Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
NOTE: The policies, guidelines, terms, and conditions stated in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) may differ from those used by the NIH. Where this NOFO provides specific written guidance that may differ from the general guidance provided in the grant application form, please follow the instructions given in this NOFO. Also note that AHRQ has different page limits than NIH for the application Research Strategy, which can be found within each individual NOFO.
AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH & QUALITY (AHRQ)
U19 Research Program – Cooperative Agreements
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is developing a Healthcare Extension Service to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) evidence into healthcare delivery through improvements in healthcare policy, payment, and practice, and to reduce healthcare disparities especially among people who receive Medicaid, are uninsured, and other people who are medically underserved.
This NOFO invites applications to establish and support State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives (referred to as Cooperatives) to conduct an initiative that is based on PCOR evidence to improve care for medically underserved people; the initiative's focus must be on behavioral healthcare. To support this initiative, the Cooperative will (1) engage key stakeholders including Medicaid agencies, managed care organizations, and other organizations that address the health needs of people who are medically underserved in identifying and addressing barriers and facilitators to implementing patient-centered healthcare delivery improvements that are based on PCOR evidence, (2) work with healthcare policy, payment, community, care delivery, and research organizations that serve people who are medically underserved to build their capacity to implement patient-centered healthcare delivery improvements based on PCOR evidence, and to support ongoing learning, (3) conduct evaluations of the Cooperative's activities and (4) provide the support structure to ensure these activities are integrated and aligned.
The Cooperative recipients will work closely with AHRQ and recipients of two related NOFOs: National Evaluation Center (NEC) for AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service: State-based Solutions to Healthcare Improvement (U19) and National Coordinating Center (NCC) for AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service: State-based Solutions to Healthcare Improvement (U54).
30 days prior to the application due date
The application due date for this NOFO is January 6, 2025.
No late applications will be accepted for this NOFO.
All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.
Not Applicable
Generally, four months after the receipt date
Not Applicable
Generally, four months after the peer review date
Not Applicable
It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV and follow the AHRQ Grants Policy and Guidance found on the AHRQ website at http://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/nofoguidance/index.html.
When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.
Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
There are several options available to submit your application through Grants.gov to NIH and Department of Health and Human Services partners. You must use one of these submission options to access the application forms for this opportunity.
Purpose & Objective
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) evidence into healthcare delivery through improvements in healthcare policy, payment, and practice, and to reduce healthcare disparities especially among people who receive Medicaid, are uninsured, and other people who are medically underserved. This NOFO will fund recipients to create State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives (Cooperatives) to conduct an initiative based on PCOR evidence to improve care for medically underserved people; the initiative's focus must be on behavioral healthcare. To support this initiative, the Cooperative will (1) engage key stakeholders, including Medicaid agencies, managed care organizations, and other organizations that address the health needs of medically underserved people, in identifying and addressing barriers and facilitators to implementing patient-centered healthcare delivery improvements based on PCOR evidence, (2) work with healthcare policy, payment, community, care delivery, and research organizations that serve medically underserved populations to build their capacity to implement patient-centered healthcare delivery improvements based on PCOR evidence and to support ongoing learning, (3) conduct evaluations of the impacts and refinements of the processes of the Cooperative's activities, and (4) provide the support structure to ensure these activities are integrated and aligned.
AHRQs Healthcare Extension Service will consist of the Cooperatives awarded under this NOFO, a National Coordinating Center (NCC) that will provide technical assistance to the Cooperatives, and a National Evaluation Center (NEC) that will report on the outcomes and impacts of AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service. Cooperatives will collaborate with the NCC, NEC, AHRQ program staff, and other recipients of this NOFO to share approaches, methods, and data.
As this is one of three related NOFOs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the other two to prepare applications for this one.
Background on Healthcare Extension
It can take a long time for new findings from PCOR to be implemented in healthcare delivery. There can be tremendous variation within and across healthcare delivery organizations and states in the quality and consistency of the delivery of evidence-based care. As seen in AHRQs National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports, the United States often struggles to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care, particularly for lower-income people and people from certain racial and ethnic groups and geographic areas who receive their care from safety net healthcare delivery organizations.
Barriers to the dissemination and implementation of PCOR evidence into healthcare delivery include (1) policies and payment structures that do not align with implementing evidence-based care; (2) health information technology that does not produce real-time information that can be used for quality improvement and does not facilitate data sharing across healthcare settings; (3) workforce issues such as shortages, inefficiencies, and lack of training; (4) limited coordination and technical support for practice transformation; and (5) limited connections between healthcare delivery organizations and other sectors, such as public health and community organizations. These challenges occur across the healthcare delivery system and significantly affect more resource-challenged safety net healthcare delivery organizations.
A promising path to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered healthcare delivery improvements is to build relationships and implementation capacity within and across organizations. At the state level, there needs to be coordination and alignment of improvement efforts through a systematic process inclusive of affected stakeholders, including but not limited to Medicaid agencies, managed care organizations, safety net healthcare delivery organizations, clinicians and staff, patients, and community-based organizations. On a more local level, improvements may also include delivering targeted support to local healthcare delivery organizations, improving healthcare delivery processes, and providing training, education, and other types of assistance to organizations, clinicians, and staff.
AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service, modeled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System and incorporating principles from learning health systems, proposes to help healthcare policy, payment, and delivery organizations overcome implementation barriers and improve the quality of healthcare services for medically underserved people through state- or system- and local-level, evidence-based improvements. Building from the strengths of these models, each recipient will support: 1. An Engagement, Training, Education, and Assistance Core; 2. A Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core; and 3. An Administrative Core. The Administrative Core will also establish and facilitate a Multistakeholder Council to provide expert advice and guidance to the Cooperative. Each recipient will use this structure to complete an initiative focused on behavioral health during the award period that will accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered healthcare delivery improvements based on PCOR evidence and reduce health disparities within the State.
More specific details on the Extension Services are described below in Cooperative Components. Each applicant should partner with appropriate organizations within the state and build upon existing infrastructure to deliver all services and support the necessary administration and staffing for the Cooperative. Extension services may be provided by the recipient, organizations represented in the Multistakeholder Council, or other existing organizations that have arrangements with the recipient.
AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service is aligned with AHRQ's mission to produce evidence that improves healthcare by making it safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used. The Cooperative's structure and function detailed below are intended to address AHRQs Patient Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund Strategic Frameworks mission, goals, vision, and priorities. This includes early, ongoing, meaningful stakeholder engagement, addressing and measuring impacts on health equity, and supporting a wide range of healthcare delivery organizations.
Key Terms for this NOFO:
For purposes of this NOFO, the following definitions apply:
Behavioral Health: An umbrella term that includes mental health and substance use conditions, life stressors and crises, stress-related physical symptoms, and health behaviors.
Clinicians and staff: An umbrella term that includes licensed, registered or certified health care providers who interact directly with patients, including but not limited to physicians, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, technicians and technologists, health aides, and clinic staff.
Cooperatives: See State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives below.
