FINAL_FORHP HRSA-22-157 (UP6) RPHWTN-TAP NOFO.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Community-Based Division

Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Technical Assistance Program Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-157

Funding Opportunity Type: New

Assistance Listings (AL/CFDA) Number: 93.912

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2022

Application Due Date: June 8, 2022 Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current immediately!

HRSA will not approve deadline extensions for lack of registration.

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

Issuance Date: May 3, 2022

Aitebureme Aigbe Public Health Analyst, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Telephone: 301-945-3076 Email: aaigbe@hrsa.gov

See Section VII for a complete list of agency contacts.

Authority: Section 711(b)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 912(b)(5)); Section 2501 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) mailto:aaigbe@hrsa.gov

HRSA-22-157

508 COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

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

Agency Contacts.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Technical Assistance Program. The purpose of this program is to provide technical assistance (TA) to rural health care networks engaging in workforce training activities who are addressing the critical need for more trained health professionals, which has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This also includes supporting networks who are working to build relationships between academic institutions and rural health care service delivery systems to address rural workforce needs. The TA will strengthen rural health networks’ ability to develop formal training/certification programs in order to expand public health workforce capacity by supporting health care job development, training and placement in rural communities in the following workforce training areas:

community health support, health IT and/or telehealth technical support, community para-medicine and case management staff and/or respiratory therapists.

Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Technical Assistance Program

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-157

Due Date for Applications: June 8, 2022

Total Available FY 2022 Funding: $500,000

Estimated Number and Type of Award: One (1) cooperative agreement

Estimated Annual Award Amount: Up to $500,000 per year for 3 years

Cost Sharing/Match Required: No

Period of Performance: September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2025 (3 years)

Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include domestic public or private, non-profit and for-profit, entities.

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See Section III.1 of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for complete eligibility information.

Application Guide

You (the applicant organization/agency) are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide, available online, except where instructed in this NOFO to do otherwise.

Technical Assistance HRSA has scheduled the following technical assistance:

Webinar

Day and Date: May 5, 2022 Time: 1 – 2 p.m. ET Call-In Number: 1-833-568-8864 Meeting ID: 160 466 8071 Participant Passcode: 46087989 Weblink: https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1604668071?pwd=M1BEOGkrUUtRdGgwTTFTNzVCWUVvUT09

HRSA will record the webinar. Please contact aaigbe@hrsa.gov for playback http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1604668071?pwd=M1BEOGkrUUtRdGgwTTFTNzVCWUVvUT09 https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1604668071?pwd=M1BEOGkrUUtRdGgwTTFTNzVCWUVvUT09

HRSA-22-157

NOFO Applicant Page Limit Worksheet

The purpose of this worksheet is to give you a tool to ensure the number of pages you attach to Standard Forms is within the specified page limit (do not submit this worksheet as part of your application). The Standard Forms do not count against the page limit; however, attachments to the Standard Forms do count toward the page limit. For example, the Budget Narrative Attachment Form does not count, however the entire length of your attachment to that form does count against the page limit.

Standard Form Name (Forms themselves do not count against the page limit)

Attachment File Name

(Unless otherwise noted, attachments count against the page limit)

Required OR Optional

Attachment

Section of the NOFO or Application

Package

# of Pages Applicant Instruction – enter the number of pages of the attachment to the

Standard Form

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424 - Box 14)

Areas Affected by Project (Cities, Counties, States, etc.)

Optional Application Package My attachment = # pages

Box 16)

Additional Congressional District

Box 20)

Is the Applicant Delinquent On Any Federal Debt?

Required, if “Yes”

Application Package My attachment = # pages

Attachments Form Attachment 1:

Work Plan

Required Section IV.2.v My attachment = # pages

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Standard Form Name (Forms themselves do not count against the page limit)

Attachment File Name

(Unless otherwise noted, attachments count against the page limit)

Required OR Optional

Attachment

Section of the NOFO or Application

Package

# of Pages Applicant Instruction – enter the number of pages

Attachments Form Attachment 2:

Project Organizational Chart

Attachments Form Attachment 3:

Staffing Plan and Job Descriptions for Key Personnel

Attachments Form Attachment 4:

Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel

Required Section IV.2.v Does not count against the page limit

Attachments Form Attachment 5:

Attestation of Nationwide Scope

Attachments Form Attachment 6:

