HRSA-25-068 Final.pdf

Bureau of Health Workforce

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due January 21, 2025

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals Opportunity number: HRSA-25-068

Modified on 12/20/2024

BHWET Pro modifications include clarifying the competing continuations application process as well as accreditation documentation applicants need to submit. The modification also includes guidance on application limits and indirect costs. The modification also provides additional information on how to implement funding priorities.

Contents Before you begin 4

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Basic information 6

Summary 6

Key facts 6

Key dates 7

Funding details 6

Eligibility 6

Program description 9

Award information 12

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 14

Get registered 15

Find the application package 15

Application writing help 15

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 17

Application contents and format 18

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 34

Application review 35

Selection process 40

Award notices 45

Step 5: Submit Your Application 46

Application submission and deadlines 47

Application checklist 48

Contents 2

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 50

Post-award requirements and administration 51

Contacts and Support 54

Endnotes 58

Contents 3

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 January 21, 2025.

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.

Before you begin 4 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

Jump to a step

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 6

Summary 6

Key facts 6

Key dates 7

Funding details 6

Eligibility 6

Program description 9

Award information 12

Basic information Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Bureau of Health Workforce

Division of Nursing and Public Health

Strengthening the behavioral health workforce and connecting skilled health care providers to communities in need.

Havequestions?

Go to Contacts and Support.

Key facts Opportunity name:

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals

Opportunity number:

HRSA-25-068

Announcement version:

New

Federal assistance listing:

93.732

Statutory authority: 42 U.S.C. § 294e–1(a)(1-3) (Section 756(a)(1-3) of the Public Health Service Act)

Summary This program aims to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals and improve the distribution of a well-trained behavioral health workforce. The program has a specific focus on increasing access to behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and young adults.

Funding details Application Types: New, Competing Continuations

Expected total available funding in FY 2025: $59,600,000

Expected number and type of awards: Approximately 101 grants

Funding range per award: Up to $600,000 annually

We plan to fund awards in four 12-month budget periods for a total 4-year period of performance from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029. Your request for each of years 2, 3, and 4 cannot exceed your year 1 request.

The program and estimated awards depend on the future appropriation of funds and are subject to change based on the availability and amount of appropriations.

Eligibility Who can apply You can apply if you are one of the following:

• Accredited institutions of higher education or accredited professional training programs that are establishing or expanding internships or other field placement

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:294e-1%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:294e-1%20edition:prelim)

Key dates NOFO issue date: October 22, 2024

Informational webinar: For more information about the upcoming Technical Assistance call for this NOFO go to the program website https://bhw.hrsa.gov/ programs/bhwet-program-professionals

Application deadline:

January 21, 2025

Expected award date is by:

July 1, 2025

Expected start date: July 1, See other submissions for other time frames that may apply to this NOFO.

programs in mental health in psychiatry, psychology, school psychology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nursing (which may include master’s and doctoral level programs), social work, school social work, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment, marriage and family therapy, occupational therapy (which may include master’s and doctoral level programs), school counseling, or professional counseling, including such programs with a focus on child and adolescent mental health, trauma, and transitional-age youth.

• Accredited doctoral, internship, and post-doctoral residency programs of health service psychology (including clinical psychology, counseling, and school psychology) for the development and implementation of interprofessional training of psychology graduate students for providing behavioral health services, including trauma-informed care and SUD prevention and treatment services, as well as the development of faculty in health service psychology.

• Accredited master’s and doctoral degree programs of social work for the development and implementation of interprofessional training of social work graduate students for providing behavioral health services, including trauma-informed care and SUD prevention and treatment services, and the development of faculty in social work.

Types of eligible organizations These types of * domestic organizations may apply if otherwise eligible.

• Public institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits with or without a 501(c)(3) IRS status

• State, county, city, township, and special district governments, including the District of Columbia, domestic territories, and freely associated states

• Domestic faith-based and community-based organizations

• Hospitals

• HRSA-funded health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

• Rural health clinics

• Other community-based clinical settings

• Native American tribal governments

• Native American tribal organizations

• Recipients of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals who have funding that ends on June 30, 2025, can apply as a “Competing Continuation” applicant, so long as there is not a change in scope. If there is a change in scope, organizations should apply as a “New” applicant.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs/bhwet-program-professionals https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs/bhwet-program-professionals https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs/bhwet-program-professionals

◦ Previous BHWET Program for Professionals recipients whose funding ended before July 1, 2021, should apply as a “New” applicant.

