HRSA-27-098_Modification_clean.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due 09/01/2026

Bureau of Health Workforce

Medical Student Education Program (MSE)

HRSA-27-098

MODIFICATION 7-9-26: preliminary accreditation status; scholarships; merit review criteria weights

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 Happen After Award

Post-award requirements and administration

Reporting

Contacts and Support

Agency contacts

Help with systems

Appendices

Before You Begin Health Resources and Services Administration

Bureau of Health Workforce

Division of Medicine and Dentistry

Medical Student Education Program (MSE)

HRSA-27-098

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: Advancing Primary Care Careers in Tribal, Rural, and Other Areas with Primary Care

Provider Shortages.

Summary

The purpose of the Medical Student Education (MSE) Program is to provide support to public medical schools in states ranked in the top quartile for projected primary care provider shortages to expand or enhance education for medical students, with a focus on supporting careers in primary care in rural and other areas with a primary care provider shortage.

Have questions? Go to Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name: Medical Student Education Program (MSE)

Opportunity number: HRSA-27-098

Announcement version: initial

Federal assistance listing: 93.680

Key dates

NOFO issue date: 06/11/2026

Application deadline: 09/01/2026

Expected award date is by: 11/02/2026

Expected start date: 12/01/2026

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

Funding details

Application Types: New

Expected total available funding in FY 2027: $13,000,000

Expected number and type of awards: 8 G (Grant)

Funding range per award: $1,000,000 - $1,625,000

We plan to fund awards in 12-month budget periods with the exception of a 7-month budget period for the first year resulting in a total of 4 years and 7 months period of performance. Your request for years 2 – 5 cannot exceed your Year 1 request. The period of performance is from

December 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.

Eligibility You can apply if you are: 1) an accredited public medical school; 2) located in the top quartile of states with a projected primary care provider shortage as determined by the Secretary of the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services; and 3) you do not have an active MSE grant.

Types of eligible organizations

These types of domestic organizations may apply if they otherwise meet the eligibility criteria.

“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.

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional information on eligibility

To determine eligibility, HRSA uses the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis

(NCHWA) projections1 through 2038, which indicate there are 41 states with a projected shortage of primary care physicians. The top quartile of states with projected shortages of primary care physicians include 12 states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.

HRSA has identified accredited public, osteopathic and allopathic medical schools in the eligible states using the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and Liaison

Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Excluding schools with active MSE grants, Appendix A lists the 25 public medical schools in six states that appear eligible for this funding opportunity. Applicants must provide documentation of accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) that includes verification that their institution is not on probation. This statement must also include the dates of initial accreditation and the next accrediting body review for each specialty, as well as the accreditation start and expiration dates. Entities with provisional or preliminary accreditation may apply if you meet the eligibility criteria and accreditation documentation requirements from LCME or COCA.

Note: Grantees currently receiving MSE funding from HRSA-23-124 and HRSA-24-074 are not eligible to apply for this competition.

Individuals are not eligible applicants under this NOFO.

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.

Qualifications for principal investigator or project director

The Project Director (PD) must be a board-certified physician, employed by the applicant organization, and dedicate approximately 20 percent of their time to grant activities, whether charged to the grant as salary or provided to the project as in-kind contribution. Your application should indicate the time commitment and qualifications of the PD in the project narrative. HRSA recognizes only one PD.

Completeness and responsive 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.

• Is currently receiving HRSA funding for the MSE Program.

• Fails to include accreditation documentation for the applicant organization.

• Fails to satisfy the minimum matching requirement of 1% of the federal share.

• Fails to include a budget that reflects the $1,000,000 minimum for each of the 5-year periods of performance.

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

Federal share

This program requires you to contribute 1% of the federal share.

Matching is required for this program. We require an amount of not more than ten percent, but not less than one percent matching of the total annual amount of federal funds provided in the grant to each award recipient as per The FY 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, P.L. 119-75.

