FOA Content of HRSA-26-036.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due 05/29/2026

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Rural Strategic Initiatives Division

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)- Planning Opportunity number: HRSA-26-036

Contents Before you begin 3

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4 Basic Information 5

Eligibility 6

Program description 9

Award information 20

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 23 Get registered 24

Find the application package 24

Application writing help 25

Step 3: Build Your Application 26 Application checklist 27

Application contents and format 29

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award 44 Application review 45

Selection Process 49

Award notices 50

Step 5: Submit Your Application 51 Application submission and deadlines 52

Other submissions 52

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 53 Post-award requirements and administration 54

Reporting 58

Contacts and Support 59

Appendices 64

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 05/29/2026.

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.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic Information 5

Eligibility 6

Program description 9

Award information 20

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

Basic Information Health Resources Services Administration

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Rural Strategic Initiatives Division

Building the capacity for sustainable rural substance use service delivery through network development, community-driven action planning, and provider preparation.

Summary Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning helps organizations in rural areas build a partnership network and create a strong base for substance use disorder (SUD) and related services. It also helps build capacity to develop, implement and sustain these services.

Funding will serve as a critical first step to creating SUD service systems that make care easy to access, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, gain strong community buy-in, and prepare communities to deliver prevention, treatment, recovery, and other supportive services over the long term.

RCORP-Planning grants support planning and preparation activities only and do not support direct service delivery.

Funding details Application type: New

Expected total available funding in FY26: $4,000,000

Expected number and type of awards: 40 Grants

Funding range per award: $100,000

We plan to fund awards in 2 12-month budget periods for a total 2 year period of performance from 09/01/2026 to 08/31/2028.

Have questions?

Go to Contacts and Support.

Key facts name:

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning number:

HRSA-26-036

version:

Initial

93.912

Key dates

04/29/2026 webinar:

Will be posted to Grants.gov deadline:

05/29/2026

08/01/2026

09/01/2026

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

Eligibility Who can apply You can apply if you are a domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entity.

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

• State governments.

• County governments.

• City or township governments.

• Special district governments.

• Independent school districts.

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).

• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

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

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

• Private institutions of higher education.

• For profit organizations other than small businesses.

• Small businesses.

• Faith-based organizations.

*“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.

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

RCORP-Planning activities may only support HRSA-designated rural counties and rural census tracts.

• You can confirm these using the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer.

• Some formerly HRSA-designated rural areas are also eligible. See Appendix C for details.

• You are expected to address the needs of the entire target rural service area that you select.

In partially rural counties, activities must be limited to HRSA-designated rural census tracts.

• If your target rural service area contains any counties or census tracts that are not designated rural, your application will not be reviewed or scored.

• HRSA will reference Attachment 1 to confirm eligibility.

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.

• Does not include a project narrative, work plan, staffing plan, budget and budget narrative.

• Proposes a target service area in Attachment 1 that is not exclusively rural, per the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer or other definitions per the Appendix C.

• Does not address all three core objectives.

• Proposes to use award funds to pay for direct service delivery.

• Does not include one letter of support each from at least two proposed network partners (in addition to the applicant organization).

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

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.

Each applicant organization must be located in a different rural area and serve a different population. Your application must be unique and independently developed and written. All applicants applying under the same EIN/UEI must submit the required information described in Attachment 7.

Single organizations (e.g., a “parent” organization or headquarters) may not apply more than once for this funding opportunity on behalf of its satellite offices or clinics.

If you do not provide sufficient information in Attachment 7, or submit multiple applications that are nearly identical, we will only review the last on-time submission associated with the EIN/UEI.

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 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning helps organizations in rural areas build partnerships and create a strong base for substance use disorder (SUD) and related services. It also helps build capacity to develop, implement and sustain these services.

RCORP’s focus is on opioid misuse and its impact on health in rural America. However, people who misuse opioids often struggle with other substances, including alcohol, and mental health or social needs. The complex nature of SUD, including opioid use disorder (OUD), requires a comprehensive systems approach to prevent future problems, address barriers to care, and encourage long-term recovery. This includes ensuring a range of ongoing behavioral health[1] and supportive social services related to SUD.

RCORP-Planning helps address this and provides a starting point to build these supports when larger federal grants may be too complex to access.

