oppHRSA-18-007-cfda93.822-cidHRSA-18-007-instructions.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Bureau of Health Workforce Division of Health Careers and Financial Support

Health Careers Opportunity Program: The National HCOP Academies

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-18-007

Funding Opportunity Type: New

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 93.822

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2018

Application Due Date: May 29, 2018

Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current immediately!

Deadline extensions are not granted for lack of registration.

Registration in all systems, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov, may take up to 1 month to complete.

Issuance Date: March 27, 2018

Tammy Mayo-Blake, M.Ed.

Education Program Specialist Division of Health Careers and Financial Support Bureau of Health Workforce Health Resources and Services Administration 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15N-38D Rockville, MD 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-0827 Email: tmayo-blake@hrsa.gov

Authority: Section 739 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 293c).

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2018 Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP), herein after referred to as the “National HCOP Academies.” The goal of the National HCOP Academies is to expand and better prepare the health care workforce of the 21st century by funding projects to increase and support opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter a health profession.

More specifically, the purpose of the National HCOP Academies grant program is to: 1) promote the recruitment of qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds into the health professions, including allied health programs; 2) improve retention, matriculation and graduation rates by implementing tailored enrichment programs designed to address the academic and social needs of disadvantaged students; and 3) provide opportunities for community-based health profession training in primary care, emphasizing experiences in rural and underserved communities.

Funding Opportunity Title: Health Careers Opportunity Program: The

National HCOP Academies Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-18-007 Due Date for Applications: May 29, 2018 Anticipated Total Annual Available FY18 Funding:

$12,794,000

Estimated Number and Type of Award(s): Up to 20 grants Estimated Award Amount:: Up to $640,000 per year Cost Sharing/Match Required: No Project Period/Period of Performance: September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2023 (5 years)

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Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include accredited schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, public health, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied health, chiropractic, podiatric medicine, public and nonprofit private schools that offer graduate programs in behavioral and mental health, programs for the training of physician assistants, and other public or private nonprofit health or educational entities including community colleges, technical colleges and tribal colleges.

See Section III-1 of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), formerly known as the funding opportunity announcement (FOA), for complete eligibility information.

Application Guide

You (the applicant organization/agency) are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in HRSA’s SF-424 R&R Application Guide, available online at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf, except where instructed in this NOFO to do otherwise. A short video for applicants explaining the new Application Guide is available at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf, http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf, http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/ http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/

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Technical Assistance

There will be a technical assistance (TA) session/webinar for applicants for this notice of funding opportunity. A taped replay of the audio portion and a recording of the webinar will be available approximately one day after the webinar ends, through the closing date of the funding opportunity. The link for the webinar recording will be placed on our website: http://bhw.hrsa.gov/grants/diversity/hcop.html.

HRSA has scheduled the following technical assistance webinar and conference call to help you understand, prepare, and submit an application for this NOFO. The webinar and conference call are scheduled for:

Webinar

Day and Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Call-in Number: 888-950-9564 Participant Code: 3373316 Weblink: https://hrsaseminar.adobeconnect.com/hcop_nofo/ Playback Number: 800-964-4665 Passcode: 1926 Expires: JUN-17-18 10:59 PM (CT) Replays are generally available one hour after a call ends.

Conference Call

Day and Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2018 Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Conference Number: 888-950-9564 Participant Passcode: 3373316 Playback Number: 866-363-4070 Passcode: 4321 Replays are generally available one hour after a call ends.

http://bhw.hrsa.gov/grants/diversity/hcop.html http://bhw.hrsa.gov/grants/diversity/hcop.html https://hrsaseminar.adobeconnect.com/hcop_nofo/

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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 Justification Narrative

v. Attachments

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

SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

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 AND OTHER PRE-AWARD ACTIVITIES

4. ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT AND AWARD DATES

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. AWARD NOTICES

2. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

3. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

IX. TIPS FOR WRITING A STRONG APPLICATION

HRSA-18-007 1

I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice solicits applications for the National HCOP Academies.

Program Purpose This notice solicits applications for the FY 2018 Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) hereinafter referred to as the “National HCOP Academies.”

The purpose of this grant program is to assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter a health profession through the development of academies that will support and guide them through the educational pipeline. Based on Section 739 of the Public Health Service Act, academies are expected to focus on: 1) promoting the recruitment of qualified individuals from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds into health professions, including allied health programs; 2) improving retention, matriculation and graduation rates by implementing tailored enrichment programs designed to address the academic and social needs of economically or educationally disadvantaged students; and 3) providing opportunities for community-based health professions training in primary care settings, emphasizing experiences in rural and underserved communities.