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

Individuals are not eligible applicants under this NOFO.

Other eligibility criteria

• Your training program must be either:

◦ Accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ex. ACGME and CACREP), or

◦ Approved by a state or tribal government to provide a behavioral health-related training program.

• You must provide a copy of your active accreditation or active approval from state government as Attachment 1.

• We will not consider any application that fails to submit active accreditation or active approval from state government as Attachment 1.

• You must maintain your accreditation or state approval status throughout the period of performance and notify us of any change in status.

• Academic-clinical partnerships and consortia are also eligible to apply. All entities applying for an award, including consortia members must be independently eligible for this program. You must provide supporting documentation from each organization in Attachment 7, in addition to accreditation documentation in Attachment 1.

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

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

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

• Any other “qualified alien” under section 431(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, as amended.

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

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8 https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3734 https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3734

We will not consider an application that:

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

• Does not include documentation of accreditation.

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

• Is submitted after the deadline.

• Is not complete.

Application limits You may not submit more than one application per Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). If you submit more than one application under the same UEI, we will only accept the last on-time submission.

More than one application may be submitted from the same organization under separate UEIs.

Communication within your organization is encouraged to prevent duplication and to promote collaboration.

Cost sharing Cost sharing is only required for doctoral level psychology, psychiatry, behavioral pediatrics and psychiatric nursing internships, where applicable, to cover any student stipend costs beyond $32,500 per geographic reimbursement requirements set by the applicable association in order to ensure all interns/residents in a program are treated the same (e.g. equal stipends) whether supported by HRSA or not (42 U.S.C. § 295o, section 798 of the Public Health Service Act.)

Program description Purpose The purpose of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals is to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals and improve the distribution of a well-trained behavioral health workforce. The program has a specific focus on understanding the needs of children, adolescents, and young adults at risk for mental health, trauma, and behavioral health disorders.

The BHWET Program for Professionals prepares the workforce by emphasizing interprofessional team-based models of care, integrating behavioral health training in primary care settings and recruiting a diverse workforce interested in serving high need and high demand areas.

The program also invests increasing the number and training of clinical supervisors.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9

Background The United States continues to face both a mental health and substance use crisis. In 2022, 32.9 percent of the population (or 84.2 million people) had either any mental illness (AMI) or a SUD.[1] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 103,793 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States during the 12-month period ending in December 2023.[2] The continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic—including increased social isolation, stress, job loss, financial issues, loneliness, grieving, and chronic and persistent illness—have increased the need for behavioral health services.[3] [4] [5] Addressing better access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services is one of the strategies to improve these statistics and remains a priority for behavioral health workforce programs.[6] In 2022, the United States Government Accountability Office also found that incentives such as loan repayment and scholarships for students seeking behavioral health professions helped to address the challenges in recruiting and retaining behavioral health providers.[7]

The BHWET Program for Professionals was established in 2014 to enhance and expand the behavioral health workforce by supporting professionals and paraprofessionals to:

• Increase access to behavioral health care services in medically underserved communities.

• Develop interprofessional training and behavioral health integration.

• Implement experiential training in settings that serve children, adolescents, and transitional age youth.

The BHWET Program for Professionals aims to do this through didactic and experiential training opportunities combined with increased clinical supervision.

Providing didactic and experiential training opportunities in underserved communities can influence providers to practice in those communities, and educating and engaging trainees who are from high need and high demand areas can increase the chances that they will practice in those areas in the future.[8] A diverse health workforce has been shown to increase access to care and improve quality of care, especially among underserved populations.[9]

Clinical supervision is a critical resource for expanding the capacity to train and ensuring quality practice in community mental health organizations. Good clinical supervision increases provider competence while decreasing stress and is associated with improved patient outcomes.[10]

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

Program goals Increase the supply of a diverse behavioral health workforce who are trained to provide integrated behavioral health care and committed to work in high-need and high-demand areas.

Program objectives

• Increase the number of new or expanded community partnerships with experiential training sites in high-need and high-demand areas.

