FOA Content HRSA-26-035.pdf

HRSA

Health Resources & Services Administration

Bureau of Health Workforce

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due May 29, 2026

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Research Training Grant

(NRSA)

Opportunity number: HRSA-26-035

Contents Before you begin 3

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4 Basic Information 5

Eligibility 6

Program description 10

Award information 13

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 15 Get registered 16

Find the application package 16

Application writing help 17

Step 3: Build Your Application 18 Application checklist 19

Application contents and format 21

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award 35 Application review 36

Selection Process 41

Award notices 41

Step 5: Submit Your Application 42 Application submission and deadlines 43

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 44 Post-award requirements and administration 45

Contacts and Support 48

Appendix 51

Endnotes 53

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registrations are active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks) You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days) You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 29, 2026.

All activities proposed in your application and budget narrative must align with applicable law, including but not limited to statutes, executive orders, federal regulations and applicable judicial holdings. Accordingly, discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate; racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation; denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans, or the belief that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic;

illegal immigration; or any other initiatives that compromise public safety. If an application does not align, the application will not receive funding to the extent permitted by law and applicable court orders https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic Information 5

Eligibility 6

Program description 10

Award information 13

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Understand 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Basic Information Health Resources Services Administration

Bureau of Health Workforce

Advancing postdoctoral primary care research training.

Summary The National Research Service Award (NRSA) program supports the training of postdoctoral researchers in biomedical, behavioral, and health services research.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and administered in part by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the program aims to develop a skilled research workforce to advance scientific knowledge in primary care.

Under HRSA, the NRSA program provides support to train postdoctoral health care professionals who are planning to pursue careers in biomedical, behavioral, and behavioral health research related to primary care. As the nation’s population grows and ages, the need for well-trained primary care researchers to study the complex array of issues facing the primary care workforce gains greater importance. The NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants administered by HRSA are awarded to eligible institutions to develop or enhance postdoctoral research training opportunities for individuals who are planning to pursue careers in primary care research.

Funding details Application Types: Competing continuation, New

Expected total available funding in FY2026: $9,566,800

Expected number and type of awards: 20 G (Grant)

Funding range per award: $134,653 - $500,000

We plan to fund awards in five 12-month budget periods for a total five-year period of performance from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.

Have questions?

Go to Contacts and Support.

Key facts name:

Ruth L. Kirschstein

Award Institutional Research Training Grant

(NRSA)

number:

version:

Initial

93.186

Key dates webinar:

deadline:

July 1, 2026

July 1, 2026

See other submissions for other time frames that may apply to this NOFO.

Eligibility Who can apply You can apply if your organization is a domestic* public or private nonprofit institution of higher education.

For the purposes of this NOFO, eligible entities are programs that were funded between 2011 through 2025, under sections 736, 739, or 747 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act. Section 736 includes the HRSA Centers of Excellence program; section 739 includes the Health Careers Opportunity Program; and section 747 includes the Primary Care Training and Enhancement programs. Appendix A includes a list of these eligible programs.

Types of eligible organizations These types of domestic* organizations may apply:

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

• Private institutions of higher education.

• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)

• Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized)

• Other Native American tribal organizations.

• Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification).

*“Domestic” means the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

Individuals are not eligible applicants under this NOFO.

Other eligibility criteria

• Faith-based and community-based organizations, if otherwise eligible.

Trainee eligibility To receive support under this program, a trainee must be one of the following:

• A U.S. citizen or non-citizen national.

• An individual lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States.

Additional details on citizenship, training period, and aggregate duration of support are available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Fellow appointments are limited to individuals who are committed to a primary care research career and who plan to remain in training for no less than two years. Refer to the postdoctoral training section of the NIH Grants Policy Statement for further guidance.

All fellows must pursue their research training full time. Full time is normally defined as 40 hours per week, or as specified by the sponsoring institution in accordance with its own policies.

• Fellow appointments are normally made in 12-month increments, and no fellow may be appointed for less than 9 months during the initial period of appointment.

There may be exceptions to this rule with prior approval of the awarding unit, or when fellows are appointed to approved, short-term training positions.