Evidence-based, patient-centered, healthcare delivery improvement ("Evidence-based improvement"): Consistent with Brownson and colleagues (1), evidence-based, patient-centered, healthcare delivery improvements are defined as healthcare delivery interventions, programs, education, training, practices, processes, guidelines, and policies with some evidence of effectiveness in improving health outcomes that are meaningful for patients and their caregivers. This includes clinical evidence, evidence on how best to deliver healthcare that is potentially generalizable beyond specific health conditions or healthcare delivery circumstances (e.g., management strategies, models of care), or evidence-based policies. (1) Brownson RC, Shelton RC, Geng EH, Glasgow RE. Revisiting concepts of evidence in implementation science. Implement Sci. 2022 Apr 12;17(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13012-022-01201-y. PMID: 35413917; PMCID: PMC9004065.
Healthcare delivery organization: An organization of people, institutions, and resources that is responsible for the delivery of healthcare services to meet the healthcare needs of a target population. For the purposes of this NOFO, healthcare delivery organizations include but are not limited to health systems, hospitals, ambulatory care practices (including primary care practices and specialty practices), managed care organizations, pre-hospital services, community-based organizations that provide healthcare services, and skilled nursing facilities.
Healthcare Extension Agent(s): Individual(s) who provides external support to improve the healthcare delivery system to improve population health. Healthcare extension agents work to achieve the goals of the Cooperative. Examples of healthcare extension agents include education and training professionals; health IT advisors; human factors, systems engineering or task analysis experts; implementation experts; practice facilitators and coaches.
Multistakeholder Council: A group of stakeholders that come together to provide expert advice and guidance in support of the Cooperative. The Multistakeholder Council is responsible for identifying and providing advice on policy and system change(s) across the state that support the implementation of the Cooperative's initiative. Policy and system changes may include State and local policies as well as policies and practices within the healthcare delivery organizations that influence the implementation of evidence-based improvements.
Safety Net Healthcare Delivery Organizations: Healthcare delivery organizations that provide a significant level of healthcare and health-related services to medically underserved people, including people who are uninsured, receive Medicaid, people made vulnerable by poverty, and others. Examples of safety net organizations include Community Health Centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (and look-alikes), CMS Rural Health Clinics, Safety Net Hospitals, Indian Health Service providers, pre-hospital service organizations, and primary care practices that serve these populations.
State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives (Cooperatives): State-level entities that serve as a coordinating entity for supporting the identification and delivery of patient-centered improvements within the State based on PCOR evidence.
Cooperative Components Requirements
Each Cooperative must include the following Cores: (1) Engagement, Training, Education, and Assistance Core, (2) Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core, and (3) Administrative Core. The Administrative Core will include a Multistakeholder Council (see below). The Cooperative will plan, execute, and evaluate an initiative focused on behavioral health within the award period. The leadership of the Cooperative is provided by the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s).
Engagement, Training, Education, and Assistance Core
Engagement, Training, Education, and Assistance Core is responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with safety net healthcare delivery organizations and community partners and providing training, education, and assistance to support the improvement goals of the initiative. Applicants are expected to build on existing relationships and that this core will be staffed with individuals with ties to the regions and communities they serve. Cooperatives may start by delivering extension services in sub-state regions.
Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core
The Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core will be responsible for monitoring the formation and functioning of the Cooperative, applying feedback on improvements that may be needed, and evaluating the implementation, processes, and impact of the Cooperative. This core will assess the implementation, processes, and overall impact of the Cooperatives initiative. This core will also be required to collaborate with the NEC, as specified below. The Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation activities must be performed by an organization within the state that can conduct a rigorous and independent evaluation, such as an academic medical center, public or private institutions of higher education, or other research organization. If the applicant organization cannot independently perform this, they must partner with an organization that can perform these tasks.
Collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to inform, monitor, and evaluate the Cooperatives improvement initiative. The Cooperative must acquire and analyze state-level healthcare data and information to monitor the functioning and impacts of the Cooperatives initiative. Examples of state-level data and information may include but are not limited to, quantitative data such as Medicaid claims data, state workforce statistics, and other data collected as part of federal or state programs, as well as qualitative data such as reports and information on state reimbursement policies and practices. These data should be shared on a regular and timely basis within the Cooperative, Multistakeholder Council and other relevant audiences.
Collect and summarize PCOR evidence on improvements and strategies for the Cooperatives initiative.
Monitor the Cooperatives activities and performance. The monitoring activities must focus on obtaining regular, frequent information on the Cooperative and initiative using measures and data reporting methods identified in collaboration with the NEC. Each Cooperative must:
Feedback and Improvement. Each Cooperative must propose an approach for using self-monitoring and local evaluation data to support ongoing improvement of the initiative. Each Cooperative must:
Evaluate the Cooperatives implementation and impact. Each Cooperative must evaluate the implementation and impact of their activities and the initiative. Each Cooperative must evaluate:
Administrative Core
The Administrative Core manages, coordinates, and supports the activities of the Cooperative and the initiative.
The Administrative Core will establish the Multistakeholder Council and is responsible for providing expert advice and guidance to the Cooperative. The Multistakeholder Council must, at a minimum:
Membership of the Multistakeholder Council. The Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) and other key personnel from the project team will be critical participants in the Multistakeholder Council. Additional members should be determined based on the state context and the functions listed above, as well as the ability to develop the Cooperative's initiative. Each member of the Multistakeholder Council should have a clear role and purpose for participation that maps to the initiative's goals. Membership should be representative of the states demographic and geographic diversity. The Multistakeholder Council may establish working committees within the Council to work on specific topics, such as payment alignment or health information technology. To the extent possible, stakeholders representing organizations should have the authority to make commitments on behalf of their organizations. The members described below are required as they are instrumental in guiding and driving change in safety net healthcare delivery. It is expected that the Multistakeholder Council will include these members and additional members who can contribute to the success of the Cooperative. It is expected that the Multistakeholder Council will consist of at least 15 members. The exact size of the council will depend on the state context.
Required members for the Multistakeholder Council. Applicants must include at least one member from each category listed below for the Multistakeholder Council.
Initiative: Behavioral Health
Each Cooperative must conduct an initiative focused on behavioral health to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered healthcare delivery improvements based on PCOR evidence and reduce disparities in safety net healthcare delivery organizations.
The initiative should incorporate evidence-based improvements and corresponding implementation strategies based on PCOR findings that work at multiple levels to achieve a specific outcome. These activities should incorporate attention to future sustainability.
The initiative must address the current behavioral health crisis with the selected topic based on state data and stakeholder priorities. Applicants must specify the behavioral health focus of this initiative, including the evidence-based, patient-centered improvement(s) to be implemented in safety net healthcare delivery organizations. Applicants must describe a process by which the implementation of the evidence-based improvement(s) will be refined throughout the initiative based on input from the Multistakeholder Council, the Healthcare Extension Agents, and data from the Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation core. The focus may be on a specific behavioral health condition or a strong behavioral health component or how behavioral healthcare is delivered or integrated into the medical safety net. When choosing their focus, applicants must use state data, PCOR evidence, data on health and healthcare disparities, and consultation with current or anticipated members of their Multistakeholder Council to determine their priorities. Applicants should describe their stakeholder engagement process to support their selection of initiative focus. An initiative may focus on a single area or combination that will accelerate the implementation of PCOR evidence in practice, including aligning payment, developing workforce, enhancing technology, or improving work performance and processes. Cooperatives should align and coordinate with other state and federal initiatives working on the same behavioral health issue.