• Promote collaborative training by using team-based models of care to integrate behavioral health care into interprofessional primary care settings.

• Recruit a diverse workforce interested in working with children, adolescents, and young adults.

• Recruit, develop, and expand the capacity to train clinical supervisors to support and mentor behavioral health trainees.

Program requirements and expectations You must address the following in your application and meet these expectations if you receive an award:

1. Provide stipend support to students who are in their final experiential training (internship or field placement) prior to graduation for no less than six consecutive months and no more than 12 consecutive months (or 24 months for part-time students).

2. Enhance didactic and experiential training activities that develop trainee competencies in behavioral health and its integration into primary care, school settings, and other sub-specialty care for the development and implementation of interprofessional training (two or more health disciplines).

3. Create or enhance current evidence-based interprofessional training programs for faculty and field site supervisors supporting BHWET Pro trainees.

4. Incorporate technology integration by providing options for distance learning, didactic and experiential training activities, and tele-behavioral health services, and by increasing digital health literacy.

5. Establish relationships with community-based partners to assist students with job placement after graduation.

6. Collect National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers from all trainees before the end of the training year. Trainees who receive HRSA funds from the BHWET Program for Professionals must apply for and obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number as a condition of their traineeship support. Recipient must collect and

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11 report the NPI numbers of behavioral health students who receive traineeship funds and follow-up with graduates to collect postgraduation employment demographics for a minimum of 1 year after graduation.

7. Provide continuous quality improvement for program evaluation and at completion of the period of performance. Award recipients are required to participate in federally designed evaluations upon request.

8. Collaborate regularly with other grant recipients of the BHWET Program for Professionals to leverage resources and enhance interprofessional training opportunities.

Award information Funding policies and limitations Policies

• We will only make awards if this program receives funding. If Congress appropriates funds for this purpose, we will move forward with the review and award process.

• Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting the project’s objectives.

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

If we get more funding for this program, we will consider options such as:

• Fund more applicants from the rank order list.

• Extend the period of performance.

• Award supplemental funding.

Maintenance of effort Federal funds must add to any existing non-federal funds for your proposed activities. If you receive an award, you will have to spend at least as much as you spent in the last fiscal year before the award. 42 U.S.C. § 295n-2(b) (Section 797(b) of the Public Health Service Act) requires this. We will enforce these statutory requirements through all available mechanisms. You must provide supporting documentation in Attachment 6.

General Limitations

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

Budget Information in section 3.1.4 of the R&R Application Guide. You can also see

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf

45 CFR part 75, or any superseding regulation, General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

• You cannot earn profit from the federal award. See 45 CFR 75.400(g).

• Congress’s current appropriations act includes a salary limitation, which applies to this program. As of January 2024, the salary rate limitation is $221,900. Note this limitation may be updated.

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

• Per 45 CFR 75.414(c), indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8 percent of modified total direct costs. To calculate the (MTDC), we exclude from the direct cost base: Direct cost amounts for, equipment, tuition, fees and participant support costs

• Subawards and subcontracts exceeding $50,000

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

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 45 CFR 75.307.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subject-group-ECFR5d90ba314caea08 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subject-group-ECFR5d90ba314caea08 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75#p-75.216(b) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR911e5e1a30bfbcb/section-75.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Get registered 15

Find the application package 15

Application writing help 15

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). 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 to find out what you’ll need to register.

When you register or update your SAM.gov registration, you must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations. You must agree to those for grants specifically, as opposed to contracts, because the two sets of agreements are different. You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

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.

Need Help? See Contacts and Support.

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. Search for opportunity number HRSA-25-068.

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

Application writing help Visit HHS Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals.

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

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 15 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application/assurances-non-construction-programs https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application/assurances-non-construction-programs https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.grants.gov/search-grants 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

Join the webinar We will hold a pre-application technical assistance (TA) webinar. The webinar will provide an overview of pertinent information in the NOFO and an opportunity for applicants to ask questions. Visit the HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce’s open opportunities website to learn more about the resources available for this funding opportunity.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 16 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/fundingopportunities/default.aspx https://bhw.hrsa.gov/fundingopportunities/default.aspx

Step 3:

Prepare Your Application

In this step

Application contents and format 18

Application contents and format Applications include 5 main components. This section includes guidance on each.

