HRSA-26-038 Final.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due 07/27/2026

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Technical Assistance

Opportunity Number: HRSA-26-038

Table of Contents Before You Begin

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

Basic information

Funding details

Eligibility

Program description

Award information

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Get registered

Find the application package

Application writing help

Step 3: Build Your Application

Application checklist

Application contents and format

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award

Application review

Selection process

Award notices

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Application submission and deadlines

Other submissions

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award

Post-award requirements and administration

Reporting

Contacts and Support

Agency contacts

Help with systems

Before You Begin Health Resources and Services Administration

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Rural Strategic Initiatives Division

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Technical Assistance

HRSA-26-038

All activities proposed in your application and budget narrative must align with applicable law, including but not limited to statutes, executive orders, federal regulations and applicable judicial holdings. Accordingly, discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate: racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation; denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans, or the belief that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic; illegal immigration; or any other initiatives that compromise public safety. If an application does not align, the application will not receive funding to the extent permitted by law and applicable court orders.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity

Basic information Tagline: Providing technical assistance to community-based programs to improve access to behavioral health care across rural America

Summary The purpose of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Technical Assistance (RCORP-TA) is to connect rural communities with high-quality, comprehensive, and tailored resources and supports to implement and sustain behavioral health care, including prevention, treatment, and recovery services, to address the opioid epidemic and related substance use concerns in rural areas.

RCORP-TA supports and complements other RCORP investments to:

• address the crisis of substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder, in rural areas.

• prevent substance misuse and its effects.

• promote long-term, sustained well-being.

RCORP’s focus is on opioid misuse and its impact on rural America. However, people who misuse opioids often struggle with other substance use, including alcohol, and behavioral health[1] or social needs. The complex nature of SUD, including OUD, requires comprehensive systems and lifespan approach to prevent future problems, address barriers to care, and encourage long-term recovery. This program provides TA for a range of SUD-related behavioral health needs across individual, family, organizational, and community levels.

Have questions? Go to Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name: Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Technical Assistance

Opportunity number: HRSA-26-038

Announcement version: initial

Federal assistance listing: 93.690

Key dates

NOFO issue date: 06/25/2026

Application deadline: 07/27/2026

Expected award date is by: 08/01/2026

Expected start date: 09/01/2026

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

Funding details Application Types:

Competing continuation New Expected total available funding in FY:

2026: $10,000,000

Expected number and type of awards:

1 CA (Cooperative Agreement)

Funding range per award:

$0 - $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.

Eligibility

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

State governments

County governments

City or township governments

Special district governments

Independent school districts

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

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

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

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

Private institutions of higher education

For profit organizations other than small businesses

Small businesses

Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility”

“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.

Additional information on eligibility

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

Individuals are not eligible applicants under this NOFO.

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

We will not consider an application that:

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

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

• Is submitted after the deadline.

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

• Does not limit TA activities exclusively to organizations serving HRSA-designated rural areas.

• Does not propose a project that is nationwide in scope.

o This means that activities can support eligible rural areas in all 50 States, the U.S.

territories and freely associated states, and tribal nations.

• Does not clearly demonstrate successful experience providing evidence-informed TA to rural grant recipients and other community-based rural organizations working to improve behavioral health care systems and services.

https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/rural-health/rural-health-eligibility?tab=Address

The application must clearly show these requirements are met throughout the project narrative and supporting attachments.

Application limits You may not submit more than one application. If you submit more than one application, we will only accept the last on-time submission.

Cost sharing This program has no cost-sharing requirement. If you choose to share in the costs of the project, we will not consider it during merit review. Recipients agree that once committed, cost sharing amounts are enforceable and subject to reporting and auditing requirements under 2 CFR 200.

Post-award requirements

Before you apply, make sure you understand the requirements that come with an award.

See Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award for information on regulations that apply, reporting, and more.

Program description

Purpose The purpose of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Technical Assistance (RCORP-TA) is to connect rural communities with high-quality, comprehensive, and tailored resources and supports to implement and sustain behavioral health care systems and services, including prevention, treatment, and recovery services, to address the opioid epidemic and related substance use concerns in rural areas.

RCORP-TA supports and complements other RCORP investments to:

• address the crisis of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in rural areas.

• prevent substance misuse and its effects.

• promote long-term, sustained well-being.

