MCHB HRSA-22-080 (UD5) HV RD Platform_Final.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems

Home Visiting Research and Development Platform

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-080

Funding Opportunity Type(s): Competing Continuation, New

Assistance Listings (AL/CFDA) Number: 93.870

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2022

Application Due Date: February 22, 2022 Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current immediately!

HRSA will not approve deadline extensions for lack of registration.

Registration in all systems may take up to 1 month to complete.

Issuance Date: November 23, 2021

Kyle Peplinski, MA Branch Chief, Policy, Data, and Technical Assistance Coordination Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems Maternal and Child Health Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration Telephone: (301) 443-7758 Email: kpeplinski@hrsa.gov

See Section VII for a complete list of agency contacts.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. § 711(h)(3) (Title V, § 511(h)(3) of the Social Security Act) mailto:kpeplinski@hrsa.gov

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508 COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

Note: Persons using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, please email or call one of the HRSA staff listed in Section VII.

Agency Contacts.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Home Visiting Research and Development Platform through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. The purpose of this program is to support a practice-based research network for scientific collaboration and innovative research. Research conducted through this program should increase the evidence base for and strengthen the capacity of home visiting programs to measurably improve family health and well-being outcomes and improve equity in access to services and in family and community outcomes.

Funding Opportunity Title: Home Visiting Research and Development Platform

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-080

Due Date for Applications: February 22, 2022

Anticipated Total Annual Available FY 2022 Funding:

$1,500,000

Estimated Number and Type of Award(s): One (1) cooperative agreement

Estimated Annual Award Amount: Up to $1,500,000 per year

Cost Sharing/Match Required: No

Period of Performance: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027 (5 years)

Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include public and private nonprofit entities.

See Section III.1 of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for complete eligibility information.

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Application Guide

You (the applicant organization/agency) are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide, available online, except where instructed in this NOFO to do otherwise.

Technical Assistance HRSA has scheduled the following technical assistance:

Webinar

Day and Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 Time: 3 – 4:30 p.m. ET Call-in number and registration for this webinar will be available here:

https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/home-visiting/program-implementation-and-fiscal-management-resources.

HRSA will record the webinar and make it available at:

https://mchb.hrsa.gov/fundingopportunities/default.aspx.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/home-visiting/program-implementation-and-fiscal-management-resources https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/home-visiting/program-implementation-and-fiscal-management-resources https://mchb.hrsa.gov/fundingopportunities/default.aspx

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Table of Contents

I. PROGRAM FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

1. PURPOSE

2. BACKGROUND

II. AWARD INFORMATION

1. TYPE OF APPLICATION AND AWARD

2. SUMMARY OF FUNDING

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

2. COST SHARING/MATCHING

3. OTHER

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

i. Project Abstract

ii. Project Narrative

iii. Budget

iv. Budget Narrative

v. Program-Specific Forms

vi. Attachments

3. DUN AND BRADSTREET DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBER TRANSITION

TO THE UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

4. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

5. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

6. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. REVIEW CRITERIA

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

3. ASSESSMENT OF RISK

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. AWARD NOTICES

2. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

3. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX: GLOSSARY OF SELECTED TERMS

HRSA-22-080 1

I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the FY 2022 Home Visiting Research and Development (HV R&D) Platform through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program.

The purpose of this program is to support a practice-based research network (PBRN) that engages in scientific collaboration and innovative research. Research conducted through this program should increase the evidence base for and strengthen the capacity of home visiting programs to measurably improve family health and well-being outcomes and improve equity in access to services and in family and community outcomes. The recipient will accomplish this through the following six objectives:

1) Develop and maintain a practice-based research network of home visiting and early childhood researchers, home visiting programs, home visiting model developers, MIECHV recipients, and other relevant stakeholders;

2) Advance the use of innovative research methods in home visiting, including methods that utilize rapid-cycle and iterative approaches that support the translation of research findings into actionable and meaningful policy and practice improvements;

3) Promote the use of data sharing and interoperability through data collaboratives and other partnerships to better answer questions of broad interest to the field;

4) Respond to emerging priorities in the field by conducting timely and relevant research, and translate these research findings into practice;

5) Mentor the next generation of early childhood researchers with explicit focus on increasing the diversity of researchers in the field, and;

6) Expand the field of precision home visiting1 through intellectual leadership, dissemination, and technical assistance, including by engaging a range of relevant stakeholders in formal and informal capacities.