Examples of Initiatives Responsive to this NOFO
Below are some examples of initiatives that would be responsive to this NOFO. Applicants should consider interventions that could be transformational in nature, providing whole-person, person-centered care, potential for addressing health-related social needs often contributing to mental health and behavioral healthcare treatment, and tailoring interventions across the life course.This list is not exhaustive of all possible initiatives that are responsive to this NOFO.
Example Initiative: Unhealthy Alcohol Use Screening and Intervention. State data show that unhealthy alcohol use is a leading cause of death and disability. After conferring with the primary care association, medical professional associations, and the Medicaid agency, the applicant has learned that many safety net clinicians are unaware of effective screening and treatment options and of resources in their community. To reduce the rate of unhealthy alcohol use among adults in the state, the recipient will:
Example Initiative: Integrated Screening and Treatment for Depression and Anxiety. Reports from the four largest health systems in the State indicate that only a small portion of the adult population are being screened for depression, anxiety, and suicide risk per recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening rates are lowest in Medical Shortage Areas where residents have lower incomes and are more likely to be uninsured or publicly insured. After convening stakeholders, including the Medicaid agency, major health systems, self-insured employers, small primary care practices, mental health advocacy groups, patients with depression and family members, community mental health centers, and leaders from immigrant communities, the applicant has concluded that this topic is a priority for their State to address and that stigma and lack of trust are barriers to screening and treatment. To decrease the rates of depression and anxiety among adults in the state, the recipient will:
Example Initiative: Implementing the Collaborative Care Model. Studies in the State have demonstrated that immigrants, Hispanic persons, and African American persons seek mental health services at lower rates, and they have fewer completed referrals than White persons. There is also a documented shortage of mental health clinicians who serve Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured. The States Community Mental Health Association, the States Refugee Coordinator, several networks of rural and community health centers, and two Medicaid managed care plans have agreed to implement the Collaborative Care Model, which is effective and efficient and to reduce mental health disparities. The recipient will:
See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.
Investigators proposing clinical trials may refer to the Research Methods Resources website for information about developing statistical methods and study designs.
Cooperative Agreement: A financial assistance mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, AHRQ scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities. See Section VI.2 for additional information about the substantial involvement for this NOFO.
The OER Glossary and the How to Apply - Application Guide provides details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.
Optional: Accepting applications that either propose or do not propose clinical trial(s).
AHRQ intends to fund up to 15 awards. The number of awards is contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Future year funding is contingent upon the availability of funds for each year of support.
The total costs (direct and indirect) for a project awarded under this NOFO will not exceed $6.25 million in any given year and $25 million for the entire project period. Applicants may propose different total annual budgets based on their proposed approach.
An application with a budget that exceeds $6.25 million total costs in any given year or that proposes a project period less than five years will not be reviewed.
Funds may be used only for those expenses that are directly related and necessary to the project and must be expended in compliance with applicable Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards (45 CFR Part 75) and the HHS Grants Policy Statement.
The project period must be 5 years.
These projects are being funded pursuant to 42 USC 299b-37 which authorizes AHRQ to make these awards to support the agency's dissemination of comparative clinical effectiveness research findings
All applications submitted and AHRQ grants made in response to this NOFO are subject to 45 CFR Part 75 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards; https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=pt45.1.75), the HHS Grants Policy Statement (see https://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/hhspolicy/index.html), and the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Award.
Higher Education Institutions
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for AHRQ support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
For-Profit Organizations
Local Governments
Federal Governments
Other
HHS grants policy requires that the grant recipient perform a substantive role in the conduct of the planned project or program activity and not merely serve as a conduit of funds to another party or parties. If consortium/contractual activities represent a significant portion of the overall project, the applicant must justify why the applicant organization, rather than the party(s) performing this portion of the overall project, should be the recipient and what substantive role the applicant organization will play. Justification can be provided in the Specific Aims or Research Strategy section of the PHS398 Research Plan Component sections of the SF424 (R&R) application. There is no budget allocation guideline for determining substantial involvement; determination of substantial involvement is based on a review of the primary project activities for which grant support is provided and the organization(s) that will be performing those activities.
Foreign components, as defined in the HHS Grants Policy Statement via https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf may participate in projects as member of consortia or as subcontractors only.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organization) are not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Applicant organizations
Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply- Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible.
Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))
All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women are always encouraged to apply for AHRQ support.
For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. The AHRQ multiple PDs/PIs policy can be found at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-16-018.html.
PD/PI(s) Level of Effort: For the overall Cooperative, a single PD/PI must devote at least 20% minimum FTE (i.e., at least 8 hours per week) in each given year of the project. If multiple PD(s)/PI(s) are proposed, each PD/PI must devote at least 10% minimum FTE (i.e., at least 4 hours per week). If any effort is in-kind, this should be explained in the budget justification, and a letter of support from an authorized institutional official is required.
This NOFO does not require cost sharing.
While there is no cost sharing requirement included in this NOFO, AHRQ welcomes applicant institutions, including any collaborating institutions, to devote resources to this effort. An indication of institutional support from the applicant and its collaborators indicates a greater potential of success and sustainability of the project. Examples of institutional support would include: donated equipment and space, institutional funded staff time and effort, or other resource investments. Applicant institutions should indicate institutional support by outlining the specific contributions to the project and providing assurances that their organization and any collaborators are committed to providing these funds and resources to the project. This information can be included at the end of the budget justification section of the application, but institutional support dollars are not to be shown/included in the detailed budget request.
Applicant organizations may NOT submit more than one application.
AHRQ will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time.
Applications that describe proposed improvements in healthcare policy, payment, and practice work to be conducted in more than one state will be deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST or an institutional system-to-system solution. A button to apply using ASSIST is available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See the administrative office for instructions if planning to use an institutional system-to-system solution.
It is critical that applicants follow the Multi-Project (M) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise and where instructions in the Application Guide are directly related to the Grants.gov downloadable forms currently used with most AHRQ opportunities. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows AHRQ staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.
In addition, by sending a letter of intent, an applicant is giving AHRQ permission to share the information in the letter of intent with other submitters from your State. AHRQ strongly urges potential applicants in a State to collaborate on a single application.
By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
The letter of intent should be sent to:
Matthew Simpson, MD, MPH
Division of Practice Improvement
Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Email: AHRQ_HES@ahrq.hhs.gov
All page limitations described in the How to Apply- Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.