There is a 60-page limit for the overall application.

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

Make sure you include each of these:

Components Submission Form Included in the page limit?

Project abstract Use the Project Abstract Summary Form.

No

Project narrative Research and Related Other Project Information

Yes

Budget narrative Use the Research and Related Budget form. (Line L)

Yes

Attachments Insert each in the Other Attachments form.

Yes, unless otherwise marked below.

Other required forms Upload using each required form. Indicated in the other required forms section.

See the application checklist for a full list of all application requirements. See form instructions for more detail on completing each form.

Required format You must format your narratives and attachments using our required formats for fonts, size, color, format, and margins. See the formatting guidelines in section 3.2 of the R&R Application Guide.

Project abstract Complete the information in the Project Abstract Summary Form. Include a short description of your proposed project. Include the needs you plan to address, the proposed services, and the population groups you plan to serve. When applicable, identify if you are requesting a funding priority or preference. For more information, see section 4.1.ix of the R&R Application Guide.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 18 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=25 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=25 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=1

Project narrative In this section, you will describe all aspects of your project. Project activities must comply with the non-discrimination requirements described in Section VI.

Use the following section headers and order.

Introduction and purpose See merit review criterion 1: Purpose and need

• Briefly describe the purpose of your project.

• Include the efforts you will make to address the non-academic barriers to trainees’ access to education and success in your program. These barriers might include physical health, psychological health, physical environment, social environment, and economic stability. Trainees include students and program participants.

• Propose an actionable framework that targets learning disparities and expands learning opportunities to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This framework may include recruitment of students from rural and underserved areas.

Need See merit review criterion 1: Purpose and need

• Describe the trainees and the unmet needs this program will address.

• Use and cite demographic data as part of the descriptions and explanations in the purpose section, as applicable.

• Complete the BHW Program Specific Data Form (B) [V1.0] located in the Other Required Standard Form section.

Approach See merit review criterion 2: Response

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

• Include strategies for ongoing staff training, teamwork, and information sharing.

Also include strategies for outreach and collaboration efforts to involve patients, families, and communities.

• Explain your strategies to improve trainees’ cultural competence to meet the needs of underserved communities. Include those that increase the use of culturally and linguistically appropriate services by providing training based on the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care Standards.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 19

• Include a plan to distribute reports, products, or project outputs to target audiences.

• Describe how you will prepare trainees to work on interprofessional teams to provide services to children, adolescents, and young adults who have experienced trauma or are at risk for mental health disorders.

• Explain how you will develop and deliver experiential and didactic coursework to develop interprofessional team competency.

• Describe the academic and community-based partnerships that will give your trainees integrated, interprofessional behavioral health experience. For experiential training sites, include the information depicted in Table 2 as Attachment 3.

• Include plans for stipend disbursement to trainees, and how you will work within your institution’s policies and procedures.

• Describe how you will identify supervisors and mentors to support trainees.

Table 2: Experiential Training Site(s)

Site name Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4

Address

No of trainees

Work hours per trainee

Offers tele-behavioral health services (yes/no)

Integrates Behavioral Health into Primary Care (yes/no)

Has Inter -disciplinary Training with Two

(2) or More Disciplines (yes/ no)

Mental Health or Facility HPSA Score of the

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 20

Site name Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4

Experiential Site using the Find HPSA Tool

Geographical Area Considered Rural as Defined by the HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy as found in the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer

High-level work plan See merit review criterion 2: Response

• Describe how you will achieve each objective during the period of performance.

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

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

• Include a more detailed work plan in your Standardized Work Plan (SWP). See Other Required Forms.

• Identify the number, by discipline, of full-time and part-time trainees you expect to train in each year of the period of performance.

• Identify by site where you intend to conduct community-based behavioral health workforce training.

• Identify the methods used to deliver the proposed training.

• Describe how you intend to support graduates in securing employment in high need and high demand areas.

Resolving challenges See merit review criterion 2: Response

• Discuss challenges that you are likely to encounter in designing and carrying out the activities in the work plan. Address challenges related to recruitment,

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 21 https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa-find https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa-find https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://nih.sharepoint.com/sites/HRSA-BHW-DPSD/FP/FY2025/DNPH/BHWET%20Pro/HYPERLINK#_Standard_Forms retention, education, training, job placement, and career development of trainees in high need and high demand areas.

