HHS – Health Center Program – Service Area Competition (2- 2015)

By NLADA on July 19, 2015 • ( 0 )

Applications Due: August 31, 2015, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Description: This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits applications for the Health Center Program’s Service Area Competition (SAC). The Health Center Program supports patientdirected public and private nonprofit organizations that provide primary and preventive health care services to the Nation’s medically underserved. The purpose of the SAC funding opportunity is to ensure continued access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services for communities and vulnerable populations served by the Health Center Program.

Funding Title: Service Area Competition, Health Center Program

Agency Name: Health Resources and Services Administration, Health and Human Services

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. Form 5A (Services Provided) mentions legal aid in two sections. In the required service of “Eligibility Assistance”, the form states: “Eligibility assistance services are support to health center patients to establish eligibility for and gain access to appropriate federal, state and local programs that provideor financially support the provision of medical, social, educational, housing, or other related services (e.g., Medicaid, Veteran’s benefits, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Legal Aid).”

In the optional “Additonal Enabling/Supportive Services” section, the form states: “Additional enabling/supportive services are beyond any required case management services and support a health center patient’s access to non-medical, social, educational or other related services (e.g., child care, food banks/meals, employment and education counseling, legal services/legal aid).”

Target Population: Underserved communities and vulnerable populations in need of comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services

Expected Number of Awards: 123

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

How to Apply: HRSA requires applicants for this funding opportunity announcement to apply electronically through Grants.gov and in HRSA EHB. Applicants must use a two-tier submission process for the Service Area Competition and follow the directions provided at Grants.gov and in HRSA EHB.

• Step 1 – Grants.gov – Required information must be submitted and validated by Grants.gov no later than August 31, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

• Step 2 – HRSA EHB – Supplemental information must be submitted via HRSA EHB no later than September 15, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Only applicants who successfully submit and have an application validated in Grants.gov (Step 1) by the due date/time may submit the additional required information in HRSA EHB (Step 2). Within seven business days following successful submission of the required items in Grants.gov, applicants will be notified by HRSA confirming the successful receipt of the application and requiring the Project Director and Authorized Organization Representative to submit additional information in HRSA EHB.

Current Closing Date for Applications: August 31, 2015, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Estimated Total Program Funding: $278,000,000

Award Ceiling: $0

Award Floor: $0

Eligible Applicants: Public or nonprofit private entity, including tribal, faith-based, or community-based organizations that proposes to provide comprehensive primary health care services to a service area and its associated population(s) and patients identified in the Service Area Announcement Table (SAAT)

Priority Consideration: This funding opportunity includes a funding priority for competing continuation applicants. A funding priority is defined as the favorable adjustment of review scores when applications meet specified criteria. Applicants do not need to request a funding priority. Prior to final funding decisions, HRSA will assess all SAC applications within the fundable range for eligibility to receive priority points, as demonstrated in the Health Center Profile.

The FY 2016 SAC funding opportunity has one funding priority. To minimize potential service disruptions and maximize the effective use of federal grant dollars, HRSA will award priority points to competing continuation applicants according to the criteria below.

• Program Compliance: HRSA will award 5 points to competing continuation applicants applying to continue serving their current service area and with no Health Center Program requirement conditions (see PAL 2014-08) in 60-day, 30-day, or default status phase of Progressive Action at the time of application.

• Patient Trend: HRSA will award an additional 5 points to competing continuation applicants applying to continue serving their current service area, if they meet the criterion for Program Compliance above AND they have a positive or neutral 3-year patient growth trend (+/- 5 percent). Patient trend points will not be awarded if the Program Compliance criterion is not met.

Policy and Regulations on Use of Funds: See Funding Opportunity Announcement

Link to Full Announcement: Here

Contact Information: Applicants may obtain additional information regarding business, administrative, or fiscal issues related to this funding opportunity announcement by contacting:

Donna Marx, 301-594-4245, dmarx@hrsa.gov

Additional information related to the overall program issues and/or technical assistance regarding this funding announcement may be obtained by contacting:

Beth Hartmayer, 301-594-4300, BPHCSAC@hrsa.gov

Applicants may need assistance when working online to submit their application forms electronically. Applicants should always obtain a case number when calling for support. For assistance with submitting the application in Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov 24 hours a day, seven days a week, excluding federal holidays at:

Grants.gov Contact Center 1-800-518-4726, (International Callers, please dial 606-545-5035) support@grants.gov

For assistance with submitting the remaining information in HRSA EHB, contact HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays:

BPHC Helpline 1-877-974-2742

http://www.hrsa.gov/about/contact/bphc.aspx (select Grant Application as the Issue Type)