Component | Component Type for Submission | Page Limit | Required/Optional | Minimum | Maximum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall | Overall | 6 | Required | 1 | 1 |
Admin Core | Admin Core | 6 | Required | 1 | 1 |
Engagement Core | Core | 6 | Required | 1 | 1 |
Monitoring Core | Core | 6 | Required | 1 | 1 |
Initiative Project | Project | 6 | Required | 1 | 1 |
The following section supplements the instructions found in How to Apply- Application Guide and should be used for preparing a multi-component application.
The application should consist of the following components:
AHRQ encourages applicants to check the following webpage for resources for this NOFO: AHRQs Healthcare Extension Service Initiative | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. AHRQ encourages applicants to take advantage of any TA webinars that may be held by AHRQ program staff. Participation is optional and is not required to apply. Information about a TA webinar will be published through the NIH Guide and posted on the AHRQ website.
When preparing the application, use Component Type ‘Overall.
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete entire form.
Follow standard instructions.
Follow standard instructions.
Enter primary site only.
A summary of Project/Performance Sites in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.
Include only the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) and any multi-PDs/PIs (if applicable to this NOFO) for the entire application.
A summary of Senior/Key Persons followed by their Biographical Sketches in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons will be generated upon submission.
The only budget information included in the Overall component is the Estimated Project Funding section of the SF424 (R&R) Cover.
Budget Component: Special Instructions for AHRQ applications.
AHRQ is not using the Modular Grant Application and Award Process. Recipients applying for funding from AHRQ are to ignore application instructions concerning the Modular Grant Application and Award Process and prepare applications using instructions for the Research and Related Budget Components of the SF 424 (R&R). Applications submitted in the Modular format will not be reviewed.
Budget Allocation:
A budget summary in the Overall section of the assembled application image in eRA Commons compiled from detailed budget data collected in the other components will be generated upon submission.
Specific Aims: Clearly indicate the state you will be working in to meet the objectives of the NOFO, and describe the overall focus of the Cooperative and proposed initiative. Summarize the expected outcome(s) of the Cooperative as a whole, including the impact that the results of the proposed initiative will have in the state, particularly as it relates to reducing disparities for safety net populations. Briefly describe how the Cooperative is structured and how the cores and initiative alone and together fit into the overall goals.
Research Strategy: This section should summarize the structure and the overall strategy for the design and approach of the Cooperative. This section should also describe the coordination with other federally funded initiatives, state initiatives, as well as with the NCC and the NEC. The Research Strategy must consist of the following sections:
State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperative Overview.
Responsiveness to State Healthcare Environment. In this section, applicants must describe characteristics of healthcare in their state to demonstrate that the proposed work will address known challenges and to build sustainable learning and improvement systems at the state level to accelerate implementation of evidence-based improvements in healthcare policy, payment, and practice and reduce healthcare disparities especially among Medicaid, uninsured, and medically underserved people. Applicants must also describe current healthcare disparities in their state and how their proposed work may address those disparities. Relevant information may include:
Letters of Support: Letters of support from partner organizations and entities should specify the nature of collaboration and their role in the Cooperative. Applications must include letter(s) of support from an institutional official that endorses the proposed Cooperative and describe the available institutional resources that will support the activities of the Cooperative. Letters from individuals who will serve as consultants or collaborators on the project, but with no specified levels of efforts, should also be included. Do not include letters from individuals who will be supported by the grant who are named in the application. Letters of support, recommendation, or affirmation from any entity or individual not directly participating in the project should not be included. (i.e., general letters of support for the project).
Resource Sharing Plan:
Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification: Data Management Plan should NOT be submitted under Other Plans attachment, it is to be submitted under Resource Sharing plan as per AHRQ DMP policy.
Submission of a data management plan is required. AHRQ applicants are reminded to refer to NOT-HS-20-011: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Data Management Plan Policy (https:/grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-/NOT-HS-20-011.html for additional information on how to incorporate their data management plan into the resource sharing plan.
Appendix:
Only limited items are allowed in the Appendix. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in How to Apply- Application Guide; any instructions provided here are in addition to the How to Apply - Application Guide instructions.
When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the How to Apply - Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:
If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, there must be at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record within the application. The study record(s) must be included in the component(s) where the work is being done, unless the same study spans multiple components. To avoid the creation of duplicate study records, a single study record with sufficient information for all involved components must be included in the Overall component when the same study spans multiple components.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.
Delayed Onset Study
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the How to Apply- Application Guide must be followed.
When preparing your application, use Component Type ‘Admin Core.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Human Subjects: Answer only the ‘Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Travel Funds: The budget should include funds to support travel for members of the Multistakeholder Council to attend meetings.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
Specific Aims: Clearly state how the Administrative Core will provide leadership for the Cooperative and coordinate the proposed activities and maintain internal information flow. This includes managing and coordinating interaction among the PD/PI(s), the cores, personnel at the applicant institution as well as outside institutions, the Multistakeholder Council, stakeholder organizations, appropriate institutional administrative personnel, and the staff of the awarding agency.
Research Strategy: In this section, applicants must describe the structure, governance, and operations of the proposed Cooperative. This includes descriptions of the following:
Letters of Support: Provide letters of support from the Institution(s) and partners that are included in the Cooperative.
The application must include letters of support from collaborating organizations and individuals which document specific contributions, including but not limited to a description of the precise nature of past and proposed collaborations, products, services, and other activities that will be provided by and to the applicant through the proposed collaboration.
Applicants must submit a letter of support from the State Medicaid Agency. Letters of support from the States Medicaid Agency must:
Resource Sharing Plan:
Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide,
When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:
If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed
Delayed Onset Study
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed
When preparing your application, use Component Type ‘Core.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Human Subjects: Answer only the ‘Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
ASSIST will default to Project Lead. If you would like to use a different category, then replace Project Lead below with a different Category (e.g., Core Lead).
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
Specific Aims:
Research Strategy: In this section applicants must describe their approach to the following activities:
Engage safety net healthcare delivery organizations and clinicians to establish and maintain relationships or build upon previous relationships. Applicants must describe:
Design and deliver implementation support, including:
Facilitate learning across the state or sub-state region: Applications must describe the approach to facilitating learning across the state or sub-state region, including:
Letters of support from partner organizations and entities should specify the nature of collaboration and their role in the Engagement, Training, Education, and Assistance Core. Applications must include letter(s) of support from an institutional official that endorse the proposed approach for the Engagement, Training, Education, and Assistance Core and describe the available institutional resources that will support the activities of the Engagement, Training, Education, and Assistance Core. Letters from individuals who will serve as consultants or collaborators on the project, but with no specified levels of efforts, should also be included. Do not include letters from individuals who will be supported by the cooperative agreement and are named in the application.
Resource Sharing Plan:
Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide,
When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:
If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed
Delayed Onset Study
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed
When preparing your application, use Component Type ‘Core.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Human Subjects: Answer only the ‘Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.
Application guide states that Project Narrative is required. However, it is only required for the Overall component. If you would like the applicant to provide a project narrative for this component, update the above instructions accordingly. Specific names provided for Other Attachments must be no more than 50 characters including spaces.
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
ASSIST will default to Project Lead. If you would like to use a different category, then replace Project Lead below with a different Category (e.g., Core Lead).
