FORHP HRSA-22-059 (P10)_Network Planning FINAL.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Community-Based Division

Rural Health Network Development Planning Program Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-059

Funding Opportunity Type: New

Assistance Listings (AL/CFDA) Number: 93.912

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2022

Application Due Date: January 28, 2022 Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current immediately!

HRSA will not approve deadline extensions for lack of registration.

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

Issuance Date: October 29, 2021

Nkem Osian, MPH Public Health Analyst, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Telephone: (301) 443-2751 Email: nosian@hrsa.gov

See Section VII for a complete list of agency contacts.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 254c(f) mailto:nosian@hrsa.gov

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508 COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

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

Agency Contacts.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Rural Health Network Development Planning Program. The purpose of this program is to promote the planning and development of integrated rural health care networks to: (i) achieve efficiencies; (ii) expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services and associated health outcomes; and

(iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole.

Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Health Network Development Planning

Program

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-059

Due Date for Applications: January 28, 2022

Anticipated Total Available FY 2022 Funding:

$2,000,000

Estimated Number and Type of Awards: Up to 20 grants

Estimated Award Amount: Up to $100,000 per award

Cost Sharing/Match Required: No

Period of Performance: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 (1 year)

Eligible Applicants: To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity –

(A) Shall be a domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entity with demonstrated experience serving, or the capacity to serve, rural underserved populations; and

(B) Shall represent a network composed of participants – (i) that includes at least three or more health care provider organizations and (ii) that may be rural, urban, nonprofit or for-profit entities, with at least 66 percent (two-thirds) of

HRSA-22-059 ii network members located in a HRSA-designated rural area1 ; and

(C) Shall not previously have received a grant under this subsection for the same or similar project, unless the entity is proposing to expand the scope of the project or the area that will be served through the project.

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

Application Guide

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

Technical Assistance HRSA has scheduled the following technical assistance:

Webinar

Day and Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Time: 3 – 4 p.m. ET Call-In Number (if without computer access or computer audio): 1-833-568-8864 Meeting ID: 161 864 4747 Participant Code: 81822150 Weblink: https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1618644747?pwd=SXlUbUpSTjVoZS93UUpWM3hMWjdDUT09

NOTE: This webinar will be recorded and playback information can be requested at nosian@hrsa.gov

1 For more information on HRSA-designated rural areas, visit the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1618644747?pwd=SXlUbUpSTjVoZS93UUpWM3hMWjdDUT09 https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1618644747?pwd=SXlUbUpSTjVoZS93UUpWM3hMWjdDUT09 mailto:nosian@hrsa.gov https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health

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Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................I TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ III

I. PROGRAM FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

1. Purpose

2. Background

II. AWARD INFORMATION

1. Type of Application and Award

2. Summary of Funding

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

3. Other

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Program-Specific Instructions

i. Project Abstract

ii. Project Narrative

iii. Budget

iv. Budget Narrative

v. Attachments

3. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number Transition to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

4. Intergovernmental Review

5. Funding Restrictions

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Assessment of Risk

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX A: PRE-APPLICATION PLANNING ADVICE

APPENDIX B: COMMON DEFINITIONS

APPENDIX C: USEFUL RESOURCES

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I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Rural Health Network Planning Program (“Network Planning Grant”). The purpose of the Network Planning Grant Program is to promote the development of integrated health care networks in order to: (i) achieve efficiencies; (ii) expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services and associated health outcomes; and

(iii) strengthen the rural health care system as a whole.

This program supports one year of planning and brings together key parts of a rural health care delivery system, particularly those entities that may not have collaborated in the past, to establish and/or improve local capacity in order to strengthen rural community health interventions, and enhance care coordination.

For the purposes of this program, an integrated health care network is defined as an organizational arrangement among at least three (3) regional or local health care organizations that come together to develop strategies for improving health services in a community.

This program uses the concept of developing networks as a strategy toward linking rural health care partners together to address local challenges, and help rural partners achieve greater collective capacity to overcome challenges related to limited economies of scale for individual hospitals, clinics or other key rural health care stakeholders.

Studies show that integrated health care networks formed in rural communities allow for better resource allocation of both personnel and shared assets to decrease and/or prevent chronic disease, create stronger buy-in, trust and input among partners and community members, improve data sharing, and increase sustainability and longevity of the network.2 3 Because of the benefits a network provides, 88% of past Network Planning awardees have reported the sustainability of at least some elements of their network activities post-grant 4.

