BHW HRSA 24-015 (E01) NFLP_DPSD_DNPH Final-MOD-12.4.23.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2024

Bureau of Health Workforce

Division of Nursing and Public Health

Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-24-015

Funding Opportunity Type(s): Competing Continuation, New

Assistance Listing Number: 93.264

Application Due Date: February 5, 2024 Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current immediately!

We will not approve deadline extensions for lack of registration.

Registration in all systems may take up to 1 month to complete.

Issuance Date: November 7, 2023

Nawall Kertache Project Officer, Division of Nursing and Public Health Call: (301) 443-0921 Email: NFLP@hrsa.gov

See Section VII for a complete list of agency contacts.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. § 297n-1 (Public Health Service Act Section 846A).

mailto:NFLP@hrsa.gov

HRSA-24-015 NFLP i

508 COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

Persons using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, email or call one of the HRSA staff listed in Section VII Agency Contacts.

SUMMARY

Funding Opportunity Title: Nurse Faculty Loan Program

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-24-015

Assistance Listing Number: 93.264

Due Date for Applications: February 5, 2024

Purpose: To increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide by providing low interest loans for individuals studying to be nurse faculty and loan cancelation for those who then go on to work as faculty

Program Objective(s): 1. Increasing the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide by supporting training of advanced education nursing students who will serve as nurse faculty upon graduation, with a focus on doctorate preparation;

2. Decreasing the financial barrier of serving as nurse faculty through loan cancellation;

and

3. Expanding clinical training capacity by increasing access to designated joint nurse faculty (serving as APRN preceptors, etc.).

Eligible Applicants: Domestic accredited schools of nursing with advanced education nursing programs

Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)

Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) See Section III of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for complete eligibility information.

HRSA-24-015 NFLP ii

Anticipated FY 2024 Total Available Funding:

$26,500,000

We’re issuing this notice to ensure that, should funds be appropriated for this purpose, we can process applications and award funds appropriately.

Estimated Number and Type of Award(s):

Up to 90 grants

Estimated Award Amount: Up to $3,000,000 per award, subject to the availability of appropriated funds (This ceiling amount reflects the maximum requested award amount, which is part of the NFLP Formula calculation)

Cost Sharing or Matching Required:

Yes

Period of Performance: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 (1 year)

Agency Contacts: Business, administrative, or fiscal issues:

Timothy P. Coyle Grants Management Specialist, Division of Grants Management Operations, OFAM Email: TCoyle@hrsa.gov

Program issues or technical assistance:

Nawall Kertache Project Officer, Division of Nursing and Public Health Bureau of Health Workforce Email: NFLP@hrsa.gov

Application Guide

You (the applicant organization / agency) are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in this NOFO and in HRSA R&R Application Guide (R&R Application Guide). Visit HRSA’s How to Prepare Your Application page for more information.

mailto:TCoyle@hrsa.gov mailto:XXXX@hrsa.gov https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/sf-424-rr-app-guide.pdf https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/sf-424-rr-app-guide.pdf https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/sf-424-rr-app-guide.pdf https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application

HRSA-24-015 NFLP iii

Technical Assistance

We will hold a pre-application technical assistance (TA) webinar for applicants seeking funding through this opportunity. The webinar will provide an overview of pertinent information in the NOFO and an opportunity for applicants to ask questions. Visit the HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce’s open opportunities website to learn more about the resources available for this funding opportunity.

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/fundingopportunities/default.aspx

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 0

Table of Contents

I. PROGRAM FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

1. PURPOSE

2. BACKGROUND

II. AWARD INFORMATION

1. TYPE OF APPLICATION AND AWARD

2. SUMMARY OF FUNDING

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

2. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

3. OTHER

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

i. Project Abstract

ii. Project Narrative

iii. Budget

iv. Budget Justification Narrative

v. Program-Specific Forms

vi. Attachments

3. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

4. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

5. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

6. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. REVIEW CRITERIA

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

3. ASSESSMENT OF RISK

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. AWARD NOTICES

2. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

3. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX: A: SAMPLE NFLP TERMS

APPENDIX B: SAMPLE NURSE FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM SPECIFIC DATA FORM

APPENDIX C: SAMPLE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH FORM

APPENDIX D: HRSA TRAINING RESOURCES

APPENDIX E: PAGE LIMIT WORKSHEET

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 1

I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP).

