FOA Content HRSA-26-096 Final.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due 07/28/2026

Bureau of Health Workforce

Division of Health Careers and Financial Support

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)

Opportunity Number: HRSA-26-096

Table of Contents Before You Begin

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

Basic information

Funding details

Eligibility

Program description

Award information

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Get registered

Find the application package

Application writing help

Step 3: Build Your Application

Application checklist

Application contents and format

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award

Application review

Selection process

Award notices

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Application submission and deadlines

Other submissions

Step 6: Learn What Happen After Award

Post-award requirements and administration

Reporting

Contacts and Support

Agency contacts

Help with systems

Before You Begin

OpDiv:

Health Resources and Services Administration Agency:

Bureau of Health Workforce Subagency:

Division of Health Careers and Financial Support Opportunity name:

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) Opportunity number:

HRSA-26-096

Metadata author:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Metadata keywords:

R&R Application Guide.

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.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

Basic information Tagline: Grants for health professions schools to offer scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Summary The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program increases the health professions and nursing workforce by providing awards to eligible health professions schools for use in awarding scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have a financial need.

Have questions? Go to Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name: Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)

Opportunity number: HRSA-26-096

Announcement version: Initial

Federal assistance listing: 93.925

Key dates

NOFO issue date: 06/26/2026

Informational webinar: See Webinar Section

Application deadline: 07/28/2026

Expected award date is by: 09/01/2026

Expected start date: 09/01/2026

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

Funding details Application Types:

New Expected total available funding in FY:

2026: $51,079,900

Expected number and type of awards:

80 G (Grant)

Funding range per award:

$1 - $650,000

We plan to fund awards in five budget periods. Budget periods 2-5 will start July 1. The period of performance is September 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031. Your request for budget years 2 to 5 cannot exceed your year 1 request. You may incur pre-award project costs 90 calendar days before the Federal award date. All costs incurred before we issue the Notices of Award (NoA) must comply with the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) requirements. We are under no obligation to reimburse such costs if for any reason you do not receive an award, costs are in conflict with the Cost Principles, or if the dollar amount of the award is less than anticipated and inadequate to cover such costs.

Eligibility You can apply if you are an accredited school of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, nursing (as defined in section 801 of the Public Health Service Act), pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, public health, chiropractic, or allied health, a school offering a graduate program in behavioral and mental health practice, or an entity providing programs for the training of physician assistants.

For details on which disciplines qualify, see the health professions schools eligibility list.

Types of eligible organizations These types of *domestic organizations may apply if they otherwise meet the eligibility criteria.

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

Private institutions of higher education

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.

Additional information on eligibility

Eligible health professions schools include the following: 1. Medicine (Doctor of allopathic medicine, Doctor of osteopathic medicine); 2. Dentistry (Doctor of dentistry); 3. Other health disciplines (Doctor of veterinary medicine, Doctor of optometry, Doctor of podiatry medicine, Doctor of pharmacy, Doctor of chiropractic medicine); 4. Behavioral and mental health (Graduate degree in clinical psychology; Graduate degree in clinical social work; Graduate degree in gerontological counseling; Graduate degree in marriage and family therapy; Graduate degree in mental health counseling; Graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling); 5. Public health (Graduate degree in health administration; Graduate degree in public health); 6. Allied health (Bachelor's and graduate degrees in dietetics; Graduate degree in audiology; Graduate degree in occupational therapy; Graduate degree in physical therapy; Graduate degree in speech pathology; Bachelor's and graduate degrees in dental hygiene; Bachelor's and graduate degrees in medical laboratory technology, Bachelor's degree in radiologic technology); 7. Nursing (Associate, bachelor's, and graduate degrees in nursing (pre-nursing is not eligible)); 8.

Midwifery (Certified nursing and non-nursing graduate degrees in midwifery (pre-nursing or pre-midwifery is not eligible)); and 9. Physician Assistant (Graduate degree in physician assistant studies).

Individuals are not eligible applicants under this NOFO.

Other eligibility criteria Your application must demonstrate you are currently:

• Accredited by the recognized accrediting body for your specific health discipline (Attachment 1).

• Carrying out a program to recruit and retain students from disadvantaged backgrounds which you can demonstrate by showing you are enrolling and graduating full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds in your specific degree program, based on the following percentages for the most recent 3-year period:

o At least 20 percent of the total enrollment of the degree program during academic years 2022 to 2025 (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025) were students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and o At least 20 percent of the total graduates of the degree program during academic years 2022 to 2025 were from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Newly established schools may apply if students were enrolled for the academic year covering the period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025. The information provided must demonstrate at least 20 percent of the total enrollment and graduates are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

o New schools must provide:

o At least 2 years of student enrollment data in the degree program, and o At least 1 year of graduation data in the degree program.