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
Specific Aims: Succinctly describe the specific objectives and goals of the Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core. In addition, list in priority order, the broad activities, and services of the Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core. In addition, state the Core's relationship to the other Cores in the Cooperative, the initiative in the application, and the National Evaluation Center.
Research Strategy: In this section applicants must describe their monitoring, feedback, and evaluation plans, including:
Letters of support from partner organizations and entities should specify the nature of collaboration and their role in the Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core. Applications must include letter(s) of support from an institutional official that endorse the proposed approach for the Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core and describe the available institutional resources that will support the activities of the Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core. Letters from individuals who will serve as consultants or collaborators on the project, but with no specified levels of efforts, should also be included. Do not include letters from individuals who will be supported by the award and are named in the application.
Resource Sharing Plan:
Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide,
The PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form replaces the Human Subjects section of the Research Plan form. NOFOs that do not allow clinical trials use this form for human subjects. See https://nih-extramural-intranet.od.nih.gov/d/sites/default/files/PHSHumanSubjectsandClinicalTrialsInformationForm-Internal_Use_Only.pptx for more information.
PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information (Monitoring, Feedback, and Evaluation Core)
When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:
If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed
Delayed Onset Study
Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed
When preparing your application, use Component Type ‘Project.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions, as noted.
Complete only the following fields:
Human Subjects: Answer only the ‘Are Human Subjects Involved? and 'Is the Project Exempt from Federal regulations? questions.
Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.
Application guide states that Project Narrative is required. However, it is only required for the Overall component.
List all performance sites that apply to the specific component.
Note: The Project Performance Site form allows up to 300 sites, prior to using additional attachment for additional entries.
ASSIST will default to Project Lead. If you would like to use a different category, then replace Project Lead below with a different Category (e.g., Core Lead).
Budget forms appropriate for the specific component will be included in the application package.
Note: The R&R Budget form included in many of the component types allows for up to 100 Senior/Key Persons in section A and 100 Equipment Items in section C prior to using attachments for additional entries. All other SF424 (R&R) instructions apply.
Specific Aims: List the Aims of the proposed project. State the individual project's relationship to the Cooperative's overall goals and milestones and how it relates to other projects or cores.
Research Strategy: This section should provide a detailed discussion of all aspects of the required behavioral health initiative. Recipients should consult with the Multistakeholder Council after award and may change specifics of the Initiative based on stakeholders input. Applicants must address the following:
Resource Sharing Plan:
Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide,
The PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form replaces the Human Subjects section of the Research Plan form. NOFOs that do not allow clinical trials use this form for human subjects. See https://nih-extramural-intranet.od.nih.gov/d/sites/default/files/PHSHumanSubjectsandClinicalTrialsInformationForm-Internal_Use_Only.pptx for more information.
When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and clinical trials follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:
If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or a Delayed Onset Study record.
Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed
Delayed Onset StudyNote: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start).All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
See Part 2. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov
Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates and times. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.
Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies) using ASSIST or other electronic submission systems. Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIHs electronic system for grants administration. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late.
Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.
Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in How to Apply- Application Guide.
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
For efficient grant administration, AHRQ grant administration procedures will be used and conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement. The Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://www.ahrq.gov/funding/grants/policies/hhspolicy.html.
Grant funds may NOT be used for the purchase of food of any kind (refreshments, meals, etc.). AHRQ will not award funds to support the cost of food.
These awards will not be made under expanded authorities; therefore, pre-award costs are not allowable.
NOTE: No-Cost Extensions will not be allowed.
Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.
For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit How to Apply – Application Guide. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance. For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII.
Important reminders:
All PD(s)/PI(s) and component Project Leads must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile form. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to AHRQ.
The applicant organization must ensure that the unique entity identifier provided on the application is the same identifier used in the organizations profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
See more tips for avoiding common errors.
The applicant should pay particular attention to the SF424 (R&R) application guide instructions https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-f/general-forms-f.pdf) concerning letters of support. Letters of support, recommendation, or affirmation from any entity or individual not directly participating in the project should not be included.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review, and for responsiveness by AHRQ. Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will not be reviewed.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of human subjects is not required prior to peer review of an application (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-00-003.html). However, initiation of IRB review, if necessary or applicable, is strongly encouraged to assure timely commencement of research.
Although there is no immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of an application, applicants are generally notified of the review and funding assignment within eight (8) weeks.
Please be sure that you observe the total cost, project period, and page number limitations specified above for this NOFO. Application processing may be delayed or the application may be rejected if it does not comply with these requirements.
Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy. Any instructions provided here are in addition to the instructions in the policy.
Priority Populations
AHRQ is committed to the inclusion of priority populations in health services research. The overall portfolio of health services research that AHRQ conducts and supports shall include the populations specifically named in AHRQ’s authorizing legislation: inner city; rural; low income; minority; women; children; elderly; and those with special health care needs, including those who have disabilities, need chronic care, or need end-of-life health care. 42 U.S.C. 299(c)(1). AHRQ also includes in its definition of priority populations those groups identified in Section 2(a) of Executive Order 13985 as members of underserved communities: Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
AHRQ will broadly implement this inclusion policy across the research that AHRQ supports and conducts so that the portfolio of research is inclusive of all populations. AHRQ intends that these populations be included in studies such that the research design explicitly allows conduct of valid analyses. The policy applies to all grant applications. Investigators should review the document entitled, AHRQ Policy on the Inclusion of Priority Populations, which is available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-21-015.html. Applicants under this NOFO must consider and discuss including priority populations in research design as specified in this Notice.
Public Access to AHRQ-Funded Scientific Publications
Investigators should review the document titled AHRQ Announces new Policy for Public Access to AHRQ-Funded Scientific Publications , which is available at (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-16-008.html). For all research arising from AHRQ support, this policy requires that AHRQ-funded authors submit an electronic version of the author’s final peer-reviewed accepted manuscript to the National Library of Medicine's PubMed Central (PMC) to be made publicly available within 12 months of the publisher’s date of publication.
AHRQ Data Management Plan Policy
Investigators should review the document titled AHRQ Data Management Plan (DMP) Policy, which is available at (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-20-011.html). This policy requires applicants for AHRQ new/competing grants and research contracts to include a DMP for managing, storing and disseminating the primary data, samples, physical collections, and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of research funded by AHRQ, or state why data management is not possible, as a component of their grant application or research contract application.
Plan for Sharing Research Data
The precise content of the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and how the investigator is planning to share the data. Applicants who are planning to share data should describe briefly the expected schedule for data sharing; the format of the final dataset; the documentation to be provided; whether or not any analytic tools also will be provided; whether or not a data-sharing agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such an agreement (including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and whether or not any conditions will be placed on their use); and the mode of data sharing (e.g., under its own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data on its institutional or personal website or through a data archive or enclave). Investigators choosing to share under their own auspices may wish to enter into a data-sharing agreement. References to data sharing may also be appropriate in other sections of the application.
The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.