The NFLP program seeks to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide by providing low interest loans for individuals studying to be nurse faculty and loan cancelation for those who then go on to work as faculty. A robust, geographically dispersed nurse faculty workforce is essential to producing the nursing workforce needed to meet US health care needs. Successful applicants establish and operate a student loan program including maintaining a fund, providing loans to students enrolled in advanced education nursing degree programs, and monitoring compliance with program requirements. In exchange for completion of up to four years of post-graduation full-time nurse faculty employment in an accredited school of nursing, graduates receive cancellation of up to 85 percent of the original student loan amount (plus interest thereon) as authorized by the program. Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who serve as full-time preceptors within an academic-practice partnership framework are considered faculty under the NFLP, to support the expansion of clinical training opportunities for nursing students.

For more details, see Program Requirements and Expectations.

2. Background

The NFLP program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 297n-1 (Public Health Service Act Section 846A).

HRSA projections show shortages and maldistribution of the nursing workforce supply across the United States1 as the need for health care grows.1 Shortages and maldistribution are partially attributed to nursing school faculty shortages, which affect nursing program enrollments. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found that over 80,000 qualified applicants were turned away from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs due, in part, to faculty shortages.2 Nursing schools have reported a shortage of faculty and/or clinical preceptors as top reasons for not accepting all qualified applicants into their programs.

1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. (Nov 2022). Nurse Workforce Projections, 2020-2035.

Rockville, MD. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/Nursing-Workforce- Projections-Factsheet.pdf 2 American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2020). Fact Sheet: Nursing Faculty Shortage.

Washington, DC. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Factsheets/Faculty-Shortage- Factsheet.pdf https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/Nursing-Workforce-Projections-Factsheet.pdf https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/Nursing-Workforce-Projections-Factsheet.pdf https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Factsheets/Faculty-Shortage-Factsheet.pdf

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 2

Faculty age continues to climb, narrowing the number of productive years educators teach. According to AACN's report on 2021-2022 Salaries of Instructional and Administrative Nursing Faculty, the average ages of doctorally prepared nurse faculty holding the ranks of professor, associate professor, and assistant professor were 62.5, 56.7, and 50.6 years, respectively. 3 For master's degree-prepared nurse faculty, the average ages for professors, associate professors, and assistant professors were 55.0, 54.7, and 48.6 years, respectively. A wave of faculty retirements is expected across the U.S. over the next decade, one third of the current nursing faculty workforce in baccalaureate and graduate programs are expected to retire by 2025.4 This finding underscores the urgency for the nursing education community to address the impending exodus of senior faculty and to develop new faculty for succession. Effective tools to encourage nurses to become nurse faculty include student support and mentorship, adequate nurse educator preparation, and monetary support to pursue education, including fellowships and loan forgiveness.

Partnerships are vital to address the shortage of nurse faculty, including preceptor shortages. Partnerships between NFLP award recipients and other academic institutions or practice institutions are beneficial in addressing both nurse faculty shortages and the limited supply of APRN preceptors, as well as increasing diversity among nurse faculty. These partnerships provide an avenue for shared resources and increase opportunities for recruitment of diverse student populations, teaching/learning, student nurse educator development activities, and employment post-graduation. To better understand this NOFO, go to the dictionary of key program-related terms at Health Workforce Glossary.

II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Application type(s): Competing Continuation, New

We will fund you via a grant.

We’ll decide a recipient’s funding using a formula described in Section V.

2. Summary of Funding

We estimate $26,500,000 will be available to fund 90 recipients. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $3,000,000.

3 American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2020). Fact Sheet: Nursing Faculty Shortage.

Washington, DC. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Factsheets/Faculty-Shortage- Factsheet.pdf 4 Fang, & Kesten, K. (2017). Retirements and succession of nursing faculty in 2016–2025. Nursing Outlook, 65(5), 633–642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.03.003 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/grants/resourcecenter/glossary https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/Factsheets/Faculty-Shortage-Factsheet.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.03.003

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 3

The period of performance is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 (1 year).

This program notice depends on the appropriation of funds. If funds are appropriated for this purpose, we will proceed with the application and award process.

Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

• Appropriation

• Satisfactory progress in meeting the project’s objectives

• A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest

45 CFR part 75 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards applies to all HRSA awards.

This program does not allow NFLP funds to be used for any indirect costs.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

You can apply if your organization is in the United States, the District of Columbia or in one of the US territories, and is:

• A domestic accredited school of nursing with advanced education nursing programs

• Any school(s) of nursing affiliated with this application must be accredited at the time of application – and for the duration of the award – by a recognized body or bodies, or a state agency, approved by the Secretary of Education for nurse education accreditation. Applicants must submit official documentation of accreditation in Attachment 1 for all affiliated nursing programs. A domestic community-based organization, tribe or tribal organization, if otherwise eligible

• Individuals are not eligible applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is required for this program. Recipient institutions are required to deposit an institutional capital contribution (ICC) that is equal to not less than one-ninth of the FY 2024 Federal award amount, hereafter referred to as the Federal Capital Contribution (FCC). The ICC must be deposited at the time the FCC is received and deposited into the loan fund account.