• Postdoctoral fellows must have received, as of the beginning date of the NRSA appointment, a PhD, MD, DDS, or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution.

◦ Comparable doctoral degrees include but are not limited to: DMD, DC, DO, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, DPT, PharmD, ND (Doctor of Naturopathy), DSW, PsyD, and doctoral degrees in nursing research.

• Fellows can also be individuals in postgraduate clinical training who wish to interrupt their formal studies (e.g. residency training) for a two or more years in order to engage in full-time research training before returning to complete their formal training.

◦ Trainees may not accept NRSA support for clinical duties if such duties are part of residency, traineeship or fellowship training leading to clinical certification in a medical or dental specialty or subspecialty

• Fellows may not accept NRSA support for clinical duties if:

◦ Such duties are part of residency, traineeship, or fellowship training leading to clinical certification in a medical or dental specialty or subspecialty.

◦ They are clinical moonlighting activities.

• We encourage the engagement of non-NRSA-supported clinicians in NRSA-funded postdoctoral research training when such training can count toward certification by a specialty or subspecialty board.

• Documentation by an authorized official of the degree-granting institution certifying all degree requirements have been met prior to the beginning date of the training appointment is required.

• Fellows cannot lead independent clinical trials through this program. However, they may gain research experience in clinical trials led by a mentor or co-mentor.

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.php?id=61131 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/html5/section_11/11.3.2_eligibility.htm#%3A%7E%3Atext%3DKirschstein%2DNRSA%20institutional%20research%20training%2Cprogram%20at%20the%20recipient%20organization

Qualifications for principal investigator or project director NIH uses the term Program Director rather than Project Director. For purposes of this NOFO, the terms are used interchangeably.

The NRSA research training project director will be responsible for the selection and appointment of fellows to the NRSA research training grant and for the overall direction, management, and administration of the program.

The Project Director must:

• Be an established researcher with a successful training record.

• Be able to provide both administrative and scientific leadership in the development and implementation of the proposed program.

• Have a PhD, MD, DO, DNP, PsyD, PharmD, or comparable doctoral degree and a minimum of three years practicing or teaching in primary care, so they understand the issues pertinent to primary care.

• Be employed by the applicant organization.

Qualifications for Mentors Mentors, also referred to as participating faculty, are experienced researchers responsible for direct oversight of fellows’ research and career development under the NRSA (T32) program.

Mentors must:

• Have strong records as researchers, including recent publications and successful competition for research support in the area of the proposed research training program. NIH expects mentors on NRSA (T32) faculty rosters to document both current and former fellows going back approximately 5 years.

• Have experience in specific methodologies and topics relevant to primary care, such as behavioral sciences, statistics, and clinical sciences

• Have a record of research training, including successful former fellows who have established productive careers.

NIH expects mentors on NRSA faculty rosters to have strong experience in mentoring and to document current and former research fellows going back approximately 5 years.

Completeness and responsive criteria We will review your application to make sure it meets these basic requirements to move forward in the competition.

We will not consider an application that:

• Is from an organization that does not meet all eligibility criteria.

• Requests funding above the award ceiling shown in the funding range.

• Is submitted after the deadline.

Application limits You may submit more than one application under the same Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) if each proposes a distinct project. We will only review your last validated application for each distinct project before the deadline.

Cost sharing This program has no cost-sharing requirement. If you choose to share in the costs of the project, we will not consider it during merit review. Recipients agree that once committed, cost sharing amounts are enforceable and subject to reporting and auditing requirements under 2 CFR 200.

Post-award requirements Before you apply, make sure you understand the requirements that come with an award.

See Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award for information on regulations that apply, reporting, and more.

Program description Purpose The purpose of NRSA program is to train and provide support to postdoctoral health care professionals who are planning to pursue careers in biomedical and behavioral health research related to primary care.

You can find definitions of terms used in this NOFO in the program-specific definitions section.

The primary goal of the NRSA program is to increase the number of highly qualified individuals capable of conducting rigorous primary care research.

Background A persistent shortage of well-trained primary care researchers hinders the advancement of primary care, even though primary care plays a critical role in the U.S.

health system.