Matching funds are any non-federal funds that contribute to the project purpose and objectives, such as in-kind faculty contributions, facilities and related costs, and contributions from partnerships (2 CFR 200. 306). Cost sharing requirements are not allowable from costs paid by another federal award.

You can meet your match requirement through any combination of:

• Cash contributed by your organization, partners, or other third parties.

• In-kind (non-cash) contributions from your organization, partners, or other third parties.

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 Medical Student Education (MSE) Program is to provide support to public medical schools in states ranked in the top quartile for projected primary care provider shortages to expand or enhance education for medical students preparing to become physicians. This expansion can include funding for direct student supports which help students be successful in medical school, as well as for infrastructure development, maintenance, equipment, and minor renovations or alterations. The program is designed to prepare and encourage medical students to choose residencies and careers in primary care and serve Tribal, rural and other areas with primary care provider shortages in those states after they complete their residency.

• Increase the number of primary care physicians practicing in states with a projected primary care physician shortage, particularly in rural Tribal and other areas with primary care provider shortages.

Background

A strong primary care system improves health outcomes. However, the United States faces a growing shortage of primary care physicians. The National Center for Health Workforce

Analysis projects a shortage of 70,610 primary care physicians by 2038.1 More than 100 million people live in Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)2 and shortages are most severe in rural, Tribal, and other communities with limited access to services. Expanding training pathways in rural, Tribal, and other areas with primary care provider shortages, including support for students who plan to serve these communities, can influence where physicians choose to practice.3

Limited access to preventive services, chronic disease care, and mental health care lead to poorer health outcomes.4

Poor diet is also an important preventable health risk factor. Evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle interventions improve blood pressure, blood sugar control, cardiovascular risk, weight management, and mental health outcomes. However, many medical students receive limited nutrition training and report feeling unprepared to counsel patients.5 Medical schools can better prepare physicians by integrating evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine education into their curricula.

Program goal and objectives

Program goal

Increase the number of primary care physicians practicing in states with a projected primary care physician shortage, particularly in rural Tribal, and other areas with primary care provider shortages.

Program objectives

Objective 1: Expand and/or enhance medical student education to promote career choices in primary care and in rural, Tribal, and other areas with primary care provider shortages.

Objective 2: Establish or enhance medical education to support evidence-based nutrition, prevention, and chronic disease care.

Objective 3: Develop or enhance partnerships, including one or more clinical rotations in primary care such as at a Teaching Health Center or community-based setting, to collaborate on educational and training activities for medical students.

Program requirements and expectations

Award recipients are required to participate in federally designed evaluations to assess program effectiveness and efficiency upon request.

If you receive an award, you must meet the following requirements and expectations in carrying out your training program. You should address all these requirements in the project narrative section of your application and follow the more detailed instructions throughout that section.

• Increase the number of medical students and/or provide student supports for students who commit to primary care service in rural, Tribal, and other areas with primary care provider shortages. Student supports can include academic, financial (e.g., scholarships), and social (e.g., mentorship) supports.

• Develop and implement new and/or expanded nutrition and chronic disease curricula, including evidence based dietary intervention in chronic disease prevention and management, incorporating a defined set of clinical, didactic, and community-based training activities.

• Ensure that at least one or more of the clinical sites for medical students are in a primary care setting such as a Teaching Health Center or other community-based setting that provides primary care training. These settings include but are not limited to: Rural Health

Clinics (RHCs); Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); community mental health centers (CMHCs); and health centers operated by the Indian Health Service (IHS), by

Tribes or Tribal organizations, or by urban Indian organizations.

• Develop and support partnerships with community-based organizations in rural, Tribal, and other communities experiencing the greatest primary care physician shortages to support pathway programs, training, and support for students who are most likely to return to practice in these communities.

1. Ensure all medical students have a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number.

2. Adhere to HHS Evaluation Policy and evaluation standards and best practices described in OMB Memorandum M-20-12 when evaluating their program.

3. Participate in federally designed evaluations to assess program effectiveness and efficiency upon request.

Optional: Recipients may use grant funds to develop, enhance, and implement Postbaccalaureate

Premedical Programs that support the transition from undergraduate to medical school.