Trainee eligibility To receive support under this program, a student must be:

• Enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) at an eligible health professions or nursing school as a full-time student in a program leading to a degree in health professions or nursing.

• From a disadvantaged background, which can be met by showing the student is from an economically, educationally or geographically vulnerable background as described in Program requirements and expectations.

• Have a financial need for a scholarship, per the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA).

• In addition, a student must be:

o A U.S. citizen or non-citizen national;

o An individual lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States; or o Any other “qualified alien” under section 431(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L 104-193, as amended.

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.

You may not submit more than one application per health professions degree program. If you submit more than one application, we will only accept the last on-time submission.

While multiple applications from an institution are allowed, only a maximum of three per institution may be funded. Collaborative proposals are not allowed.

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.

Maintenance of effort Federal funds must add to any existing non-federal funds for your proposed activities. If you receive an award, you will have to spend at least as much as you spent in the last fiscal year before the award. Section 797(b) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. § 295n-2(b)) requires this. We will enforce these statutory requirements through all available mechanisms. You must provide supporting documentation of your maintenance of effort in your Attachments.

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 Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program increases the health professions and nursing workforce by providing awards to eligible health professions schools for use in awarding scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have a financial need.

• Strengthen the health professions and nursing workforce by supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are more likely to practice in primary care and in medically vulnerable communities.

Background The SDS program aims to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to increase their access to a health professions degree. Since 2012, 15,054 students successfully graduated with a degree in a health profession after receiving SDS scholarships. In academic years 2024 to 2025, of those graduates with follow-up data, 45 percent worked or trained in medically vulnerable communities one year after graduation and 27 percent in primary care settings[i]. SDS scholarships help reduce financial obstacles for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, which allows them to practice in rural and vulnerable communities.

Program goal and objectives Goal: Strengthen the health professions and nursing workforce by supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are more likely to practice in primary care and in medically vulnerable communities.

Objective 1: Increase enrollment and retention of full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Objective 2: Increase the number of graduates practicing in primary care.

Objective 3: Increase the number of graduates working in rural, Tribal, and other medically vulnerable communities.

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

Your project must meet the following requirements and address them in your application:

Scholarship requirements

• You must provide scholarships to full-time students who are eligible individuals as defined in student eligibility. Such scholarships may be expended only for tuition expenses, other reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses incurred in the attendance of such school.

• Student scholarships must not exceed:

o $50,000 per academic year for dental students.

o $40,000 per academic year for all other health professions and nursing students.

• Scholarships must be at least half the cost of the student’s annual tuition.

• The amount of the scholarship may not exceed the student’s financial need.

• You must agree that in providing scholarships, you will give preference to students for whom the cost of attendance would constitute severe financial hardship.

• Funds should not be disbursed in one lump sum.

• Funds should be disbursed at the beginning of each period within the academic year.

Program requirements

• Your school must provide training through clinical placement(s) in at least one of the following:

o Primary care settings.

o Medically vulnerable communities.

o Rural communities.

o Tribal communities.

• You are required to state, “This program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration” on all related documents and marketing materials.

• You must conduct continuous quality improvement for program evaluation and at completion of the period of performance.

Student requirements

• Students must maintain your schools’ standards for full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic standing to remain eligible for a scholarship. Students are ineligible until this criterion is met.

• Students are strongly encouraged to sign an attestation stating they will provide post-graduation information to their school upon request.

• Students must be from a disadvantaged background, which is further defined as either an economically or educationally/geographically vulnerable background.

Steps to determine if a student is economically vulnerable

• Use the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guideline table for 1 year preceding the data submitted on the FAFSA by comparing the appropriate income to the table. Please use 200 percent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty guideline table. Use the spreadsheet tool to calculate Different Percentages of the Guidelines, 1983 to 2025.

o Use parental income for students deemed “dependent” by the U.S. Department of Education guidelines.

https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines/prior-hhs-poverty-guidelines-federal-register-references https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency o Use student income for students deemed “independent” by the U.S. Department of Education guidelines.

Steps to determine if a student is educationally or geographically vulnerable

• Apply the following criteria consistently for all students. It is the responsibility of each applicant to clearly delineate the criteria used to classify student participants as coming from an educationally or geographically vulnerable background.