RCORP’s focus is on opioid misuse and its impact on rural America. However, people who misuse opioids often struggle with other substance use, including alcohol, and behavioral health[1] or social needs. The complex nature of SUD, including OUD, requires a comprehensive systems and lifespan approach to prevent future problems, address barriers to care, and encourage long-term recovery. This program provides TA for a range of SUD-related behavioral health needs, at individual, family, organizational, and community levels.

Funding Opportunity Goals

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

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

Program history FORHP administers the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative aimed at reducing disease and death related to SUD, including OUD, in high-risk rural areas. RCORP was created in 2018 to address the public health emergency associated with rapidly rising overdose deaths involving opioids. [2]

RCORP grantees work to improve SUD-related service capacity, access, workforce, and sustainability across rural America. Since 2018, RCORP has funded over 930 grantees in 47 states and three territories, reaching over 2000 communities. HRSA also funded technical assistance (TA) at that time to support RCORP grant recipients to complete their funded activities effectively and to meet their RCORP goals and objectives.

Over time, RCORP-TA has developed a robust library of resources and expertise to support high-quality substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery services delivery, and helped grantees address a wider range of interrelated substance use and behavioral health topical areas. RCORP-TA-created resources also support efforts nationwide to strengthen rural behavioral health systems and services. This investment will build off resources and activities developed under the prior Notice of Funding Opportunity (HRSA-22-064).

The program has also evolved to support rural organizations’ capacity to develop multi-sector networks that can effectively plan, implement, and sustain substance use-related programs.

Sustainability of rural service capacity and improved behavioral health outcomes will continue to be a priority.

Public health priorities

• President Trump first declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in October

2017. It remains an ongoing emergency. [3]

• Current drug control policy priorities include:[4] o Changing social norms related to drug use.

o Ensuring access to evidence-based prevention programs.

https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/opioid-response https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding/HRSA-22-064 o Increasing early detection and intervention for drug use.

o Expanding treatment capacity, availability, and access.

o Strengthening community-based recovery services and infrastructure.

o Improving overdose rescue and response, including connection to treatment.

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

o Preventive health.

o Reducing chronic disease.

o Mental health.

o Nutrition.

o Access to primary and value-based care.

o Culturally appropriate services for tribes.

o Early childhood health.

Rural Needs Rural areas need tailored TA to address specific behavioral health-related issues, such as:

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

o Rates remain especially high in the south and west regions of the U.S.[5]

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

o Teens and young adults who use substances are at higher risk for later SUD.[6]

• Over half of rural residents have a history of adverse childhood experiences, which increases risk for SUD and other behavioral health challenges.[7]

• Rural areas have more health care access issues due to long travel distances and lack of transportation.[8]

• Rural areas are more likely to lack behavioral health providers compared to their urban counterparts, and they often rely on primary care providers for behavioral health services.[9]

Program requirements and expectations

General expectations and restrictions

• RCORP-TA activities must exclusively support entities who serve HRSA-designated rural areas.

• Activities should focus on the needs of:

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

o Their families and caregivers.

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

https://www.hhs.gov/maha/index.html o Behavioral health and related service professionals and organizations.

• Activities should address a wide range of behavioral health and related social needs in rural areas. This includes:

o Opioid misuse, OUD, and related challenges.

o Mental, behavioral, social, and community needs associated with other substance use (including alcohol).

o Promoting long-term recovery from substance use and comprehensive well-being.

o Preventing substance use and other behavioral health challenges.

o Supporting “whole person” approaches to care and access across various community-based settings.

• HRSA encourages meaningful engagement of people with lived experience with behavioral health challenges throughout program activities.

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

o Address root causes of poor health.

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

o Expand nutrition programs or chronic disease prevention.

o Support early childhood development and related services.

o Prepare systems for value-based care.

o Partner with tribal health systems.

• Major activities, including direct TA to RCORP grant recipients, must be operational promptly after award.

Goal 1: Provide TA to RCORP grant recipients and other stakeholders HRSA expects you to provide a wide range of high-quality, customized, evidence-informed TA activities that help recipients improve behavioral health care systems and services in rural areas.

Audience

• The primary audience for TA is RCORP grant recipients, to help them achieve their program goals and objectives.

o This consists of approximately 200-300 entities each year.

o TA must be available to grant recipients throughout the course of their awards.

o TA may support grant recipients’ network partners within the scope of the RCORP-funded project.

• TA should be available and tailored to the specific needs of various RCORP program cohorts.