2. Background

About MCHB and Strategic Plan

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) administers programs with focus areas in maternal and women’s health, adolescent and young adult health, perinatal and infant health, child health, and children with special health care needs. To achieve its mission of improving the health and well-being of America’s mothers, children, and families, MCHB is implementing a strategic plan that includes the following four goals:

1 Precision home visiting differentiates what works, for whom, and in what contexts to achieve specific outcomes. It focuses on the components of home visiting services, rather than on complex models of home visiting that are administered uniformly.

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Goal 1: Assure access to high quality and equitable health services to optimize health and well-being for all MCH populations

Goal 2: Achieve health equity for MCH populations

Goal 3: Strengthen public health capacity and workforce for MCH

Goal 4: Maximize impact through leadership, partnership, and stewardship

This program addresses MCHB’s goals to assure access to high quality and equitable health services to optimize health and well-being for all MCH populations (Goal 1), strengthen public health capacity and workforce for MCH (Goal 3), and maximize impact through leadership, partnership, and stewardship (Goal 4). The HV R&D Platform provides funding to support precision home visiting research to better understand how home visiting programs impact families. By assuring high quality and equitable health services, the health and well-being for MCH populations can be optimized. Additionally, the HV R&D Platform aims to leverage breakthrough impact research2 to produce knowledge that will strengthen public health capacity and the home visiting and early childhood systems workforce.

To learn more about MCHB and the bureau’s strategic plan, visit https://mchb.hrsa.gov/about.

This program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 711(h)(3) (Title V, § 511(h)(3) of the Social Security Act (the Act)). This provision establishes the MIECHV Program, which gives expectant parents and families living in communities at risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes the necessary resources and skills to raise children who are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy and ready to learn. In particular, § 511(h)(3) requires HRSA to carry out a continuous program of research and evaluation activities in order to increase knowledge about the implementation and effectiveness of home visiting programs. HRSA may carry out such activities directly, or through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts.

The HV R&D Platform, previously awarded in FY 2017, was created to support the use of implementation science principles to address common challenges in the replication and scale-up of evidence-based home visiting programs. Efforts to scale-up evidence-based practices in real world settings are often hindered by an unclear and unspecific theory of change that does not coherently connect the core components of an intervention to the intended behaviors of practitioners, and ultimately to the outcomes

2 Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2016). From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts: A Science-Based Approach to Building a More Promising Future for Young Children and Families. Retrieved from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/from-best-practices-to-breakthrough-impacts/.

https://mchb.hrsa.gov/about https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/from-best-practices-to-breakthrough-impacts/ https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/from-best-practices-to-breakthrough-impacts/

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sought by the program.3,4 The field requires common data models and ontologies5 of behavior and systems-level changes in order to support the development of coherent and consistent interventions that pair specific core components with the family and community characteristics they are most likely to address. While significant progress has been made in the development of home visiting ontologies, further work is needed to ensure that existing ontologies are comprehensive across a wider range of program components, behaviors, and outcomes.

Additionally, the limited inclusion of diverse study samples in much of the home visiting research literature limits our understanding of the applicability of study findings for communities that differ from those included in the specific research studies.6,7 Advancing precision research with a specific focus on understanding the differential impacts of home visiting services on various sub-populations is a key strategy to address disparities in access to services and outcomes and to advance equity. One principle of precision research is to expand the scope of how we define sub-populations, beyond traditional sub-groups with easily measured characteristics, to focus on latent characteristics that may be more meaningful to understanding differences in outcomes across sub-groups. The HV R&D Platform has developed a paradigm that articulates the theoretical relationship between family and community characteristics, interventions, and outcomes.8 However, further empirical research is needed in order to prioritize and test these relationships across the most salient sub-groups and intervention components.

