HRSA-24-121_TCLP NOFO_FAQs FINAL.pdf

1 HRSA Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT)

HRSA-24-121

Technology-enabled Collaborative Learning Program (TCLP)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General Questions:

1. How do I access the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?

You can access the guidance for the TCLP NOFO by using the following steps:

• Use the following link: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/354641

• Select the Opportunity Number “HRSA-24-121”

• Select the “Package” tab

• In the table, select “Preview”

• Select the “Download Instructions” option

A step-by-step guide explaining the process for applying, completing and submitting a grant application for Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding is available on the HRSA grant resource website and can be accessed by using the following web link:

https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/index.html

You may also reach out to the grants.gov helpdesk by phone at 1-800-518-4726 or email at support@grants.gov. You may also visit: https://www.grants.gov/support

For assistance with www.sam.gov registration, please visit: https://sam.gov/content/about/contact

2. How can I access the technical assistance webinar recording?

Please email Melody Williams at mwilliams1@hrsa.gov

3. Can OAT review my proposal before submitting it into www.grants.gov?

HRSA cannot edit draft TCLP applications or provide feedback on specific project proposals.

Each application will be fairly reviewed by an external panel of subject matter experts.

4. When will successful applicants be notified?

Successful applicants will be notified by September 30, 2024.

5. Is HIPAA compliance a requirement?

Yes.

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/354641 https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/index.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/support http://www.sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/about/contact mailto:mwilliams1@hrsa.gov http://www.grants.gov/

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Eligibility:

6. Are public institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes, Institutions of higher education are eligible under this opportunity.

7. Are for-profit telehealth companies eligible?

Yes, for profit organizations are eligible.

8. Are emergency medical service (EMS) agencies eligible?

Yes, both for profit organizations and nonprofits that do and do not have 501©3 status with the IRS are eligible.

9. Are health insurance networks eligible?

Yes, for profit organizations are eligible.

10. In the list of possible health focus areas, is Alzheimer’s disease required if chronic diseases is chosen?

No, on page 9 of the NOFO, Alzheimer’s disease is an example of a chronic disease that you may choose as a focus.

11. Is palliative care strictly for terminal patients or may it include palliative care for patients with chronic and severely disabling conditions?

Palliative care as a focus is not limited to terminal patients. Palliative care can also be a part of other focus areas.

12. Can you please clarify the requirement to engage with an Academic Center of Excellence?

It is recommended that you partner with an academic medical center, but it is not required.

13. Is it possible to establish the Telementoring aspect through an academic medical center after the beginning of the grant?

Yes, you are able to expand your program in communication with your HRSA Project Officer.

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14. Can you clarify what is needed for Letters of Support? Because of the page limit, are full letters needed from all partner sites?

You do not need to provide the full letter of support. You can provide a list and summarize the letters from partners, but you should be able to provide the full letter on request.

15. Are Letters of Support recommended from a minimum number of partner sites?

There is no minimum number.

16. Attachment 6: Letters of Support in the NOFO states to "include only letters of support that specifically indicate a commitment to the project/program (in-kind services, dollars, staff, space, equipment, etc.)." It then states, "List all other support letters on one page." What constitutes all other support letters?

You do not need to provide full letters of support. You can list and summarize the letters of support that you have received and can provide by request. Other letters of support include those that do not indicate a commitment to the program. Please keep in mind the page limit.

17. Does collaboration need to involve non-affiliated collaborators/stakeholders outside of a healthcare system that has multiple clinic sites?

You can collaborate with clinic sites in your hospital system and count those as partner sites.

18. Do we need to identify and name partner sites in the proposal?

You do need to identify the partner sites in the Narrative section of your application. Page 11 of the NOFO describes the information that you need to provide on the partner sites including commitment and involvement.

19. When does the model of learning need to begin with partner sites?

There is no specific timeline.

20. Is this a new opportunity or are there previous TCLP recipients? If it's new, which previous OAT grant program is similar to TCLP?