Funding will serve as a critical first step to creating SUD service systems that:

• Make care easy to access.

• Strengthen the behavioral health workforce.

• Respond to the specific needs of each community.

• Gain strong community buy-in.

• Include sustainable prevention, treatment, recovery, and other supportive services.

These services should aim to:

• Reduce substance use initiation and misuse.

• Address mental, behavioral, and psychosocial needs of people who use illicit substances, misuse alcohol, or are in recovery.

• Reduce disease and death related to substance use, including OUD, in high-risk rural areas.

Funding opportunity goals

• Support a network of committed partners that can establish, implement, and sustain SUD and related behavioral health prevention, treatment, recovery, and other supportive services in rural areas.

• Create action plans to increase the number, types, and/or caseload capacity of SUD service access points in rural areas that respond to documented community contexts and needs.

• Strengthen the capacity of service providers and organizations so they can deliver high-quality, comprehensive care.

Background HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is the focal point for rural health activities within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. FORHP programs provide technical assistance and other activities as necessary to support improving health care in rural areas.

FORHP administers the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative aimed at reducing disease and death related to SUD and OUD in high-risk rural areas.

National data

• Drug overdose deaths in the United States are decreasing for the first time since 2018.[2]

◦ Gains have been uneven, and overdose deaths continue to be a leading cause of injury or death.[3]

• In 2024, 48.4 million people (or 16.8% of those aged 12 or older) had an SUD in the past year. This includes:

◦ 27.9 million people who had an alcohol use disorder.

◦ 28.2 million people who had a drug use disorder.[4]

• In 2025, 31.7% of U.S. twelfth graders reported using an illegal substance in the past year, and 41.1% reported alcohol use.

• Adults and adolescents with mental health challenges are more likely to have an SUD.[6]

• In 2022, 19% of U.S. counties did not have any office-based buprenorphine providers or opioid treatment programs.[7] https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/opioid-response

Rural challenges Rural areas face complex challenges to behavioral health treatment and recovery services:

• Rural overdose rates remain well above 2019 levels, despite recent declines from their 2021 peak.

◦ Rates remain especially high in the south and west regions of the U.S.[8]

• Alcohol use is higher for rural youth than for non-rural youth.

◦ Teens and young adults who use substances are at higher risk for later SUD.[4]

• Over half of rural residents have a history of adverse childhood experiences, which increases risk for SUD and other mental health challenges.[9]

• Rural areas have more access issues due to long travel distances and lack of transportation.[10]

• Rural communities are more likely to lack behavioral health providers compared to their urban counterparts, and they often rely on primary care providers for mental and behavioral health services.[11]

◦ In 2020, more than half of small and remote rural counties lacked any provider of medication for OUD (MOUD).[12]

• Different prescribing and dispensing requirements for MOUD makes access harder in rural areas.

Public health priorities

• The opioid crisis was first declared a public health emergency in 2017, alongside the rise in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids.[13]

• In December 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary renewed the public health emergency declaration to continue addressing the national opioid crisis.[14]

• Current drug control policy priorities emphasize: [15]

◦ Reducing overdose fatalities.

◦ Evidence-based efforts to prevent drug use.

◦ Increasing access to holistic, evidence-based treatment that leads to long-term recovery.

• RCORP-Impact helps advance the Making America Healthy Again (MAHA) priorities, which include:

◦ Preventive health.

◦ Reducing chronic disease.

https://www.hhs.gov/maha/index.html

◦ Mental health.

◦ Nutrition.

◦ Access to primary and value-based care.

◦ Culturally appropriate services for tribes.

◦ Early childhood health and autism support.

Program requirements and expectations RCORP-Planning grants help communities in rural areas plan a tailored approach to improving the SUD service system. Activities will vary based on local needs. If awarded, you will receive hands-on, customized help to shape your activities and achieve your goals from the RCORP technical assistance provider.

• Each project must complete work under three core objectives, as listed below.

◦ You will propose and complete activities under each of these core objectives during your grant.

• You may also add project-specific objectives to meet your community needs and desired outcomes.

• Activities should address the needs of the entire target service area that you select and its population.