Letters of Agreement, Memoranda of Understanding

Optional Section IV.2 v My attachment = # pages

Attachments Form Attachments 7–15:

Other Relevant Documents

Optional Section IV.2 v My attachment = # pages

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Standard Form Name (Forms themselves do not count against the page limit)

Attachment File Name

(Unless otherwise noted, attachments count against the page limit)

Required OR Optional

Attachment

Section of the NOFO or Application

Package

# of Pages Applicant Instruction – enter the number of pages

Project/Performance Site Location Form

Additional Performance Site Location(s)

Project Narrative Attachment Form

Project Narrative Required Section IV.2ii My attachment = # pages

Budget Narrative Attachment Form

Budget Narrative Required Section IV.2.iii My attachment = # pages

# of Pages Attached to Standard Forms Applicant Instruction Total the number of pages in the boxes above.

Page Limit for HRSA-22-157 is 80 pages My total = ## pages

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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/Matching

3. Other

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

i. Project Abstract

NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

ii. Project Narrative

iii. Budget

iv. Budget Narrative

v. Attachments

3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) ………………………………………………………………………………………20

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: GLOSSARY

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I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Technical Assistance Program (RPHWTN-TAP).

The purpose of this cooperative agreement1 is to support a single organization that will provide technical assistance (TA) to rural health care networks in order to strengthen their ability to expand public health capacity by supporting health care job development, training and placement in rural and tribal communities.

The goals of RPHWTN-TAP are to:

1. Provide technical assistance to Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network (RPHWTN) program award recipients and other rural stakeholders seeking guidance on how to expand clinical and operational workforce capacity in four specific workforce training tracks within their rural health care networks.

2. Identify and/or develop, promote, and maintain tools and resources that can be widely adopted to support rural health care networks’ ability to expand public health capacity by supporting health care job development, training and placement in rural and tribal communities.

3. Facilitate relationships between rural health care networks and relevant stakeholders at the local, state, regional, and national level to promote the exchange of information and promising practices that increase training and certification programs in specified workforce training tracks.

4. Identify and strengthen rural health care networks capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to emerging clinical and operational workforce challenges related to COVID-19 and long COVID.2

5. Provide technical assistance that supports rural health care networks in their efforts to connect academia with health care service delivery to address growing rural health workforce disparities.

For more details, see Program Requirements and Expectations.

1 2 CFR 200.24 – a cooperative agreement is an agreement in which the Federal Government provides funding or a thing of value authorized by public statute and the government plays a substantial role. A cooperative agreement is a form of federal financial assistance.

2 See Appendix A: Glossary https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding/hrsa-22-117

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2. Background

The RPHWTN-TAP is authorized by Section 711(b)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 912(b)(5)) and Section 2501 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117- 2).

Section 711(b)(5) of the Social Security Act directs the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) to administer grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to provide technical assistance (TA) and other activities as necessary to support activities related to improving health care in rural areas.

The technical assistance provided via this funding will support recipients of the Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Program. More specifically, on March 11, 2021, the President signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2).

The Act provides additional relief to address the continued impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the economy; public health; state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) governments; individuals; and businesses. To support the COVID- 19 response, the Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network (RPHWTN) Program was developed to train a range of health care workers to fill in-demand professions affected by the pandemic.3 The RPHWTN program addresses the ongoing critical need in health care facilities for trained public health professionals serving rural communities.

This is done through the establishment of networks to develop formal training/certification programs in order to help professionals in the following workforce training tracks:

Track #1 - Community Health Support4

Track #2 - Health IT and/or Telehealth Technical Support

Track #3 - Community Para-Medicine

Track #4 - Case Management Staff and/or Respiratory Therapists

In order to address the growing rural health workforce disparity, the RPHWTN program allows for organizations to come together and utilize a network approach to bridge a workforce need. HRSA has funded networks as a strategy to bring rural health community partners together to address local challenges, and help rural partners achieve greater collective capacity to overcome challenges related to limited economies of scale for individual hospitals, clinics or other key rural health care stakeholders. For example, a local hospital and Rural Health Clinic might partner with a local community college to train respiratory therapists to treat patients with long COVID, or a local workforce development board might partner with a university to train students for health IT jobs in a local critical access hospital.

3 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/13/fact-sheet-biden-administration-takes-steps-to-address-covid-19-in-rural-america-and-build-rural-health-back-better/ .