At the same time, recent evidence confirms the importance of structured research training. A 2024 study in Family Medicine found family medicine had the lowest rates of federal awards for research training and career development compared to 9 other medical specialties.[1] Research outcomes from structured training programs have included increased scholarly productivity, successful acquisition of competitive grant funding, and long-term retention of investigators in primary care research careers.[2],[3],[4]

These findings underscore the value of sustained federal investments in primary care research training to ensure a robust pipeline of investigators prepared to address national priorities in access, quality, and cost efficiency. HRSA is uniquely positioned to cultivate the next generation of primary care researchers who are not only rigorously trained but also deeply committed to advancing primary care in underserved and community-based settings.

The NRSA program helps institutions recruit and train postdoctoral researchers in the systematic analysis and evaluation of primary medical care issues. These awards are designed to develop the next generation of investigators skilled in addressing problems, methods, and settings historically not addressed in U.S. research.

While funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this program has been administered by HRSA since 1988.

Program goal and objectives The primary goal of the NRSA program is to increase the number of highly qualified individuals capable of conducting rigorous primary care research. This research aims to generate essential knowledge that will improve the nation’s health and address its critical needs in the field of primary care.

The objectives of this NRSA program are:

• Develop and enhance research training opportunities for individuals interested in careers in primary care research.

• Increase the number of researchers focused on primary care issues that transform health care delivery.

• Share fellow research findings to advance primary care.

Program requirements and expectations Award recipients are required to participate in federally designed evaluations to assess program effectiveness and efficiency upon request.

Recipients of funding under the NRSA program must plan, develop, or enhance a program for training postdoctoral professionals who are planning to pursue careers in biomedical or behavioral health research related to primary care.

Mentorship Funded training programs must support effective mentorship, including a clear mentorship approach, experienced mentor, oversight, and accountability systems.

Programs must include the following mentorship components and adapt them to program and fellow needs:

• Make sure fellows understand that the primary goal of the NRSA program is to train highly qualified individuals capable of conducting rigorous primary care research.

• Maintain effective communication between mentors and fellows to address fellows’ concerns and provide solutions.

• Foster fellows’ independence in primary care research, grant writing, and grant application.

• Assess fellows’ understanding of scientific research, systematic analysis, and evaluation of primary medical care issues.

• Improve fellows’ professional development, employment readiness, and access to employment opportunities.

Training-Related Expenses (TRE) funds can be used for the mentoring activities.

Research areas HRSA has a particular interest in primary care practice and education. NRSA fellows are encouraged to advance research in one or more of the following areas to Make America Healthy Again:

• Ensuring access to primary care, particularly for tribal, rural, and underserved communities.

• Promoting preventive care.

• Supporting behavioral health services.

• Promoting nutrition and wellness.

• Reducing exposure to environmental toxins.

• Fighting the chronic disease epidemic.

• Other topics related to primary care.

Research topics must be reviewed and approved by HRSA prior to initiating the project.

Fellows are not permitted to lead clinical trials, and training grants are not designed to support participant costs, such as incentives.

Mandatory meetings Attendance at several meetings is mandatory for this program:

• Annual HRSA meeting: Project directors and fellows must attend an annual HRSA meeting in Rockville, Maryland. Include the costs of attending this meeting in your budget.

• Quarterly HRSA meetings: Fellows must also attend quarterly online meetings with the HRSA Project Officer to provide feedback on the quality of the training program, mentorship, and overall fellowship experience, as well as to identify areas for improvement.

• Quarterly HRSA webinars: Project directors and fellows must attend online HRSA quarterly webinars.

Data collection You must develop and execute a plan to collect post-graduation employment information from graduates from the NRSA program for at least one year after they complete the program.

You must require fellows with eligible qualifications to apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number and collect the NPI numbers of fellows who already have them.

Statutory authority 42 U.S.C. 288 (Section 487 of the Public Health Service Act); and Sec. 217 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, P.L. 119-75

Award information Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS has adopted 2 CFR Part 200, with some modifications included in 2 CFR Part 300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR Part 75.

Policies

• All activities proposed in your application and budget narrative must align with applicable law, including but not limited to statutes, executive orders, federal regulations and applicable judicial holdings. Accordingly, discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate; racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation; denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans, or the belief that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic; illegal immigration; or any other initiatives that compromise public safety. If an application does not align, the application will not receive funding to the extent permitted by law and applicable court orders.