3. Other

We may not consider an application for funding if it contains any of the following non-responsive criteria:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 4

• Exceeds the funding ceiling amount

• Fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.4

Maintenance of Effort

You must agree to maintain non-federal funding for award activities. This must be at least at the same spending level for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year for which you receive the award, as 42 U.S.C. § 296b(b) (Public Health Service Act section 803(b)) requires.

Federal funds should add to, not replace, existing non-Federal expenditures for such activities. Complete the Maintenance of Effort information and submit as Attachment 3.

For NFLP, the MOE is based on the ICC contributed to the prior fiscal year and the estimated ICC amount for the next fiscal year.

We will enforce statutory MOE requirements through all available mechanisms.

Multiple Applications

We will only review your last validated application before the Grants.gov due date.

Multiple applications from an organization are not allowed. An organization is an entity with its own Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). You can submit only one application per campus.

A campus is defined as a division of a university that has the same name but has a separate UEI and is separate with its own grounds, buildings (e.g., school of nursing), and faculty. For example, the University of Homestate at Smalltown and the University of Homestate at Anytown can each submit an application for this program.

Beneficiary Eligibility

An eligible beneficiary receiving support from award funds under this program must be a citizen, non-citizen national of the United States, an individual lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States, or any other “qualified alien” under section 431(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193, as amended. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to participate and cannot receive NFLP support. Students enrolled in post-master’s nursing certificate programs and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) programs are eligible for NFLP funding.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

We require you to apply online through Grants.gov. Use the SF-424 Research and Related (R&R) workspace application package associated with this notice of funding https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update https://www.grants.gov/

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 5

opportunity (NOFO). Follow these directions: How to Apply for Grants. If you choose to submit using an alternative online method, see Applicant System-to-System.

Form Alert: For the Project Abstract Summary, applicants using the SF-424 R&R Application Package are encountering a “Cross-Form Error” associated with the Project Summary/Abstract field in the “Research and Related Other Project Information” form, Box 7. To avoid the “Cross-Form Error,” you must attach a blank document in Box 7 of the “Research and Related Other Project Information” form, and use the Project Abstract Summary Form in workspace to complete the Project Abstract Summary. See Section IV.2.i Project Abstract for content information.

Note: Grants.gov calls the NOFO “Instructions.”

Select “Subscribe” and enter your email address for HRSA-24-015 to receive emails about changes, clarifications, or instances where we republish the NOFO. You will also be notified by email of documents we place in the RELATED DOCUMENTS tab that may affect the NOFO and your application. You’re responsible for reviewing all information that relates to this NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Application Format Requirements Submit your information as the R&R Application Guide and this program-specific NOFO state. Do so in English and budget figures expressed in U.S. dollars. There’s an Application Completeness Checklist in the R&R Application Guide to help you.

Application Page Limit The total number of pages that count toward the page limit shall be no more than 40 pages when we print them. We will not review any pages that exceed the page limit.

Using the pages within the page limit, HRSA will determine eligibility using Section III.

Eligibility Information of the NOFO.

These items do not count toward the page limit:

• Standard OMB-approved forms you find in the NOFO’s workspace application package

• Abstract (standard form (SF) “Project_Abstract Summary”)

• Proof of non-profit status (if it applies)

If there are other items that do not count toward the page limit, we’ll make this clear in Section IV.2.vi Attachments.

If you use an OMB-approved form that is not in the HRSA-24-015 workspace application package, it may count toward the page limit.

Failure to include all required documents as part of the application may result in an application being considered incomplete or non-responsive. Where required, http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/s2s/applicant-system-to-system.html

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 6

applications received without the appropriate tables will be deemed non-responsive to the NOFO and will not be considered for funding under this notice.

Applications must be complete and validated by Grants.gov under HRSA-24-015 before the deadline.

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification

• When you submit your application, you certify that you and your principals5 (for example, program director, principal investigator) can participate in receiving award funds to carry out a proposed project. That is, no federal department or agency has debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, claimed you ineligible, or you have voluntarily excluded yourself from participating.

• If you fail to make mandatory disclosures, we may take an action like those in 45 CFR § 75.371. This includes suspending or debarring you.6

• If you cannot certify this, you must include an explanation in Attachment 7-15:

Other Relevant Documents.

