HRSA-26-038 FAQs_7.20.26.pdf

HRSA-26-038: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Technical Assistance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General Application FAQs Q: I am having difficulty finding the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – can you direct me to the full application instructions?

- Direct link to NOFO (Select “Package” → ”Preview” → ”Download Instructions”)

- To apply: Go to opportunity HRSA-26-038 on Grants.gov and select apply!

Q: I am trying to apply but am running into some challenges. Where can I go for help?

- HRSA provides guidance about the application process at https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant.

- For grants.gov questions (e.g., difficulties submitting an application, account issues; etc.), please contact the grants.gov support center: 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. You can also search the Grants.gov Knowledge Base.

Q: I have a specific question about the Notice of Funding Opportunity that is not answered here.

- Contact Lea Carroll at ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov. Please note that HRSA staff will answer clarifying questions about the NOFO requirements, but cannot provide guidance on proposed approaches.

Funding Q: What is the expected number and type of award:

- One applicant organization will be awarded. The award is a cooperative agreement.

Q: What is the funding amount per year?

- The funding amount is up to $10,000,000 per year. We plan to fund awards in five 12-month budget periods for a total five-year period of performance from 09/01/2026 to 08/31/2031.

Q: Who is eligible to apply?

https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362834 https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant https://gditshared.servicenowservices.com/hhs_grants?pt=Grants mailto:ruralopioidresponse@hrsa.gov

- All domestic public or private, non-profit, and for-profit, entities are eligible to apply.

Please see the Eligibility section of the NOFO (pages 3-5).

Q: Is an organization able to apply if it is located in an urban area?

- Yes, your organization can be located in an urban or rural area. However, you will provide technical assistance to grant recipients in rural communities nationwide.

Therefore, your organization and staff are expected to be subject matter experts in rural health.

Program Purpose and Expectations Q: What is this funding for?

- The award is for the provision of nationwide technical assistance and related activities to improve behavioral health care in rural areas across the United States.

Q: Is this funding for direct service delivery? Will I receive technical assistance for my substance use disorder programs?

- No. This funding is for a single, central entity to provide a wide range of customized technical assistance to community-based programs across rural America, to help them achieve improvements in local behavioral health care systems. The successful applicant will play a key part in connecting HRSA-funded rural communities with resources and active support to strengthen and sustain substance use disorder (SUD)/opioid use disorder (OUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural areas.

Q: Are there any unallowable activities?

- Review the sections titled “General limitation” (pages 15-16), “Program-specific statutory or regulatory limitation” (page 16), and “Funding policies and limitations” (page 25), and “Post-award requirements and administration” (pages 36-38).

- HRSA follows guidelines provided in the SAMHSA Dear Colleague Letter dated April 24, 2026 related to “harm reduction” supplies and services. No funding can be used to purchase or distribute drug paraphernalia or supplies that promote or facilitate drug use that are not listed as acceptable in that document.

Q: The applicant organization is expected to provide technical assistance to how many RCORP grant recipients?

- The applicant organization is expected to provide technical assistance to approximately 200-300 RCORP grant recipients each year. TA must be available to https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dear-colleague-letter-upated-hr-funding-guidance.pdf grant recipients throughout the course of their awards. TA may support grant recipients’ network partners within the scope of the RCORP-funded project.

Q: What are the responsibilities of being a cooperative agreement award recipient?

- Review the “Your Responsibilities” section in the NOFO (pg. 14-15).

Q: Is it sufficient if the applicant organization provides technical assistance to a specific state or region?

- No. The award recipient must have the capacity to provide technical assistance to rural areas across the United States, including territories.

Q: What are the expectations for technical assistance delivery and development?

- Carefully review the following sections in the NOFO: “General expectations and restrictions” (pages 7-8), the four goals (pages 8-12), “Staffing” (pages 12-13), and “Your responsibilities” (pages 14-15). In summary, the four goals are:

1. Provide TA to RCORP grant recipients and other stakeholders seeking guidance on how to improve access to and quality of rural behavioral health care systems and services, with a focus on SUD-related needs.

2. Identify or create, and promote access to and usage of, evidence-informed tools and resources focused on improving rural behavioral health care systems and services.

3. Develop and enhance meaningful partnerships with relevant stakeholders at the local, state, regional, and national level to promote the exchange of information and promising practices that improve and sustain rural behavioral health care systems and services.

4. Identify and strengthen capacity in rural areas to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to emerging behavioral health issues.

Q: What methods of technical assistance is the applicant organization expected to provide?

- Review the “TA Methods” section in the NOFO (pp. 9-10).

Q: What topics of technical assistance is the applicant organization expected to provide?

- Review the “Goal 2” section in the NOFO (pg. 10).

Q: Does the applicant organization need to provide both the technical content and the operations of TA delivery and resource development?

- Yes. You should propose sufficient staffing to execute the four goals and your responsibilities described under the cooperative agreement terms. You should have enough staff to cover both the technical content and necessary operations of TA delivery and resource development.

Q: How many participants are expected to attend the annual technical assistance and networking meeting that the applicant organization coordinates?

- The number of attendees at the annual meeting can range from approximately 500 to 1000 participants. HRSA may also recommend one or more program-specific or regional meetings each year, as needed.