Postbaccalaureate Premedical Programs are programs that give college graduates the opportunity to complete undergraduate science courses in preparation for application to medical school and other related professional schools, if appropriate.

Recipients may also use grant funds to support preceptor cost, training, and development.

Statutory authority

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-75) https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/M-20-12.pdf

Award information

Funding policies and limitations

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 Project Budget Information in Section 3.1.4 of the R&R Application Guide. You can also see 2 CFRPart 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).

• 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 rate higher than the Executive Level II if the amount beyond the HHS SRL is paid with non-HHS funds. For help calculating salaries under this limit, read more at “salary rate limitation” in the R&R Application

Guide.

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.

As of October 1, 2025, 2 CFR 300.414 indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs. To calculate the (MTDC), we exclude from the direct cost base:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D15 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/sites/default/files/hhs-grants-policy-statement-april-2025-archived.pdf#page%3D81 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) https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D16 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D16 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300/subpart-E/section-300.414

• 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.

Consider your indirect costs when developing your budget.

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 2 CFR 200.307.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-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.

If you need additional information about user roles in SAM.gov, see “Get registered: SAM.gov user roles” in the R&R Application Guide.

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-27-098. 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.

See Apply for a Grant for other help and resources.

Join the webinar

For more information about this opportunity, Visit the Bureau of Health Workforce’s open opportunities website. The webinar will be recorded.

FAQs will be posted on the Bureau of Health Workforce’s open opportunities website.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D4 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.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 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs https://bhw.hrsa.gov/programs

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

See the instructions for the project narrative, form, and the budget and budget narrative.

Form Included in page limit*?

◻ Research & Related Other Project Information Yes*

◻ Research & Related Budget (Total Fed + Non-Fed) Yes*

Attachments

See instructions for attachments.

Attachments Included in page limit*?

◻ 1. Accreditation Documentation Yes

◻ 2. Project Organizational Chart Yes

◻ 3. Agreements with other entities Yes

◻ 4. Staffing Plan and Job Description Yes

◻ 5. Funding preference or priority documentation Yes

◻ 6. Tables and charts Yes

◻ 7. Letters of Support Yes

◻ 8. Other relevant document Yes

◻ 9. Other relevant document Yes

◻ 10. Other relevant document Yes

◻ 11. Other relevant document Yes

◻ 12. Other relevant document Yes

◻ 13. Other relevant document Yes

◻ 14. Other relevant document Yes

◻ 15. Other relevant document Yes

Other required forms

See form instructions.

Form Included in page limit*?

◻ SF-424 (R&R) No

◻ Project Abstract Summary Form No

◻ R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Yes*

◻ Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile form No

◻ Project/Performance Site Location(s) No

◻Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) No

◻Standardized Work Plan (SWP) form No

* Unless otherwise indicated, only what you attach to a form counts toward the page limit. The form itself does not count.

Application contents and format

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

Application page limit: 60 pages

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

Required format

Required format for project summary, project narrative, budget narrative, and attachments

Font: A readable font like Arial, Courier, CG Times, or Times New Roman

File format: We only accept the following document formats:

• .PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

• .DOC/.DOCX - Microsoft Word

• .RTF - Rich Text Format o .TXT - Text

• .WPD - Word Perfect Document

• .XLS/.XLSX - Microsoft Excel

• .VSD - Microsoft Visio

Size: 12-point font

Footnotes, charts, graphics, and budget tables may be 10-point or higher.

Ink color: Black

Spacing: Single-spaced, including all text and tables

Alignment: Left

Headings: Bold all headings and align left.

Size: 8.5 x 11 (Make sure the print area is set and allows printing to 8.5 x 11.)

Margins: 1-inch on all sides

Footer: On each page as the footer, include your organization’s name and page numbers. If a competing continuation or competing supplement, also include your 10-digit award number.

Page numbering:

• Do not number the standard OMB-approved forms.

• Number each attachment page sequentially (that is, 1, 2, 3).