(See Section 4.1 viii “Certifications” of the R&R Application Guide)

Program Requirements and Expectations Award recipients funded under this funding opportunity are required to implement the following:

1. Establish, if not already established, and maintain an interest-bearing student loan fund, and deposit in the student loan fund account:

(a) the FCC (this is the federal award made to the institution),

(b) an amount equal to not less than one-ninth of the FCC, contributed by such school, referred to as ICC,

(c) collections of principal and interest on loans made from the fund, and

(d) any other earnings on the loan fund such as interest borne on the account.

2. Develop a standard operating procedure to guide project administration.

3. Draw down, within 60 days of receipt of the FCC, the entire FCC amount, contribute the ICC amount and deposit both the FCC and ICC funds into a distinct, interest bearing NFLP student loan fund account.

4. Actively recruit eligible registered nurses to enroll in the advanced education nursing degree program that prepares them to become nurse faculty.

5. Conduct an active training program to increase competence and prepare students who will serve as nurse faculty/preceptors, on how to deliver didactic and clinical

5 See definitions at eCFR :: 2 CFR 180.995 -- Principal. and eCFR :: 2 CFR 376.995 -- Principal (HHS supplement to government-wide definition at 2 CFR 180.995).

6 See also 2 CFR parts 180 and 376, 31 U.S.C. § 3354, and 45 CFR § 75.113.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75#se45.1.75_1371 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75#se45.1.75_1371 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-180/subpart-I/section-180.995 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-376/subpart-I/section-376.995 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-376/subpart-I/section-376.995 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-180 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-376 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title31-chapter33&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-B/section-75.113

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 7

curricula that reflects best practices in teaching and care delivery. This includes using loan funds to cover the cost of student nurse educator development activities7 within the course of study, as a reasonable educational expense.

6. Disburse NFLP loan funds to advanced education nursing students. NFLP loans can only be used to pay the cost of tuition, fees, books, laboratory expenses, other reasonable education expenses and costs of collection of loaned principal, accrued interest and/or penalty, in accordance with NFLP’s purpose, objectives, and goals.

Applicants/awardees that do not disburse NFLP loan funds will be identified as non-compliant and subject to additional penalties (such as remittance of unobligated funds), up to and including termination of the NFLP award.

7. Encourage post-graduation employment by connecting nurse faculty graduates with employment resources and opportunities, including in communities of need (rural, urban, and tribal underserved areas) upon graduation.

8. Collect principal and interest for all loans made from the NFLP student loan fund (and any other earnings of the fund) for deposit into the fund. NFLP funds may be used to cover the costs of collection of NFLP loans, including designated institutional structures to collect costs such as reasonable costs for personnel and third-party servicers.

9. Provide cancellation of up to 85 percent of the original student loans (plus interest thereon) for completion of up to four years of post-graduation full-time nurse faculty employment (see below).

a) 20% of the principal and the interest on the amount of the unpaid loan balance upon completion of each of the first, second, and third year of full-time faculty employment; and

b) 25% of the principal and the interest on the amount of the unpaid loan balance upon completion of the fourth year of full-time faculty employment.

Full-Time Employment – Refers to the status of a student borrower who has graduated and is employed and serving in a nurse faculty capacity that qualifies for loan cancellation. For the purpose of the NFLP, the institution which provided NFLP support to a borrower is responsible for making the determination about students’ meeting the full-time employment requirement.

This must include one of the following criteria: (1) employment as a full-time faculty member at an accredited school of nursing; (2) employment as a part-time faculty member at an accredited school of nursing in combination with another part-time faculty position or part-time clinical preceptor/educator position affiliated with an accredited school of nursing that together equates to full-time employment; or (3) designation of nurse faculty in a joint nurse faculty

7 Student nurse educator development activities should be incorporated as part of the curriculum/course of study and include (but are not limited to), completion of nurse educator courses, mentorship, teaching practicum, teaching assistantships, nurse education focused workshops, and certification.

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 8

appointment serving as a full-time advanced practice registered nurse preceptor for an accredited school of nursing, within an academic-practice partnership framework.