This is a new appropriation. The Telehealth Technology-Enabled Learning Program (TTELP) is also focused on technology-enabled support for providers. You can find more information on

TTELP on OAT’s website.

https://www.hrsa.gov/telehealth/grants

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21. Will new organizations/programs be prioritized over those who have already been awarded a

TTELP grant?

Preference will not be given to current TTELP recipients. The Organization section of the

Project Narrative asks you to describe your organization’s history of ongoing federal support through the effective implementation of federally funded activities.

22. Will this funding be able to be used to advance current telehealth programs or only to create new programs?

This opportunity is to evaluate, develop, and, as appropriate, expand the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models. It is not limited to new programs.

23. Can you please clarify 'cultural sensitivity' requirements?

The NOFO asks that you describe the target population and consider disparities in your application. You also need to explain how your project will meet the needs of the target population in terms of health disparities and barriers (social, cultural, infrastructure etc.) that affect their health status. You need to identify staff and stakeholders that have training, language fluency, and experience working with health disparities, and cultural and linguistically diverse populations.

24. Is the training on data collection just an example and not a required activity? Is there any other kind of instructional programming that is envisioned, or is this specific to the geographic region, population, and focus areas?

On Page 9 of the NOFO, the program requirements state that the instructional programming that you provide can include but is not limited to best practices for data collection. You must perform information collection and evaluation activities to study the impact of this training on patient outcomes and health care providers, and to identify best practices for the expansion and use of such technology-enabled models.

25. If stipends are given to partner sites, can this be provided to all areas or only rural areas?

This opportunity Is not restricted to rural areas.

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26. Can you specify the needed score for an area to be considered a health professional shortage area (HPSA) for this opportunity? Also, if an area is an HPSA but is NOT rural, does that make the area less desirable for this opportunity?

The higher the HPSA score, the greater the inferred need. For this opportunity, other analytics will also be considered. There is no preference for rural. The awards will be based on the demonstrated need as evaluated by the objective review committee (ORC).

27. Can you please provide examples of 'clinical decision support,' one of the telementoring models listed in NOFO?

Clinical Decision support could include providers conferring with specialists through EHB systems or other communication systems.

Administrative:

1. How many years is the project period and what is the start date?

5 years, from 9/30/2024-9/29/2029

2. What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement is like a grant in that we award money, but we are substantially involved with program activities.

3. Where can I find this program’s requirements?

Please see page 9 of the funding opportunity.

4. Are the biosketches are limited to 1 or 2 pages.

Please keep biosketches to 1 page, but it will not count against you if you need 2 pages.

Please keep the 60-page limit in mind.

5. Is the bio sketch page limit for each bio, or all bios together?

The page limit is for one page per person.

6. Can we submit more than one proposal; for example, a proposal for Region A, a different one for Region B?

Yes, you can submit more than one proposal.

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7. Should a project focus on a single geographic region and population, or can it involve multiple geographic region and populations?

Yes, it can involve more than one region and population.

8. When does the model of learning need to begin with partner sites?

There is no specified time.

9. Is the funding based on reimbursement, or will it be provided in installments?

HRSA provides the funds based on award recipient choice. The recipients have the option to go through the reimbursement method or if they do not have the ability (cash flow) may draw the funds to pay bills (such as payroll).

10. Can these funds be used for telehealth training programs that involve direct patient care?

Grant funds shall be used for instructional programming, and the training of health care providers and other professionals that provide or assist in the provision of services. Grant funds may be used for equipment to support the use and expansion of these models.

11. Can you please explain budget narrative expectations, specifically "Each Object Class Category should be reported on a separate page"?

The Object Class Categories that should be reported are as follows: Personnel/Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Subcontracts, Other, and Indirect Costs. See page 19 of the

NOFO.

12. Did you say that the budget can be for $475k per year or is the five-year budget not to exceed

$475k?

The estimated annual award is $475,000.