Data Confidentiality
The AHRQ confidentiality statute, 42 USC 299c-3(c), requires that information that is obtained in the course of AHRQ supported activities and that identifies individuals or establishments be used only for the purpose for which it was supplied. Information that is obtained in the course of AHRQ-supported activities and that identifies an individual may be published or released only with the consent of the individual who supplied the information or is described in it. There are civil monetary penalties for violation of the confidentiality provision of the AHRQ statute. 42 USC 299c-3(d). In the Human Subjects section of the application, applicants must describe procedures for ensuring the confidentiality of the identifying information to be collected (see NOT-HS-18-012: Confidentiality in AHRQ-Supported Research). The description of the procedures should include a discussion of who will be permitted access to this information, both raw data and machine-readable files, and how personal identifiers and other identifying or identifiable data will be restricted and safeguarded. Identifiable patient health information collected by recipient under this NOFO will also be obtained and managed in accordance with the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164.
The recipient should ensure that computer systems containing confidential data have a level and scope of security that equals or exceeds that established by the HIPAA Security Rules if applicable (see HIPAA website in prior paragraph) and that established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in OMB Circular No. A-130, Appendix III - Security of Federal Automated Information Systems. The applicability and intended means of applying these confidentiality and security standards to subcontractors and vendors, if any, should be addressed in the application.
Sharing Research Resources: Rights in Data
Unless otherwise provided in grant awards, AHRQ recipients may copyright, or seek patents for, as appropriate, final and interim products and materials developed in whole or in part with AHRQ support, including, but not limited to, methodological tools, measures, software with documentation, literature searches, and analyses. Such copyrights and patents are subject to a royalty-free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable AHRQ license to reproduce, publish, use, or disseminate for any purpose consistent with AHRQ’s statutory responsibilities and to authorize others to do so for any purpose consistent with AHRQ’s statutory responsibilities. In accordance with its legislative dissemination mandate, AHRQ purposes may include, subject to statutory confidentiality protections, making project materials, databases, results, and algorithms available for verification or replication by other researchers. In addition, subject to AHRQ budget constraints, final products may be made available to the health care community and the public by AHRQ or its agents if such distribution would significantly increase access to a product and thereby produce substantial or valuable public health benefits. Ordinarily, to accomplish distribution, AHRQ publicizes research findings but relies on recipients to publish research results in peer-reviewed journals and to market grant-supported products. AHRQ requests that recipients notify the Office of Communications (OC) when an AHRQ-funded research article has been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Researchers should submit manuscripts that have been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal to JournalPublishing@ahrq.hhs.gov at least four to six weeks in advance of the journal’s expected publication date.
Regulations applicable to AHRQ recipients concerning intangible rights and copyright can be found at 45 CFR 75.322.
The mission of AHRQ is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.
AHRQ's priority areas of focus are detailed here: https://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/nofoguidance/index.html.
As part of this mission, applications are submitted to AHRQ to support health services research which are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the AHRQ peer review system.
Applications that are complete and responsive to the NOFO will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate objective group convened in accordance with standard AHRQ peer-review procedures that are described in 42 CFR Part 67, Subpart A. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications or applications not following instructions given in this NOFO will not be reviewed. Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process.
Merit Review Criteria: Merit Review Criteria, as described below, will be considered in the review process.
A proposed Clinical Trial application may include study design, methods, and intervention that are not by themselves innovative but address important questions or unmet needs. Additionally, the results of the clinical trial may indicate that further clinical development of the intervention is unwarranted or lead to new avenues of scientific investigation.
Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.
Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? Is the prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project rigorous? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?
How will successful completion of the proposed work result in new, sustainable capacity to increase the delivery of PCOR evidence-based improvements in the state?
How will successful completion of the proposed work reduce disparities within the State in the delivery of PCOR evidence-based interventions to safety net populations?
How does the proposed work support a significant increase, as opposed to a modest incremental improvement, in the states capacity to disseminate and implement PCOR evidence-based improvements for safety net organizations?
In addition, for applications involving clinical trials
Are the scientific rationale and need for a clinical trial to test the proposed hypothesis or intervention well supported by preliminary data, clinical and/or preclinical studies, or information in the literature or knowledge of biological mechanisms? For trials focusing on clinical or public health endpoints, is this clinical trial necessary for testing the safety, efficacy or effectiveness of an intervention that could lead to a change in clinical practice, community behaviors or health care policy? For trials focusing on mechanistic, behavioral, physiological, biochemical, or other biomedical endpoints, is this trial needed to advance scientific understanding?
Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or those in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?
Do the PD(s)/PI(s) have experience working in the state and with key stakeholders in the state including payors and healthcare delivery organizations that address the health needs of people who are underserved?
Is the single PD/PI devoting at least 20% minimum FTE (i.e., at least 8 hours per week) in each given year of the project? Are the multiple PD(s)/PI(s) each devoting at least 10% minimum FTE (i.e., at least 4 hours per week)?
Is the Liaison to the NEC devoting at least 25% FTE to evaluation liaison activities?
In addition, for applications involving clinical trials
With regard to the proposed leadership for the project, do the PD/PI(s) and key personnel have the expertise, experience, and ability to organize, manage and implement the proposed clinical trial and meet milestones and timelines? Do they have appropriate expertise in study coordination, data management and statistics? For a multicenter trial, is the organizational structure appropriate and does the application identify a core of potential center investigators and staffing for a coordinating center?
Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?
In addition, for applications involving clinical trials
Does the design/research plan include innovative elements, as appropriate, that enhance its sensitivity, potential for information or potential to advance scientific knowledge or clinical practice?
Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Have the investigators included plans to address weaknesses in the rigor of prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project? Have the investigators presented strategies to ensure a robust and unbiased approach, as appropriate for the work proposed? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed? Have the investigators presented adequate plans to address relevant biological variables, such as sex, for studies for human subjects?
If the project involves human subjects and/or clinical research, are the plans to address:
1) the protection of human subjects from research risks, and
2) inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion or exclusion of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults), justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?
To what extent has the applicant demonstrated a clear understanding of the context of healthcare delivery in the state, including safety net healthcare delivery organizations and geographic diversity, and the need for this program and the planned activities.
In addition, for applications involving clinical trials
Does the application adequately address the following, if applicable
Study Design
Is the study design justified and appropriate to address primary and secondary outcome variable(s)/endpoints that will be clear, informative and relevant to the hypothesis being tested? Is the scientific rationale/premise of the study based on previously well-designed preclinical and/or clinical research? Given the methods used to assign participants and deliver interventions, is the study design adequately powered to answer the research question(s), test the proposed hypothesis/hypotheses, and provide interpretable results? Is the trial appropriately designed to conduct the research efficiently? Are the study populations (size, gender, age, demographic group), proposed intervention arms/dose, and duration of the trial, appropriate and well justified?
Are potential ethical issues adequately addressed? Is the process for obtaining informed consent or assent appropriate? Is the eligible population available? Are the plans for recruitment outreach, enrollment, retention, handling dropouts, missed visits, and losses to follow-up appropriate to ensure robust data collection? Are the planned recruitment timelines feasible and is the plan to monitor accrual adequate? Has the need for randomization (or not), masking (if appropriate), controls, and inclusion/exclusion criteria been addressed? Are differences addressed, if applicable, in the intervention effect due to sex/gender and race/ethnicity?