Legislative Aims:

Applicants must describe planning activities that support at least one (1) of the legislative aims below. For additional information, please see Appendix A.

2 NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis and University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, 2017.

Rural Community Health Toolkit [online] Rural Health Information Hub. Available at:

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/rural-toolkit [Accessed 27 May 2021].

3 University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, 2018.

Rural Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Toolkit [online] Rural Health Information Hub. Available at:

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/health-promotion [Accessed 27 May 2021].

4 Tuttle M, Rydberg K, and Henning-Smith C. Success among Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Awardees: Barriers and Facilitators. UMN Rural Health Research Center Policy Brief. May 2021.

https://rhrc.umn.edu/publication/success-among-rural-health-network-development-planning-grant-awardees-barriers-and-facilitators/

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• Aim #1: Achieve efficiencies

• Aim #2: Expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services and associated health outcomes

• Aim #3: Strengthen the local rural health care system

2. Background

This program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 254c(f) to expand delivery of health care services in rural communities through the planning of integrated health care networks in rural areas. At the conclusion of the grant program, network partners will be able to achieve efficiencies, increase access to care and coordination, and strengthen the local rural health care system. At the conclusion of this one-year award, recipients will report on various process and outcome measures, as well as fulfill other award reporting requirements.

The intent of the Network Planning Grant Program is to allow applicants the flexibility to determine their unique community needs based on historical health care context, community input, and relevant data sources. Applicant organizations should describe how the rural community participated in identifying the focus area and should emphasize how their project will benefit the rural community. Additional information on how to reach consensus on community needs for this project is located in Appendix A under Pre_Application_Planning_Advice.

The Network Planning Grant Program supports and encourages creative programs that aim to confront important public health issues and improve equity, by addressing the needs of target population groups who are historically underserved, including those who suffer from poorer health outcomes, health disparities and other inequalities. A study of past Network Planning grantees highlighted the continual need for networks to focus on the dual factors of rurality and race5 to better serve low-income populations, the elderly, women, infants, adolescents, racial and ethnic minority populations, LGBTQ+ populations, and rural populations with special health care needs. Studies have shown that rural communities have higher morbidity and mortality rates than their urban peers, and minority rural populations have significantly higher rates of sickness 6 that could be lessened through the coordination of care provided by an integrated health care network.

5 .Rural Health Research Recap, Official web site of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration.

Published 2021. Accessed March 10, 2021. https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/assets/3974-16603/rural-ethnic-racial-disparities-inequities-recap.pdf 6 https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/recaps/12 https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/assets/3974-16603/rural-ethnic-racial-disparities-inequities-recap.pdf https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/assets/3974-16603/rural-ethnic-racial-disparities-inequities-recap.pdf https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/recaps/12

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II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Type of applications sought: New

HRSA will provide funding in the form of a grant.

2. Summary of Funding

HRSA estimates approximately $2,000,000 to be available to fund 20 recipients. The actual amount available will not be determined until enactment of the final FY 2022 federal appropriation. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $100,000 total cost (includes both direct and indirect, facilities and administrative costs) per year. This program notice is subject to the appropriation of funds, and is a contingency action taken to ensure that, should funds become available for this purpose, HRSA can process applications and award funds appropriately.

The period of performance is July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 (1 year).

Please note: There is no implementation component to this award once the planning grant ends. The funding for this program covers one year of the planning grant only.

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

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

a. Eligible applicants shall be domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities, including faith-based, community-based, tribes and tribal organizations. The applicant organization may be located in a rural or urban area, but must have demonstrated experience serving, or the capacity to serve, rural underserved populations. The applicant organization should describe their experience and/or capacity serving rural populations in the Project Abstract section of the application.

b. Applicants should list the rural counties that will be served. Proposed counties should be fully rural, but if counties are partially rural counties, please include the rural census tract(s) in the Project Abstract. It is important that applicants list the rural counties (or rural census tract(s) if the county is partially rural) that will be served through their proposed project, as this will be one of the factors that will determine the applicant organization’s eligibility to apply for this grant funding.

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

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• To ascertain rural service areas, please refer to https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health. This webpage allows you to search by county or street address and determine rural eligibility.

c. Each applicant organization and network partner must have its own EIN number unless an exception is requested (see details below under ‘Exceptions Request’).

