all respondents will commit to adoption of the latter
two of these. Responding clinical/comprehensive cancer centers also must
commit either to adopting caBIG^TM^ compatible Clinical Trials systems,
or establishing interoperability of legacy systems with caBIG^TM^.
Further details on scope of work and implementation success criteria may
be found below.

The supplement will provide funding to support .5 FTE of a senior staff
person, with a matching commitment from the Cancer Center for a total of
1.0 FTE commitment, to assess and implement the appropriate caBIG^TM^
components (see attachment for description) within the center's legacy
informatics systems. It is anticipated that the costs of this position
will be subsumed within the competing Cancer Center Support Grant (P30)
renewal application at the end of supplemental funding to ensure
continuity.

**Anticipated Scope of Work:**

Selection of the staff person should be based on ability to perform the
broad scope of work indicated below, with full support of the senior
informatics, scientific, and administrative leaders at the Cancer
Center. The awardee understands that without such executive support, and
the ability of the supported staff person to interact regularly with
cancer center leadership on both substantive and technical issues, this
project is less likely to succeed, and future financial support for
caBIG^TM^ deployment from the NCI may be jeopardized. During the period
of the award, the assigned staff person will:

-   Become educated and serve as the local, on-site expert in caBIG^TM^
    standards, technologies, research tools and applications.

-   Assess the cancer center\'s current capabilities and interest in
    deploying specific caBIG^TM^ compatibility components. A sample
    assessment instrument will be provided by the caBIG^TM^ program.

-   Prepare a structured report on the results of the assessment, and
    review this report with designated points of contact in the
    caBIG^TM^ program.

-   Based on the findings in the report, prepare an implementation plan
    for caBIG^TM^ at the cancer center. The implementation plan must
    include the following:

    -   Itemized list of caBIG^TM^ components that are to be adopted,
        and a corresponding list of the research groups, programs, and
        labs that will become the primary users of the bundles.

    -   Determination of which, if any of these tools will be leveraged
        as remotely hosted web applications, used as locally installed
        systems, and/or local systems that will be connected to the
        caBIG^TM^ confederation.

    -   Hardware and software requirements

    -   Quantitative assessment of the levels of technical support
        needed for

        -   installation

        -   training

        -   ongoing system and database administration

        -   local application support

    -   Itemized list of data and analytic resources that are to be
        shared via caGrid

    -   Specification of the caBIG^TM^ resource sharing agreements and
        policies that will be implemented, including explicit terms for
        authorized access by groups of users within and outside the
        cancer center

    -   Project plan for implementation with tasks, timelines,
        performance metrics, and needed resources clearly specified.

-   Deliver the implementation plan to the designated point of contact
    in the caBIG^TM^ program, who will identify what existing caBIG^TM^
    resources, if any, can be leveraged to execute the implementation
    plan

-   With caBIG^TM^ resources identified, deliver the implementation plan
    to the Director of the Cancer Center, who will then determine a
    strategy for obtaining the remaining needed resources, including
    personnel, and executing the implementation plan.

-   Provide leadership and coordination within the organization, and
    collaborate with the caBIG community to ensure broad integration of
    the organization's compatibility efforts within the federated caBIG
    enterprise.

**Implementation Success Criteria**

This supplement will not provide all the resources necessary to complete
the implementation of the caBIG™ bundles. However, in applying for this
supplement, Centers should convey their understanding of the future
implementation success criteria given below.

**Clinical Trials Framework Success Criteria:**

Centers that successfully deploy the caBIG™ Clinical Trials
Compatibility Framework will carry out three major activities. First,
they will deploy one or more components of the caBIG™ frameworkat their
institution, integrating those components with preexisting systems and
potentially with legacy data. Second, they will make use of caBIG™
harmonized Common Data Elements (CDEs) in the information that is
collected in the context of compatible clinical trials activities.
Finally, the Centers will identify clinical data that can be made
electronically available through the caBIG™ data sharing federation.