• Discuss the anticipated challenges of identifying and collaborating with experiential sites.

• Explain approaches that you’ll use to resolve them.

Performance reporting and evaluation See merit review criteria 3: Impact and 4: Resources and capabilities

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

• Performance Measurement and Reporting. See BHWET Program for Professionals Reporting Manual for performance measure requirements and examples of reporting forms.

◦ Describe how you will accurately and timely collect and report required performance data.

◦ Describe how you will manage and securely store data.

▪ Include how you will report National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers for participants. Project trainees in eligible disciplines must apply for and provide NPI numbers to grant recipients.

◦ Describe your process to track trainees after program completion for up to 1 year, including collection of trainee NPIs.

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

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

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

◦ The evaluation barriers and your plan to address them.

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

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

See Reporting for more information.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 22 https://grants4.hrsa.gov/WebBPMHExternal/Interface/ProgramManualhtmL.aspx?FormCode=1&IsPM=True&EHBActivityCode=M01 https://grants4.hrsa.gov/WebBPMHExternal/Interface/ProgramManualhtmL.aspx?FormCode=1&IsPM=True&EHBActivityCode=M01 https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_legacy_files/200386/hhs-evaluation-policy.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/M-20-12.pdf

Sustainability See merit review criterion 3: Impact We expect you to sustain key project elements that improve practices and outcomes for the target population. Propose a plan for project sustainability after the period of federal funding ends.

• Describe the actions you’ll take to:

◦ Highlight key elements of your projects. Examples include training methods or strategies that have been effective in improving practice.

◦ Describe how you will obtain future sources of funding.

◦ Discuss how long it will take for a project to become self-sufficient.

◦ Discuss challenges you will likely encounter in sustaining the program and how you plan to resolve them.

Organizational information See merit review criterion 4: Resources and capabilities

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

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

Include a project organization chart as Attachment 2.

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

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

• Describe the organizations you will partner with to fulfill the program goals and meet the program objectives. Include key agreements and letters of support in Attachment 7.

• Include a staffing plan and job descriptions for key faculty and staff in Attachment 5.

• Include biographical sketches for key staff using the Research and Related Senior/ Key Person Profile form. See Other Required Forms. There can only be one Project Director (PD). The PD must be employed by the awarded applicant organization.

The PD is encouraged to dedicate approximately 20 percent of their time to grant activities, and can be funded in kind or through BHWET Program for Professionals grant funding.

Budget and budget narrative See merit review criterion 5: Support requested Your budget should follow the instructions in section 3.1.4 of the R&R [Application Guide] and any specific instructions listed in this section.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 23

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

Reminder: Indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs. The total project or program costs are all allowable (direct and indirect) costs incurred for the HRSA award activity or project. This includes costs charged to the award and non-federal funds used to satisfy any matching or cost sharing requirement (which may include maintenance of effort, if applicable).

In addition, grant funds may not be used for the following:

• Liability insurance, unemployment insurance, life insurance, taxes, fees, retirement plans, or other fringe benefits for trainees

• Accreditation costs (such as renewals, annual fees, and so on)

• Licensure and exam costs, registration, and administration fees (though funds may be used for licensure preparation training materials)

• Construction

• Foreign travel

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

The budget narrative includes an itemized breakdown and a clear justification of the requested costs. Itemized cost categories must align with the SF-424 R&R budget form.

As you develop your budget, consider:

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

• The restrictions on spending funds. See funding policies and limitations.

To create your budget narrative, see detailed instructions in section 3.1.5 of the R&R Application Guide. Follow these additional instructions specific to this NOFO.

Participant and trainee support costs If you include participant or trainee support costs:

• List tuition, fees, health insurance, stipends, travel, and other allowable costs.

• Identify the number of participants and trainees by discipline for each budget year.

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

• In the budget narrative, include a subtotal entitled “Total Student and Trainee Support Costs” with the summary of these costs.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 24 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Equipment) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Supplies)

50 percent of the total requested is for stipends only. All other requested participant or student support costs must be budgeted out of program management.