• Activities should advance one or more of the MAHA priorities. Strategies to consider include:

◦ Address root causes of poor health.

◦ Improve access to primary care, behavioral health, preventive care, or developmental services.

◦ Expand nutrition programs or chronic disease prevention.

◦ Support early childhood development or autism services.

◦ Prepare systems for value-based care.

◦ Partner with tribal health systems.

Objective 1: Build relationships with network partners and community members.

A strong coalition of partners is key to creating and sustaining a successful SUD service system. You will help build a new network, or strengthen and expand an existing network, of partners who represent various sectors and disciplines.

Potential partner types:

• Emergency services.

• Primary care providers.

• Community and school-based health centers.

• Mental and behavioral health providers.

• Maternal health providers.

• Pharmacies.

• Law enforcement, including jails and prisons.

• Wrap-around service providers.

• Employers and employee assistance initiatives.

• Child and youth services.

• Middle and high schools, community colleges, and institutes of higher education.

• Recovery organizations and communities.

• Libraries and other community resource centers.

• Faith-based organizations.

• State Office of Rural Health or other state authorities.

• State rural health or public health associations.

• Local government authorities.

Network activities:

• Network partners will work together to complete necessary community assessments and to develop and implement the action plan (see Objective 2).

• The network will also be responsible for planning how to sustain initial activities and continue implementing the action plan after the RCORP-Planning grant ends.

Activities toward Objective 1 may include:

• Formalizing network partnerships through written agreements that detail members’ roles and responsibilities.

• Establishing shared priorities and goals to guide the network’s efforts.

• Identifying and engaging potential new network partners, funding resources, and other champions.

• Leading network coordination and planning efforts.

• Gathering and jointly reviewing data to track progress on shared activities and make needed adjustments or improvements.

• Engaging individuals with lived experience and other community members to ensure network plans and future services are responsive to local context.

• Outreach and education to share information about RCORP-Planning goals and activities.

Expectations for your network include:

• Submit letters of support from two current or potential network partners (not including the applicant organization) when you apply.

◦ At least one letter must be from an organization that is physically located in your target rural service area.

◦ See Attachment 6 for more information.

• By the end of Year 1:

◦ Establish a network of at least four distinct organizations (including the applicant organization).

◦ Ensure at least 50% of your network members are physically located (either the headquarters or a satellite site) in the target rural service area.

◦ Develop a written agreement (such as a memorandum of understanding) with network partners. This agreement should include:

▪ The network’s shared goals.

▪ The network’s governance structure and any data sharing agreements.

▪ Each partner’s role and responsibilities.

• Network members should be fully engaged across the RCORP-Planning activities.

◦ We strongly encourage you to consider budgeting RCORP-Planning funds to support network members’ meaningful participation in the project.

◦ Partner organizations should ensure that their representative(s) have the relevant information and decision-making authority to participate fully in network decision-making and activities.

• Designate a Network Coordinator to organize network activities and help the group make joint decisions.

Objective 2: Assess local SUD-related needs and assets and develop a multi-stakeholder action plan to fill gaps.

A core outcome of RCORP-Planning is for communities in rural areas to have a strong and comprehensive understanding of local needs and resources, which will inform plans for future SUD services.

You must complete a community assessment process for the target rural service area that includes, at a minimum:

• Prevalence and impact of SUD and related mental and behavioral health needs.

• Availability of and access to direct SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services, and other supportive services and resources.

• Availability and capacity of behavioral health service providers and other SUD-related workforce.

• Financial landscape of how services are, or could be, funded and sustained.

Your assessment should build from, but not duplicate, information that is already available about your target rural service area. The assessment should reflect needs across the entirety of your target rural service area and its population.

Action Planning RCORP-Planning is also intended to help communities translate information from their assessments into a strategic, practical action plan for how they will meet the identified needs and establish or expand access to SUD services.

You will work with your RCORP-Planning network and other stakeholders to make sense of information gathered through the above assessments, decide what new, expanded, or modified services will best meet local community needs, and create a plan for putting those changes into practice.

You will submit a copy of your strategic action plan to HRSA before the end of the period of performance. The plan should be informed by the community assessment process and be used as a tool to guide increased access to SUD services in the target rural service area.