The National HCOP Academies will focus on three key milestones of education: 1) high school graduation, and matriculation into a two or four-year college/university (including allied health professions programs); 2) graduation from a two-year or four-year college/university (including allied health professions programs); and 3) matriculation into graduate-level health professions programs, retention and completion of a graduate-level health professions or allied health professions program (e.g., post-baccalaureate programs).

Program Requirements The National HCOP Academies provide a variety of academic and social supports to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds through formal academic and research training, programming, and student enhancement or support services. The National HCOP Academies recipients will provide counseling and mentoring services to assist students in successfully completing their education and training, student stipends, financial planning resources, and health care careers and training information.

Financial planning resources may also be provided to the parents/guardians of the students.

This program’s goal is to lead to matriculation into the applicant or partner organization’s 2- or 4-year college/university, health or allied health professions school or employment in primary care settings in rural and underserved communities.

Recipients must develop an HCOP Academy in coordination with partner high schools, technical and vocational training programs, and/or colleges and universities. Applicants must have articulation agreements in place within their own institution and/or with partner institutions allowing for students’ matriculation to the next level of the education

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pipeline (e.g., 2- or 4-year college, university, or a graduate level health or allied health professions program) as described in the three key milestones referenced above.

The National HCOP Academies recipients should design activities to support students through degree completion and into employment in a primary care setting in a rural area and/or medically underserved community.

Applicants should propose activities to meet all nine statutorily authorized activities outlined below.

1) Recruitment: Identify, recruit, and select individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, as defined below, for education and training in a health professions;

2) Facilitating Entry: Facilitate the entry of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds into health or allied health professions schools;

3) Counseling, Mentoring and other Services: Provide counseling, mentoring or other services (including retention activities) designed to assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully complete their education at a health professions school;

4) Preliminary Education and Health Research Training: Provide preliminary education and health research training designed to assist students to successfully complete regular courses of education at health professions schools, or refer individuals to institutions providing such preliminary education.

This must be completed prior to the entry of individuals into the regular course of education at a school, including graduate programs in behavioral or mental health.

5) Financial Aid Information Dissemination: Publicize existing sources of financial aid available to students in the education program at such a school or those who are undertaking training necessary to qualify them to enroll in such a program;

6) Primary Care Exposure Activities: Carry out programs under which individuals gain experience regarding a career in a field of primary health care through working at facilities of public or private non-profit community-based providers of primary health services;

7) Develop a More Competitive Applicant Pool: Conduct activities to develop a larger and more competitive applicant pool through partnerships with institutions of higher education, school districts, and other community-based entities; and

8) Stipends: Provide stipends to individuals for general living expenses to help defray students’ cost(s) for any period of health professions education at a health professions school; not to exceed twelve months.

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9) Scholarships: Provide scholarship support to individuals to cover tuition, fees, books, and other related educational expenses for any period of health professions education at a health professions school, not to exceed $10,000 in an academic year. Awards should be disbursed at the beginning of each period within the academic year (e.g., semester, quarter, term). A student can receive both a scholarship and a stipend as long as the scholarship award limitation is not exceeded and the awards do not cover the same expenses.

In support of these nine authorized activities, HRSA is requiring that proposed projects include the following structured programs and may include unstructured activities under certain constraints (see below).

An Unstructured Activity is generally a stand‐alone single training activity that is not part of a designed curriculum or set of activities. HRSA strongly encourages applicants to use only up to 15 percent of their total budget toward unstructured activities and/or health care exposure activities.

A Structured Program is a formal student enhancement program of a specified length with a specially designed curriculum or set of activities in which designated National HCOP Academies’ students participate to enhance their academic performance. All structured programs should include:

• Stipend payments (defined above)

• Curricula that includes but is not limited to:

o Preliminary education and health research trainings, such as standardized test preparatory training, study skills trainings, math and science enrichment courses; and o Health Research Training on current and emerging issues, including as applicable, opioid abuse, mental health, and childhood obesity.

• Specialized Training in:

o primary care, community-based settings; and o rural and medically underserved communities.