Accessed 3 Feb. 2022.

4 See Appendix A - Glossary https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=336038 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/13/fact-sheet-biden-administration-takes-steps-to-address-covid-19-in-rural-america-and-build-rural-health-back-better/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/13/fact-sheet-biden-administration-takes-steps-to-address-covid-19-in-rural-america-and-build-rural-health-back-better/

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The RPHWTN-TAP cooperative agreement recipient will provide extensive TA to approximately 31 RPHWTN program award recipients and potentially other non- RPHWTN program award recipients (as determined by HRSA). The TA will provide recipients with the expertise and skills needed to successfully implement their programs and create sustainable outcomes within rural5 communities.

The RPHWTN-TAP will provide strategic, short- and long-term TA to rural health care networks. This technical assistance will help rural health care networks, such as public workforce system entities at the state and community levels, by supporting their training and placement of public health professionals in critical administrative and health care roles and creates multiple pathways for students/trainees/professionals to eventually work at rural health care facilities in their new/expanded role(s).

II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Types of applications sought: New

HRSA will provide funding in the form of a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is a financial assistance mechanism where HRSA anticipates substantial involvement with the recipient during performance of the contemplated project.

HRSA program involvement will include:

• Provide monitoring and ongoing support to RPHWTN-TAP award recipient to ensure it adheres to program requirements, that project goals and objectives are achieved, and that activities and efforts can be sustained after the period of federal funding ends;

• Provide support in the identification and selection of TA focus areas and effective methods for delivering TA;

• Provide support in the identification and selection of focus areas and methods for developing evidence-based resources, tools, program-specific deliverables, and trainings focused on expanding public health workforce capacity in rural communities;

• Review the TA approach and any modifications to the approach during the period of performance;

• Review TA materials and resources developed under the cooperative agreement for format, tone, and expected impact;

5 HRSA uses the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer tool to determine if a county/tract is considered rural.

https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health

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• Participate, as appropriate, in the planning and implementation of any meetings, educational activities, site visits, trainings or peer learning groups conducted during the period of performance, including selecting dates, developing the agenda, inviting speakers, etc.;

• Identify opportunities and provide guidance on strategies for disseminating information about programs, activities, and resources, including key organizations through which to share information;

• Provide guidance and assistance in identifying emerging public health care needs and priorities that negatively impact health care job development, training and placement in rural communities;

• Provide guidance and assistance in identifying and development of special projects, products, resources, and/or technical assistance for rural health care networks responding to emerging public health workforce needs;

• Provide guidance and assistance in identifying organizations with whom to build relationships with in order to promote and facilitate collaboration across different sectors (including Federal entities); and

• Provide feedback on content for print and online resources developed through project activities, including topics for material production and final document production (e.g., fact sheets, outreach flyers, training materials).

The cooperative agreement recipient’s responsibilities will include:

• Coordinate with HRSA to plan and deliver a comprehensive approach to technical assistance, with the goal of assisting the RPHWTN program award recipients in expanding clinical and operational workforce capacity in four specific workforce training tracks (listed in the “Background” section) within their rural networks;

• Facilitate peer learning and information sharing, identify and secure subject matter expertise intended to increase the workforce system’s efficacy and performance, and offer assistance on how to apply evidence-based practices to improve workforce training effectiveness;

• Collaborate with HRSA and awardees to identify tools and resources, assist in the set-up of data collection processes to help track, measure, and present awardees workforce impact;

• Collaborate with HRSA and other rural stakeholders as identified in the planning, execution and assessment of TA activities, including the identification of technical assistance and educational/developmental needs and the selection of mechanisms for implementation and delivery;

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• Provide customized TA to RPHWTN program award recipients that includes, but is not limited to:

o Consistent 1:1 TA calls with award recipients;

o In-person and/or virtual site visits as needed;

o Learning opportunities such as Peer-to-Peer Networking and workgroups;

o In-person or virtual meetings (including awardee site visits/reverse site visits), webinars, workgroups, town halls and/or trainings;

o Targeted TA, specific to regions and states;

o Targeted TA, specific to workforce training tracks; and o Other innovative TA methods as recommended by HRSA, and/or award recipients.