Joint Nurse Faculty Appointment – Joint nurse faculty appointments are appointments that involve practicing as both a clinician and nurse faculty member with mutually established responsibilities in both the academic institution and practice entity.8 APRNs may be assigned a joint nurse faculty appointment for serving as preceptors for APRN students in an affiliated school of nursing, while maintaining their primary staff appointment. For the purpose of NFLP, an NFLP graduate who is designated as nurse faculty (a joint nurse faculty appointment) serving as an APRN student preceptor in a full-time capacity, qualifies for loan cancellation. The joint nurse faculty appointment can only be designated to a NFLP graduate who holds a primary appointment as a practicing APRN for a health care entity, and who agrees to, and is qualified to precept APRN students.

i. The NFLP graduate must receive loan cancellation in exchange for their service as a full-time APRN preceptor in a joint nurse faculty appointment.

ii. The NFLP institution that provided NFLP support to the borrower is responsible for making the determination about whether a borrower meets the full-time employment requirement for preceptorship service consistent with the requirements outlined in this funding opportunity.

iii. The school of nursing whose students are being precepted must provide the designation of nurse faculty for the NFLP graduate, and complete all required documentation (e.g., employment certification and documentation of full-time status) needed for the graduate to receive loan cancellation in exchange for full time preceptorship service.

The NFLP graduate’s affiliation with the accredited school of nursing must be formally documented by entering into a formal agreement as part of an academic-practice partnership based on the institution’s existing policies. The academic-practice partnership may occur between the academic institution (with students to precept) and the NFLP graduate’s employing (health care/practice) institution; or directly between the academic institution and the NFLP graduate. The designation of nurse faculty for the NFLP graduate serving as a full time APRN preceptor in a joint nurse faculty appointment must be denoted through a formal agreement documenting the individual as nurse faculty.9

5 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. (2017). National and Regional Supply and Demand Projections of the Nursing Workforce: 2014-2030. Rockville, Maryland 9 Joint Appointments are faculty appointments for faculty members who make a substantial contribution to the academic institution or department and who typically hold a primary staff appointment in an affiliated health care institution. Examples of joint appointments in academic institutions include Faculty Associate appointments which are offered to individuals who make significant contributions to the academic unit’s

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 9

10. Evaluate the program:

a. Award recipients must adhere to HHS Evaluation Policy and evaluation standards and best practices described in OMB Memorandum M-20-12 when evaluating their program.

b. Award recipients are required to participate in federally-designed evaluations to assess program effectiveness and efficiency upon request.

Program-Specific Instructions Include application requirements and instructions from Section 4 of the R&R Application Guide (budget, budget narrative, and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, and abstract).

Award recipients are encouraged to:

• Establish collaborative partnerships or engagements to recruit students, provide access to training resources, and connect graduates with post-graduation employment opportunities. This includes engaging and/or partnering with community-based entities, such as HRSA-supported health centers and other HRSA-funded organizations and connecting students and graduates with HRSA training and employment resources.

Collaborative Academic and Academic-Practice Partnerships – Collaborative partnerships are formal and strategic relationships between entities established to advance their mutual interests related to practice, education, and research. Collaboration between academic and preceptor practice partners leverages resources to maximize student learning; ensure safety of care delivery; and optimize patient outcomes.10 Collaborative academic partnerships with preceptors/health facilities provide crucial access to preceptors and clinical training opportunities for APRN students/graduates, foster clinical innovation, and promote continuing education. For the purposes of this NOFO, academic partnership activities may include networking opportunities, training, student nurse educator development activities, and nurse faculty employment post-graduation opportunities.

• Enhance the didactic and experiential training curriculum and activities to develop competencies of NFLP beneficiaries to address health disparities, social teaching or research mission, such as serving regularly as preceptors; and Affiliate Clinical Faculty appointments which are offered to select qualified professionals employed outside of the academic institution, providing primarily clinical related service (for example clinical preceptors). These individuals are recognized for their commitment and service to the practice mission of the academic institution.

10 American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2019). Special Survey on Vacant Faculty Positions for Academic Year 2018-2019. Washington, DC.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faspe.hhs.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fmigrated_legacy_files%2F200386%2Fhhs-evaluation-policy.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CSLevant%40hrsa.gov%7C4da63050dfbf4d87051308db18eb40c0%7C14b77578977342d58507251ca2dc2b06%7C0%7C0%7C638131170900085621%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xyhOds0iigSBn0DWngs5JJpgIwe3ZEkdzU6LN7NIZN4%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F03%2FM-20-12.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CSLevant%40hrsa.gov%7C4da63050dfbf4d87051308db18eb40c0%7C14b77578977342d58507251ca2dc2b06%7C0%7C0%7C638131170900241838%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JN8M4caEcCscyj3As0acTWMkdTnvuPa2P6Pg0ANItf0%3D&reserved=0

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 10

determinants of health (SDOH), health equity, and behavioral health integration for populations they serve upon graduation.