Are the plans to standardize, assure quality of, and monitor adherence to, the trial protocol and data collection or distribution guidelines appropriate? Is there a plan to obtain required study agent(s)? Does the application propose to use existing available resources, as applicable?
Data Management and Statistical Analysis
Are planned analyses and statistical approach appropriate for the proposed study design and methods used to assign participants and deliver interventions? Are the procedures for data management and quality control of data adequate at clinical site(s) or at center laboratories, as applicable? Have the methods for standardization of procedures for data management to assess the effect of the intervention and quality control been addressed? Is there a plan to complete data analysis within the proposed period of the award?
Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?
To what extent do letters of support from collaborating organizations and individuals indicate substantial engagement and document specific contributions of the partner during the proposed collaboration?
In addition, for applications involving clinical trials
Does the application adequately address the following, if applicable
If proposed, are the administrative, data coordinating, enrollment and laboratory/testing centers, appropriate for the trial proposed?
Does the application adequately address the capability and ability to conduct the trial at the proposed site(s) or centers? Are the plans to add or drop enrollment centers, as needed, appropriate?
If international site(s) is/are proposed, does the application adequately address the complexity of executing the clinical trial?
If multi-sites/centers, is there evidence of the ability of the individual site or center to: (1) enroll the proposed numbers; (2) adhere to the protocol; (3) collect and transmit data in an accurate and timely fashion; and, (4) operate within the proposed organizational structure?
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.
How effectively will the applicants proposed approach facilitate learning across the state or sub-state region?
How effectively does the applicants proposed approach utilize healthcare extension agents to provide support for dissemination and implementation of PCOR evidence-based improvements?
How likely is it that the monitoring and feedback activities will enable the Cooperative to refine and improve its Cores and the initiative?
How likely is it that the evaluation will provide valid and useful information for state and national stakeholders?
Are the evaluation questions clear, meaningful, and consistent with the objectives of this NOFO?
How well does the applicants proposed approach fulfill the requirements of the Administrative Core?
How effectively will the applicants proposed approach create a Multistakeholder Council that can provide guidance and support for the Cooperative's initiative?
How effectively does the applicants approach create a Multistakeholder Council that includes participation from safety net healthcare delivery organizations and patients, families, and caregivers that represent the states diversity?
How likely is it that the approach of the Initiative will accelerate PCOR evidence-based improvement?
How effectively will the proposed Initiative address the needs and priorities of the state?
Data Management Plan
The reviewers will comment on whether the Data Management Plan is reasonable
Inclusion of Priority Populations
Peer reviewers will assess the adequacy of plans to address the needs of AHRQ priority populations.
Peer reviewers must include their assessment of the proposed inclusion plan for priority populations in evaluating the overall scientific and technical merit of the application and assigning the impact score.
In evaluating the overall impact of the application, the review groups will:
Degree of Responsiveness
Reviewers will assess how well the application addresses the purpose and objectives of this NOFO. How responsive is the application to the special eligibility criteria, including the project requirements, noted in the NOFO?
Budget and Period of Support
The committee will evaluate whether the proposed budget is reasonable, and whether the requested period of support is appropriate in relation to the proposed research.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
None
Not Applicable
Applications that are complete and responsive to the NOFO will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate Scientific Review Group convened in accordance with standard AHRQ peer review procedures that are described in 42 CFR Part 67, Subpart A. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications or applications not following instructions given in this NOFO will not be reviewed.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:
The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access their Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons. Refer to Part 1 for dates for peer review, advisory council review, and earliest start date.
Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the HHS Grants Policy Statement (see https://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/hhspolicy/index.html).
If the application is under consideration for funding, AHRQ Division of Grants Management staff will request "Just-In-Time" information from the applicant. Just-In-Time information generally consists of information on other support, any additional information necessary to address administrative and budgetary issues, and certification of IRB approval of the project's proposed use of human subjects. For details regarding IRB approval, applicants may refer to the "AHRQ Revised Policy for Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review of Human Subjects Protocols in Grant Applications" (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not-hs-00-003.html). Applicant should also be aware of the AHRQ policy for use of single IRB for cooperative research, 45 CFR 46.114 (b) https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-20-005.html".
IIf all administrative and programmatic issues are resolved, a formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the AHRQ grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the e-mail address designated by the recipient organization during the eRA Commons registration process.
Recipients must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.6. Funding Restrictions.
Any application awarded in response to this NOFO will be subject to the UEI, SAM Registration, and Transparency Act requirements.
Individual awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the AHRQ and are subject to the AHRQ-specific terms and conditions identified in the NoA.
All AHRQ grant and cooperative agreement awards are subject to HHSs Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards, (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=pt45.1.75, and the HHS Grants Policy Statement (see http://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/hhspolicy/index.html), and the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Award.
All applicants will be subject to a term and condition that applies the terms of 48 CFR section 3.908 to the award and requires that recipients inform their employees in writing of employee whistleblower rights and protections under 41 U.S.C. 4712 in the predominant native language of the workforce.
As necessary, additional Terms and Conditions will be incorporated into the NoA.
If you are successful and receive a Notice of Award, in accepting the award, you agree that the award and any activities thereunder are subject to all provisions of 45 CFR Part 75, currently in effect or implemented during the period of the award, other Department regulations and policies in effect at the time of the award, and applicable statutory provisions.
If you receive an award, HHS may terminate it if any of the conditions in 2 CFR 200.340(a)(1)-(4) are met. No other termination conditions apply.
There is a prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment that became effective on or after August 13, 2020.
If you receive an award, you must follow all applicable nondiscrimination laws. You agree to this when you register in SAM.gov. You must also submit an Assurance of Compliance (HHS-690). To learn more, see the HHS Office for Civil Rights website.
Below are available HHS resources on Health Literacy:
For additional guidance regarding how the provisions apply to AHRQ grant programs, please contact the Scientific/Research Contact that is identified in Section VII under Agency Contacts of this NOFO.
In accordance with the statutory provisions contained in Section 872 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417), AHRQ awards will be subject to the Federal Recipient Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) requirements. FAPIIS requires Federal award making officials to review and consider information about an applicant in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS) prior to making an award. An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a Federal agency previously entered and is currently in FAPIIS. The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgement about the applicants integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR Part 75.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants. This provision will apply to all AHRQ grants and cooperative agreements except fellowships.
The following Terms and Conditions will be incorporated into the award notice and will be provided to the recipient at the time of award.
Terms and Conditions of Cooperative Agreement Award
The following special terms of award are in addition to otherwise applicable OMB administrative guidelines, DHHS grant administration regulations at 45 CFR Parts 75, and other DHHS, PHS, and AHRQ grant administration policy statements. AHRQ will use these procedures in evaluating and administering this cooperative agreement.