• Define “low” rates using the below criteria based on your health professions schools’ current student population. Use the most recent data from your state’s Department of Education site, under “State Report Card” For example:

o The student graduated from or last attended a high school that has a low overall student average SAT score.

o The student graduated from or last attended a high school with either a:

Low percentage of seniors receiving a high school diploma, or Low percentage of graduates who attend college during the first year after graduation.

o The student graduated from or last attended a high school with low per capita funding.

o The student graduated from or last attended a high school where many of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

o The student is the first generation in his or her family to attend college. Please follow the instructions to determine the student’s first-generation status using FASFA’s Parents Education Status questions.

Statutory authority 42 U.S.C. § 293a (Section 737 of the Public Health Service Act)

[i] “Health Professions Training Programs” dashboard, Health Resources and Services Administration, 2026

Award information 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

• 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:

o Appropriation of funds.

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

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

https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency https://www.ed.gov/birth-to-grade-12-education/elementary-and-secondary-education/where-can-i-find-my-state-report-card-website https://studentaid.gov/help/parents-education-status https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300

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

o Fund more applicants from the rank order list.

o Extend the period of performance.

o Award supplemental funding.

General limitations

• For guidance on some types of costs we do not allow or restrict, see o 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E - General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

o 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).

• 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 higher rate if the rate beyond the salary rate limit (Executive Level II) is paid with non-HHS funds. For help calculating salaries under this limit, read more at “salary rate limitation” in Step 1 of the How to Apply – Application Guide.

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

42 CFR 50.

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.

As of October 1, 2025, 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.

For the SDS Program, the MTDC is only the direct costs of the Project Director (PD) salary and fringe benefits, if requested. See Project director costs.

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.

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 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.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=6 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

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.

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-26-096.

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

If you need additional information about getting registered or finding the application package, see Step 2 in the How to Apply – Application Guide.

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.

Have questions? Go to Contacts and Support.

FAQs will be posted on the Bureau of Health Workforce’s open opportunities website after the webinar.

Step 3: Build Your Application

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

• Some 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, as applicable.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf 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/search-grants https://www.grants.gov/search-grants https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=8 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

• 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 narrative, 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.

Attachments Included in page limit*?

◻ 1. Accreditation Documentation Yes ◻ 2. Project Organizational Chart Yes ◻ 3. Agreements with other entities Yes ◻ 4. Staffing Plan and Job Description Yes ◻ 5. Maintenance of effort documentation Yes ◻ 6. Funding preference or priority documentation Yes ◻ 7. Tables and charts Yes ◻ 8. Letters of Support Yes ◻ 9. Other relevant document Yes ◻ 10. Other relevant document Yes ◻ 11. Other relevant document Yes ◻ 12. Other relevant document Yes ◻ 13. Other relevant document Yes ◻ 14. Other relevant document Yes ◻ 15. Other relevant document Yes Other required forms See form instructions.

Form Included in page limit*?

◻ 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

◻Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program Specific 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 pages

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

Required format You can find technical guidance for formatting your application documents in Step 5 of the NOFO and in Step 5 of the How to Apply - 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 for the specific health discipline.

• Describe your continued commitment to the education of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Describe your continued commitment to increasing the number of graduates who practice in primary care.

• Describe your continued commitment to increasing the number of graduates working in rural, Tribal and other medically vulnerable communities.

Need See merit review criterion 1: Need

• Describe your students and their unmet needs this program will address.

• Discuss any relevant barriers to student’s access to education and success in your program.

• Provide data on:

o The percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds already receiving financial assistance in the specific health professions disciplines.

o The average financial aid amount received from students in the specific health discipline program.

• Use and cite demographic data as part of the descriptions and explanations above, as applicable.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=25

Approach See merit review criterion 2: Response

• Describe how you will address your stated goal and objectives to meet the program requirements and expectations described in this NOFO.

• Describe how your project will address the needs of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Describe your past successes in recruiting, retaining, and graduating students from disadvantaged backgrounds based on the total number/percentage of full-time enrollment during academic years 2022 to 2025 and new schools for academic years 2023 to 2025.

• Describe how strategic partnership activities will involve federal, state, local, or national organizations, and other colleges and universities.

• Describe how you provide educational support and training opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully complete their health professions degree program.

• Describe how you will increase the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds practicing in primary care, rural, Tribal, and other medically vulnerable communities.

• Describe in detail your proposed program funding and disbursement strategies and processes, including how you will prioritize eligible students who have the greatest financial need and are considered to have a severe financial hardship.

• Describe how you will provide continued scholarships to current SDS scholarship recipients and how you will use available funds to support newly eligible students.