• TA should be available and tailored to the needs of various organizations with differing levels of capacity.

o This includes tribal entities, faith-based organizations, small businesses, and first-time federal funding recipients.

• You should be prepared to provide TA to other, non-RCORP grant recipients, if requested by HRSA.

o This may include entities funded through other FORHP or HRSA programs focused on rural behavioral health.

TA Methods

• TA offerings should cover a comprehensive range of intensity and modality. This includes, but is not limited to:

o Regular 1:1 TA coaching calls with award recipients and ad-hoc coaching, as needed.

o Structured learning opportunities, such as learning collaboratives, peer-to-peer networking, policy academies, webinars, focused trainings or certifications, etc.

o In-person site visits, with options for virtual site visits as needed.

o Facilitated in-person or virtual meetings, workgroups, town halls, etc.

o Targeted group-based TA, specific to regional, topic, or program needs.

o Expert consultation on specific clinical, organizational, and behavioral health issues.

o Other innovative TA methods as recommended by HRSA, evaluation reports, and/or award recipients.

• You should ensure RCORP grant recipients have consistent access to general and specialized subject matter expertise (SME) in NOFO relevant areas, such as rural and behavioral health, clinical strategies, organizational development, health systems management and policy, workforce development, and project management.

o This includes both ongoing TA providers and any SME consultants.

• HRSA expects you to play a central role in developing, organizing, and delivering an annual TA and networking meeting across all active RCORP grant recipients and other rural stakeholders, in collaboration with HRSA.

o The number of attendees at the annual meeting can range from approximately 500 to 1000 participants.

o HRSA may also recommend one or more program-specific or regional meetings each year, as needed.

• HRSA expects you to collaborate with HRSA, other RCORP cooperative agreement recipients, and other rural stakeholders in the planning, execution and assessment of TA activities. This includes:

o Identifying TA, educational, and development needs.

o Selecting TA methods and mechanisms.

o Continuously adapting TA approaches and offerings based on current priorities and grantee needs, data, and feedback.

o Ensuring grantee access to learning opportunities that reflect the most current behavioral health care issues, considerations, trends, and available resources related to their projects.

o Collaborating with HRSA and the RCORP-Evaluation recipient to provide grantees guidance on data collection best practices and to use RCORP performance data to inform TA approaches and offerings.

Goal 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 In addition to providing direct TA, HRSA expects you to create, curate, maintain, and disseminate a broad library of resources that help improve and sustain access to behavioral health systems and services, with a focus on rural contexts. The resources, tools, and trainings you identify or create should rely on evidence-based strategies or theoretically sound promising practices, when a strong evidence base does not exist.

These resources and tools will serve an integral role in direct TA activities under Goal 1. TA will support effective usage and tailored application of relevant resources.

Topics should include, but are not limited to:

• Substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery.

• Substance-related overdose rescue and response.

• Comprehensive mental health and supportive social services.

• Effective engagement and transitions across a cascade of care.

• Behavioral health care service delivery approaches and policies.

• Sustainability of services, including effective reimbursement strategies.

• Behavioral health, allied professional, and peer workforce development and well-being.

• Developing, strengthening, and sustaining rural behavioral health networks and other cross-sector partnerships.

• Innovative service delivery, coordination, and access models and examples.

• Preventing substance use, engaging communities, and addressing stigma.

• Behavioral health integration with primary care or other service settings.

• Other emerging behavioral health needs in rural communities;

HRSA also expects you to disseminate resources and other relevant information widely to RCORP grant recipients and other rural stakeholders through multiple mediums and platforms.

• This includes making resources easily accessible on a publicly available website.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6404749/

HRSA expects you to develop and implement a communications strategy that ensures resources, program updates, and other information can be easily shared between HRSA, RCORP grant recipients, and other relevant stakeholders, including other federally funded TA centers.

Goal 3: Develop and enhance meaningful partnerships with relevant stakeholders at the local, state, regional, and national level HRSA expects you to leverage a robust network of partners to exchange information and share promising practices that foster strong rural behavioral health care systems and services. This includes:

• Helping to connect rural communities with local/state/national experts, organizations, and resources to build their behavioral health capacity and infrastructure.

• Establish referral systems with stakeholders and entities who can help strengthen rural communities’ capacity to deliver behavioral care services.

• Sharing information about RCORP programs and RCORP-TA activities with relevant stakeholders.