A key hallmark of breakthrough impact research is the focus on the co-creation of research projects. Co-creation means the meaningful inclusion of a variety of perspectives in all aspects of the research endeavor, being mindful of and working to dismantle historical and societal norms that situate power with the researcher and “otherize” the families and communities receiving the services the research intends to impact. Incorporating family and community voice in all aspects of research, from prioritizing research questions to selecting data collection methods and interpreting findings, results in research that is equitable, pragmatic, and meaningful to those most directly impacted. The HV R&D Platform is intended to continue to provide an example

3 Supplee, LH., Parekh, J., and Johnson, M. (2018). Principles of Precision Prevention Science for Improving Recruitment and Retention of Participants. Prevention Science, 19(5):689-694.

4 Michie, S., Johnston, M., Francis, J., Hardeman, W., Eccles, M., (2008) “From Theory to Intervention:

Mapping Theoretically Derived Behavioural Determinants to Behaviour Change Techniques” Applied Psychology 57(4): 660-680.

5 For the purposes of this funding opportunity, an ontology is defined as a set of data categories, definitions, and concepts that reflect core components of early childhood home visiting interventions.

6 Castro, F., Barrera, M., and Steiker, L., (2010) “Issues and Challenges in the Design of Culturally Adapted Evidence-Based Interventions” Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 6: 213-239.

7 Gottfredson, D., Cook, T., Gardner, F., Gorman-Smith, D., Howe, G., Sandler, I., and Zafft, K., (2015) “Standards of Evidence for Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Scale-Up Research in Prevention Science: Next Generation” Prevention Science 6(7): 893-926.

8 For more information on precision home visiting, visit https://www.hvresearch.org/precision-home-visiting/ https://www.hvresearch.org/precision-home-visiting/ https://www.hvresearch.org/precision-home-visiting/

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for the research community in how to effectively and meaningfully include family and community voices in research enterprises.

For the purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), health equity means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.9 MCHB is committed to promoting equity in health programs for mothers, children, and families. As such, the definition of equity provides a foundation for the development of programs that intend to reach underserved communities and improve equity among all communities.

The HV R&D Platform will continue to support the creation and sustainability of an interdisciplinary research forum for scientific collaboration and infrastructure building related to home visiting research that is designed to improve the life outcomes among parents, infants, and young children. The HV R&D Platform is intended to significantly extend the evidence-base and, subsequently the practice, of home visiting through research that is informed by and reflects principles of:

1) Co-creation;

2) Specificity and precision;

3) Rapid-cycle and iterative methods;

4) Targeting research to identify who benefits most;

5) Use of an “active ingredients” approach by identifying the components of interventions that lead to improved outcomes; and

6) Innovation beyond interventions and into systems.

In order to accomplish this work, the HV R&D Platform has, since 2017, developed infrastructure to support the field of precision home visiting, including research on the core components of effective interventions. Recent advances in early childhood development and the growing field of precision public health have prompted new questions about better precision in aligning interventions with specific family and community characteristics for specific intended outcomes.10 One of the goals of this project is to accelerate the speed at which research indicates how and why the tailoring of interventions can be most effective. Precision home visiting research, including the principles outlined above, has the capacity to produce more effective and efficient

9 Executive Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, 86 FR 7009, at § 2(a) (Jan. 20, 2021), https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR- 2021-01-25/pdf/2021-01753.pdf.

10 https://www.ucsf.edu/precision-public-health-summit-first-1000-days https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-01-25/pdf/2021-01753.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-01-25/pdf/2021-01753.pdf https://www.ucsf.edu/precision-public-health-summit-first-1000-days

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programming that is better positioned to respond to the diverse strengths and needs of families and target appropriate services based on those characteristics.11

Additionally, the HV R&D Platform will continue to support home visiting research scholars and a practice-based research network of local home visiting programs, and convene national meetings of home visiting researchers and practitioners, to disseminate findings and share successful research practices. The HV R&D Platform is also well positioned to respond to emerging research needs within the field. For example, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the HV R&D Platform was able to produce some of the first descriptive research about how local home visiting programs were pivoting to continue to provide services and describe the initial challenges facing local programs and families. The HV R&D Platform will continue to nimbly respond to changing and emerging research needs and utilize its practice-based research network to support these needs. More information about the current HV R&D Platform can be found at https://www.hvresearch.org/.

II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Type(s) of applications sought: Competing Continuation, New

HRSA will provide funding in the form of a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is a financial assistance mechanism where HRSA anticipates substantial involvement with the recipient during performance of the contemplated project.