• Respond in real-time to emergent technical assistance needs of state and local workforce development boards and state workforce agencies;

• Collaborate with HRSA to continuously adapt TA approaches and offerings to align with the needs of rural communities and evolving needs and feedback from RPHWTN program award recipients;

• Maintain constant communication with HRSA staff on the progress of technical assistance efforts (this will include frequent summary reports submitted to HRSA staff and monthly teleconference calls with HRSA staff);

• Highlight and share examples of promising and innovative rural workforce training and placement initiatives and practices through various platforms;

• Disseminate evidence-based resources, tools, information, and trainings through multiple mediums and in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner;

• Ensure that the TA includes a focus on ensuring equitable services, quality job placement and positive outcomes for communities of color and other underserved populations, including individuals with disabilities;

• Collaborate with HRSA and other stakeholders as identified to provide or develop evidence-based resources, tools, best practice models and trainings on topics focused on expanding public health workforce capacity in rural communities including, but not limited to:

o Sustainability;

o Developing, strengthening, and sustaining rural consortia;

o Innovative curriculum development, training and quality job placement models; and o Health equity.

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• Provide recommendations and assistance in identifying key organizations and stakeholders who can share relevant resources and materials (ex: emerging workforce needs and trends) with the RPHTWN award recipients and other rural health networks;

• Collaborate with HRSA to ensure that TA provided and resources developed are responsive to shifts in HRSA priorities and the health care needs of rural communities;

• Collaborate with HRSA to ensure that TA provided and resources developed are responsive to the evolving service-delivery environment of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic and workforce disruptions in rural communities;

• Identify and utilize consultants with expertise in the topical areas and resources needed to address the array of program focus areas conducted by RPHWTN program award recipients;

• Comply with HHS reporting requirements; and

• Comply with evaluation requirements associated with this cooperative agreement.

• Measure impact of technical assistance activities in consultation with HRSA.

2. Summary of Funding

HRSA estimates approximately $500,000 to be available annually to fund one recipient.

You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $500,000 total cost (includes both direct and indirect, facilities and administrative costs) per year.

The period of performance is September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2025 (3 years).

This is a one-time funding opportunity with no expectation of additional federal funds after the performance period ends.

All HRSA awards are subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 45 CFR part 75.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include domestic public or private, non-profit entities and for-profit entities. Domestic faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations are also eligible to apply.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75

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In addition to organizations in the 50 U.S. states, only organizations in the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated State of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau may apply. If you are located outside the 50 states, you must still meet the eligibility requirements.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

Cost sharing/matching is not required for this program.

3. Other

HRSA will not consider an application for funding if it contains any of the non-responsive criteria below:

• Exceeds the ceiling amount

• Exceeds the application page limitations referenced in Section IV.2

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

• Because the cooperative agreement recipient will be expected to provide technical assistance to RPHWTN program award recipients across the 50 U.S.

states as well as in the U.S. territories/freely associated states, applications that are not nationwide in scope may be considered non-responsive, and may not be considered for funding. Applicants must submit an attestation in Attachment 5 which affirms that the proposed project is nationwide in scope, inclusive of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S.

territories and freely associated states.

Eligible applicants must be organizations that possess the internal capacity, external relationships, and expertise in workforce development that will enable them to deliver TA services on a national scale to award recipients working with rural communities

NOTE: Multiple applications from an organization are not allowable.

HRSA will only accept your last validated electronic submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, before the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

HRSA requires you to apply electronically. HRSA encourages you to apply through Grants.gov using the SF-424 workspace application package associated with this notice https://www.grants.gov/

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of funding opportunity (NOFO) following the directions provided at Grants.gov: HOW TO

APPLY FOR GRANTS.

The NOFO is also known as “Instructions” on Grants.gov. You must select “Subscribe” and provide your email address for HRSA-22-157 in order to receive notifications including modifications, clarifications, and/or republications of the NOFO on Grants.gov.

You will also receive notifications of documents placed in the RELATED DOCUMENTS tab on Grants.gov that may affect the NOFO and your application. You are ultimately responsible for reviewing the For Applicants page for all information relevant to this

NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Application Format Requirements Section 4 of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide provides general instructions for the budget, budget narrative, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, etc. You must submit the information outlined in the HRSA SF-424 Application Guide in addition to the program-specific information below. You are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide except where instructed in the NOFO to do otherwise. You must submit the application in the English language and in the terms of U.S. dollars (45 CFR § 75.111(a)).