• Maintaining awareness of other relevant activities, to incorporate in RCORP-TA offerings and avoid duplication of effort.

• Identifying joint projects of mutual benefit, in collaboration with HRSA, to maximize impact for rural communities.

Potential partners include, but are not limited to:

• RCORP-Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders cooperative agreement recipients.

• RCORP-Evaluation cooperative agreement recipient.

• Other FORHP-funded TA or resource centers.

• State Offices of Rural Health.

• Rural Health Information Hub.

• Tribal-serving organizations.

• Telehealth Resource Centers.

• Other entities focused on rural health, behavioral health, and/or health workforce development, including HRSA- and other HHS-funded programs.

In addition, HRSA expects you to serve as a resource for HRSA/FORHP to maintain strong connections to rural behavioral health stakeholders. This includes:

• Serving as a central organizing body for TA-related partnership convenings, educational activities, and/or workgroups.

• Guiding and assisting with engagement of key organizations and stakeholders with which to share information on behavioral health care activities, resources, and emerging needs and trends.

• Participating and providing input to HRSA and related stakeholder meetings, as requested.

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

HRSA expects you to serve as a trusted partner to both RCORP grant recipients and HRSA, to ensure readiness to respond to rural behavioral health trends and emerging needs. This includes:

• Provide input to HRSA on the future direction of rural behavioral health care programs based on identified needs of rural communities.

• Collaborate with HRSA to ensure that TA provided and resources developed are responsive to shifts in HRSA priorities and the behavioral health needs of rural communities.

o This includes helping RCORP grant recipients identify and access new funding and partnership opportunities, such as those associated with the Rural Health Transformation program and state or local opioid abatement or settlement funds.

• Collaborate with the RCORP-Evaluation recipient to monitor local, regional, and national data trends and support data-driven decision-making.

Staffing 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. This includes the capacity to work with approximately 200 to 300 RCORP grant recipients each year. The staffing must fulfill:

• Direct TA provision and delivery across multiple platforms and modalities.

• Resource curation, development, and dissemination.

• Relationship development and management, including with required partners and external subject matter experts

• Logistics management and operations, including:

o Maintaining effective project management of multiple, intersecting workstreams and timelines.

o Timely and responsive coordination with HRSA, including review of materials prior to dissemination.

o Identifying, managing, and enabling access to appropriate platforms for virtual TA delivery and resource dissemination, such as 1:1 coaching calls, virtual site visits, webinars, and a public-facing website.

o Planning and managing multiple in-person site visits and meetings each year, including an annual TA and networking meeting across all RCORP grant recipients and relevant stakeholders.

You must have at least two key personnel dedicated to overseeing this project. They will attend regular check-in calls with HRSA program staff. Changes in key personnel after award require HRSA prior approval.

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

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

https://www.cms.gov/priorities/rural-health-transformation-rht-program/overview https://www.cms.gov/priorities/rural-health-transformation-rht-program/overview o Facilitates collaborative input and engagement with HRSA, other partner organizations, and rural communities to complete the proposed work plan.

o Holds significant experience in areas such as rural health and behavioral health, collaborating with partners, and program management.

o Must be employed by the applicant organization.

o At least 0.5 FTE required.

• Project Manager: Serves as the lead for project logistics and operations.

o At least 0.5 FTE required.

o Holds significant experience in areas such as project management, data collection and analysis, and reporting.

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

Award information

Cooperative agreement terms Our responsibilities Aside from monitoring and technical assistance, we also get involved in these ways:

• Monitor and provide ongoing support to individual RCORP grant recipients to ensure that they adhere to program requirements and advance their project goals and objectives.

• Collaborate with you on refining RCORP-TA objectives and activities in your project work plan to support emerging needs or priorities, such as changes in the behavioral health landscape or prioritizing methods or delivery of TA.

• Provide support for identifying and selecting:

o Effective methods for delivering TA.

o Focus areas and methods for developing evidence-informed resources, tools, and program-specific deliverables.

• Review and advise on TA approach, including any changes to the approach during the period of performance.

• Review and advise on TA materials and resources developed for format, tone, and expected impact.

o Review and advise on TA products, including presentations and online resources, before they are printed, disseminated, or implemented.

• Participate, as appropriate, in the planning of any meetings, educational activities, or work groups held during the period of performance, including, but not limited to:

o Selecting dates.

o Developing the agenda.

o Inviting speakers.