• Describe a plan for how you will comply with the Department of Justice “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination,” including unlawful proxy discrimination

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.

o 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 Report on Your Grant for performance measure requirements and examples of reporting forms. Look for the performance measures under Health Career Grants: Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS).

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

• Describe how you will collect students’ demographic data.

• Describe how you will collect data about students’ economically, educationally, or geographically vulnerable background status as defined in the Program requirements and expectations section of the NOFO.

• Describe how you will manage and securely store data.

• Include how you will collect and report National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers for students. Students in eligible disciplines must apply for and report on an NPI.

• Describe your process to track students after graduation for up to 1 year to obtain their employment information.

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

Program Evaluation

The evaluation should examine processes and progress towards the program goal, 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.

• Highlight key elements of your projects. Examples include recruiting and retention methods or strategies that have been effective in improving practices.

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

• Determine the timing to become self-sufficient.

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

• Discuss challenges that you will 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 in Attachment 2.

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

• Describe how you will assess the unique needs of the students you serve.

• Include a staffing plan and job descriptions for key faculty and staff in Attachment 4.

• Describe the organizations you will partner with to fulfill the program goal and meet the program objectives. Include key agreements in Attachment 3 and letters of support in Attachment 8.

• Include biographical sketches for key staff using the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile form. Key staff include, at minimum the project director and financial aid representatives who will be involved in the program. See Other required forms.

• Include a plan to ensure participants and stakeholders are aware that SDS funding is provided by HRSA.

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.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=15 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)

• The overall amount requested per year, which should equal your program’s three-year average disadvantaged background student enrollment (using data from Section D of the Program Specific Form), multiplied by your three-year average student financial need (using data obtained from your Financial Aid Office).

• The overall requested amount includes an allowable maximum of 25% Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) for the Project Director (PD) salary, fringe benefits and 8% indirect costs based on the PD salary and fringe amount. The total amount requested must not exceed $650,000.

You must submit one-year budgets for each of the subsequent budget periods within the requested five-year period of performance at the time of application. Your request for budget years 2 to 5 cannot exceed your year 1 request.

To create your budget justification narrative, see budget narrative instructions in Step 3 section of the How to Apply – Application Guide.

Participant and trainee support costs In your budget narrative:

• List tuition, room and board, fees, health insurance, stipends, travel, subsistence, and other costs.

• Identify the number of participant scholarships.

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

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

• Ensure scholarships must be at least half of the cost of the student’s annual tuition.

• Ensure student scholarships must not exceed $50,000 per academic year for dental students or $40,000 per academic year for all others health and nursing professionals.

• Ensure the cost is based on the average financial need for all eligible participants for the specific health professions.

• Ensure the amount of a scholarship does not exceed:

o A participant’s tuition expenses.

o Other reasonable educational expenses.

o Reasonable living expenses incurred in attendance at the health professions or nursing school.

• Program specific limitation: Child-care expenses are not allowable.

Project Director Costs You may request direct costs for the Project Director’s salary and fringe benefits not to exceed

25% FTE.

• Salary and fringe benefits are only allowable for the Project Director.

• Salary and fringe benefits for other staff are not allowed.

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

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=14 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=14 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=25

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: Accreditation documentation

You must provide documentation of your health professions discipline accreditation, or provisional accreditation. Please do not provide only the web link to the accreditation body’s website. HRSA will not open any links included in the application.

Acceptable forms of proof are certificates or letters with dates that are in effect prior to the start of the budget/project period during which support will be received.

If accreditation is pending or not yet granted:

A letter of reasonable assurance, from or on behalf of the health professions discipline accrediting body, must be submitted along with the application stating that the program will meet the accreditation standards effective prior to the start of the budget/project period during which support will be received.

Attachment 2: Project organizational chart Provide a one-page diagram that shows the full project’s organizational structure. Include all aspects, not just for your organization.

Attachment 3: Agreements with other entities Provide any documents that describe working relationships between your organization and other organizations and programs you refer to in the proposal. Documents that confirm actual or pending contracts or agreements should clearly describe the roles of 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 4: 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 informationabout each. Justify your staffing choices, including education and experience qualifications and your reasons for the amount of time you request for each staff position.

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

Attachment 5: Maintenance of effort documentation You will include non-federal funds that support proposed activities. These include cash, in-kind, and other contributions. Do not include any federal funds. See Maintenance of Effort requirement.

Use the sample format below to provide the Maintenance of Effort documentation.