Below are the six criteria which are eligible for the National HCOP Academies. The first criteria listed below, the HCOP National Ambassador Program, is required for all grantees. Criteria 2-6 provide examples of potential structured programs and each grantee should also include at least one structured program from this list in their application:

1. HCOP National Ambassador Program: The HCOP National Ambassador Program is a longitudinal, integrated curriculum-based program designed to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds with matriculating through the educational pipeline. Structured learning activities should be designed to ensure that students meet the admissions requirements for the next level of the educational pipeline trajectory. The ultimate goal of the HCOP Ambassador Program is to have students receive a health professions or allied health professions degree from the applicant’s college/university or partnering

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institutions. In addition to focusing on the statutorily authorized activities, the curriculum should integrate educational activities, such as trainings and research projects in the clinical areas of opioid abuse, and mental and behavioral health.1 The HCOP National Ambassador Program must include a formal application process with defined eligibility criteria. At a minimum, each grantee must establish a cohort of at least 25 students from disadvantaged backgrounds to matriculate through completion or graduation from a health professions degree or certificate program. This program is required for all National HCOP Academies.

At a minimum, all National HCOP Academies should also include at least one of the following structured programs.

2. HCOP Summer Program: A designed curriculum or set of activities for a minimum of 25 students from a designated educational level that provides six

(6) hours of structured learning activities per day for a minimum of six weeks.

3. HCOP Saturday Academy: A designed curriculum or set of activities for a minimum of 25 students per educational level (see Program Definition) that provides six (6) hours of structured learning activities per day for a minimum of 20 weeks.

4. HCOP Pre-matriculation Program: A designed curriculum or set of activities for a minimum of 10 students per educational level (see Program Definition) that provides six (6) hours of structured learning activities per day for a minimum of four weeks.

5. HCOP Post-baccalaureate Program: A comprehensive program for a minimum of five (5) students for health professions school and/or allied health programs.

The student must have an undergraduate degree with a science focus, and a conditional acceptance to a health professions school.

6. HCOP Adult/Non-Traditional Students (including Veterans): A comprehensive program for a minimum of ten (10) students that provides educational opportunities to adults interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

The curriculum is designed to provide flexible academic schedules and a variety of academic and social support services specifically tailored to working adults and parents.

Applicants are required to select three or more of the following populations to target a group of students from disadvantaged backgrounds through the HCOP National

1 Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.448, to ensure that the Federal investment of HRSA funds has as broad an impact as possible and to encourage innovation in the development of new learning materials, the Federal Government reserves a paid-up, nonexclusive and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use, and to authorize others to use for Federal purposes.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=6f7fcfd64843c1252a9460c55a940bb2&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1448&rgn=div8

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Ambassadors Program. In addition, applicants will select a target group to participate in one or more of the other structured programs listed above (2-6):

Strategic Partnership Activities:

Effective partnerships that engage key stakeholders (e.g., federal, state, local, and national organizations) are important to implementing, advancing, and sustaining the work of the National HCOP Academies. Partners help to ensure the relevancy, coordination, and timeliness of the education and training provided.

Applicants are encouraged to establish strategic partnerships with organizations that align with the National HCOP Academies’ goal to maximize the impact and outcomes.

Such partnering organizations may include:

a) High Schools – Partnerships with high schools that meet one or more of the following criteria in order to increase recruitment and retention of individuals from disadvantaged background as defined by:

• Low percentage of seniors receiving a high school diploma;

• Low percentage of graduates who go to college during the first year after graduation;

• Low per capita funding; and

• High percentage of the enrolled students is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

Target Populations and Education Objectives Rising high school juniors/seniors – Identify, recruit and prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds to competitively enter and complete a 2- or 4-year accredited college or university.

Adult/non-traditional learners (including veterans) – Provide academic and social support to adult/non-traditional students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and provide training to prepare students for competitive entry into and graduation from the applicant’s institution or an accredited allied health or health professions school.

Allied health professions degree students – Provide academic and social support to retain and assist students, including first-generation college students from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled in 2-year programs to graduate with an associate’s degree and/or transfer to a 4-year institution. This includes two-year allied health programs serving as career ladders to doctoral and other graduate health professions degrees.

Undergraduate students – Provide academic and social support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and provide training to prepare for competitive entry into the applicant’s institution or an accredited health professions school.

Health professions degree students – Provide academic and social support to health professions students, including first-generation college students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and provide training in rural and underserved communities in order to facilitate timely completion and graduation of a health professions degree.