The assessment and action planning processes should:

• Actively engage people with lived experience and other community stakeholders at all stages, including individuals with or in recovery from SUD/OUD, their families, and service providers.

• Leverage the expertise and resources across the RCORP-Planning network.

• Make use of examples and best practices learned from other communities in rural areas.

• Create and use shared measures of success and a common way of tracking progress toward agreed-upon goals.

• Include supporting information from appropriate data sources, such as local, tribal, state, or federal data, whenever possible:

◦ You may also use proxy measures or composite indexes of community risk or need.

◦ You may wish to contact your state or local health departments, State Office of Rural Health, State Rural Health Association, State Primary Care Office, Single State Agency, and/or primary care association for guidance and support.

◦ The Rural Health Information Hub and the Rural SUD Info Center may also have helpful information.

Objective 3: Prepare rural providers, service organizations, and other key stakeholders for SUD service delivery.

During the assessment and planning processes, you will likely find gaps between what individual providers (including paraprofessionals), organizations, and other key stakeholders know or have in place and what they need to establish or expand SUD services. Activities under this objective will help fill those gaps and begin implementation of your community’s action plan. You may focus on individual or systemic needs, or both.

Activities you choose under this objective should clearly align with your community assessment and action plan. HRSA expects activities under this objective to happen mostly in Year 2.

Example activities may include:

• Training service providers and organizations to deliver effective, high-quality, and coordinated SUD services. Potential topics include:

◦ How to deliver or fulfill certification requirements for specific SUD or mental/ behavioral health prevention or treatment approaches.

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/ https://www.ruralsudinfo.org/

◦ Common elements or best practices relevant to SUD and mental health.

Examples include:

▪ Psychoeducation about: Substance use or mental health conditions, stigma, trauma, and other cross-cutting topics.

▪ Evidence-based community prevention strategies.

▪ Strengthening and supporting a peer workforce.

▪ Policies that support effective SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery.

◦ Effective and efficient billing, coding, and financial management practices.

◦ Adapting clinical workflows to integrate new services, serve SUD clients, or enable effective referrals.

• Building relationships across various service providers and establishing processes to connect people to care and coordinate services.

• Establishing or documenting service delivery policies and protocols.

• Community outreach and education to reduce stigma associated with SUD and address potential challenges or concerns about planned services.

• Developing the data infrastructure for tracking, reporting, and making decisions about key outcome metrics, including HRSA-required performance measures (see Reporting section) and other progress indicators used by your RCORP- Planning network.

• Purchasing and distributing necessary equipment or supplies to enable service delivery (see Budget and Budget Narrative for restrictions).

◦ Examples include:

▪ Equipment to enable telehealth services.

▪ Licensed program curricula or associated materials.

▪ Clinical record-keeping systems.

▪ Billing or referral systems.

▪ Medications or medical supplies.

• Planning or implementing minor alteration/renovation (A/R) to SUD service sites (see Budget and Budget Narrative for restrictions).

Additional expectations and restrictions Program activities

• RCORP-Planning grants may not support direct service delivery.

◦ This includes providing or paying for SUD prevention, treatment, recovery, or supportive services delivered to one or more people.

• You must address opioid misuse and OUD, but may also include other substance use (including alcohol) and related mental and behavioral health issues.

• The target population for RCORP-Planning activities includes:

◦ People in HRSA-designated rural areas at-risk for, experiencing symptoms of, in treatment for, or in recovery from SUD.

◦ Their families and caregivers.

◦ Other community members impacted by SUD who reside in HRSA-designated rural areas.

• You must engage members of the target population meaningfully across all RCORP-Planning activities.

• You will receive support from and are expected to collaborate with a HRSA-funded RCORP technical assistance provider and an evaluator to help achieve your goals and document outcomes.

• We expect RCORP-Planning activities to support communities in the target rural service area to develop, implement, and sustain expanded SUD and related services within a comprehensive system long-term. Therefore, we expect you to sustain and build on key project elements after the period of performance ends, including network partnerships.

• You must disclose whether you participate in or benefit from your state’s CMS Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

◦ If yes, you must ensure that HRSA-funded work is non-duplicative, coordinated, and complementary to CMS-supported activities.