• Reset the numbering for each attachment.

• Treat each attachment as a separate section.

File names: You can find guidance for naming our files in the R&R Application Guide.

Project narrative

Use the Research & Related Other Project Information form to attach the project narrative. In the project narrative, you will describe all aspects of your project.

Use the section headers and the order as listed.

Introduction

See merit review criterion 1: Need

• Briefly describe the purpose of your project.

Need

See merit review criterion 1: Need

• Describe the unmet health workforce needs this program will address, including the characteristics and needs of any specific communities the program plans to partner with.

• Discuss any relevant barriers to trainees' access to education and success in your program.

• Use and cite demographic data whenever possible.

Approach

See merit review criterion 2: Response

• Describe how you’ll address your stated needs and meet the program requirements and expectations described in this NOFO.

• Describe how you will develop or enhance your nutrition and chronic disease curriculum, including how you will increase medical students’ knowledge and competence in evidence-based dietary intervention to care for people experiencing chronic disease.

• Describe how you will establish the required clinical rotations in Teaching Health

Centers or community-based settings to train medical students. These settings include, but are not limited to: RHCs, FQHCs; CMHCs; and health programs operated by the IHS, by Tribes or Tribal organizations, or by urban Indian organizations.

• Describe strategies for ongoing staff training, teamwork, and information sharing. Also include strategies for outreach and collaboration efforts to enhance recruitment and retention of medical students.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D36

• If it applies, include a plan to distribute reports, products, or project outputs to target audiences.

Provide a table description of the primary care clinical sites for medical students such as in a

Teaching Health Center or other community-based setting in Attachment 6. Include the name of the primary care site and number of medical students for each year of the award. A sample table is provided in Attachment 6.

High-level work plan

See merit review criteria 2: Response and 4: Impact

• Describe how you’ll achieve each of the three objectives and the goal of this NOFO during the period of performance.

• Provide a timeline that includes each activity and identifies who is responsible for each.

As needed, identify how key partners will help plan, design, and carry out clinical rotation activities.

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

• You will also include a more detailed work plan in your Standardized Work Plan (SWP).

See Other required forms.

• Provide in the SWP a timeline for each of the 5 budget years by quarter that includes each activity and identifies who is responsible for each by their title.

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. Explain approaches that you’ll use to resolve them

Performance management

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

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

• Performance Measurement and Reporting. See https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/report-on-your-grant for performance measure requirements and examples of reporting forms.

o Describe how you will collect and report required performance data accurately and on time.

o Describe how you will manage and securely store data.

▪ Include how you will report and collect NPI numbers for participants.

Project trainees in eligible disciplines must apply for and report on an NPI.

• Describe your process to track trainees after program completion for up to one year.

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

• Program Evaluation. The evaluation should examine processes and progress towards 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:

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/report-on-your-grant https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/report-on-your-grant https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/report-on-your-grant o The evaluation questions, methods, data to be collected, and timeline for implementation.

o The evaluation barriers and your plan to address them.

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

o 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 the reporting section for more information.

Sustainability

See merit review criterion 4: 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.

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

• Describe the actions you’ll take to obtain future sources of funding.

• Determine the timing to become self-sufficient.

• Discuss challenges that you’ll likely encounter in sustaining the program. Include how you will resolve these challenges.

Organizational information

See merit review criterion 5: Resources and capabilities

• Briefly describe your mission, structure, and the scope of your current activities. Explain how they support your ability to carry out the program requirements. Include a project organizational chart.

• 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.

• Include a staffing plan and job descriptions for key faculty and staff in Attachment 4.

• Describe the organizations you will partner with to fulfill the program goals and meet the training objectives. Include key agreements in Attachment 3 and letters of support in

Attachment 7.

• Include biographical sketches for key staff using the Research & Related Senior/Key

Person Profile form. See Other required forms.

Budget and budget narrative

See merit review criterion 6: Support requested

Your budget should follow the instructions in budget narrative: detailed instructions section of the R&R Application Guide and any specific instructions listed in this section.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D15

HHS now uses the definitions for equipment and supply 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.