HRSA program involvement will include:

• Making available the services of experienced HRSA and other federal personnel as member(s) of the project leadership team and in the planning and development of the project;

• Participating in all major areas of the HV R&D Platform activities, including providing guidance and expertise in the development of guidelines, recommendations, action plans, and dissemination plans;

• Participating in the selection of members to the HV R&D National Advisory Council;

• Reviewing measures and tools established and implemented to accomplish the goals of the project;

• Participating, as appropriate, in regular conference calls, meetings, and webinars to be conducted during the project;

• Reviewing and editing written documents developed by the recipient; and

• Participating with the recipient in the dissemination of project findings, including by co-authoring articles, presentations, briefs, and other dissemination materials.

11 Supplee, L., and Duggan, A., (2019) “Innovative Research Methods to Advance Precision in Home Visiting for More Efficient and Effective Programs.” Child Development Perspectives 13(3): 173-179.

https://www.hvresearch.org/

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The cooperative agreement recipient’s responsibilities will include:

• Completing activities proposed in response to the NOFO in its entirety and the review criteria;

• Participating in regular conference calls, meetings, and webinars with HRSA during the project;

• Participating in select conferences and meetings, including national home visiting conferences, the MIECHV All-Grantee Meeting, and a national meeting of MCHB research recipients on an annual basis; and

• Collaborating with HRSA during the ongoing review of written documents, including collaborating in disseminating project findings through articles, presentations, briefs, or other dissemination materials.

2. Summary of Funding

HRSA estimates approximately $1,500,000 to be available annually to fund one (1) recipient. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $1,500,000 total cost (includes both direct and indirect, facilities and administrative costs) per year.

The period of performance is July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027 (5 years). Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the MIECHV Program in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory progress, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

All HRSA awards are subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 45 CFR part 75.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include domestic public or private, non-profit entities.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

Cost sharing/matching is not required for this program.

3. Other

HRSA may not consider an application for funding if it contains any of the non-responsive criteria below:

• Exceeds the ceiling amount

• Fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.4

NOTE: Multiple applications from an organization are not allowable.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75

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HRSA will only accept your last validated electronic submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, before the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

HRSA requires you to apply electronically. HRSA encourages you to apply through Grants.gov using the SF-424 workspace application package associated with this NOFO following the directions provided at Grants.gov: HOW TO APPLY FOR GRANTS.

The NOFO is also known as “Instructions” on Grants.gov. You must select “Subscribe” and provide your email address for HRSA-22-080 in order to receive notifications including modifications, clarifications, and/or republications of the NOFO on Grants.gov.

You will also receive notifications of documents placed in the RELATED DOCUMENTS tab on Grants.gov that may affect the NOFO and your application. You are ultimately responsible for reviewing the For Applicants page for all information relevant to this

NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Application Format Requirements Section 4 of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide provides general instructions for the budget, budget narrative, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, etc. You must submit the information outlined in the HRSA SF-424 Application Guide in addition to the program-specific information below. You are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide except where instructed in the NOFO to do otherwise. You must submit the application in the English language and in the terms of U.S. dollars (45 CFR § 75.111(a)).

See Section 8.5 of the HRSA SF-424 Application Guide for the Application Completeness Checklist.

Application Page Limitation

The total size of all uploaded files included in the page limit shall be no more than the equivalent of 80 pages when printed by HRSA. The page limit includes the project and budget narratives, and attachments required in the Application Guide and this NOFO.

Please note: Effective April 22, 2021, the abstract is no longer an attachment that counts in the page limit. The abstract is the standard form (SF) "Project_Abstract Summary.” Standard OMB-approved forms included in the workspace application package do not count in the page limit. If you use an OMB-approved form that is not included in the workspace application package for HRSA-22-080, it may count against https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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the page limit. Therefore, we strongly recommend you only use Grants.gov workspace forms associated with this NOFO to avoid exceeding the page limit. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) do not count in the page limit. It is therefore important to take appropriate measures to ensure your application does not exceed the specified page limit. Any application exceeding the page limit of 80 will not be read, evaluated, or considered for funding.

Applications must be complete, within the maximum specified page limit, and validated by Grants.gov under HRSA-22-080 before the deadline.

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification

1) You certify on behalf of the applicant organization, by submission of your proposal, that neither you nor your principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal department or agency.

2) Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 45 CFR § 75.371, including suspension or debarment. (See also 2 CFR parts 180 and 376, and 31 U.S.C. § 3354).

3) If you are unable to attest to the statements in this certification, you must include an explanation in Attachment 8: Other Relevant Documents.

See Section 4.1 viii of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide for additional information on all certifications.

Program-Specific Instructions In addition to application requirements and instructions in Section 4 of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide (including the budget, budget narrative, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, and abstract), include the following:

i. Project Abstract Use the Standard OMB-approved Project Abstract Summary Form 2.0 that is included in the workspace application package. Do not upload the abstract as an attachment or it will count toward the page limitation. For information required in the Project Abstract Summary Form, see Section 4.1.ix of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

Provide a summary of the application in the Project Abstract box using 4,000 characters or less. Because the abstract is often distributed to provide information to the public and Congress, prepare this so that it is clear, accurate, concise, and without reference to other parts of the application. It must include a brief description of the proposed project including the needs to be addressed, the proposed services, and the population group(s) to be served. If the application is funded, your project abstract information (as submitted) will be made available to public websites and/or databases including USAspending.gov.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75#se45.1.75_1371 http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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Include the following sections:

Annotation: Provide a three-to-five-sentence description of your project that identifies the project’s goal(s), a description of the needs that are addressed, and the activities used to attain the goals.

Problem: Describe the principal needs and problems addressed by the project.

Purpose: State the purpose of the project.

Goal(s) And Objectives: Identify the major goal(s) and objectives for the project.

Typically, the goal(s) are stated in a sentence, and the objectives are presented in a numbered list.

Methodology: Briefly describe the major activities used to attain the goal(s) and objectives.

NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

To ensure that you fully address the review criteria, the table below provides a crosswalk between the narrative language and where each section falls within the review criteria. Any forms or attachments referenced in a narrative section may be considered during the objective review.

Narrative Section Review Criteria

Introduction (1) Need

Needs Assessment (1) Need

Methodology (2) Response

Work Plan (2) Response and (4) Impact

Resolution of Challenges (2) Response

Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity

(3) Evaluative Measures and

(5) Resources/Capabilities

Organizational Information (5) Resources/Capabilities

Budget Narrative (6) Support Requested

ii. Project Narrative This section provides a comprehensive description of all aspects of the proposed project. It should be succinct, self-explanatory, consistent with forms and attachments, HRSA-22-080 10 and organized in alignment with the sections and format below so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

Use the following section headers for the narrative:

INTRODUCTION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion(1) Need

State the purpose of the project and identify the project goals and objectives. You should introduce your understanding of 1) evidence-based home visiting, 2) principles of precision research, 3) use of innovative research methodologies, 4) development of data models and ontologies, 5) the role of authentic researcher-community partnerships, and 6) the use of diversity and inclusion principles and practices in advancing equity in home visiting research and practice.

Contextualize the purpose, goals, and objectives of this project within the larger research field of home visiting and early childhood systems and explain how the proposed project will contribute to meaningful and impactful advances in both knowledge and practice.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion (1) Need

Define the scope of existing breakthrough impact research on home visiting interventions that leads to increased precision and improved outcomes for families and communities. Identify existing gaps, and develop a concrete list of research priorities that address existing gaps. The list of priorities should be based on the existing research literature and informed by your significant experience in the field of home visiting research.

Address how the proposed HV R&D Platform will bridge gaps between and scale existing research investments. The proposal should clearly articulate the need for engaging diverse groups of stakeholders, including MIECHV Program recipients, evidence-based home visiting model developers, members of the academic research community, local practitioners who implement evidence-based home visiting programs, and family/community voices in transdisciplinary research.

Family and community stakeholders should be inclusive of both those that participate in home visiting services and those that have been historically un/underserved by home visiting in order to engage perspectives about how to improve home visiting services.

Identify the need to develop and test data models and ontologies to help refine theories of change that link core components of interventions with family and community characteristics and intended outcomes. Discuss how the proposed project can support improved data sharing and interoperability within the field.

Describe emerging priorities in the field of home visiting that would benefit from additional research. Describe how the HV R&D Platform is well positioned to respond to emerging priorities by maintaining a practice-based research network.