Learning collaborative If awarded, you will participate in the RCORP-Planning learning collaborative, facilitated by the HRSA-funded RCORP technical assistance provider. The learning collaborative will offer the opportunity to network, share best practices, address challenges, and receive targeted technical assistance for your project.

• You must designate one individual to serve as the point of contact for the learning collaborative (see Staffing section for more details).

• We expect that the Learning Collaborative will meet every other month throughout the period of performance.

Staffing You must include each of the following roles in your Key Personnel and Staffing Plan.

Individuals may fulfill more than one role if necessary. You may decide the job qualifications and percentage of effort needed to fulfill these duties. We consider the Project Director and Data Coordinator as key personnel, which require prior approval for any changes.

• Project Director: Serves as the primary point of contact and leadership for the award.

◦ Responsible for directing and overseeing all project activities and achieving project outcomes.

◦ Must attend monthly calls with HRSA program staff and the HRSA-funded RCORP technical assistance team.

◦ At least .25 FTE recommended.

• Data Coordinator: Coordinates with your network members to collect, aggregate, track, and report quantitative and qualitative data and information to fulfill HRSA’s reporting requirements.

◦ Can also help the network create and use shared measures of success to track progress and adapt activities.

◦ The Data Coordinator will participate in regular learning sessions with the HRSA-funded evaluator.

• Learning Collaborative Point of Contact: Participates in regular learning collaborative meetings.

◦ Share information about your RCORP-Planning activities with other grant recipients, including any challenges, networking with other award recipients, and joining problem-solving discussions.

◦ Share learnings from the meetings with the rest of your RCORP-Planning team.

• Network Coordinator: Engages current and potential network partners, and helps the network organize its activities and make joint decisions.

◦ May include coordinating meetings and agendas and helping the network collaborate on shared goals.

Statutory authority 42 U.S.C. 912(b)(5) (§ 711(b)(5) of the Social Security Act)

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

• 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://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 the Application Guide [PDF].

◦ 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 cost 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 the Application Guide [PDF].

Program-specific statutory or regulatory limitations You cannot use funds under this notice for the following:

• To pay for activities that do not support HRSA-designated rural counties and rural census tracts, as defined by the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer or other definitions per Appendix C.

• To acquire real property.

• To purchase drug paraphernalia, including:

◦ Pipes or other supplies for safer smoking kits.

◦ Syringes or needles used to inject illicit drugs.

◦ Sterile water, saline, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), or other supplies used to facilitate drug use.

• For construction, except minor alteration and renovation as described in Budget and Budget Narrative.

• To pay for any equipment costs not directly related to the purposes for which this grant is awarded.

See Manage Your Grant for other information on costs and financial management.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/application-guide.pdf#page%3D13 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/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/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/application-guide.pdf#page%3D14 https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/manage-your-grant

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.

To charge indirect costs, you can select one of two methods:

Method 1 – Approved rate. You currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency at the time of award.

Method 2 – De minimis rate. Per 2 CFR § 200.414(f), if you do not have a current indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate. If you choose this method, costs included in the indirect cost pool must not be charged as direct costs.

This rate is up to 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See 2 CFR § 200.1 for the definition of MTDC. You can use this rate indefinitely for all your federal awards or until you choose to receive a negotiated rate.

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.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 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 24

Find the application package 24

Application writing help 25

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 Application Guide [PDF].

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-26-036.

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/application-guide.pdf#page%3D4 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, join the webinar. More information on the HRSA-26-036 webinar will be posted at a later date to the documents tab in Grants.gov.

We recommend that you “Subscribe” to the NOFO on Grants.gov to receive updates when we post documents.

We will record the webinar.

Have questions? Go to Contacts and Support.

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

Step 3:

Build Your Application

Application checklist 27

Application contents and format 29

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.

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

Make sure that you have everything you need to apply.

Narratives

Component Grants.gov form Included in page limit*?

Project narrative Use the Project Narrative Attachment form. Yes

Budget narrative Use the Budget Narrative Attachment form. Yes

Attachments Insert each in the Attachments Form in this order.