The total project or program costs are all allowable (direct and indirect) costs used for the HRSA activity or project. This includes costs charged to the award and nonfederal funds used to satisfy any matching or cost sharing requirement (which may include maintenance of effort, if applicable).

Reminder: Indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs.

The budget narrative supports the information you provide in the Research and Related Budget

Form. The merit review committee reviews both. Your budget should show a well-organized plan.

The budget narrative includes an itemized breakdown and a clear justification of the requested costs. As you develop your budget, consider:

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

• Restrictions on spending funds. See Funding policies and limitations.

To create your budget justification narrative, see budget narrative instructions in the R&R

Application Guide.

Participant and trainee support costs

In your budget narrative:

• List the number of participants/trainees receiving scholarships. Scholarships include: tuition, fees, health insurance, stipends, travel, subsistence, and other costs.

• Identify the number of participants and trainees.

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

• Include a sub-total entitled “Total Participant and Trainee Support Costs” with the summary of these costs.

Preceptor costs

Preceptors can be either your employee, contractor, or consultant. Preceptor costs are unique and different than trainee costs, which are for your students. Allowable preceptor costs may include:

• Stipends (other than to employees)

• Percentage (%) of salary (for employees)

• Continuing education, other trainings, and related fees

• Travel

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

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

• If the preceptor is a consultant or contractor, list those costs under Section F. Other Direct

Costs.

• Include the number of preceptors in your budget narrative.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Equipment) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#p-200.1(Supply) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#p-200.1(Supply) https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D18 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D18

Consultant

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

Attachments

See section 3.2 of the HRSA R R Application Guide.

Place your PDF attachments in order in the Attachments form. See application checklist to determine if they count toward the page limit.

Unless the instructions below require it, do not submit organizational brochures or other promotional materials (for example, slides, films, clips).

Attachment 1: Accreditation documentation

Required.

You must provide documentation of your accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical

Education or Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)that includes verification that you are not under probation. This statement must also include the dates of initial accreditation and next accrediting body review for each specialty; and the accreditation start and expiration dates. Please do not provide only the web link to the accreditation body’s website.

HRSA will not open any links included in the application.

Attachment 2: Project organizational chart

Required.

Provide a one-page diagram that shows the full project’s organizational structure. Include all aspects, not just the applicant organization.

Attachment 3: Agreements with other entities

As applicable.

Provide any documents that describe working relationships between your organization and others you refer to in the proposal. Documents that confirm actual or pending contracts or agreements should clearly describe the roles of subrecipients and contractors and any deliverables. It is not necessary to include the entire contents of lengthy agreements, so long as the portions you include describe the working relationship between you and the other organization. Make sure letters of agreement are signed and dated.

Attachment 4: Staffing plan and job descriptions

Required.

See Section 3.1.7 of the R&R 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.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D25 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D23

Attachment 5: Funding priority documentation

As applicable.

Provide documents that prove you qualify for either or both funding priorities. Provide a statement that you are requesting a priority, which priority (or priorities) you are requesting, and documentation to support the request(s). Please state how the priority (or priorities) is/are met and include documentation to substantiate your eligibility for the funding priority. See Section

V.2 for details.

See the selection process section for information about how these documents are used.

Attachment 6: Tables and charts

Required.

Provide a table description of the primary care clinical sites for medical students such as in a

Teaching Health Center or other community-based setting. Include the name of the primary care site and number of medical students for each year of the award. A sample is provided below.

Table 1: Primary Care Clinical Sites

Name of

Clinic

Rotation

Site

Clinic

Training Site

Full Address

(EXAMPLE

Main Street, Town, State, Extended

Zip code)

Tribal

Site

(Yes/No)

Is site located in rural area as determined by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), using the Rural Health Grants Eligibility

Analyzer at https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-heal

(Yes or No)

Number of students who will be involved in grant activities per year.