See Section 8.5 of the HRSA SF-424 Application Guide for the Application Completeness Checklist.

Application Page Limitation The total size of all uploaded files included in the page limit shall be no more than the equivalent of 80 pages when printed by HRSA. The page limit includes the project and budget narratives, and attachments required in the Application Guide and this NOFO.

Please note: Effective April 22, 2021, the abstract is no longer an attachment that counts in the page limit. The abstract is the standard form (SF) "Project Abstract Summary.” Standard OMB-approved forms included in the workspace application package do not count in the page limit. If you use an OMB-approved form that is not included in the workspace application package for HRSA-22-157, it may count against the page limit. Therefore, we strongly recommend you only use Grants.gov workspace forms associated with this NOFO to avoid exceeding the page limit. Additionally, Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) do not count in the page limit.

It is therefore important to take appropriate measures to ensure your application does not exceed the specified page limit. Any application exceeding the page limit of 80 will not be read, evaluated, or considered for funding.

http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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Applications must be complete, within the maximum specified page limit, and validated by Grants.gov under HRSA-22-157 before the deadline. Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification

1) You certify on behalf of the applicant organization, by submission of your proposal, that neither you nor your principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal department or agency.

2) Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 45 CFR § 75.371, including suspension or debarment. (See also 2 CFR parts 180 and 376, and 31 U.S.C. § 3354).

3) If you are unable to attest to the statements in this certification, you must include an explanation in Attachment 7: Other Relevant Documents.

See Section 4.1 viii of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide for additional information on all certifications.

Temporary Reassignment of State and Local Personnel during a Public Health Emergency Section 319(e) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act provides the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with discretion upon request by a state or tribal organization to authorize the temporary reassignment of state, tribal, and local personnel during a declared federal public health emergency. The temporary reassignment provision is applicable to state, tribal, and local public health department or agency personnel whose positions are funded, in full or part, under PHS programs and allows such personnel to immediately respond to the public health emergency in the affected jurisdiction. Funds provided under the award may be used to support personnel who are temporarily reassigned in accordance with § 319(e). Please reference detailed information available on the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) website.

Program Requirements and Expectations

• All technical assistance activities supported by this program must exclusively benefit organizations who are serving communities in HRSA designated rural counties or rural census tracts in urban counties. HRSA uses the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer tool to determine if a county/tract is considered rural.

• All technical assistance activities should be directly linked to support four workforce training tracks: Track #1) Community Health Support6; Track #2) Health IT and/or Telehealth Technical Support; Track #3 - Community Para-Medicine and Track #4 - Case Management Staff and/or Respiratory Therapists.

6 See Appendix A: Glossary 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 http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/pahpa/section201/Pages/default.aspx http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/pahpa/section201/Pages/default.aspx

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• Successful applicant must demonstrate the capacity and have established partnerships to operate a project providing a broad range of TA and subject matter expertise in key topics that HRSA identify as priorities, both within this NOFO and based on assessed needs of the RPHWTN program award recipients.

• Successful applicant must develop and conduct technical assistance to provide RPHWTN program award recipients with the expertise and skills needed to successfully implement their programs and create sustainable outcomes.

• Applicants must develop comprehensive strategies that will provide technical assistance across the all four specific workforce training tracks (i.e. capacity to service and reach multiple geographic locations).

• HRSA anticipates that most eligible applicants for this funding will not possess the internal capacity to operate the project and will need to engage external partners. As such, the applicant’s implementation plan must include a description of any external partners that will be engaged to supplement applicant’s activities to fully address and execute all of the required activities and deliverables. Those applicants proposing partnerships must describe the roles and expected contributions of the partners and must include documentation of a signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) or Letters of Commitment in Attachment 6

• Applicants must provide technical assistance on a national scale. Audiences for any technical assistance materials and products produced under this cooperative agreement include RPHTWN program award recipients as well as any rural health care networks, who can adapt such tools and materials for their rural workforce needs. Successful applicant must ensure that any materials/tools/products produced under this program must be accessible and 508-compliant.