• Identify opportunities and provide guidance on strategies to share information about programs, activities, and resources, including key organizations and channels for dissemination.

• Identify and suggest special projects, products, resources, or TA focused on improving behavioral health in rural communities.

o This includes helping identify emerging behavioral and public health trends and emerging issues that affect rural SUD-related needs.

• Provide guidance and help in identifying key organizations to partner and collaborate with.

o This includes facilitating collaboration with other HRSA/federal partners.

Your responsibilities You must follow all relevant laws and policies. Your other responsibilities will include:

• Collaborate with HRSA and other relevant federal, national, and regional partners to provide TA nationwide to current and future RCORP Program grant recipients. This includes:

o Connecting RCORP grant recipients, their networks, and similar entities with local/state/national resources and organizations to build capacity and infrastructure for behavioral health care systems and services in rural areas.

o Serving a central planning and organizing role in TA-related meetings, educational activities, and/or workgroups across multiple RCORP grant recipients and other partners.

• Collaborate with HRSA for the planning, execution, and assessment of RCORP-TA activities. This includes:

o Identifying TA and educational/ developmental needs and implementation strategies.

o Ensuring continued work plan alignment with administration, HHS and HRSA priorities and changes in the behavioral health landscape.

o Developing and disseminating TA tools and resources to TA recipients and the broader public, such as through publications and webinars.

o Effectively tracking and assessing the impact of TA activities.

• Coordinate with national, federal, state and local organizations to develop and carry out your workplan, assess the impact of TA activities, and ensure no duplication of effort.

This includes:

o Other FORHP-funded cooperative agreement recipients, including the RCORP- Evaluation, RCORP-Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders, and similar entities.

o Any immediately prior or subsequent recipient of an RCORP-TA award, to support a smooth transition across periods of performance.

• Use a data-driven approach to tailor and continuously improve TA strategies.

o This includes collaboration with the RCORP-Evaluation recipient to review and analyze RCORP grant recipient performance metrics, national and local trends, and assessments of TA activities.

• Maintain and use platforms that provide RCORP grant recipients and similar rural communities access to regularly updated information, resources, and examples of promising or innovative practices.

o This includes a publicly accessible website.

• Identify and provide access to subject matter experts (SMEs) with experience improving behavioral health care systems and services and implementing community-based projects in rural areas.

• Guide and assist HRSA in:

o Identifying key organizations and stakeholders with which to share information on behavioral health care activities, resources, and emerging needs and trends.

o Identifying key trends, emerging issues, and promising practices to inform future behavioral health care programs for rural areas.

• Participate and provide input in HRSA and related stakeholder meetings.

Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS has adopted 2 CFR Part 200, with some modifications included in 2 CFR Part 300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR Part 75.

Policies

• To make an award, funding must be available and allocated for this program and purpose, at which point we will move forward with the review and award process.

• Have clear policies and good financial practices to avoid spending HRSA funds on unallowable activities. Like other award rules, we may audit your policies, procedures, and controls.

• Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

o Appropriation of funds.

o Your satisfactory progress in meeting the project’s objectives.

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

• If we receive more funding for this program, we may:

o Fund more applicants from the rank order list.

o Extend the period of performance.

o Award supplemental funding.

General limitations

• For guidance on some types of costs we do not allow or restrict, see o 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E - General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

o Allowable and Unallowable Costs and Activities in the HHS Grants Policy

Statement.

• All costs must be reasonable, necessary, allocable to the award, and adequately documented (2 CFR 200.403).

• You cannot earn profit from the federal award. See 2 CFR § 200.400(g).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.404 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.405 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.400(g)

• Current appropriations law includes a salary limit of $228,000 as of January 2026 that applies to this program. You may pay salaries at a higher rate if the rate beyond the salary rate limit (Executive Level II) is paid with non-HHS funds. For help calculating salaries under this limit, read more at “salary rate limitation” in Step 1 of the How to Apply – Application Guide.

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

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

• To acquire real property.

• For construction or improvement of real property.

• To purchase, distribute, or otherwise promote use of drug paraphernalia or supplies that facilitate illegal drug use, including:

o Pipes or other supplies for safer smoking kits.

o Syringes or needles used to inject illicit drugs.

o Sterile water, saline, ascorbic acid (vitamin c).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consider your indirect costs when developing your budget.