• To make an award, funding must be available and allocated for this program and purpose, at which point we will move forward with the review and award process.

• Have clear policies and good financial practices to avoid spending HRSA funds on unallowable activities. Like other award rules, we may audit your policies, procedures, and controls.

• Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Your satisfactory progress in meeting the project’s objectives.

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

• If we receive more funding for this program, we may:

◦ Fund more applicants from the rank order list.

◦ Extend the period of performance.

◦ Award supplemental funding.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-chapter6A-subchapter3-partG&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjQyIHNlY3Rpb246Mjg4LTIgZWRpdGlvbjpwcmVsaW0p%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim&edition=prelim https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr7148/BILLS-119hr7148enr.pdf https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr7148/BILLS-119hr7148enr.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200

General limitations

• For guidance on some types of costs we do not allow or restrict, see

◦ Project Budget Information in Section 3.1.4 of the R&R Application Guide.

◦ You can also see 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E - General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

◦ Allowable and Unallowable Costs and Activities, in the HHS Grants Policy Statement.

• All costs must be reasonable, necessary, allocable to the award, and adequately documented (2 CFR 200.403).

• You cannot earn profit from the federal award. See 2 CFR 200.400(g).

• To promote objectivity in research, you cannot have a financial conflict of interest. See 42 CFR 50.

• Current appropriations law includes a salary limit of $228,000 as of January 2026 that applies to this program. You may pay salaries at a rate higher than Executive Level II if the amount beyond the HHS SRL is paid with non-HHS funds. For help calculating salaries under this limit, read more at “salary rate limitation” in the application guide.

Indirect costs Indirect costs are costs you charge across more than one project that cannot be easily separated by project. For example, this could include utilities for a building that supports multiple projects.

Per 2 CFR 300.414, indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs. To calculate the (MTDC), we exclude from the direct cost base:

• Direct cost amounts for equipment, tuition, fees, and participant support costs

• Subawards and subcontracts exceeding $50,000.

For modified total direct costs, we use the definition at 2 CFR 200.1.

Consider your indirect costs when developing your budget.

Program income Program income is money earned as a result of your award-supported project activities. You must use any program income you generate from awarded funds for approved project-related activities. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D15 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.404 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.405 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.400(g) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-50/subpart-F#subpart-F https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300/subpart-E/section-300.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

Get registered 16

Find the application package 16

Application writing help 17

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov to apply. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register:

• Go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

• You must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations specifically. Those for contracts are different.

When you register, you will also receive your required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Once you register:

• You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

• If your organization has multiple UEIs, use the one associated with your physical location.

If you need additional information about user roles in SAM.gov, see “Get registered:

SAM.gov user roles” in the R&R Application Guide.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants and How to Apply for Grants.

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number HRSA-26-035.

After you select the opportunity, we recommend that you click the Subscribe button to get updates.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D36 https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants https://www.grants.gov/search-grants

Application writing help Visit HHS Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals.

Visit HRSA’s How to Prepare Your Application page for more guidance.

See Apply for a Grant for other help and resources.

Join the webinar For more information about this opportunity, Visit the Bureau of Health Workforce’s open opportunities website. The webinar will be recorded.

FAQs will be posted on our TA webpage after the webinar.

https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/get-ready-for-grants-management/tips-for-preparing-grant-proposals/index.html https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs

Step 3:

Build Your Application

Application checklist 19

Application contents and format 21

Application checklist There are two types of forms in Grants.gov.

• Some of forms allow you to upload components of your application to the form.

These include components like your project narrative, budget and budget narrative, and attachments.

• Other forms are more typical, fill-in-the-blank forms.

Make sure that you have everything you need to apply.

Narratives See the instructions for the Project Abstract Summary form and the Budget and Budget Narrative.

Form Included in page limit*?

Research & Related Other Project Information Yes*

Research & Related Budget Yes*

Attachments See instructions for attachments.

