HHS – Health Center Program – Service Area Competition (2016)

By NLADA on October 2, 2015 • ( 0 )

Applications Due: December 2, 2015, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Description:

The Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA), Health Resources and Services Administration is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2016 Service Area Competition (SAC) under the Health Center Program. The purpose of this grant program is to improve the health of the nation’s underserved communities and vulnerable populations by assuring continued access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services. Health Center Program grants support a variety of community-based and patient-directed public and private nonprofit organizations that provide primary and preventive health care services to the nation’s medically underserved.

Funding Title: Service Area Competition, Health Center Program

Estimated Total Program Funding: $105 million

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-16-007

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 provide for 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 “Additional 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: 51

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 December 2, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Step 2 – HRSA EHB – Supplemental information must be submitted via HRSA EHB no later than December 17, 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: December 2, 2015, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Length of Project Period: May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2019 (Up to three years)

Project Start Date: May 1, 2016

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.

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.

Link to Full Announcement: Search here by funding opportunity number HRSA-16-007

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

Donna Marx

HRSA Division of Grants Management Operations

Office of Federal Assistance Management

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

HRSA Office of Policy and Program Development

Bureau of Primary Health Care

301-594-4300

BPHCSAC@hrsa.gov

SAC Technical Assistance web site

Additional technical assistance regarding this FOA may be obtained by contacting the appropriate PCAs, PCOs, or NCAs. For a list of contacts, see Support Networks.

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