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

Network Requirements

One of the purposes of the Network Planning Grant Program is to assist in the planning of an integrated health care network, specifically with network participants who do not have a history of formal collaborative efforts. For the purposes of this program, HRSA defines an integrated health care network as at least three regional or local health care organizations that come together to plan and develop strategies for improving health services in a community. The entities should have a common and collective interest in improving health and addressing health care challenges in their local community.

e. Network members may be located in rural or urban areas and can include all domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities including faith-based, community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations. We recognize that rural-urban partnerships can sometimes lead to the underrepresentation of rural needs. Therefore, HRSA requires at least sixty-six percent (66%), or two-thirds of network members (members with signed Letters of Commitment) of the proposed project be located in a HRSA designated rural area, as defined by the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer. The applicant organization must verify and indicate the rural or urban eligibility of each network member in Attachment 6.

f. Applicant organizations located in urban areas should ensure a collaborative consortium, with shared local control from the partnering rural counties.

Activities and services of the network must be provided in a non-metropolitan county or rural census tract. Proposed rural counties should be fully rural. For partially rural counties, please include the rural census tract(s) in the Project Abstract.

g. The applicant organization should have the staffing and infrastructure necessary to oversee program activities, serve as the fiscal agent for the award, and ensure that local control for the award is vested in the targeted rural communities. The applicant organization should have demonstrated experience serving, or the capacity to serve, rural underserved populations, and describe the experience and/or capacity in the Project Abstract.

h. The applicant organization is not required to be a rural health network at the time of submission.

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

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i. Previous Network Planning Grant award recipients who propose a continuation of an awarded project or existing networks that seek to only expand services or expand their service areas are not eligible to apply.

However, existing networks that (1) seek to expand services or expand their service areas and (2) include new or additional partners or (3) target a new population or new focus area are eligible to apply. Existing networks that are proposing to collaborate with at least two outside organizations that they have not worked with before under a formal relationship are eligible to apply.

Exceptions Request

j. Multiple EIN exception: In general, multiple applications associated with the same DUNS number and/or EIN are not allowable. However, HRSA recognizes a growing trend towards greater consolidation within the rural health care industry and the possibility that multiple health care organizations may share the same EIN as its parent organization. Therefore, at HRSA’s discretion, multiple health care organizations that share the same EIN as its parent organization, or organizations within the same network who are proposing different projects are eligible to request a multiple EIN exception if the applicants provide HRSA with the information found in Attachment 10.

k. Tribal exception: HRSA is aware that tribes and tribal governments may have an established infrastructure without separation of services recognized by filing for EINs. In case of tribes and tribal governments, only a single EIN located in a HRSA-designated rural area is necessary to meet the network requirements. Tribes and tribal entities under the same tribal governance must still meet the network criteria of three or more entities committed to the proposed approach, as evidenced by a signed letter of commitment. Please refer to Attachment 10 for additional information on how to request this exception.

Applications from organizations that do not meet the above criteria will not be considered under this notice of funding opportunity.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

Cost sharing/matching is not required for this program.

3. Other

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

• Exceeds the ceiling amount

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

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

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

HRSA requires you to apply electronically. HRSA encourages you to apply through Grants.gov using the SF-424 workspace application package associated with this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) following the directions provided at Grants.gov: HOW TO

APPLY FOR GRANTS.

The NOFO is also known as “Instructions” on Grants.gov. You must select “Subscribe” and provide your email address for HRSA-22-059 in order to receive notifications including modifications, clarifications, and/or republications of the NOFO on Grants.gov.

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

NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

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

Application Page Limitation The total size of all uploaded files included in the page limit shall be no more than the equivalent of 50 pages when printed by HRSA. The page limit includes the project and budget narratives, and attachments required in the Application Guide and this NOFO.

Please note: Effective April 22, 2021, the abstract is no longer an attachment that counts in the page limit. The abstract is the standard form (SF) "Project_Abstract Summary.” Standard OMB-approved forms included in the workspace application package do not count in the page limit. If you use an OMB-approved form that is not https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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included in the workspace application package for HRSA-22-059, it may count against the page limit. Therefore, we strongly recommend you only use Grants.gov workspace forms associated with this NOFO to avoid exceeding the page limit. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) do not count in the page limit. It is therefore important to take appropriate measures to ensure your application does not exceed the specified page limit. Any application exceeding the page limit of 50 will not be read, evaluated, or considered for funding.