Program-Specific Instructions In addition to application requirements and instructions in Section 4 of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide (including the budget, budget narrative, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, and abstract), include the following:

i. Project Abstract Use the Standard OMB-approved Project Abstract Summary Form that is included in the workspace application package. Do not upload the abstract as an attachment or it may count toward the page limitation. For information required in the Project Abstract Summary Form, see Section 4.1.ix of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

To ensure that you fully address the review criteria, the table below provides a crosswalk between the narrative language and where each section falls within the review criteria. Any forms or attachments referenced in a narrative section may be considered during the objective review.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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Narrative Section Review Criteria

Introduction (1) Need

Needs Assessment (1) Need

Methodology (2) Response

Work Plan (2) Response and (4) Impact

Resolution of Challenges (2) Response

Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity

(3) Evaluative Measures and

(5) Resources/Capabilities

Organizational Information (5) Resources/Capabilities

Budget Narrative (6) Support Requested

ii. Project Narrative This section provides a comprehensive description of all aspects of the proposed project. It should be succinct, self-explanatory, consistent with forms and attachments, and organized in alignment with the sections and format below so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

Use the following section headers for the narrative:

INTRODUCTION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 1: Need

The introduction should address the following items:

1. Briefly describe the purpose of the proposed project.

2. Briefly describe how the proposed project will advance the stated goals of

RPHWTN-TAP and how your experience and expertise will help strengthen rural health care networks’ ability to expand public health workforce capacity by supporting health care job development, training and placement in rural communities.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 1: Need

The needs assessment should help reviewers understand the critical rural public health workforce needs to be fulfilled by this TA cooperative agreement and provide the context and rationale for the proposed work plan and budget. This section should address the following items:

1. Using quantitative and qualitative data and information from relevant and appropriate sources, describe and document workforce challenges and disparities within rural communities.

2. Describe how COVID-19 has impacted the health care delivery system and needs of providers and communities in rural America.

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3. Discuss the gaps that exist within the current infrastructure for support of rural health care services related to four workforce tracks: community health support7, health IT and/or telehealth technical support, community para-medicine, and case management staff and/or respiratory therapists.

METHODOLOGY -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 2: Response

The Methodology section of the application focuses on the overarching strategy for fulfilling the project goals (the Work Plan section of the application will identify discrete inputs, activities, timelines, and responsible individuals/organizations). All technical assistance activities supported by this program must exclusively benefit organizations and rural health care networks who are serving communities in HRSA designated rural counties or rural census tracts in urban counties.

Using data and information provided in the “Needs Assessment” section of the application, provide detailed information regarding the proposed approaches that you will use to address the sub-sections below:

A) Alignment

1. Outline your proposed approach to fulfilling each of the project goals and corresponding cooperative agreement responsibilities outlined in the Award Information section.

2. Detail how the cooperative agreement will be complementary, versus duplicative, of other HHS and HRSA-funded activities.

3. Describe any innovative methods that you will use to address the stated needs and goals of the RPHWTN-TAP.

B) Technical Assistance

1. Describe your approach for assessing the technical assistance needs of rural health care networks. This includes an explanation of the reliable tools and methods you will use to conduct comprehensive assessments of the technical assistance needs of the RPHWTN program award recipients, including the needs within their specific workforce training tracks. Describe how you will ensure timely progress toward the creation of such tools and resources.

2. Demonstrate the level of understanding of the unique TA needs of each of the four workforce training tracks and clearly explain how you will approach the specific TA needs of each workforce training track.

3. Describe your approach for prioritizing TA needs as they are identified, explaining how you will address factors such as risk, estimated return on investment, level of effort, and budget constraints.

7 See Appendix A: Glossary

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4. Describe in detail the strategies you will pursue under this cooperative agreement to develop and provide technical assistance on implementing evidence-based practices, where available, and promising practices where there is less evidence, in the following topical areas, specified in the Award Information section:

• COVID-19 response, including long-COVID;

• Community Health Support;

• Health IT and/or Telehealth Technical Support;

• Community Para-Medicine;

• Case Management Staff and/or Respiratory Therapy;

• Network partnerships and employer engagement strategies that support job quality;

Note: Topical areas may evolve as TA needs and priorities are identified and emerge throughout the period of performance.

5. Describe the delivery approaches that you may deploy for the prioritized technical assistance projects selected for implementation. In providing this description, you must include at a minimum the following approaches:

• Aligning subject matter experts with areas of needed technical assistance within the four unique workforce training tracks

• Identifying evidence-based and/or successful practices to highlight and conveying how best to apply them

• Facilitating peer-to-peer learning exchanges

• Conducting virtual technical assistance webinars

• Researching and developing TA materials

You should also consider including the following additional approaches:

• Providing customized one-on-one assistance or coaching

• Conducting in-person and virtual training, meetings or gathering, and/or site visits/reverse site visits (i.e., agenda and content development; engaging and securing subject matter experts and speakers; designing, delivering, and facilitating workshops; logistics and onsite support services).