• Recruit, train, support and graduate students including those from diverse populations, such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Support an organizational culture of wellness using evidence-based/evidence-informed strategies aimed at promoting resiliency and reducing burnout in the nursing workforce.

i. Project Abstract

Use the Standard OMB-approved Project Abstract Summary Form that you’ll find in the workspace application package. Do not upload the abstract as an attachment or it may count toward the page limit. See Form Alert in Section IV.1 Application Package. For information you must include in the Project Abstract Summary Form, see Section 4.1.ix of the R&R Application Guide. When applicable, identify if a funding priority/ preference is being requested.

ii. Project Narrative

This section must describe all aspects of the proposed project. Make it brief and clear.

Provide the following information in the following order. Please use the section headers.

This ensures reviewers can understand your proposed project.

Introduction and Purpose – o Briefly describe the purpose of the proposed project, the need for nurse faculty, the target population to be served, and how the project will increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide.

Organizational Information – o Briefly describe your mission, structure, and scope of current activities.

Explain how these elements all contribute to the organization’s ability to carry out the program requirements and meet program expectations.

Include a project organizational chart.

o Discuss how you’ll follow the approved plan, account for federal funds, and record all costs to avoid audit findings.

o Describe organizations who will partner with you to fulfill the goals of the program and meet the training objectives. Include, noting overall page limits, select copies of Statement of Collaborative Academic/Academic- Practice Partnership (Attachment 6) with key organizations.

o The staffing plan and job descriptions for key faculty/staff must be included in Attachment 2 (Staffing Plan and Job Descriptions). However, the biographical sketches must be uploaded in the SF-424 RESEARCH

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 11

& RELATED Senior Key Person Profile form that can be accessed in the Application Package under “Mandatory.”

Sketches do not count towards the page limit. Include biographical sketches for people who will hold the key positions you describe in Attachment 2. Keep it to two pages or less per person. Do not include personally identifiable information (PII).

Project Director for the proposed project must have at a minimum an advanced education preparation with a master’s or doctoral level degree.

HRSA encourages applicants to select Project Directors who are nursing educators/nursing education administrators with demonstrated competence, appropriate academic preparation, experience as an educator, and administrative expertise (including but not limited to fiduciary oversight of loan funds, preparation and submission of the Annual Performance Reports).

NOTE: If the Project Director is not a nurse educator/ administrator, then he/she must have direct affiliation with the nursing education unit at the institution. There may only be one Project Director for the NFLP project.

Financial management staff: NFLP projects should include a financial management role that provides oversight of the fiduciary components of the NFLP funds. The financial management staff is responsible for coordinating activities related to loan fund account establishment/maintenance, loan provision to students, loan cancellation and write-off, loan repayment and collection, and financial record keeping.

The financial management staff will also be responsible for data collection and ensuring timely reporting of data to HRSA. NFLP funds may be used to cover the reasonable costs for personnel, third-party servicers and other designated institutional structures responsible for NFLP loan collection.

Biographical Sketches

Provide a biographical sketch for key faculty/staff contributing to the project (at a minimum, include a biographical sketch for the Project Director). Include the individual’s current position and sufficient detail to assess their qualifications for the position. Each biographical sketch should be limited to two pages as they count toward the overall page limit. Include all degrees and certificates.

Biographical sketches (see Appendix C for sample) must be uploaded in the SF-424 RESEARCH & RELATED Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) form that can be accessed in Grants.gov via the NOFO Application Package under “Mandatory.”

Biographical sketches should include the following information:

• Senior/key personnel name

• Position Title https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=aNE-NPRF https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=aNE-NPRF

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 12

• Education/Training - beginning with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, including postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable:

o Institution and location o Degree (if applicable) o Date of degree (MM/YY) o Field of study

• Section A (required) Personal Statement. Briefly describe why the individual’s experience and qualifications make them particularly well-suited for their role (e.g., PD/PI) in the project that is the subject of the award.

• Section B (required) Positions and Honors. List in chronological order previous positions, concluding with the present position. List any honors. Include present membership on any Federal Government public advisory committee.

• Section C (optional) Other Support. List both selected ongoing and completed (during the last 3 years) projects (federal or non-federal support). Begin with any projects relevant to the project proposed in this application. Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and responsibilities of the Senior/Key Person identified on the biographical sketch.

• When applicable, biographical sketches must include training, language fluency and experience working with populations that are culturally and linguistically different from their own.

Need –

Use and cite demographic data whenever possible to support the information provided. In your application:

o Demonstrate the alignment of the project with HRSA’s mission to improve the health of underserved and vulnerable populations by strengthening the health workforce and connecting skilled professionals to communities in need.