Student stipends

• At least 50 percent of your total requested budget (direct and indirect costs) must be used only for trainee support stipends for BHWET Program for Professionals trainees.

• All other costs must be budgeted out of the remaining 50 percent.

• Stipends are allowances for trainees/students to help with cost-of-living expenses.

Stipends can be used at the discretion of the trainee/student and are not provided as a condition of employment, or to be used for tuition, fees, or other trainee support costs.

• Stipend amounts that can be charged to the award are fixed for each trainee level and are stated in the following Table 1: Student stipends.

• You are not allowed to offer stipends that are less than the amounts specified.

However, you may provide higher stipend amounts by including funds from other non-federal sources.

• Students receiving stipend support must sign a student commitment letter (see Attachment 4) where they agree to complete the experiential training.

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

Table 1: Student stipends

Training Level Enrollment Status

Annual Fixed Stipend per Trainee

Max Eligibility for Support

Master’s students Part-Time $12,500 2 years (24 months) $25,000

Full-Time $25,000 1 year (12 months)

Doctoral students Part-Time $16,250 2 years (24 months) $32,500

Full-Time $32,500 1 year (12 months)

Doctoral Interns Part-Time $18,250 2 years (24 months) $36,500

Full-Time $36,500 1 year (12 months)

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 25 https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/manage-your-grant

Post-doctoral residents

Part-Time $30,000 2 years (24 months) $60,000

Full-Time $60,000 1 year (12 months)

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

Supervisor costs Supervisor costs can be either your employee, contractor, or consultant. You can support supervisor costs with this grant. These costs are unique and different than trainee costs, which are for your students. Allowable supervisor costs may include:

• Stipends or allowance

• Continuing education, other trainings, and fees

• Travel

Note: You cannot require students to pay for supervisor costs.

• If the supervisor is an employee, specify those costs under Section B: Other Personnel, Section D: Travel, and Section F: Other Direct Costs.

• If the supervisor is a consultant or contractor, lists those costs under Section F:

Other Direct Costs.

• Include the number of supervisors in your budget narrative.

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

Attachments Place your attachments in order listed in the Attachments form.

Attachment 1: Accreditation documentation Required- Counts toward page limit.

You must provide documentation of your behavioral health training program accreditation, with the start and expiration dates or provisional accreditation to be deemed eligible.

Please do not provide only the web link to the accreditation body’s website. HRSA will not open any links included in the application.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 26

Entities must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, as specified by the U.S. Department of Education, or must be approved by the state or tribal government to provide a behavioral health-related training program.

You must submit documentation that:

• Demonstrates continuing accreditation or approval from the relevant accrediting or approval body and that you are not on probation.

• Includes the name of the accrediting or authorizing body.

• Provides the date of initial accreditation approval.

• Outlines the date of the next expected accrediting or approval body review (or expiration date of current accreditation or approval).

• Provides proof of status if you have provisional accreditation.

• You are responsible for verifying that the project partners maintain current accreditation or approval throughout the period of performance.

Attachment 2: Project organizational chart Required. Counts toward page limit.

Provide a one-page diagram that shows the full project’s organizational structure.

Include all aspects of your organization and partnerships, like schools and training sites.

Attachment 3: Experiential training site documentation Required. Counts toward page limit.

Provide a description of the training sites as depicted in Table 2 in the Approach section. Additionally, please provide data that demonstrates that at least one of your training site locations meets the qualifications for high need and high demand areas as defined in this NOFO using the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer and the Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) Find Tool. To validate the data, you must include the specific addresses for the partnering training sites. All data must be appropriately cited as valid at the time of application and are subject to verification. Any experiential training sites listed in Attachment 3 without supporting documentation in Attachment 7 will not be considered.

Attachment 4: Student commitment letter Required. Counts toward page limit.

Provide a copy of a student commitment letter template, through which students will commit to completing experiential training. Students receiving support through the

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 27 https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa-find

BHWET Program for Professionals should be informed in advance of the institution’s financial aid policies. At minimum, the student commitment letter must include:

• The student’s willingness to report information to the award recipient, including confirming their NPI number, along with employment status and practice location 1 year after their training is complete.