Grant

Year

1,2,3, 4, 5

Attachment 7: Letters of support

As applicable.

You may provide letters of support from other organizations or departments involved in the proposed project.

Letters of support can also be from individuals within your institution who hold the authority to speak for the organization or department such as a CEO or chair.

Recommenders should indicate an understanding of and commitment to the project, and what their contribution to the project will be. You should reference letters of support in the applicable section of the project narrative.

Recommenders must sign and date their letter of support for the document to be considered.

Attachment 8-15: Other relevant documents

You may use attachments 8 through 15 to add other relevant documents.

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

Other required forms

You will need to complete some other forms. Upload the following forms at Grants.gov. You can find them in the NOFO application package or review them and any available instructions at

Grants.gov Forms.

Forms Submission Requirement

SF-424 R&R (Application for Federal

Assistance) form With application.

Project Abstract Summary Form With application.

Research & Related Other Project

Information With application.

Research & Related Senior/Key Person

Profile (Expanded) With application.

R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s)

Form With application.

Project/Performance Site Location(s) With application.

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

Standardizes Work Plan (SWP) form With application.

Form instructions

In addition to the requirements for the budget narrative, project narrative, and attachments, following are instructions for each of the other forms required by this NOFO. See the application checklist for a full list of all application requirements.

SF-424 (R R) application for federal assistance

This is your application for federal assistance. Follow the instructions in section 3.1.1 of the

R&R Application Guide. This is the application for Federal Assistance.

Project abstract summary form

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.

Important: public information

When filling out your SF-424 form, pay attention to Box 15: Descriptive Title of Applicant’s

Project.

We share what you put there with USAspending. This is where the public goes to learn how the federal government spends their money.

Instead of just a title, insert a short description of your project and what it will do.

See instructions and examples.

https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D8 https://www.usaspending.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-writing-award-descriptions.pdf

When writing your summary:

• Use 4,000 characters or fewer.

• Make sure it’s clear, accurate, short.

• Do not refer to other parts of the application.

• Do not include personally identifiable information (PII) in abstract form.

• If you receive an award, we’ll put your project abstract on public websites and databases, including USAspending.gov.

Research and related other project information

In addition to the requirements in the project narrative section, you will provide some additional information in this form.

• Complete sections 1 through 6.

• 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.

Research and related senior/key person profile (expanded)

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

• Try to use no more than 2 pages 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 the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile form.

• Include:

o Name and title o Education and training – for each entry include Institution and location, degree and date earned, if any, and field of study.

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

o 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.

o Section C, Other Support. This section is optional. List selected ongoing and completed projects during the last three years. Begin with any projects relevant to the proposed project. Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and responsibilities of the person.

R and R subaward budget attachment(s) form

You will also complete the R&R Subaward Budget Attachment Form for each subaward you propose. These include subcontracts. You will do this using the R&R Subaward Budget

Attachment(s) Form.

https://grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-terminology#p http://www.usaspending.gov/ https://grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-terminology#p

Use the following instructions:

• Once you open this form, you can select “Click here to extract the R&R Subaward

Budget Attachment”.

• Save the file and then open it to complete it.

• Once you save the file you can upload it within the form.

• Repeat the steps for each subaward.

If you have more than 10 subawards, you may upload the extra budget forms in the Research and

Related Other Project Information form in Block 12 “Other Attachments”.

Project/performance site location(s)

Follow the form instructions in Grants.gov Forms. Use the “Next Site” option rather than

“Additional Location(s)” to add more than one project/performance site location.

Disclosure of lobbying activities (SF-LLL) form

Follow the form instructions in Grants.gov Forms.

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

• Follow the instructions in the SWP Form.

• Select your organizational priorities that best fit the objective.

• As specified in the NOFO, program goal and objectives must be copied as stated.

https://www.grants.gov/forms https://www.grants.gov/forms

Step 4: Understand Review, Selection, and Award

Application review

Initial Review

We will review your application to make sure that it meets eligibility criteria, including the completeness and responsiveness criteria. If your application does not meet these criteria, we will not fund it. If this is the case, we will notify your authorized official.