Approach – o Describe methods and/or activities that you will implement to address the stated needs, purpose, objectives and program requirements.

o If applicable, include a plan to disseminate reports, products, and/or project outputs so that key target audiences receive the project information.

o Identify strategies, tools and/or activities to address diversity, burnout, SDOH, increase health literacy, and advance health equity.

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 13

Work Plan – o Describe steps you will take to achieve each of the objectives proposed during the entire period of performance.

o Describe the timeframes, deliverables, and key partners required during the grant period of performance to address each of the needs described in the Purpose and Need section.

o Describe the collaborative academic or academic-practice partnership formed to encourage and support training, student nurse educator development, and post-graduation faculty employment.

Sustainability –

In your application:

• Propose a clear plan for project sustainability to continue supporting the number of students trained to become qualified nursing faculty, including a description of specific actions you will take to maintain support for students.

The description should include sources of supplemental funding to maintain your training efforts. Discuss challenges that you’ll likely encounter in sustaining the program and approaches that you will use to resolve these challenges.

iii. Budget

NFLP is a formula-based program that does not require submission of a budget.

Program Income

You must use any program income you generate from awarded funds for approved project-related activities. Use program income under the addition alternative ((45 CFR § 75.307(e)(2)). Find post-award requirements for program income at 45 CFR § 75.307.

iv. Budget Justification Narrative

NFLP is a formula-based program, so no budget justification narrative is needed.

v. Program-Specific Forms

You must also complete and electronically submit the NFLP Program Specific Data Forms (NFLP Tables) by the established and published application due date. A reference copy of the program specific form is provided under Appendix B of this NOFO. The NFLP Tables are essential in determining the award calculation.

Incomplete or missing data may result in HRSA deeming the application nonresponsive, and the application might not be considered for funding.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR911e5e1a30bfbcb/section-75.307

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 14

vi. Attachments

Provide the following attachments in the order we list them.

Most attachments count toward the application page limit. Indirect cost rate agreement and proof of non-profit status (if it applies), biographical sketches, and accreditation documentation are the only exceptions. They will not count toward the page limit.

Clearly label each attachment. Upload attachments into the application. Reviewers will not open any attachments you link to.

Attachment 1: Accreditation Documentation – Required

You must submit accreditation or approval documentation to be deemed eligible.

See Section III.1. If your accreditation/approval status cannot be verified you will be considered nonresponsive and deemed ineligible.

• Schools of nursing or other programs (Ed.D., DNP, PhD, ScD etc.) affiliated with the proposed project that provide formal degree programs must be accredited/approved by a recognized body or bodies or State agency approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education for the purposes of nursing education, including advanced nursing education.

• Applicants must submit documentation that:

o demonstrates continuing accreditation/approval from the relevant accrediting/ approval body and that they are not on probation, o includes the name of the accrediting/ authorizing body, the date of initial accreditation/approval, and the date of the next expected accrediting/ approval body review (or expiration date of current accreditation/approval).

• Applicants on provisional accreditation status must provide proof of this status.

Substantive Change Notification

Accredited nursing programs that modify (for example, a change to a BSN-DNP program) or add a nursing specialty that requires substantive change notification to the national nursing accrediting body, must include documentation of approval of the change from the accrediting agency.

Newly Established Programs of Nursing Accreditation

A new program of nursing that, by reason of an insufficient period of operation, is not, at the time of the submission of an application, eligible for accreditation by a recognized body or bodies or State agency, shall be deemed accredited for the purposes of this program if the Secretary of Education finds, after consultation with

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 15

the appropriate recognized State approval or accrediting body or bodies, that there is reasonable assurance that the program will meet the accreditation standards of such body or bodies prior to the beginning of the academic year following the normal graduation date of students of the first entering class in such a program. The Letter of Reasonable Assurance from the U.S. Department of Education must be submitted with the application.

Attachment 2: Biographical Sketch- Required

Upload a biographical sketch for the Project Director and other key staff (as applicable), not to exceed two pages in length. Biographical sketches for key personnel in the SF-424 RESEARCH & RELATED Senior Key Person Profile (Expanded) form that can be accessed in the Application Package under “Mandatory”.

Attachment 3: Maintenance of Effort Documentation - Required

Provide a baseline total cost for the prior fiscal year. Provide an estimate for the next fiscal year using a table like this one. We’ll enforce statutory MOE requirements. For NFLP, the MOE is based on the ICC contributed for the prior fiscal year and the estimated ICC amount for the next fiscal year.

NON-FEDERAL EXPENDITURES

FY 2023 (Actual)

Actual FY 2023 non-federal funds, including in-kind, expended for activities proposed in this application.