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Address the need for mentoring and supporting a diverse cadre of early childhood researchers to promote diversity of thought and experience in the HV R&D Platform, and the field of home visiting research more broadly.

METHODOLOGY -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion (2) Response

Propose methods for achieving the key objectives of the project. Use the key objectives identified in Section I to structure this section of the application.

Address relevant aspects, described below, under each objective:

• Provide a list of methods that will be used to achieve the proposed objectives.

• Provide a list of anticipated products that will be created to achieve the proposed objectives.

• Describe the process for identifying and engaging proposed subrecipients in order to complement the skill set of key personnel, including a plan to effectively monitor subrecipient performance and compliance with applicable federal requirements and programmatic expectations. You are encouraged to propose partnerships with organizations representing diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other traditionally underrepresented populations.

• Describe your strategy for engaging a diverse array of stakeholders to advise and contribute to project activities. At a minimum, stakeholders should include: MIECHV Program recipients, evidence-based home visiting model developers, members of the academic research community, local practitioners who implement evidence-based home visiting programs, and family/community voices.

• Describe how your organization will interact with federal staff to ensure successful completion of each activity.

• Propose a plan for project sustainability after the period of federal funding ends, including through extramural research funding.

• Describe dissemination activities applicable to the specific objective.

WORK PLAN -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria (2) Response and

(4) Impact

Describe the activities or steps that will be used to achieve the methods proposed during the entire period of performance in the Methodology section. As appropriate, identify meaningful support and collaboration with key stakeholders, including families participating in home visiting services and local home visiting program staff, in planning, designing and implementing all activities. Describe how these stakeholders participated in the development of the application and, further, the extent to which these contributors reflect the diversity of the relevant stakeholders.

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Describe how you plan to develop and implement the specific plans called for under the key objectives in Section I. For example, the work plan should include a description of the steps proposed to ensure a diverse cadre of early career researchers will be identified and supported through mentorship to provide meaningful contributions to the HV R&D Platform.

Provide in Attachment 1 a time line that includes each activity and identifies responsible staff.

Logic Models

Submit a logic model for designing and managing the project (Attachment 1). A logic model is a one-page diagram that presents the conceptual framework for a proposed project and explains the links among program elements. While there are many versions of logic models, for the purposes of this notice, the logic model should summarize the connections between the:

• Goals of the project (e.g., reasons for proposing the intervention, if applicable);

• Assumptions (e.g., beliefs about how the program will work and support resources. Base assumptions on research, best practices, and experience.);

• Inputs (e.g., organizational profile, collaborative partners, key personnel, budget, other resources);

• Target population (e.g., the individuals to be served);

• Activities (e.g., approach, listing key intervention, if applicable);

• Outputs (i.e., the direct products of program activities); and

• Outcomes (i.e., the results of a program, typically describing a change in people or systems).

Although there are similarities, a logic model is not a work plan. A work plan is an “action” guide with a time line used during program implementation; the work plan provides the “how to” steps. You can find additional information on developing logic models at the following website:

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/prep-logic-model-ts_0.pdf.

RESOLUTION OF CHALLENGES -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion

(2) Response

In this section, discuss challenges that you are likely to encounter in designing and implementing the activities described in the work plan and approaches to resolve such challenges. Also describe how the expertise of proposed staff and subrecipients will contribute to the resolution of such challenges.

Identify potential barriers to advancing the use of precision home visiting concepts and methods and how the HV R&D Platform will support resolution of those challenges, including through intellectual leadership, dissemination, and technical assistance.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/prep-logic-model-ts_0.pdf

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Identify potential barriers to promoting the use of data sharing and interoperability through formal data collaboratives among home visiting stakeholders and how your past experience may contribute meaningful insights to support the resolution of those challenges.

Identify potential barriers to supporting mentorship for a diverse cadre of early career researchers, including potential challenges in developing partnerships with institutions serving historically underrepresented populations.

EVALUATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT CAPACITY -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria (3) Evaluative Measures and

(5) Resources/Capabilities

Describe the plan for supporting the evaluation of research projects in the context of breakthrough impact principles of 1) co-creation; 2) specificity and precision;

3) rapid-cycle and iterative methods; 4) targeting research to identify who benefits most; 5) use of an “active ingredients” approach, and; 6) innovation beyond interventions and into systems. The performance evaluation should use specific performance indicators to monitor ongoing processes and the progress towards meeting the goals and objectives of the project. Include descriptions of the inputs (e.g., organizational profile, collaborative partners, key personnel, budget, and other resources), key processes, and expected outcomes of the funded activities.