Component Included in

1. General project information No

2. Work plan Yes

3. Project organizational chart Yes

4. Staffing plan and job descriptions Yes

5. Biographical sketches Yes

6. Letters of support Yes

7. EIN/UEI information for multiple applications (as needed) No

8. CMS Rural Health Transformation Program details (as needed) No

9-15. Other relevant documents (optional) Yes

Other required forms Upload using each required form in Grants.gov.

Component Included in

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) No

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) No

Project Abstract Summary form No

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) (optional) No

Project/performance site location(s) No

Grants.gov lobbying form No

Key contacts No

*Only what you attach in these forms counts toward the page limit. The forms themselves do not count.

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

Application page limit: 30

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

• .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 Application Guide [PDF].

Project narrative Introduction See merit review criteria 1: Need and 2: Response

• Briefly describe the purpose of your project and what you hope to achieve.

◦ Include your proposed project goals and objectives and any specific area(s) of focus, such as specific substance use problems you will address.

• Give an overview of the eligible rural or partially rural counties you will serve.

◦ Briefly describe how the project goals, objectives, and activities will help meet the SUD-related needs of your target rural service area.

• Briefly describe any current network partners and how they will contribute to this project.

Need See merit review criterion 1: Need

• Describe your target rural service area:

◦ Include population demographics and unique features that affect SUD service delivery, such as:

▪ Availability of key resources.

▪ Difficult geographic terrain.

▪ Areas with especially low numbers of residents.

▪ Other key features.

◦ Briefly explain why you selected this target rural service area.

◦ Include a full list of rural counties (or rural census tracts, for partially rural counties) in your target rural service area as part of Attachment 1.

• Describe what is known about substance use, SUD/OUD, and its impact in the target rural service area. Include the following:

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/application-guide.pdf#page%3D26

◦ Prevalence of use across various substances (including alcohol, opioids, and other illicit substances) and rates of SUD, including OUD.

◦ Rates of fatal and non-fatal overdoses.

◦ Mental and physical health outcomes associated with substance use.

◦ Community factors, such as employment rates, housing rates, law enforcement, and child welfare needs.

• Describe what is known about current mental health, behavioral health, and related social support needs and assets in the target rural service area. Include the following:

◦ Rates of mental health conditions or concerns.

◦ Availability and accessibility of behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery services, including both in-person and telehealth services.

◦ Presence and engagement of supportive community-based organizations and initiatives.

◦ Health care workforce, especially mental and behavioral health care providers, and others who may provide SUD services, such as peer counselors.

• Give an overview of current or past efforts to strengthen the SUD service system.

Discuss what has been successful so far and what remaining needs you plan to address.

• Use and cite supporting information from appropriate data sources, such as local, tribal, state, or federal data, whenever possible. You may also use proxy measures or composite indexes of community risk or need.

◦ If you do not have all requested data, provide the portions that are available.

• If you are unable to find appropriate and accurate data, describe how you will use the RCORP-Planning award to strengthen the quality and availability of SUD/OUD data in your target rural service area.

• You may also provide other data or information that is relevant to the proposed project and demonstrates the need for planning activities.

• Explain why federal funds are needed to support network development, planning, and related capacity-building activities.

Approach See merit review criteria 2: Response and 4: Impact

• Tell us how you’ll meet the three funding opportunity goals and all of the program requirements and expectations as described in this NOFO:

◦ Organize your response by detailing how you will address each of the three core objectives of the proposal.

◦ Describe how your activities will work together to help your target rural service area deliver a comprehensive system of SUD and related services:

▪ Include how you will ensure attention to opioid misuse and OUD in your activities.

◦ Describe how your activities will advance one or more MAHA priorities.

◦ Explain how your activities build from, but do not duplicate, other federal, state, tribal, or local programs.

• Specifically, include the following in your response:

◦ Your plan for establishing and maintaining a network with sustained commitment and meaningful engagement throughout and after the period of performance.

▪ Include how you will coordinate network activities, make joint decisions, and track progress together.

◦ Your approach to conducting a comprehensive assessment that reflects SUD-related prevention, treatment, recovery, and related support needs and assets in the entire target rural service area.

◦ Your approach to developing a multi-stakeholder action plan that responds to what you find in the community assessment process.

◦ The types of preparation and other support that you expect service providers and other stakeholders will need to establish or expand SUD services.

▪ Include how you will work with the network and other stakeholders to provide this.