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b) Post-secondary Institutions – Partnerships between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities to recruit and retain a competitive applicant pool of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who desire to pursue health professions careers; including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions in the state and region to facilitate recruitment and retention of students from disadvantaged backgrounds into health professions programs.

c) State or Community-based Organizations – Partnerships with state and/or community-based organization to assist in addressing the social needs of the students enrolled in the structured programs.

d) State-level Entities – Partnerships with entities such as State Workforce Agencies and State and Local entities, Primary Care Associations, Primary Care Organizations, State Offices of Rural Health, State Minority Health Contacts, and State Education Agencies in order to support clinical rotations.

e) Community-based Health Care Entities – Partnerships with entities such as

Health Care Safety Net Sites (e.g., Federally-Qualified Health Centers and Look- Alikes, including school-based health centers, migrant health centers, health care for the homeless centers, and public housing primary care centers), Native Hawaiian Health Centers, outpatient health clinics associated with tribal or Urban Indian Health Organizations, and Rural Health Clinics to support health professions training.

f) Other Institutions of Higher Education Programs – Partnerships with pipeline programs such as Federal TRIO Programs, including Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, Talent Search Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, and Promising Neighborhoods for recruitment and health careers exposure activities, particularly those focused on individuals who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Additional requirements for applicants include the following:

a) Implement Evidence-Based Recruitment and Outreach Strategies

• Increase retention and program impact through the promotion of enhanced counseling and mentoring strategies Designated .5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) for student case manager

b) Disseminate Findings and Share Program Results

• Increased emphasis on dissemination of program successes to raise the profile of the National HCOP Academies Publications and Presentations at National and Regional Conferences

c) Improve Data Collection and Tracking Measures

• Use cutting-edge technology and promising practices to enhance tracking and standardized data collection tools

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• Designated .5 FTE for data manager

Preference The National HCOP Academies statutory authority includes a Funding Preference2 for applicants that utilize a Comprehensive Approach that will promote development of a culturally competent workforce that will serve the unserved and underserved in a given geographic area – an organizational model involving partnerships between several public or nonprofit private health or educational entities to establish, enhance and expand educational programs that result in the development of a competitive applicant pool of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who desire to pursue health professions careers.

2. Background

First authorized in 1972, HCOP provides grants to eligible accredited health professions schools and public and private non-profit health or educational entities.

The Health Careers Opportunity Program herein after referred to as the National HCOP Academies is authorized in section 739 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293c). The focus of this authority is to assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake education to a health profession.

As the U.S. population continues to grow and expand, the need for a diverse, highly skilled, and sustainable workforce becomes increasingly important. Rapid shifts in population patterns and health care policies require a reconsideration of how populations from disadvantaged backgrounds access and receive high quality health care.

Due to the increased demand for qualified health care workers, it has become imperative to meet the need for advanced education and training beyond high school.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the health care industry is projected to increase 19 percent3 through 2024, compared to an average of 6.5 percent4 for all other industries. Specifically, health care practitioners and technical occupations are expected to increase by 16.4 percent and health care support occupations by 23.0 percent.4 With respect to educational attainment, 35.0 percent of the job openings in health care will require at least a bachelor’s degree and an additional 30.0 percent will require some college or an associate’s degree.5

At an individual level, the effects of low educational attainment are significant. Median earnings for those with a bachelor’s degree can be more than 70 percent higher than those with a high school diploma.5 According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2014), individuals within the top family income quartile are 8 times more likely to obtain a

2 Title VII, Sec. 739(b) of the Public Health Service Act.

3 Data are from the Occupational Employment Statistics program, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, available at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm.

4 Data are from the Monthly Labor Review, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, available at https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2015/article/overview-of-projections-to-2024-1.htm.

5 Data are from the Occupational Employment Statistics program, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, available at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2015/article/overview-of-projections-to-2024-1.htm https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm

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bachelor’s degree by age 24 as compared to individuals from the lowest family income quartile and more than 81 percent of university graduates were from families in the top income distribution.6 Clearly, those in the lower income distributions are at a great disadvantage when it comes to attaining higher education. The disparity in educational attainment is more pronounced when considering advanced health professions degrees.

For example, of the Medical Doctor (MD) degrees conferred in 2015-2016, the distribution was as follows: African American/Black 5.5 percent; Hispanic 5.0 percent;

American Indian/Alaskan Native 0.2 percent; Asian 21.1 percent; Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander <0.1 percent; Whites 57.2 percent.7 The PharmD degrees in 2015-16 were comprised of African American/Black 7.3 percent; Hispanic

4.4 percent; Native Hawaiian 0.2 percent; American Indian/Alaskan Native 0.3 percent;

Whites 53.2 percent.8 Among dentists, approximately 9 percent of 195,722 dentists currently practicing in the United States are either African American, Hispanic or American Indian.9

II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Type(s) of applications sought: New

HRSA will provide funding in the form of a grant.