1. Project Organizational Chart Yes

2. Letters of agreement, memorandum of understanding, and contracts Yes

3. Staffing plan and job description Yes

4. Tables and charts Yes

5. Letters of support Yes

6. Curriculum vitae Yes

7. Relevant faculty peer-reviewed publications Yes

8. Postdoctoral fellows mentored Yes

9. Publications from training Yes

10 to 15. Other relevant documents Yes

Other required forms See form instructions.

SF-424 (R&R) No

Project Abstract Summary form No

R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Yes*

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile form No

Project/Performance Site Location(s) No

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) No

Standardized Work Plan (SWP) form No

* Unless otherwise indicated, only what you attach to a form counts toward the page limit. The form itself does not count.

Application contents and format This section includes guidance on each component found in the application checklist.

Application page limit: 60

Submit your information in English and express whole number budget figures using U.S. dollars.

Required format Required format for project summary, project narrative, budget narrative, and attachments

Font: A readable font like Arial, Courier, CG Times, or Times New Roman

File format: We only accept the following document formats:

• .PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

• .DOC/.DOCX - Microsoft Word

• .RTF - Rich Text Format o .TXT - Text

• .WPD - Word Perfect Document

• .XLS/.XLSX - Microsoft Excel

• .VSD - Microsoft Visio

Size: 12-point font Footnotes, charts, graphics, and budget tables may be 10-point or higher.

Ink color: Black

Spacing: Single-spaced, including all text and tables

Alignment: Left

Headings: Bold all headings and align left.

Size: 8.5 x 11 (Make sure the print area is set and allows printing to 8.5 x 11.)

Margins: 1-inch on all sides

Footer: On each page as the footer, include your organization’s name and page numbers. If a competing continuation or competing supplement, also include your 10-digit award number.

Page numbering:

• Do not number the standard OMB-approved forms.

• Number each attachment page sequentially (that is, 1, 2, 3).

• Reset the numbering for each attachment.

• Treat each attachment as a separate section.

File names: You can find guidance for naming our files in the R&R Application Guide.

Project narrative Use the Research & Related Other Project Information form to attach the project narrative. In the project narrative, you will describe all aspects of your project.

Use the section headers and the order as listed.

Introduction See merit review criterion 1: Need

Briefly describe the purpose of your project.

Need See merit review criterion 1: Need

You must describe the purpose and need for the proposed project, including the following:

• Needs of the institution, the community, and the American public will be addressed by the proposed project.

• Need for primary care research that the proposed project will address and how it will enhance the health and well-being of all Americans.

• Shortages of and need for additional postdoctoral professionals focused on research in primary care capable of transforming health care delivery to deliver value-based care.

• The size and qualifications of the pool of fellow candidates, including information about the types of prior clinical and research training and career levels required for the program.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D36

Approach See merit review criterion 2: Response

• Tell us how you’ll address your stated needs and meet the program requirements and expectations described in this NOFO.

• Describe your objectives (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-framed) and proposed activities and provide evidence for how these link to the project purpose and stated needs.

Mentorship Philosophy and Oversight Plan Provide a detailed plan describing the program’s mentorship approach, mentor qualifications, oversight, and accountability systems. The plan should demonstrate alignment with the program’s goals in primary care research training and the development of successful, independent investigators.

• Describe the overarching philosophy of mentorship in your program. Include expectations that mentors foster environments that promote professional and personal growth. Mentors must demonstrate a commitment to supporting fellows’ development as independent primary care researchers.

• Describe required qualifications of mentors, including experience in primary care research, commitment to training, and a strong track record (at least 5 years) of successful mentorship, as evidenced by former fellows who have developed productive and impactful research careers.

• Describe how mentors and fellows will be matched, how match quality will be assessed, and how changes will be managed to ensure alignment with fellow goals and learning needs. Include plans for periodic evaluation of the mentor-mentee relationship.

• Describe how you will train participating faculty to use evidence-informed mentoring, teaching, and training practices. Include how these practices are tailored to support fellows and promote learning experiences.

• Describe how mentors and fellows will jointly develop, review, and update Individualized Development Plans (IDPs) to guide research, academic progress, and professional development. Explain how IDPs are integrated into regular evaluation and feedback.