• Describe how you will engage key stakeholders, including people with lived experience and other community members:

◦ Include how you will make sure they help plan, design, and carry out the project.

◦ Detail your approach for ensuring local leadership, commitment, and buy-in.

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

• Give an overview of the specific activities you will implement to achieve each of the objectives during the period of performance:

◦ Provide a high-level timeline that includes when each planned activity will occur.

◦ As needed, identify how activities will inform or build on each other.

• Identify which organization(s) or project role will be responsible for each activity.

You will also include a more detailed work plan in Attachment 2.

Resolving challenges See merit review criterion 2: Response

• Discuss possible challenges you may face in designing and carrying out the activities in the work plan:

◦ Explain how you will resolve them.

◦ Include how you will adapt to changes and new information you gather during the project.

Performance reporting and evaluation See merit review criteria 3: Performance reporting and evaluation and 5: Resources and capabilities

• Describe the specific outcomes (desired results) you hope to achieve through this award:

◦ Include expected outcomes for each core objective.

• Describe how you will help the network set shared goals for the planning and service improvement process, monitor and analyze progress toward those goals, and use data to inform and improve its activities.

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

◦ Include how you will coordinate with network partners on data collection and reporting.

See the Reporting section for more information.

Sustainability See merit review criterion 4: Impact

Describe how your approach will enable you and your network to continue implementing the strategic action plan and SUD service development after the award ends. Include:

• Your short-term and long-term goals for programmatic, financial and network sustainability.

• The expected long-term impact of your activities.

• Key elements of your project and specific activities that will support sustainability.

• How you will identify and obtain a stable funding base for new or expanded SUD and related services.

Organizational Information See merit review criterion 5: Resources and capabilities

Lead Applicant

• Provide a brief overview of your organization that includes the following information. Explain how these details relate to your capacity to lead the proposed project:

◦ Current mission.

◦ Structure, leadership, size of organization, and staffing.

◦ Scope of current activities and relevant past activities.

◦ Connection to and ability to serve the target rural service area.

◦ Ability to manage the project and personnel.

◦ Financial practices and systems in place to ensure your organization can properly account for and manage federal funds.

• Describe the activities and contributions of your organization to the proposed project:

◦ Include a project organizational chart in Attachment 3.

• Briefly describe the capacity and relationships your organization will use to:

◦ Establish and lead the proposed network.

◦ Conduct a comprehensive and community-driven assessment process.

◦ Lead a multi-sector action planning process.

◦ Support rural service providers and organizations to deliver SUD services.

Key Personnel and Staffing

• Describe your plan to staff the project and how you will make sure all required roles and functions described in the program requirements and expectations are fulfilled:

◦ Include details of each position in Attachment 4.

◦ For each staff member reflected in the staffing plan, provide a brief biographical sketch in Attachment 5 that clearly demonstrates the staff member has appropriate and applicable experience for their role(s) on the project.

◦ If anyone will fulfill more than one role, describe why this is needed and how you will make sure they meet all relevant expectations.

• Briefly describe how you will manage the project team and ensure work is done effectively and efficiently:

◦ Describe how you will limit staff turnover and manage any vacancies that do occur during the period of performance, to avoid delays in implementing the work plan.

◦ For positions that are currently vacant, describe how you will quickly fill the position(s) if awarded.

Network

• Describe how you will ensure that the target rural service area communities and partners are engaged and actively participating throughout the project.

• Give an overview of known or potential network partners and your planned network structure. Include:

◦ Why the proposed network partners were selected and their respective roles on the project.

◦ How your network will meet the requirement that at least 50% of network members are physically located (either the headquarters or a satellite site) in the target rural service area.

◦ How you will ensure that network partners have demonstrated experience serving, or capacity to serve, high-need rural populations.

◦ How you will ensure that the network partners represent a range of sectors, disciplines and perspectives relevant to SUD and behavioral health.

• Include one letter of support each from two current or potential network partners (not including the applicant organization) in Attachment 6.

• Describe how the RCORP-Planning grant will strengthen the capacity of the applicant organization, network partners, or both to continue building a sustainable SUD service system after the award ends.

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 Application Guide [PDF] and the instructions listed in this section. Your budget should show a well-organized plan.

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…