6. Describe how you will track, organize and summarize technical assistance requests.

7. Describe your process/approach for supporting sustainability planning for the RPHWTN program award recipients during the program project period.

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8. Describe how you will routinely assess and improve the unique needs of the RPHWTN program award recipients and their needs within each workforce training track.

9. If you are collaborating with other external partners for this application (including making sub awards), describe how your rationale with their inclusion in the development, identification and implementation of technical assistance activities being proposed in your application.

C) Communication/Dissemination

1. Describe how you will ensure that any TA products, tools, and promising practices developed to assist individual grantees will be shared across RPHWTN program award recipients.

2. Describe your strategies or approaches for dissemination of technical assistance tools and services to audiences that include both RPHWTN program award recipients as well as other rural stakeholders rural health care networks.

3. Describe the methods by which you will collaborate and communicate with HRSA and other relevant partners to implement and meet project goals.

WORK PLAN -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria 2: Response and 4:

Impact

Please use the following sub-headings for this section: A) Work Plan and B) Impact.

A) Work Plan

This section describes the processes that you will use to achieve the strategies in the “Methodology” section. It is strongly recommended that you provide your work plan in a table format and clearly link activities to the project goals and cooperative agreement recipient responsibilities. The work plan should reflect a three-year period of performance. The work plan must be included in Attachment 1. Your work plan should include the following:

1. List the activities or steps that you will use to achieve each of the objectives proposed in the Methodology section during the entire period of performance.

Use a time line that includes each activity and identifies responsible staff.

2. Clearly label activities/tasks associated with each of the cooperative recipient responsibilities enumerated in the Award Information section of the NOFO.

3. List activities/tasks to ensure that strategies implemented during the period of performance will continue to have an impact after federal funding ends and enable RPHWTN program award recipients to continue/sustain program activities.

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4. Identify timeline for completing each activity/task (note that timelines should be clear and specific; “ongoing” is not an acceptable timeline). Provide numbers for targeted outcomes, where applicable, not just percentages.

5. If multiple organizations will be subrecipients for this funding, identify the organization responsible and/or key personnel for each activity/task.

B) Impact

1. Describe how your project will address workforce disparities in rural communities.

2. Describe how your project will address workforce challenges that have been impacted by COVID-19 and long COVID.

RESOLUTION OF CHALLENGES -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion

2: Response

1. Discuss challenges that you are likely to encounter in designing and implementing the activities described in the work plan, and approaches that you will use to resolve such challenges.

2. Describe anticipated challenges associated with working with a variety of RPHWTN program award recipients, HRSA, other relevant partners, and rural communities (including populations who have disproportionately higher rates of illness within those communities). Also describe anticipated challenges related to state and regional-specific issues, including, but not limited to, policy barriers.

3. In discussing solutions, identify any infrastructure that is in place to help resolve the issue(s) and/or resources that will assist in overcoming potential barriers.

EVALUATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT CAPACITY -- Corresponds to

Section V’s Review Criteria 3: Evaluative Measures and 5: Resources/Capabilities

1. Describe the plan for assessing program performance and a process for continuous quality improvement. The program performance assessment should monitor ongoing processes and the progress towards the goals and objectives of the project. Include descriptions of the inputs (e.g., organizational assets, collaborative partners, key personnel, budget, and other resources), key processes, and expected outcomes of the funded activities.

2. Additionally, clearly describe how assessment results and lessons learned will be communicated to HRSA, RPHWTN program award recipients and other relevant stakeholders. Please include examples of mediums/platforms for disseminating this information and experience using these such platforms.

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ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion: 5 Resources/Capabilities

Please use the following three sub-headings in responding to this section: A) Applicant Organization; B) Project Staffing and C) Partner composition and involvement (if applicable).

A) Applicant Organization

1. Succinctly describe your organization’s current mission, structure, and scope of current activities, and how these elements all contribute to the organization’s ability to implement the program requirements and meet program expectations (e.g. experience working with workforce grantees).