**Life Science Distribution Success Criteria:**

Centers that successfully deploy the caBIG™ Life Science Distribution
will execute three key activities. First, the Centers will deploy and
maintain a functional caGrid Node at their institution, following (at
minimum) the security standards and requirements outlined by the caGrid
deployment package. Second, they will deploy one or more of the
caGrid-enabled software applications from the Life Sciences
Distribution, integrate that software into the working activities at the
center, and, if appropriate, load the relevant legacy data into those
applications. Alternatively, they may connect local data resources or
applications to the caGrid Node. Finally, the Center will make the Grid
Node accessible to the national caGrid, and provide access to
appropriate data from the underlying Life Science Distribution
applications.

**Data Sharing and Security Framework Success Criteria**

Success with respect to the Data Sharing and Security bundle requires
commitment to participating in the caBIG™ Data Sharing and Intellectual
Capital (DSIC) Workspace. The Centers will additionally begin to
evaluate the use and integration of the DSIC Data Sharing Framework into
their workflow in relevant areas. This work will include (but is not
limited to) the use of a decision framework for evaluating the
sensitivity of data and appropriate access terms and appropriate use of
model provisions for key agreements (IRB requirements, data use
agreements, MTAs, *etc.*,) to expedite data sharing and the adoption of
security policies and procedures for caGrid-wide authentication and
authorization.

**Eligibility:**

All NCI-designated Cancer Centers are eligible to apply.

**Types and Number of Applications That May be Submitted:**

One supplemental application per cancer center may be submitted.

**Receipt Date:**

The deadline date for receipt of applications is **August 31, 2007.**

**Allowable Costs and Funding Period:**

Allowable costs include .5 FTE of salary and associated fringe benefits
for a senior staff person dedicated to the tasks outlined in the scope
of work. Current NIH salary caps apply. Up to three years of salary
support may be requested, with funding in each year contingent on
progress during the prior year. If there is no current staff person who
can fill this role, a new hire may be proposed. No other costs are
allowable.

**Application Procedures:**

To be considered responsive, the application must include the following:

1\. Letter of Commitment

A *letter of commitment* should accompany each application and be
addressed to the Program Director for your Cancer Center Support Grant.
The letter should commit to matching institutional support of .5 FTE for
the senior staff person dedicated to completion of the above scope of
work for the entirety of the proposed three year funding period, and to
continued support of the position once the supplemental award has
successfully ended. The letter should reference the P30 Cancer Center
Support Grant number and be signed by the authorized business official
of the institution, the cancer center director, and any other relevant
leaders supporting the commitment.

2\. Face, Budget and Budget Justification Pages

-   Use the standard **face page** of the PHS 398 (09/04) form and
    follow instructions accordingly. For Item 2 check "yes" and provide
    the title "**Supplements for caBIG^TM^ Technology Assessment and
    Implementation Planning"**. In Items 7a through 8b, denote the
    direct and total costs for the first year, as well as for the entire
    period of support. Total costs should not exceed those stated under
    Allowable Costs above. The Cancer Center Director and the Business
    Official of the institution should sign the face page.

-   Use the standard **budget pages** of the PHS 398 (09/04) application
    (form pages 4 and 5). List the matching support that will provided
    by the institution for the staff position indicated.

3\. The template response (see attached), completed as appropriate for
your center.

**Submission**

An original and 5copies of the application should be submitted by the
date indicated above to:

Cancer Centers Branch

Suite 700

6116 Executive Boulevard

Bethesda, MD 20892-8345 (For U. S. Postal Service)

Rockville, MD 20852 (For Express Mail)

**Review/Awards**

Applications will be reviewed by NCI CBIIT and CCB staff for
responsiveness.

Awards will be made no later than September 30, 2007.

**Contact Persons for Questions**

For technical information or questions regarding caBIG^TM^ bundles or
the indicated scope of work, please contact:

Peter A. Covitz, Ph.D.

Chief Operating Officer

National Cancer Institute Center for Bioinformatics

2115 E. Jefferson St., Suite 6000

Rockville, MD 20852

Phone: 301-451-4385

<covitzp@mail.nih.gov>

[http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov](http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/)

For budget questions, contact:

Eileen M. Natoli

Branch Chief, CTD Branch

Office of Grants Administration

National Cancer Institute

6120 Executive Blvd.

EPS - Room 243

Rockville, Md. 20852

Phone: (301) 496-8791

Fax (301) 496-8601

<natolie@mail.nih.gov>

For other questions, please contact the Cancer Centers Branch Program
Director responsible for your P30 Cancer Center Support Grant award.