Applications must be complete, within the maximum specified page limit, and validated by Grants.gov under HRSA-22-059 before the deadline.

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification

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

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

3) If you are unable to attest to the statements in this certification, you must include an explanation in Attachment 11: Other Relevant Documents.

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

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

i. Project Abstract

Use the Standard OMB-approved Project Abstract Summary Form 2.0 that is included in the workspace application package. Do not upload the abstract as an attachment or it will count toward the page limitation. For information required in the Project Abstract Summary Form, see Section 4.1.ix of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

It is recommended that you provide your Project Abstract in this tabular format with the required information below (no more than two pages):

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75#se45.1.75_1371 http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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ABSTRACT HEADING CONTENT

Applicant Organization Information

• Organization Name, Address (street, city, state, zip code)

• Facility/Entity Type (e.g., FQHC, RHC, public health department), and,

• Website Address (if applicable)

Designated Project Director Information

• Project Director Name & Title, Phone Number(s), and E-Mail Address

Network Planning Grant Project

• Network Name

Legislative Aim

• Example: Aim # 1: Achieve Efficiencies

Focus Area

• Example: Care Coordination

Proposed Service Region

• Example: states, cities, counties (required))

• NOTE: Proposed rural counties should be fully rural. For partially rural counties, include rural census tract(s)

ABSTRACT BODY CONTENT

Target Population

• Brief description of the target population group(s) to be served

• Brief description of underserved populations who have historically suffered from poorer health outcomes, health disparities, and other inequities (if applicable)

Network/Consortium Partnerships

• Provide the organization names and facility/entity type of partner(s) who have agreed to be a part of the network.

• HRSA requires an attestation that at least sixty-six percent (66%), or two-thirds of network members (members with signed Letters of Commitment) of the proposed project be located in a HRSA-designated rural area, as defined by the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer

Experience in Serving Rural Underserved Populations

• Describe experience serving or the capacity to serve, rural underserved populations. This can include partnerships, activities, program implementation and previous work of a similar nature.

• HRSA requires that urban applicants describe the geographic relationship to the proposed rural service population as well as the plans to ensure that rural populations are served. Urban applicants should also describe how they will ensure a high degree of local rural control in the project (see page 19).

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

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Funding Preference

• You must explicitly request a qualifying funding preference and cite the qualification that is being met (see 42 U.S.C. 254c(h)(3)); additional information can be found in Section V.2. Funding Preference. FORHP highly recommends that you include this language:

“(Your organization’s name) is requesting a funding preference based on qualification X. County Y is in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area.”

If applicable, you need to provide supporting documentation in Attachment

8. Refer to Section V.2 for further information.

NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

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

Narrative Section Review Criteria

Introduction (1) Need

Needs Assessment (1) Need

Methodology (2) Response

Work Plan (4) Impact

Resolution of Challenges (2) Response

Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity

(3) Evaluative Measures and

(5) Resources/Capabilities

Organizational Information (5) Resources/Capabilities

Budget Narrative (6) Support Requested

ii. Project Narrative

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

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Network Establishment:

Your application must clearly describe how you plan to establish your network (if your network is newly formed), the proposed structure of your network, and how your network will address a need that cannot be addressed individually.

Focus Area(s):

Your application must clearly identify a focus area(s) based on the community needs.

FORHP highly recommends that you include this language:

“(Your organization’s name)’s focus area is Care Coordination.”

Over the course of the period of performance, networks are expected to take steps towards creating strong infrastructure and developing a strategic plan for programmatic activities. That plan should identify the approach by which the applicant will sustain the efforts of the network beyond federal funding.

Use the following section headers for the narrative:

INTRODUCTION & NEEDS ASSESSMENT-- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 1

Summarize the program’s goals and expected outcomes of the program. You must address the following items:

Structural Need

A. Clearly describe the health care service environment and include appropriate data sources (i.e., local, tribal, state, and/or federal) in which the network is functioning

B. Describe the structural challenges that affect health care in the service area (e.g., poverty, uninsured or underinsured, chronic disease burdens, social determinants of health, lack of administrative resources for grant writing and funding).

Community Need

C. Outline the needs of the rural community, how the rural community participated in identifying the need, and how network partners will address the unmet needs to serve and benefit the rural community.

D. Describe gaps in the existing health care system and activities that the network will perform to fill those gaps (i.e., personnel, service delivery needs, shared resources, etc.).

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E. Explain how a Network Planning Grant award would address unmet needs.