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

FY before application:

Actual nonfederal expenditures

First FY of award:

Estimated nonfederal expenditures

Attachment 6: Funding priority documentation To receive a funding priority, include a statement that you are eligible for a funding priority and identify the priority. Points will be calculated using the data submitted via the Program Specific Form and the information included for Priority Point 4 (HPSA). See Funding Priorities.

See the selection process section for information about how these documents are used.

Attachment 7: Tables and charts Provide tables or charts that give more detail about the proposal. These might be Gantt, PERT, or flow charts.

Attachment 8: 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 9: Other relevant document You may use attachments 9 through 15 to add other relevant documents.

Attachment 10: Other relevant document You may use attachments 9 through 15 to add other relevant documents.

Attachment 11: Other relevant document You may use attachments 9 through 15 to add other relevant documents.

Attachment 12: Other relevant document You may use attachments 9 through 15 to add other relevant documents.

Attachment 13: Other relevant document You may use attachments 9 through 15 to add other relevant documents.

Attachment 14: Other relevant document You may use attachments 9 through 15 to add other relevant documents.

Attachment 15: Other relevant document You may use attachments 9 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.

Standardized Work Plan (SWP) form With application.

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program Specific Form With application.

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 Step 3 section of the How to Apply – Application Guide.

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. This is where the public goes to learn how the federal government spends their money.

Instead of just a title, insert a short description of your project and what it will do.

See instructions and examples.

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.

When writing your summary:

https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=17 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=17 https://www.usaspending.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-writing-award-descriptions.pdf

• Use 4,000 characters or fewer.

• Make sure it’s clear, accurate, short.

• Do not refer to other parts of the application.

• Do not include personally identifiable information (PII) in abstract form.

If you receive an award, we’ll put your project abstract on public websites and databases, including USAspending.gov.

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.

Research & related senior/key person profile (expanded) Include biographical sketches for people who will hold the key positions.

• Try to use no more than 2 pages per person.

• Do not include non-public personally identifiable information.

• If you include someone you have not hired yet, include a letter of commitment from that person with their biographical sketch.

• Upload sketches in the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile form.

• Include:

o Name and title o Education and training – for each entry include Institution and location, degree and date earned, if any, and field of study.

o Section A, Personal Statement. Briefly describe why the individual’s experience and qualifications make them well-suited for their role.

o Section B, Positions and Honors. List in chronological order previous and current positions. List any honors. Include present membership on any federal government public advisory committee.

o Section C, Other Support. This section is optional. List selected ongoing and completed projects during the last three years. Begin with any projects relevant to the proposed project. Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and responsibilities of the person.

o Other information. If they apply, include language fluency and experience working with populations that are culturally and linguistically different from their own.

R&R subaward budget attachment(s) form You will also complete the R&R Subaward Budget Attachment Form for each subaward you propose. These include subcontracts. You will do this using the R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form.

https://grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-terminology#p http://www.usaspending.gov/ https://grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-terminology#p

Use the following instructions:

• Once you open this form, you can select “Click here to extract the R&R Subaward Budget Attachment”.

• Save the file and then open it to complete it.

• Once you save the file you can upload it within the form.

• Repeat the steps for each subaward.

If you have more than 10 subawards, you may upload the extra budget forms in the Research and Related Other Project Information form in Block 12 “Other Attachments”.

Project/performance site location(s) Follow the form instructions in Grants.gov Forms. Use the “Next Site” option rather than “Additional Location(s)” to add more than one project/performance site location.

Disclosure of lobbying activities (SF-LLL) form Follow the form instructions in Grants.gov Forms.

Standardized work plan form Does not count toward the page limit

In addition to the requirements in project narrative, high-level work plan, follow these instructions:

• Submit your workplan through the SWP Form. Provide a detailed work plan that demonstrates your experience or ability implementing a project of the proposed scope.

• Follow the instructions in the SWP Form.

• Select your organizational priorities that best fit the objective.

• As specified in the NOFO, program goal and objectives must be copied as stated.

SDS Program Specific Form Follow the form instructions in Grants.gov Forms.

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award

Application review Initial Review We will review your application to make sure that it meets eligibility criteria, including the completeness and responsiveness criteria. If your application does not meet these criteria, we will not fund it. If this is the case, we will notify your authorized official.

We will not review any pages that exceed the page limit.

Merit review A panel reviews all applications that pass the initial review. You can find more about the merit review process in Step 4 of the How to Apply – Application Guide. The members use these criteria.

Criterion Total number of points = 100

1. Need 20 points https://www.grants.gov/forms https://www.grants.gov/forms https://www.grants.gov/forms…