• Describe the plan for ongoing monitoring of mentorship, including oversight mechanisms, evaluation tools, and periodic feedback from fellows.

◦ Explain how you will assess the effectiveness of fellow/mentor pairings.

◦ Describe what corrective steps will be taken if mentoring falls below program standards.

◦ Include your plan for reassigning or removing mentors who consistently demonstrate unacceptable mentorship practices.

• Describe how mentorship practices will evolve through feedback, training updates, and engagement with the latest research on effective mentorship.

• Provide evidence for how your program will develop, enhance, and operate a program for training postdoctoral fellows to advance research in primary care.

• Include a plan for sharing research findings produced by fellows.

• Provide a training chart that projects the number of fellows expected to be admitted and graduates from the program each year of the project.

• Describe how each fellow in the program will receive instruction and training in oral and written presentation, leadership skills, project management, and skills needed to apply for individual fellowship or grant support.

• Describe how your program will provide structured career development advising and employment and learning opportunities, such as workshops, discussions, and Individual Development Plans.

High-level work plan See merit review criteria 2: Response and 4: Impact

• Describe how you’ll achieve each of the objectives during the period of performance.

• Provide a timeline that includes each activity and identifies who is responsible for each. As needed, identify how key stakeholders will help plan, design, and carry out all activities.

• Include the extent to which these stakeholders address the needs of the populations and communities served.

• You will also include a more detailed work plan in your Standardized Work Plan (SWP). See Other required forms.

Resolving challenges See merit review criterion 2: Response

Discuss challenges that you are likely to encounter in designing and carrying out the activities in the work plan. Explain approaches that you’ll use to resolve them.

Performance management See merit review criteria 3: Performance management and 5: Resources and capabilities

Outcomes

• Describe the expected outcomes (desired results) of the funded activities.

Performance measurement and reporting

• See the HRSA website’s page on reporting for performance measure requirements and examples of reporting forms.

◦ Describe how you will collect, and report required performance data accurately and on time.

◦ Describe how you will manage and securely store data.

◦ Include how you will report and collect National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers for fellows

◦ Describe your process to track fellows after program completion for up to one year.

• Describe how you will monitor and analyze performance data to support continuous quality improvement.

Program evaluation

• The evaluation should examine processes and progress towards goals, program objectives, and expected outcomes. Evaluations must follow the HHS Evaluation Policy, as well as the standards and best practices described in OMB Memorandum M-20-12. Describe your plan to evaluate the project. Include:

◦ The evaluation questions, methods, data to be collected, and timeline for implementation.

◦ The evaluation barriers and your plan to address them.

◦ The evaluation capacity of your organization and staff. Include experience, skills, and knowledge.

◦ How you will disseminate results, how you will assess whether your dissemination plan is effective, whether the results are national in scope, and the extent of potential replication.

See the reporting section for more information.

Sustainability See merit review criterion 4: Impact

We expect you to sustain key project elements that improve practices and outcomes for the target population. Propose a plan for project sustainability after the period of federal funding ends.

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/report-on-your-grant https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/M-20-12.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/M-20-12.pdf

• Highlight key elements of your project. Examples include training methods or strategies that have been effective in improving practices.

• Describe the actions you’ll take to obtain future sources of funding.

• Determine the timing to become self-sufficient.

• Discuss challenges that you’ll likely encounter in sustaining the program. Include how you will resolve these challenges.

Organizational information See merit review criterion 5: Resources and capabilities

• Briefly describe your mission, structure, and the scope of your current activities.

Explain how they support your ability to carry out the program requirements.

Include a project organizational chart.

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

• Describe how you’ll assess the unique needs of the fellows you serve.

• Include a staffing plan and job descriptions for key faculty and staff in Attachment 3.

• Describe the organizations you will partner with to fulfill the program goals and meet the training objectives. Include key agreements in Attachment 2 and letters of support in Attachment 5.

• Describe in detail the relevant experience, including primary care research areas, that are strengths of the project director and mentors that will train further health care providers in conducting research. The project director and mentors should have experience in primary care research, a commitment to training, and a strong track record (at least 5 years) of successful mentorship, as evidenced by former fellows who have developed productive and impactful research careers. Include:

◦ Attachment 7: A list of relevant peer-reviewed publications by the Project Director and faculty.