We will not review any pages that exceed the page limit.

Merit review

A panel reviews all applications that pass the initial review. You can find more about the merit review process in the R&R application guide. The members use these criteria.

Criterion Total number of points = 100

1. Need 15 points

2. Response 35 points

3. Performance management 15 points

4. Impact 15 points

5. Resources and capabilities 10 points

6. Support requested 10 points

Criterion 1: Need (15 points)

See the project narrative Introduction and Need sections.

The panel will review your application for how well it:

• Describes a project purpose that aligns with the purpose of the funding opportunity.

• Describes health workforce needs that will be addressed by this project and the communities that will benefit from the project, if appropriate.

• Describes barriers faced by trainees to successfully complete educational programs.

• Describes the needs of the institution, the community, and the public/nation that will be addressed by the proposed project.

Criterion 2: Response (35 points)

See the project narrative Approach, High-level work plan, and Resolving challenge sections.

Approach (20 points)

The panel will review your application for how well it:

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page%3D34

• Responds to the program’s purpose to address the stated needs and meet the program requirements and expectations described in this NOFO.

• Describes how you will develop or enhance your nutrition and chronic disease curriculum, including how you will increase medical students’ knowledge and competence in evidence based dietary intervention to care for people experiencing chronic disease.

• Provide a table description of the primary care clinical sites for medical students such as in a Teaching Health Center or other community-based setting in Attachment 6. Include the name of the primary care site and number of medical students for each year of the award.

• Describes your proposed recruitment and retention plan aimed at increasing the enrollment and sustained support of medical students.

High-level work plan (10 point)

The panel will review your application for how well it:

• Describes the activities to address the problem and meet project objectives.

• Describes how you will establish the required clinical rotations in Teaching Health

Centers or community-based settings to train medical students.

• Describes in the SWP a timeline for each activity, identifies the party responsible for each budget year, and, as appropriate, specifies how key partners will assist in planning, designing, and implementing clinical rotation activities.

Resolution of challenges (5 points)

The panel will review your application for how well it:

• Describes the obstacles and challenges you may face during project design and implementation, including the approaches that you’ll use to resolve them

Criterion 3: Performance Management (15 points)

See the project narrative Performance reporting and evaluation section.

The panel will review your application for:

Evaluation

5 points:

• The overall approach and methodology to evaluate project results against goals and objectives and gain insights into program outcomes and impact.

• The plan to disseminate results.

Performance measurement

10 points:

• Evidence that the measures assess how well program objectives have been met and to what extent the results are attributed to the project. A clear plan to collect and manage data to ensure accurate and timely performance.

• A plan to identify evaluation barriers and your approach to address them.

• A process to collect, manage, store, and report NPI numbers for eligible participants.

• The ability to track trainees after program completion for up to one year.

• A process to monitor and analyze performance data to support continuous quality improvement.

Criterion 4: Impact (15 points)

See the project narrative High-level work plan and Sustainability sections.

The panel will review your application for:

• How effective the proposed project is likely to be.

• How strong of a public health impact it is likely to have.

• How likely the project results could be national in scope.

• How easy it will be to replicate project activities.

• How likely the program will continue beyond the federal funding.

• How well it describes challenges that you’ll likely encounter in sustaining the program, including your plan to resolve these challenges.

Criterion 5: Resources and capabilities (10 points)

See the project narrative Organizational information and Performance reporting and evaluation sections.

The panel will review your application to determine the extent to which:

• Project staff have the training or experience to carry out the project.

• Project staff have the training and experience to carryout performance reporting (and program evaluations, if applicable).

• You have the capabilities to fulfill the needs of the project.

• You have quality facilities available to carry out the project.

• You have the capacity to gather, manage, and use data.

• The mission, structure, and scope of current activities aligns with the MSE program.

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

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

• You provide evidence of institutional support in Attachment 3 and Attachment 7.

• You include an adequate staffing plan in Attachment 4 and a…