• Stipend disbursement plan outlining amount of stipend support, frequency of disbursement, and length of time receiving support.

• Experiential training requirements or expectations (such as the number of hours or length of time).

Attachment 5: Staffing plan and job descriptions Required. Counts toward page limit.

See Section 4.1.vi of the Application Guide.

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

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

Attachment 6: Maintenance of effort documentation Required. Counts toward page limit.

You will include non-federal funds that support proposed activities. These include cash, in-kind, or other contributions. Do not include any federal funds. See maintenance of effort requirement.

Use the following sample format to provide the maintenance of effort documentation.

FY before application:Actual non-federal expenditures

First FY of award: Estimated non-federal expenditures

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 28

Attachment 7: Letters of agreement, letters of support, memoranda of understanding, and contracts Required. Counts toward page limit.

As applicable, provide a letter of agreement, letter of support, a memorandum of understanding, or contract for each organization or department involved in your proposed project. These documents must be from someone who holds the authority to speak for the organization or department (such as a CEO, chair, or similar). Make sure any letters of agreement are signed and dated. They must specifically indicate understanding of the project and a commitment to the project, including any resource commitments like in-kind services, dollars, staff, space, equipment, and so on.

Provide any other documents that describe working relationships between your organization and other organizations and programs you cite in the proposal.

Documents that confirm actual or pending contractual or other agreements should clearly describe the roles of the contractors and partners and any deliverables.

For lengthy legal documents, the first two pages and a signature page will meet this requirement. If awarded, the full document may be requested as a condition of the award.

Attachment 8: Funding preference or priority documentation As applicable. Counts toward page limit.

To receive a funding priority or funding preference, include a statement that you are eligible for the funding priority or the funding preference, identify the funding priority or preference, and include documentation of this qualification.

See Selection Process for information about how these apply.

Attachment 9: Tables and charts As applicable. Counts toward page limit.

Provide tables or charts that give more details about the proposal. These might be Gantt, PERT, or flow charts.

Attachments 10 to 15: Other relevant documents As applicable. Counts toward page limit.

Include any other documents that are relevant to the application.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 29

Other required standard forms You will need to complete some other forms. Upload the forms listed below at Grants.gov. You can find them in the NOFO application package or review them and any available instructions at Grants.gov Forms. See the application checklist for a full list of all application requirements.

Forms Submission requirement

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424 R&R)

Yes, with application.

Research and Related Other Project Information

Yes, with application.

Standardized Work Plan (SWP) Yes, with application.

Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded)

Yes, with application.

Research and Related Budget Yes, with application.

R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Yes, with application, if applicable.

Project/Performance Site Locations(s) Yes, with application.

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

BHW Program specific form (B) [V1.0] Yes, with the application

Form instructions SF-424 R&R form Does not count toward the page limit.

Follow the instructions for Application for Federal Assistance in section 3.1.1 of the R&R Application Guide.

Research and Related Other Project Information Only the project narrative counts toward the page limit. In addition to the requirements in the project narrative section, you will provide some additional information in this form.

• Complete sections 1 through 6.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 30 https://www.grants.gov/forms

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

• Upload your project narrative in item 8.

• Leave items 9, 10, and 11 blank.

• If you have more than 10 subawards, you may use item 12 to add subaward budgets that could not fit in your R&R Subaward Budget Attachments form.

Standardized Work Plan form Does not count toward the page limit. In addition to the requirements in project narrative, high-level work plan, follow these instructions:

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

• Select your organizational priorities that best fit the objective.

• Write Health Equity in the “Other Priority Linkage” section if your objective or sub-objectives align with this priority.

• As specified on the NOFO, program goals must be copied as stated.

• Certain program objectives might also need to be written as they are listed on the

NOFO.

Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) form The attached biographical sketches do not count toward the page limit In addition to the requirements in Project Narrative, Organizational Information, follow these instructions.

• Include biographical sketches for people who will hold the key positions.

• Use no more than two page per person.

• Do not include non-public, personally identifiable information.

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

• Upload sketches in this form.

• Include:

◦ Name and title.

◦ Education and training. For each entry, include institution and location, degree and date earned, if any, and field of study.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 31

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

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

◦ Section C, Other Support. This section is optional. List selected ongoing and completed projects during the last three years.