Describe the need for creating a network to address the identified area(s) of focus. Demonstrate the need for federal funding to support network planning grant activities.

Health Equity

F. Describe the target population and any subpopulations who are historically underserved, including those who suffer from poorer health outcomes, health disparities, and other inequalities. These populations include but are not limited to: low-income populations, the elderly, infants, adolescents, racial and ethnic minority populations, LGBTQ+ populations, and rural populations with special health care needs (the full definition of underserved communities is available in Appendix B: Common Definitions).

G. Describe how the network will improve equity in the local health care environment.

H. Document the socio-cultural determinants of health and health disparities impacting the population or communities. Use and cite demographic data when possible to support the information.

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

Propose methods that you will use to address the stated needs and meet each of the previously described program requirements and expectations in this NOFO.

You must address the following items:

A. Identify the proposed goals, objectives and expected outcomes for both network organizational development and program planning of the project.

B. Include information on how you selected network members for inclusion in the network. Include:

a. The expertise of each network member

b. Describe the role of each network member in the project (as it relates to Attachment 6)

c. A description of previous collaboration among network partners.

C. Describe how the local rural community to be served will experience increased access to quality health care services as a result of the planning activities carried out by the network. When possible, provide and support your expected outcomes with quantifiable data.

D. If applicable, describe how the network plans to address and reduce health disparities within the target service area.

WORK PLAN -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 4

Include a project work plan that clearly illustrates the network’s goals, strategies, activities, and measurable outcomes proposed during the entire period of performance. The work plan must identify the individual or organization responsible for carrying out each activity and include a timeline for the period of performance. Include the work plan as Attachment 3.

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

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

EVALUATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT CAPACITY -- Corresponds to

Section V’s Review Criterion 3 & Criterion 5

Describe how program goals will be tracked, measured, and evaluated, and how the network will measure progress toward meeting the project goals and objectives. This data is best presented in a table format with the goals listed in the left hand column (Goal 1, 2, 3, etc.). Across the top of the table, please include questions that will address how each goal will be tracked, measured, and evaluated (How will you measure program goals?; How will you monitor program progress?; How will programmatic success be evaluated?) Although tabular format is recommended, it is not required.

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review

Criterion 5

A. Succinctly describe the abilities and contributions of the applicant organization and the network members. Provide a brief overview of the applicant organization that includes information such as:

o your organization’s current mission o structure, leadership, size of organization, and staffing o scope of current activities o your organization’s ability to manage the award project and personnel o your organization’s financial practices and systems that assure your organization can properly account for and manage the federal funds

Project Director o Identify the project director in the Project Abstract and Attachment 4.

The project director will be responsible for project/program monitoring and carrying out the award activities. The proposed network should identify a permanent project director prior to receiving award funds. If the applicant organization has an interim project director or has not yet hired a person to serve as the project director, discuss the process and timeline for hiring a permanent project director for this project.

o HRSA strongly recommends the project director allot adequate time (at least .25 FTE) to the program and has management experience involving multiple organizational arrangements. HRSA highly recommends your staffing plan should include supporting and key personnel that total at least one full-time FTE at the time of application.

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Key Personnel o Describe key personnel roles and how they relate to the network and planning project. Key personnel are individuals whom would receive funds by this award or person(s) conducting activities central to this program (Attachment 4).

Network Members o A table must be used in Attachment 6 to present the following information on each network member:

organization name address primary contact person Employer Identification Number (EIN) (must be provided for each network member) and, Verify and indicate the rural or urban eligibility of each network member (per the Rural Health Eligibility Analyzer).

o Urban applicants should describe how they will ensure a high degree of local rural control in the project. This should include a description that reflects a shared decision-making structure and capacity. Outline the roles and responsibilities within the network for each network member and address the capacity to carry out program goals. Explain why each of the proposed network members were selected, and the extent to which the network and/or its members engage the community in its planning and functions as appropriate.

BUDGET AND BUDGET NARRATIVE -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 6

A. Provide a complete, consistent, and detailed budget presentation for a one-year period of performance through the submission of the SF-424 A budget form and a Budget Narrative that justifies the appropriateness of the requested funds. See Section IV.2.ii for more information regarding the Budget section.