Amount: $____________

FY 2024 (Estimated)

Estimated FY 2024 non-federal funds, including in-kind, designated for activities proposed in this application.

Amount: $______________

Attachment 4: Loan Disbursement Plan - Required

Upload a disbursement plan for the new NFLP funds being requested in this application, in a tabular format. Institutions must include a schedule of the disbursements planned for students who will receive loan support during the funded period of performance.

The detailed schedule must document the following in Section A:

• Number of students you plan to support, listed by full-time or part-time status;

• The date of the disbursements for the full academic year period (e.g., fall/spring/summer);

• The estimated loan amount for each student (eligible costs and fees include the cost of tuition, fees, books, lab expenses, and other reasonable education expenses); and

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 16

• The estimated collection cost.

For continuation (renewal) applicants with unused past NFLP funds received under previous grant awards: In addition to the information collected in Section A, the applicant must provide as Section B a supplementary disbursement plan for those unused NFLP funds to include the following:

• Number of students you project to support using the unused NFLP funds, listed by full-time or part-time status;

• The date of the disbursements for the full academic year period (e.g., fall/spring/summer);

• The estimated loan amount for each student (eligible costs and fees include the cost of tuition, fees, books, lab expenses, and other reasonable education expenses); and

• The estimated collection cost.

Attachment 5: Default Rate Corrective Action Plan (For competing continuation applicants, if applicable; not counted in page limit) – Required if applicable

Institutions applying as competing continuations with NFLP loan default rates greater than 5 percent must submit a corrective action plan that demonstrates how they will reduce the default rate to: (a) less than or equal to 5 percent; or (b) one-half the default rate reported for the previous reporting period, whichever is greater. You must implement the corrective action plan during the budget year, with the understanding that failure to do so may result in becoming ineligible for future funding or becoming subject to additional penalties, up to and including, award termination. The default rate corrective action plan must be signed by the Project Director, the Authorizing Official, or both, and must include:

• A description of the factors that have contributed to the default rate exceeding the 5 percent threshold; and

• A work plan with specific activities and associated timelines to reduce the default rate to either (1) under 5 percent or (2) half the current default rate (whichever is greater) during the period of performance.

Attachment 6: Statement of Collaborative Academic/Academic- Practice Partnership – Required if applicable

Provide evidence of a collaborative academic/academic-practice partnership. A copy of a formal partnership agreement between the applicant organization and the partner entity or entities must be attached. A sample agreement and clear partnership plan may also be attached in lieu of a formal agreement. The applicant organization must ensure that the partner organization(s) maintains accreditation throughout the period of performance, as applicable. The partnership plan must also include a description of the academic-practice partnership plan to support graduates serving as APRN preceptors in order to receive loan cancellation.

Attachment 7-15: Other relevant documentation (e.g., Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification, etc.). Include here any other document that is relevant to the application.

HRSA-24-015 NFLP 17

3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

A UEI is required to apply for this funding. You must register in the SAM.gov to receive your UEI.

You cannot use a DUNS number to apply. For more details, visit the following webpage:

General Service Administration’s UEI Update

After you register with SAM, maintain it. Keep your information updated when you have:

an active federal award, application, or plan that an agency is considering.11

When you register, you must submit a notarized letter naming the authorized Entity Administrator.

We will not make an award until you comply with all relevant SAM requirements. If you haven’t met the requirements by the time we’re ready to make an award, we will deem you unqualified and award another applicant.

If you already registered on Grants.gov, confirm that the registration is active and that the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) has been approved.

To register in Grants.gov, submit information in two systems:

• System for Award Management (SAM) (SAM Knowledge Base)

• Grants.gov

Effective March 3, 2023, individuals assigned a SAM.gov Entity Administrator role must be an employee, officer, or board member, and cannot be a non-employee. This change is to ensure entities are in control of who has permission to control roles within their entity.

Here’s what this means:

• Entity Administrators assigning roles to non-employees will only be able to assign a Data Entry role or lower.

• Any entities assigning Entity Administrator roles using an Entity Administrator Role Request Letter (formerly called “notarized letter”) will no longer be able to assign the Entity Administrator role to a non-employee.

• Entity Administrator roles assigned to non-employees will be converted to Data Entry roles. With a Data Entry role, non-employees can still create and manage entity registration data entry but cannot manage roles.

11 Unless 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c) exempts you from those requirements or the agency approved an exemption for you under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)).

https://www.gsa.gov/entityid https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsa_kb_view2&kb_id=f66d8e6cdb76d4100d73f81d0f9619c6 https://www.grants.gov/…