The administrative and funding instrument used for this program is the cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is an "assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition mechanism), in which substantial AHRQ programmatic involvement with the recipient is anticipated during the performance of the activities. Under a cooperative agreement, the AHRQ purpose is to support and stimulate the recipients' activities by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award recipient in a partnership role; it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activities. Consistent with this concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility resides with the grant recipient and the PD(s)/PI(s) for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities may be shared between the recipient and AHRQ as described in the NOFO. Cooperative activities are intended to strengthen the individual recipient activities through the facilitation of data sharing, data access and communications.
All cooperative activities that include significant government involvement will require prior approval by AHRQ.
Activities conducted under this award that involve the collection of information e.g., conducting surveys or requesting responses to uniform questions from nine or more persons, establishments or other entities, with certain exceptions, are currently required to be cleared by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). (44 USC 3501-3521). PRA review and approval is required in cooperative agreements if AHRQ has significant input or control over the data collection activity. Submissions for clearance under the PRA are through AHRQ and HHS. Therefore, impacted recipients should include the time in their proposed timelines to develop materials and receive necessary clearances. It typically takes at least 6 months from date of initial submission to AHRQ and sometimes much longer if submissions are incomplete or the justification for the proposed data collection plans are questioned during the clearance process. Information collection that requires PRA clearance may not begin until recipients receive written notification via e-mail from AHRQ that clearance has been obtained.
obtained. Detailed information on the PRA can be found at Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 | Guidance Portal (hhs.gov)
Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Responsibilities
The PD(s)/PI(s) will have the primary responsibility for operating the Cooperative in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Notice of Award, and cooperating with other key parties, including the AHRQ Program Official, other recipients, the NCC, and the NEC.
The PD(s)/PI(s) will be responsible for sharing issues with AHRQ and the NCC as it relates to the formation and operation of the Cooperative.
The PD(s)/PI(s) will be responsible for collaborating with AHRQ staff, the NEC, and the NCC in the publication and dissemination of program results and the eventual release to the scientific and healthcare communities of methods, tools, results, and other resources.
The PD(s)/PI(s) will participate in monthly teleconferences with the Program Official and representatives from the NEC, NCC, or other AHRQ personnel as appropriate. The PD(s)/PI(s) will attend an annual meeting with AHRQ and other recipients, which is held in the Washington, D.C. area.
Learning Networks of State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives will be created to bring together recipients, NCC staff, NEC staff, and AHRQ staff to discuss progress on the Healthcare Extension Service, identify common challenges and engage in problem solving. Each PD/PI and any key personnel for the Cooperative's cores are expected to participate in the learning networks.
In addition to the annual progress report, the recipient is required to submit quarterly progress reports to AHRQ. The recipient is required to submit a logic model within the first six months of award. Instructions on reporting requirements will be provided at the time of award.
AHRQ Responsibilities
AHRQ program staff will have substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as described below.
Cooperative activities are intended to strengthen individual projects and at the same time generate collaboration across the projects. Specific cooperative aims and activities in carrying out individual projects may be shared among the recipients and with the NCC, the NEC, and the AHRQ program officials.
AHRQ staff will provide advice and support to the recipient and will assist in the cooperative work of the project beyond the usual program stewardship for grants.
The Program Official will maintain regular contact with the PD(s)/PI(s) to consult on key project decisions, help to troubleshoot implementation barriers and challenges, and confirm that projects are proceeding according to project timelines and plans. The Program Official will coordinate with the recipient, the NEC, and the NCC to disseminate project findings to research and policy audiences. Progress will be reviewed quarterly.
AHRQ will:
Additionally, AHRQ program staff will be responsible for the normal scientific and programmatic stewardship of the award and will be named in the award notice.
Collaborative Responsibilities
Awardees will be required to work collaboratively with each other and with AHRQ to share information and develop common resources as noted above. Awardees and AHRQ will also participate in periodic meetings including monthly teleconferences and annual in-person meetings.
For details regarding annual progress report submission, refer to https://www.ahrq.gov/funding/grant-mgmt/noncomp.html. If instructions on the AHRQ website are different from the RPPR Instructions, follow the instructions on the AHRQ website. Annual progress reports are due 3 months before the start date of the next budget period of the award.
Recipients are required to submit expenditure data on the Federal Financial Report (FFR; SF 425) annually.
Expenditure data is to be reported on the Federal Financial Report (FFR; SF 425). AHRQ requires annual financial expenditure reports for ALL grant programs as described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement (https://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/hhspolicy/index.html). AHRQ implementation of the FFR retains a financial reporting period that coincides with the budget period of a particular project. However, the due date for annual FFRs is 90 days after the end of the calendar quarter in
which the budget period ends. For example, if the budget period ends 4/30/2023, the annual FFR is due 9/30/2023 (90 days after the end of the calendar quarter of 6/30/2023).
A final Progress Report, final Federal Financial Report, and Final Invention Statement are required when an award ends. All final reports are due within 120 days of the project period end date. For further details regarding grant closeout requirements, refer to http://www.ahrq.gov/funding/grant-mgmt/index.html#Closeout.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for recipients of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All recipients of applicable AHRQ grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over the threshold. See the 2 CFR Part 170 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-170) for additional information on this reporting requirement.
In accordance with the regulatory requirements provided at 45 CFR 75.113 and 2 CFR Part 200.113 and Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200, recipients that have currently active Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies with a cumulative total value greater than $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of a Federal award, must report and maintain the currency of information reported in the System for Award Management (SAM) about civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings in connection with the award or performance of a Federal award that reached final disposition within the most recent five-year period. The recipient must also make semiannual disclosures regarding such proceedings. Proceedings information will be made publicly available in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS). This is a statutory requirement under section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement contracts, will be publicly available. Full reporting requirements and procedures are found in Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200 – Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.
Program planning and performance reporting requirements:
Recipient performance will be measured based on success in the following Program goals:
Reach: Who was reached by the project?
Structure and Process: What strategies were implemented and how?
Impact: What was the impact of implemented improvements?
We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.
eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, and post-submission issues)
Finding Help Online: https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
General Grants Information (Questions regarding application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources)
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-480-7075
Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace)
Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
Email: support@grants.gov
Matthew Simpson, MD, MPH
Division of Practice Improvement
Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Email: AHRQ_HES@ahrq.hhs.gov
Examine your eRA Commons account for review assignment and contact information (information appears two weeks after the submission due date).
Xavier Bogle, PhD
Scientific Review Officer
Division of Scientific Review
Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Email: DSR@ahrq.hhs.gov
Name: Janene Dyson
Office of Management Services
Division of Grants Management
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Telephone: 301-427-1491
Email: Janene.Dyson@ahrq.hhs.gov
Recently issued AHRQ policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by AHRQ is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. Notices can also be found at AHRQ Grants Policy Notices (https://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/hhspolicy/index.html).
This program is described in the Assistance Listings (formerly called the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) at https://sam.gov/content/home and is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.
Awards are made under the authority of 42 USC 299 et seq., and in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75 and other referenced applicable statutes and regulations. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement. The HHS Grants Policy Statement can be found at http://www.ahrq.gov/funding/policies/hhspolicy/index.html