B. The budget should be reasonable, logical and clearly document how and why each line item request (such as personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual service, etc.) supports the goals and activities of the proposed award-funded activities.

iii. Budget

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

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

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

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

In addition, the Rural Health Network Development Planning program requires the following:

Travel: Please allocate travel funds for one (1) program staff to attend a one-and-a half (1.5) day award recipient meeting at a location to be determined and include the cost of this as a budget line item. To determine estimated travel costs to Washington, DC, applicants should refer to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) per diem rates for FY 2022. Per diem rates can be found on the GSA’s website:

https://www.gsa.gov/travel-resources.

Equipment: Equipment costs that exceed 5 percent of the total award amount may be considered unreasonable and thus, unallowable.

Legal Costs: Legal costs that exceed 20 percent of the total award amount may be considered unreasonable and unallowable. Legal costs include services and activities such as consultations, 501(c)(3) application preparation, articles of incorporation and by-laws development.

Contractual: Consistent with 45 CFR 75, you must provide a clear explanation of the purpose of each contract, how the costs were estimated, and the specific contract deliverables.

Other: The purpose of this program is to fund planning activities only. Applications that propose to use award funds to pay for the direct provision of clinical health services will be deemed unresponsive and will not be considered for funding under this notice.

As required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), Division H, § 202 and Division A of the FY 2022 Extending Funding and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43), “None of the funds appropriated in this title shall be used to pay the salary of an individual, through a grant or other extramural mechanism, at a rate in excess of Executive Level II.” See Section 4.1.iv Budget – Salary Limitation of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide for additional information. Note that these or other salary limitations may apply in the following fiscal years, as required by law.

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

In addition, the Rural Health Network Development Planning program requires the following:

https://www.gsa.gov/travel-resources https://www.gsa.gov/travel-resources

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Please provide a budget narrative justification that explains the amounts requested for each line item in the budget. The budget narrative should specifically describe how each item supports the achievement of proposed objectives. The budget period is for one (1) year. Line item information must be provided to explain the costs entered in the SF- 424A. Thoroughly describe how each item in the “other” category is justified. The budget narrative MUST be concise. Do NOT use the budget narrative to expand the project narrative.

v. Attachments

Provide the following items in the order specified below to complete the content of the application. Unless otherwise noted, attachments count toward the application page limitation. Your indirect cost rate agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) will not count toward the page limitation. Clearly label each attachment.

You must upload attachments into the application. Any hyperlinked attachments will not be reviewed/opened by HRSA.

Attachment 1: Documentation from State Office of Rural Health (Required) All applicants are required to notify their State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) or other appropriate state entities early in the application process to advise them of their intent to apply. SORHs can often provide technical assistance to applicants. Please include a copy of the SORH’s response to your correspondence and/or the letter or email you sent to the SORH notifying them of your intent to apply. SORH’s applying as the applicant organization must provide an attestation that their application was independently developed and written and that they have not knowingly duplicated efforts or project ideas of non-SORH applicants within their state. By statute, all applicants are required to consult with their SORH or other equivalent state entities.

However, if applicants from the U.S. territories do not have the ability to do so, this requirement does not apply and U.S. territories are still eligible to apply. A list of the SORHs can be accessed at: https:/nosorh.org/nosorhmembers/nosorh-members-browse-by-state/.

Attachment 2: Areas of Impact (Required) Include a list of the impacted areas, counties and cities, and a legible map that clearly shows the location of network members. If an organization is located in a rural census tract of an urban county, the rural census tract(s) must be clearly identified here as well as the county and census tract(s) of the network partners. Note: Maps should be legible and in black and white.

Attachment 3: Work Plan (Required) Attach the work plan for the project that includes all information detailed in Section IV.2.ii. Project Narrative. The work plan should illustrate the network’s goals, strategies, activities, and measurable progress and outcome measures. The work plan must outline the individual or organization responsible for carrying out each activity and include a timeline for the period of performance.

https://nosorh.org/nosorhmembers/nosorh-members-browse-by-state/ https://nosorh.org/nosorhmembers/nosorh-members-browse-by-state/ https://nosorh.org/nosorhmembers/nosorh-members-browse-by-state/

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Attachment 4: Staffing Plan and Job Descriptions for Key Personnel (see Section

4.1. of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide) (Required) Keep each job description to one page in length as much as is possible. Include the role, responsibilities, and qualifications of proposed project staff to run the network, and specifically to accomplish the proposed network planning grant project. Staffing needs should be explained and should have a direct link to activities proposed in the Project Narrative and budget sections of the application. Staffing plan should include in-kind personnel to the program. Your staffing plan should demonstrate supporting and key personnel that total at least one full-time FTE at the time of application. For the purposes of this application, key personnel are individuals who are funded by this award or person(s) conducting activities central to this program.