Program income https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=6 https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/manage-your-grant https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC))

Program income is money earned as a result of your award-supported project activities. You must use any program income you generate from awarded funds for approved project-related activities. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Get registered

SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov to apply. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register:

• Go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

• You must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations specifically. Those for contracts are different.

When you register, you will also receive your required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Once you register:

• You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

• If your organization has multiple UEIs, use the one associated with your physical location.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants and How to Apply for Grants.

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number HRSA-26-038.

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

If you need additional information about getting registered or finding the application package, see Step 2 in the How to Apply – Application Guide.

Application writing help Visit HHS Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals.

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

See Apply for a Grant for other help and resources.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.307 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants https://www.grants.gov/search-grants https://www.grants.gov/search-grants https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=8 https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/get-ready-for-grants-management/tips-for-preparing-grant-proposals/index.html https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant

FAQs will be posted on Grants.gov Related Documents tab.

Step 3: Build Your Application

Application checklist There are two types of forms in Grants.gov.

• Some forms allow you to upload components of your application to the form. These include components like your project narrative, budget and budget narrative, and attachments, as applicable.

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

Make sure that you have everything you need to apply.

Narratives

Component Grants.gov form Included in page limit*?

◻ Project narrative

Use the Project Narrative Attachment form.

Project Narrative Attachment form. Yes

◻ Budget narrative

Use the Budget Narrative Attachment form.

Budget Narrative Attachment form. Yes

Attachments Insert each in the Attachments Form in this order.

Component Included in page limit*?

◻ 1. Work plan Yes ◻ 2. Project organizational chart Yes ◻ 3. Staffing plan and job descriptions Yes ◻ 4. Biographical sketches Yes ◻ 5. Letters of commitment Yes ◻ 6. Multi-year budgets, fifth year budget No ◻ 7. Progress report for competing continuation applications (optional)

No

◻ 8-15. Other relevant documents (optional) Yes

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

Forms Submission requirement Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) With application.

Project/Performance Site Location(s) With application.

Project Abstract Summary Form With application.

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) With Application Grants.gov Lobbying Form With application.

Key Contacts With application.

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

Application contents and format

This section includes guidance on each component found in the application checklist.

Application page limit: 75

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

Required format You can find technical guidance for formatting your application documents in Step 5 of the NOFO and in Step 5 of the How to Apply - Application Guide.

Project narrative Introduction See merit review criterion 1: Need

• Briefly describe how you will advance the goals of RCORP-TA.

• Provide an overview of your experience and expertise connecting community-based organizations that serve rural areas with high-quality, comprehensive, and tailored resources and supports to implement and sustain behavioral health care systems and services, on a national scale.

• Briefly describe any partners you will work with to implement this project (if applicable).

Need See merit review criterion 1: Need

• Provide an overview of behavioral health needs in rural areas that you will address under this award. Consider:

o Prevalence and scope of substance use, behavioral health disorders, and related health impacts.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.pdf#page=25 o Availability and accessibility of behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

o Behavioral health workforce, including mental and behavioral health care providers, allied professionals, and peer supports.

o Service system capacities and challenges.

o Behavioral health policy context.

o Behavioral health needs at individual, family, organizational, and community levels.

• Describe rural-specific factors that affect the quality and accessibility of behavioral health care systems, services, and related supports.

o Consider variations in assets and needs across different areas that qualify as rural.

• Give an overview of current or past efforts to provide TA to rural stakeholders seeking to improve access to and quality of rural behavioral health care systems and services.

o Discuss what has been successful so far to build their capacity and help them achieve better outcomes.

o Discuss what remaining needs you plan to address in this project.

• Describe the importance of collaborating with other rural health stakeholders, constituents, and SMEs to support the needs of community-based organizations and other relevant rural health stakeholders serving rural populations.

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

Approach

See merit review criteria 2: Response and 4: Impact

• Attest that your project is nationwide in scope.

o Describe how you will ensure RCORP-TA activities can support eligible rural areas in all 50 States, the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and tribal nations.

• Outline your overall approach to providing high-quality, comprehensive, and tailored resources and supports that address the opioid epidemic and related substance use and behavioral health concerns in rural areas.

o Describe how you will provide TA that addresses the SUD-related behavioral health needs of individuals, families, communities, and organizations in rural areas.

o Describe how you will ensure that RCORP-TA activities are evidence-informed, address a wide range of behavioral health and related social needs, and are appropriate to rural contexts.