Describe the systems and processes that will support your organization's performance management requirements through effective tracking of performance outcomes, including a description of how the organization will collect and manage data (e.g., assigned skilled staff, data management software) in a way that allows for accurate and timely reporting of performance outcomes.

Describe current experience, skills, and knowledge, including individuals on staff, materials published, and previous work of a similar nature. As appropriate, describe how the data will be used to inform program development and continuous quality improvement. Describe any potential obstacles for implementing the program performance evaluation and how those obstacles will be addressed.

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion (5) Resources/Capabilities

Provide information on your organization’s current mission and structure, scope of current activities, including an organizational chart, and describe how these all contribute to the ability of the organization to conduct the program requirements and meet program expectations.

Outline your understanding of evidence-based home visiting and transdisciplinary research networks used for scientific collaboration and infrastructure building among diverse stakeholders. You should demonstrate knowledge of breakthrough impact research, as described previously in this NOFO.

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Briefly describe your experience with supporting methodological innovation in practice-based research contexts through intellectual leadership, dissemination, and technical assistance.

Provide specific information about the organization’s experience with implementing innovative, rapid-cycle, and iterative research methodologies to improve the precision of home visiting interventions and your experience implementing projects of similar size and scope. Include in your response, your organization’s experience with using evaluation findings to support practical recommendations for improving public policy and program implementation.

Provide specific information about the organization’s experience with developing and testing data models and ontologies to support the development of coherent theories of change with broad applicability across a range of behavior and systems-level changes. Describe your experience in using data models and ontologies to support data sharing and interoperability strategies.

Describe your experience in the mentorship of early career researchers, with a specific emphasis on being responsive to the unique perspectives and professional development needs of researchers from diverse and historically underrepresented populations.

Describe how the proposed personnel demonstrate adequate training and experience to successfully achieve the objectives of the project, including specific expertise related to:

• The recruitment and engagement of PBRN membership;

• The coordination and engagement of a National Advisory Council;

• Research and technical writing;

• Communications and dissemination of research findings; and

• Technical expertise related to the expansion and scale-up of PBRNs.

iii. Budget The directions offered in the SF-424 Application Guide may differ from those offered by Grants.gov. Follow the instructions in Section 4.1.iv of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide and the additional budget instructions provided below. A budget that follows the Application Guide will ensure that, if HRSA selects your application for funding, you will have a well-organized plan and, by carefully following the approved plan, may avoid audit issues during the implementation phase.

Reminder: The Total Project or Program Costs are the total allowable costs (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) you incur to carry out a HRSA-supported project or activity.

Total project or program costs include costs charged to the award and costs borne by you to satisfy a matching or cost-sharing requirement, as applicable.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), Division H, § 202 Salary Limitation does not apply to this program.

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iv. Budget Narrative See Section 4.1.v. of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

In addition, the HV R&D Platform program requires the following:

Provide a narrative that explains the amounts requested under each line in the budget.

The budget justification should specifically describe how each item will support the achievement of proposed objectives. You must submit a budget justification for the entire period of performance (Years 1 – 5). Line item information must be provided to explain the costs entered in the SF-424A. Be careful about how each item in the “other” category is justified. The budget justification must be concise. Do NOT use the budget justification to expand the project narrative.

Include the following in the budget justification:

Personnel Costs: Explain personnel costs by listing each staff member who will 1) be supported from funds and 2) in-kind contributions. If personnel costs are supported by in-kind contributions, please indicate the source of funds. Include the full name of each staff member (or indicate a vacancy), position title, percentage of full-time equivalency, and annual salary. Required personnel include, at a minimum:

1) Program director responsible for the oversight and day-to-day management of the proposed program;

2) Project manager/coordinator and additional staff responsible for monitoring programmatic activities and use of funds. This team should include staff devoted to recruitment and engagement of PBRN membership, coordination and engagement of stakeholder groups, research and technical writing, communications/dissemination of research findings, technical expertise related to the expansion and scale of practice-based research networks, development of data models and ontologies, data sharing and interoperability strategies, and professional development and mentorship of early career researchers; and

3) Staff responsible for the evaluation and reporting of programmatic activities.