Attachment 5: Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel (Required) Include biographical sketches for persons occupying the key positions, not to exceed two pages in length per person. In the event that a biographical sketch is included for an identified individual not yet hired, include a letter of commitment from that person with the biographical sketch. If the project director (PD) serves as a PD for other federal awards, please list the federal awards as well as the percent FTE for each respective federal award.

Attachment 6: Network Organizational Chart and Network Member Information (Required) Provide a one-page organizational chart of the network that includes how decisions will be made and how communication will flow. Provide a list of all network members that includes:

o the organization’s name and type (e.g., CHC, hospital, health department, etc.);

o the name of the key person from the organization that will be working on the program;

o anticipated role and responsibility in the Network Planning Grant program;

o Employee Identification number (EIN) of each proposed network member o Verify and indicate that at least sixty-six percent (66%), or two-thirds of network members (members with signed Letters of Commitment) of the proposed project be located in a HRSA-designated rural area, as defined by the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer.

o Applicants should provide the address of each network member and the screenshot from the analyzer of the urban or rural status.

Attachment 7: Letters of Commitment (Required) Provide a scanned, signed copy of a letter of commitment from each of the network members. Letters of commitment must be submitted with the application and must clearly identify the organizations’ roles and responsibilities in the network and project, the activities they will be included in, and how that organization’s expertise is pertinent to the network planning grant project. The letter must also include a statement indicating that the proposed partner understands that the award funds be used for the development of an integrated health care network and are not to be used for the exclusive benefit of any one (1) network partner or to provide clinical services.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health

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Attachment 8: Request for a Funding Preference (if applicable) If requesting a funding preference, the application must provide documentation that supports the funding preference qualification. Please indicate which qualification is being met also in Section IV.2.i Project Abstract. For further information on funding preferences and the required documentation, please refer to Section V.2.

Attachment 9: Previous Grants (if applicable) If the applicant organization has received any funds from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy within the last 5 years, the grant number and the abstract from the previous award should be included. Please only provide the grant number(s) and abstract(s). (Not scored during the objective review).

Attachment 10: Exceptions Request (if applicable) For Tribal Exceptions and Multiple EIN Exception requests, the follow must be included:

• Names, titles, email addresses, and phone numbers for points of contact at each of the applicant organizations and the parent organization;

• Proposed project focus and service area for each applicant organization with the same EIN (these should not overlap);

• Justification for why each applicant organization must apply to this funding opportunity separately as the applicant organization, as opposed to serving as consortium members on other applications;

• Assurance that the applicant organizations will each be responsible for the planning, program management, financial management, and decision making of their respective projects, independent of each other and/or the parent organization; and

• Signatures from the points of contact at each applicant organization and the parent organization.

Attachments 11-15: Other Related Documents (Optional) Include here any other documents that may be relevant to the application (e.g., Indirect Cost Rate Agreement) (not scored during the objective review).

3. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number

Transition to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

You must obtain a valid DUNS number, also known as the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and provide that number in the application. In April 2022, the *DUNS number will be replaced by the UEI, a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). For more details, visit the following webpages: Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms and General Service Administration’s UEI Update.

https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html https://www.gsa.gov/entityid https://www.gsa.gov/entityid

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You must register with SAM and continue to maintain active SAM registration with current information at all times during which you have an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by an agency (unless you are an individual or federal agency that is exempted from those requirements under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or you have an exception approved by the agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)). For your SAM.gov registration, you must submit a notarized letter appointing the authorized Entity Administrator.

If you are chosen as a recipient, HRSA will not make an award until you have complied with all applicable SAM requirements. If you have not fully complied with the requirements by the time HRSA is ready to make an award, you may be deemed not qualified to receive an award, and HRSA may use that determination as the basis for making an award to another applicant.

If you have already completed Grants.gov registration for HRSA or another federal agency, confirm that the registration is still active and that the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) has been approved.

Currently, the Grants.gov registration process requires information in three separate systems:

• Dun and Bradstreet (https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html)

• System for Award Management (SAM) (https://sam.gov/content/home | SAM.gov

Knowledge Base)

• Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov/)

For more details, see Section 3.1 of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

In accordance with the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce reporting burden for…