◦ Attachment 8: List the total number of postdoctoral fellows mentored in the past 10 years, along with how many fellows completed trainings and how many continued in research related careers

◦ Attachment 9: Include publications resulting from training over the past 10 years, showcasing the productive research outcomes of former fellows

• You will also include biographical sketches for key staff using the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile form. See Other required forms.

Budget and budget narrative See merit review criterion 6: Support requested

Your budget should follow the instructions in budget narrative: detailed instructions section of the R&R Application Guide and any specific instructions listed in this section.

HHS now uses the definitions for equipment and supply in 2 CFR 200.1. The new definitions change the threshold for equipment to the lesser of the recipient’s capitalization level or $10,000 and the threshold for supplies to below that amount.

The total project or program costs are all allowable (direct and indirect) costs used for the HRSA activity or project. This includes costs charged to the award and nonfederal funds used to satisfy any matching or cost sharing requirement (which may include maintenance of effort, if applicable).

Reminder: Indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs.

The budget narrative supports the information you provide in the Research and Related Budget form. The merit review committee reviews both. Your budget should show a well-organized plan.

The budget narrative includes an itemized breakdown and a clear justification of the requested costs. As you develop your budget, consider:

• If the costs are reasonable, allowable and allocable, and consistent with your project’s purpose and activities.

• Restrictions on spending funds. See Funding policies and limitations.

Include funding in your budget for project directors and fellows to attend the annual HRSA meeting in Rockville, Maryland.

To create your budget justification narrative, see budget narrative instructions in the R&R Application Guide.

Participant and trainee support costs Grant funds may be used for the cost of training-related expenses (TRE), including the cost of supplies, equipment, general research support, and mentor-related expenses.

Research-related expenses can be used for the following:

• Research supplies: Items necessary for conducting research, such as laboratory materials and consumables.

• Equipment: Limited research-related equipment required for the fellow’s training.

See the Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D15 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Equipment) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#p-200.1(Supply) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#p-200.1(Supply) https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D18 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.php?id=82417 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/url_redirect.php?id=82417

• Books: Educational materials relevant to the fellow’s research.

• Travel to scientific meetings: Costs associated with attending conferences or workshops to present research or gain knowledge.

• Health insurance: Coverage for the fellow since they are often not classified as university employees.

In your budget narrative:

• List stipends, tuition, fees, and allowances (including travel and subsistence expenses and dependency allowances)

• Identify the number of participants and fellows.

• Separate these costs from others so we can identify them easily.

• Include a sub-total entitled “Total Participant and Fellow Support Costs” with the summary of these costs.

Institutional costs of up to $12,400 per year per postdoctoral fellow may be requested to defray the costs of other research training expenses, such as health insurance, administrative staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and faculty or staff travel directly related to the research training program.

Stipends Stipends are subsistence allowance for fellows to help defray living expenses during the training experience. They are not provided as a condition of employment, or for tuition, fees, health insurance, or other costs associated with the training program.

Stipend level is based on the number of full years of relevant postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment. Relevant experience may include research experience (including industrial), teaching, internship, residency, clinical duties, or other time spent in full-time studies in a health-related field following the date of the qualifying doctoral degree.

For appointments of less than a full year, the stipend will be based on a monthly or daily proration. The monthly stipend amount is calculated by dividing the current annual stipend by 12. The daily stipend is calculated by dividing the current annual stipend by 365. Appointments for less than one year must be justified.

Stipend amounts for fellows may be found at Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels. Your budget must reflect a 2% annual increase in stipends for postdoctoral fellows for each budget year of the period of performance.

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-105.html https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-105.html

Tuition - fellow The program supports postdoctoral individuals in formal degree-granting training. Up to $16,000 per year is provided per fellow enrolled in a degree-granting program.

The allowable stipend, training-related expenses and tuition and fees may be adjusted annually.

Consultant services Identify each consultant, the services they will perform, the total number of days, travel costs, and the total estimated costs.

Attachments See section 3.2 of the HRSA R&R Application Guide.