NOTE: Final personnel charges must be based on actual, not budgeted labor.

Travel: The budget should reflect the travel expenses associated with participating in meetings that address the objectives of this project, including travel for stakeholder groups to participate in relevant in-person meetings organized by the HV R&D Platform. Plan for key personnel to attend one national in-person meeting of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting grant program each budget year in the Washington, DC area.

In addition, you should budget for travel expenses associated with participating in meetings that address maternal and child health research efforts and other proposed trainings and workshops Budget for one national meeting of MCHB research recipients per year in the Washington, DC area for up to two people (the project director and one other attendee) for 2 days. Meeting attendance is an award

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requirement.12

Supplies: The budget should include a clear description and justification for all supplies to be purchased to support the objectives of the project.

Contractual: You must ensure that your organization or institution has in place and follows established and adequate procurement systems with fully developed written procedures for awarding and monitoring all subrecipients. Provide a clear explanation as to the purpose of each subaward, how the costs were estimated, and the specific deliverables. REMINDER: You must notify potential subrecipients that entities receiving subawards must be registered in SAM and provide your organization with their DUNS number. “Subaward” means a legal instrument to provide support for the performance of any portion of the substantive project or program for which a recipient receives this award and that the recipient awards to an eligible subrecipient.

Timely Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting is required by the federal award recipient to the FFATA Subaward Reporting System at http://www.fsrs.gov. The recipient must have policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with FFATA. For more FFATA information, please visit HRSA’s FFATA page at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/ffata.html.

Consultants can also be listed in this section. For each consultant, specify the scope of their work, the hourly rate, and the number of hours of expected effort.

Other: All other expenses should be explained and clearly justified in this section.

v. Program-Specific Forms Program-specific forms are not required for application.

vi. Attachments

Provide the following items in the order specified below to complete the content of the application. Unless otherwise noted, attachments count toward the application page limitation. Your indirect cost rate agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) will not count toward the page limitation. Clearly label each attachment. You must upload attachments into the application. Any hyperlinked attachments will not be reviewed/opened by HRSA.

Attachment 1: Work Plan Timeline and Logic Model Submit a work plan timeline and logic model used for designing and managing the project. A logic model is a one-page diagram that presents the conceptual framework for a proposed project and explains the linkages among program elements.

12 If planned meetings must be held virtually due to extenuating circumstances, any unused funds may be re-allocated with the approval of your Project Officer.

http://www.fsrs.gov/ http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/ffata.html

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Attachment 2: Staffing Plan and Job Descriptions for Key Personnel (see Section 4.1. of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide)

Keep each job description to one page in length as much as is possible. Include the role, responsibilities, and qualifications of proposed project staff. Also include a description of your organization’s timekeeping process to ensure that you will comply with the federal standards related to documenting personnel costs.

Attachment 3: Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel Include biographical sketches for persons occupying the key positions described in Attachment 2, not to exceed two pages in length per person. In the event that a biographical sketch is included for an identified individual not yet hired, include a letter of commitment from that person with the biographical sketch.

Attachment 4: Letters of Agreement, Memoranda of Understanding, and/or Description(s) of Proposed/Existing Contracts (project-specific)

Provide any documents that describe working relationships between your organization and other entities and programs cited in the proposal. Documents that confirm actual or pending contractual or other agreements should clearly describe the roles of the contractors and any subrecipient deliverable. Make sure any letters of agreement are signed and dated.

Attachment 5: Project Organizational Chart Provide a one-page figure that depicts the organizational structure of the project.

Attachment 6: For Multi-Year Budgets—5th Year Budget, After using columns (1) through (4) of the SF-424A Section B for a 5-year period of performance, you will need to submit the budget for the 5th year as an attachment. Use the SF-424A Section B, which does not count in the page limit:

however, any related budget narrative does count. See Section 4.1.iv of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

Attachment 7: Progress Report

(FOR COMPETING CONTINUATIONS ONLY)

A well-documented progress report is a required and important source of material for HRSA in preparing annual reports, planning programs, and communicating program-specific accomplishments.