This includes working with organizations that have not historically received federal funding, including but not limited to tribal entities, faith-based organizations, and small businesses.

o Describe how you will meaningfully engage people with lived experience with behavioral health challenges in your project.

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

o Describe how you will collaborate and communicate with HRSA and other relevant partners to implement activities and meet project goals.

• Detail your methods and approach to meet all listed requirements and expectations for each program goal.

o Organize your response using subheadings for each program goal.

o Include details for how you will:

Effectively serve the full range of RCORP grant recipients throughout their periods of performance, across varying geographic context, community context, and level of capacity.

Tailor TA and resources to cover a wide range of relevant program focus or topic areas, modalities, and level of intensity.

Create and curate reliable, evidence-informed, and rural-focused resources that are easily accessible and widely available.

Effectively engage and coordinate across multiple partners and stakeholders to ensure high-quality, responsive offerings that complement, but do not duplicate, other federal investments.

Monitor, share information, and provide guidance to HRSA and RCORP grant recipients about relevant behavioral health trends and emerging issues.

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

• Give an overview of the specific activities or processes you will implement to achieve each of the four goals during the period of performance.

o Provide high-level timing for when each area of activity will occur.

o Identify how activities will inform or build on each other and can adapt to changes over time.

o Include cross-cutting management and coordination activities.

• Identify which organization(s) or project role will lead each activity.

• Describe how you will ensure that major activities, including direct TA to RCORP grant recipients and a public-facing resource website, are operational promptly after award.

o This includes supporting a smooth and timely transition from past RCORP-TA recipients, if applicable.

• You will include a more detailed work plan in Attachment 1.

Resolving challenges See merit review criterion 2: Response

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

o Internal operational or management challenges.

o Challenges in working with HRSA, other relevant partners, and rural communities.

o State or regional-specific issues.

• Explain how you will manage or resolve possible challenges.

o Describe resources you have in place to overcome potential barriers.

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

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

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

• Describe how you will collect, review, and act on process and performance data to promote continuous quality improvement.

• Describe how you will work with the RCORP-Evaluation recipient to ensure TA and resources are effectively supporting rural stakeholders. Consider:

o Monitoring and assessment of TA activities.

o Review and usage of RCORP grant recipient performance data.

o Monitoring nationwide and regional trends in behavioral health needs and responses.

• Describe how evaluation results and lessons learned will be communicated to HRSA, RCORP grant recipients, and other relevant stakeholders.

o Include examples of mediums/platforms for disseminating this information and experience using such platforms.

• Describe how you will manage and securely store data, including how you will protect data against cybersecurity threats, breaches, or other loss of data integrity.

Sustainability See merit review criterion 4: Impact

• Describe how RCORP-TA activities will help RCORP grant recipients meet their program goals and objectives and improve their program outcomes.

o Include how you will help RCORP grant recipients and their networks sustain behavioral health care systems and services over the long-term.

• Describe how your RCORP-TA activities will continue to have an impact after federal funding ends. Include how you will support:

o Broad dissemination of program data and lessons learned about effective strategies for improving rural behavioral health systems and services.

o The continued availability of project-funded public resources and tools after the period of performance.

o A smooth transition to any subsequent RCORP-TA period of performance.

Organizational information See merit review criterion 5: Resources and capabilities

Applicant organization

• Provide a brief overview of your organization that includes the following information.

Explain how these details relate to your capacity to lead the proposed project.

o Current mission.

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

o Scope of current activities and relevant past activities.

o Connection to and ability to engage community-based organizations and other entities serving rural areas.

o Ability to manage the project and personnel.

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

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

o Include a project organizational chart in Attachment 2.

• Describe the experience, capacity, and relationships your organization will use to:

o Provide a wide range of high-quality, customized, evidence-informed TA activities to RCORP grant recipients and other rural stakeholders.

o Create, curate, maintain, and disseminate a broad library of resources for rural stakeholders.

This includes technical resources to host large amounts of information online, as well as human resources and experience with website design and editing.

o Develop and enhance meaningful partnerships to exchange information and share promising practices.

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

o Engage effectively with a variety of rural stakeholders nationwide and begin implementing project activities promptly after award to meet their behavioral health care systems and service TA needs.

Key personnel and staffing

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

o Include details of each position in Attachment 3.

o For each key personnel position in the staffing plan, provide a brief biographical sketch in Attachment 4 that clearly demonstrates…