Place your PDF attachments in order in the Attachments form. See application checklist to determine if they count toward the page limit.

Unless the instructions below require it, do not submit organizational brochures or other promotional materials (for example, slides, films, clips).

Attachment 1: Project organizational chart Provide a one-page diagram that shows the full project’s organizational structure.

Include all aspects, not just the applicant organization.

Attachment 2: Agreements with other entities Provide any documents that describe working relationships between your organization and others you mention in your project narrative. If you include documents that confirm actual or pending contracts or agreements, the documents should clearly describe the roles of subrecipients and contractors and any deliverables. It is not necessary to include the entire contents of lengthy agreements, so long as the portions you include describe the working relationship between you and the other organization.

Make sure letters of agreement are signed and dated.

Attachment 3: Staffing plan and job descriptions See Section 3.1.7 of the R&R Application Guide.

Include a staffing plan that shows the staff positions that will support the project and key information about each. Justify your staffing choices, including education and experience qualifications and your reasons for the amount of time you request for each staff position.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D25 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D23

For key personnel, attach a one-page job description. It must include the role, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Attachment 4: Tables and charts Provide tables or charts that give more detail about the proposal. These might be Gantt, PERT, or flow charts.

Annual training chart: Applicants must include an annual training chart that indicates the number of fellows the organization plans to train through the proposed activities.

The chart must include information on the following:

• The number of fellows proposed to train each year.

• The number of fellows projected to complete the program each year.

Attachment 5: Letters of support You may provide letters of support from other organizations or departments involved in the proposed project.

Letters of support can also be from individuals within your institution who hold the authority to speak for the organization or department such as a CEO or chair.

Recommenders should indicate an understanding of and commitment to the project, and what their contribution to the project will be. You should reference letters of support in the applicable section of the project narrative.

Recommenders must sign and date their letter of support for the document to be considered.

Attachment 6: Curriculum vitae (CV) Describe in detail the primary care research areas that represent strengths of the Project Director and proposed mentors. Explain how these areas will support the training of future health care providers in conducting research. Attach current CVs for the Project Director and all mentors.

Attachment 7: Relevant key personnel peer-reviewed publications Provide a list of relevant primary care research peer-reviewed publications by the Program Director and proposed faculty for the last ten years, not to exceed two pages.

Do not include information that is in the bio sketch.

Attachment 8: Postdoctoral fellows trained List the total number of postdoctoral fellows mentored in the past 10 years, along with how many completed trainings and how many continued in research related careers.

Attachment 9: Publications from training Include publications resulting from training over the past 10 years, showcasing the productive research outcomes of former fellows.

Attachment 10 to 15: Other relevant documents You may use attachments 10 through 15 to add other relevant documents.

Other required forms You will need to complete some other forms. Upload the following forms at Grants.gov.

You can find them in the NOFO application package or review them and any available instructions at Grants.gov Forms.

Forms Submission Requirement

SF-424 R&R (Application for Federal Assistance) form With application.

Project Abstract Summary form With application.

Research & Related Other Project Information With application.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) With application.

R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) form With application.

Project/Performance Site Location(s) With application.

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) If applicable, with the application or before award.

Standardizes Work Plan (SWP) form With application.

https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

Form instructions In addition to the requirements for the budget narrative, project narrative, and attachments, following are instructions for each of the other forms required by this NOFO. See the application checklist for a full list of all application requirements.

SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance This is your application for federal assistance. Follow the instructions in section 3.1.1 of the R&R Application Guide. This is the application for Federal Assistance.

Project Abstract Summary form Complete the information in the Project Abstract Summary form. Include a short description of your proposed project. Include the needs you plan to address, the proposed services, and the population groups you plan to serve. For more information, see section 3.1.2 of the R&R Application Guide.

Research & Related Other Project Information In addition to the requirements in the project narrative section, you will provide some additional information in this form.

• Complete sections 1 through 6.

• Upload a blank document in item 7: Project Summary/Abstract to avoid a cross-form error with your Project Abstract Summary form.

• Upload your project narrative in item 8.

• Leave items 9, 10, and 11 blank.

Important: public information When filling out your SF-424 form, pay attention to Box 15: Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project.

We share what you put there with USAspending.