2. In Attachment 2, you must include an organizational chart that clearly shows the internal hierarchy among project staff at your organization as well as your organization’s relationship to any partner organizations that will be involved in the project.

3. Discuss relevant experience or demonstrated performance indicating the organizational capacity to manage grant projects similar in size and scope, including the relevant programmatic (e.g. experience working with public health workforce training programs) fiscal, and administrative aspects of such projects.

4. Describe your organization’s experience and expertise in working with diverse stakeholders within rural communities to develop and implement public health workforce trainings. Also describe the level and number of years of experience in supporting national technical assistance projects, developing and disseminating tools/resources and providing technical assistance to rural organizations on a national level.

5. Discuss relevant experience or capacity to deliver TA to public health workforce development or training programs.

B) Project Staffing

1. HRSA requires a project director to allot 1.0 FTE to this project. Clearly designate a Project Director who is employed by your organization and who will devote a minimum of 1.0 FTE on this cooperative agreement. The Project Director is the point person on the award and makes staffing, financial, and other decisions to align project activities with project outcomes. You should detail how the Project Director will facilitate collaborative input and engagement with HRSA, other partner organizations, and rural communities to complete the proposed work plan during the period of performance.

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2. If applicable, describe your organizational process to manage subrecipient awards that you will issue under this cooperative agreement. Describe your subrecipient award process from initiation to approval, the submission of invoices and reimbursement for services in a timely manner, and your timeline for issuing subawards.

3. In Attachment 3, you must include a staffing plan and job descriptions for key personnel. NOTE: If a staff member has yet to be hired (TBH), please put “TBH” in lieu of a name and detail the process and timeline for hiring and onboarding the new staff, as well as the qualifications and expertise required by the position.

4. The staffing plan should at a minimum contain the following information and clearly link to the activities in the work plan:

Name

Title

Organizational affiliation

Relevant certifications and degrees

Full-time Equivalent (FTE) dedicated to this project

Roles/responsibilities on the project

Timeline and process for hiring or onboarding, if applicable

5. In Attachment 4, you must include biographical sketches for persons occupying the key positions described in Attachment 3. The biosketches should demonstrate that staff have the necessary expertise and qualifications for executing their designated roles and responsibilities on the project.

C) Partner Composition and Involvement (if applicable)

1. If you will include partner organizations in this project, you must include MOUs or letters of commitment from each partner in Attachment 6.

Signed and dated MOUs or letter(s) of commitment from any partner organizations formally collaborating (e.g., through a /subaward agreement) on this project must be included in Attachment 6. The MOUs or letter(s) should include the following at a minimum:

Commitment to working with your organization on the project; and

Anticipated time commitment and duration of involvement on the project; and

Anticipated roles/responsibilities on the project; and

Relevant experience, qualifications, and/or expertise that align with their roles and responsibilities on the project.

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Submitting MOUs or letter(s) of commitment that only describes the working relationship between the organizations will not be sufficient.

iii. Budget The directions offered in the SF-424 Application Guide may differ from those offered by Grants.gov. Follow the instructions in Section 4.1.iv of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide and the additional budget instructions provided below. A budget that follows the Application Guide will ensure that, if HRSA selects your application for funding, you will have a well-organized plan and, by carefully following the approved plan, may avoid audit issues during the implementation phase.

Reminder: The Total Project or Program Costs are the total allowable costs (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) you incur to carry out a HRSA-supported project or activity.

Total project or program costs include costs charged to the award and costs borne by you to satisfy a matching or cost-sharing requirement, as applicable.

HRSA’s Standard Terms apply to this program. None of the funds appropriated in this title shall be used to pay the salary of an individual, through a grant or other extramural mechanism, at a rate in excess of Executive Level II. Effective January 2022, the Executive Level II salary increased from $199,300 to $203,700. See Section 4.1.iv Budget – Salary Limitation of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide for additional information. Note that these or other salary limitations may apply in the following fiscal years, as required by law.

iv. Budget Narrative See Section 4.1.v. of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

The budget justification narrative must describe all line-item federal funds (including subawards) proposed for this project. Please note that the budget justification narrative counts towards the page limit.

In addition to guidance provided in the above ‘Budget’ section, RPHWTN-TAP requires the Budget Justification Narrative to:

1. Explain how the proposed expenditures will support the project activities.

2. Be detailed and inclusive of program costs for all three years of the period of performance.

If your…