2. Summary of Funding

Approximately $12,794,000 is expected to be available annually to fund approximately twenty (20) awardees. Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $640,000 per year.

The period of performance is September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2023 (five years). Funding beyond the first year is dependent on the availability of appropriated funds for the Health Careers Opportunity Program in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory awardee performance, 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.

6 U.S. Census Bureau, available at https://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p20-566.pdf.

7 Association of American Medical College, Total Graduates by U.S. Medical School and Race and Ethnicity, 2015-16. The remaining race/ethnicity data from this source are as follows: Other: 1.4 percent;

Multiple race/ethnicity 7.2 percent; Unknown race/ethnicity 0.6 percent; non-U.S. citizen and non-permanent resident 1.9 percent.

8 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy 2015-16 Profile of Pharmacy Students, available at https://www.aacp.org/sites/default/files/2017-10/PPS_2016_Intro.pdf.

9 American Dental Association, 2015, available at ada.org as a spreadsheet via a search on the site; the spreadsheet does not have its own URL.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75 https://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p20-566.pdf

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Limitations on Indirect Costs: Indirect costs under training grants to organizations other than federally recognized Native American or American Indian tribes, state, or local governments will be budgeted and reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs rather than on the basis of a negotiated cost agreement, and are not subject to upward or downward adjustment. Direct cost amounts for equipment and capital expenditures, tuition and fees, and sub-awards and subcontracts in excess of $25,000 are excluded from the direct cost base for purposes of this calculation.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include accredited schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, public health, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied health, chiropractic, podiatric medicine, public and nonprofit private schools that offer graduate programs in behavioral and mental health, programs for the training of physician assistants, and other public or private nonprofit health or educational entities including community colleges, technical colleges and tribal colleges. Each applicant must specifically state its eligibility information in the project abstract. Nursing programs will not be funded through this funding opportunity.

Eligible entities must be located within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S.

Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Eligible Participants:

The National HCOP Academies will support individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, economically or educationally. These individuals must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or foreign nationals who possess a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to receive HCOP financial support through the program.

To establish an individual’s eligibility to participate in the program, applicants must verify that the individual is interested in pursuing a health profession and meets the initial eligibility criteria as outlined in the definition from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background.

Individuals are considered to be from an “economically disadvantaged” background if they come from a family with an annual income below a level based on low-income thresholds, according to family size established by the U.S. Census Bureau, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index, and adjusted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for use in all health professions programs. The Secretary updates these income levels in the Federal Register annually.

http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about_the_programs/2014_HHS_poverty_guidelines.pdf http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about_the_programs/2014_HHS_poverty_guidelines.pdf http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about_the_programs/2014_HHS_poverty_guidelines.pdf http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about_the_programs/2014_HHS_poverty_guidelines.pdf

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The Secretary defines a ‘‘low income family/household’’ for various health professions programs included in Titles III, VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act, as having an annual income that does not exceed 200 percent of the Department’s poverty guidelines. A family is a group of two or more individuals related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together. A household may be only one person.

Low Income Levels Based on the 2018 Poverty Guidelines Size of parents’ family* Income Level**

Contiguous

States and D.C.

Alaska Hawaii

1 $24,280 $30,360 $27,920 2 32,920 41,160 37,860 3 41,560 57,960 47,800 4 50,200 62,760 57,740 5 58,840 73,560 67,680 6 67,480 84,360 77,620 7 76,120 95,160 87,560 8 84,760 105,960 97,500

For each additional person, add

$8,640 $10,800 $9,940

* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms. Some programs will use the student’s family rather than his or her parents’ family.

** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2017.

SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 83, No. 29, February 12, 2018, pp.

6039-6040

If a student has not qualified as economically disadvantaged, applicants must indicate the basis used to determine that the student meets the educationally disadvantaged definition.

Individuals are considered to be from an “educationally disadvantaged” background if they come from a social, cultural, or educational environment that has demonstrably and directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a health professions education or training program.

The following are provided as guidelines for determining educationally disadvantaged background status. The National HCOP Academies’ participants should meet one or more of the following criteria to qualify under this category. It is the responsibility of each applicant to delineate clearly the criteria used

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to classify student participants as coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. The most recent annual data available the last four criteria below can be found on your state’s Department of Education website.

• The individual is the first-generation in his or her family to attend college.

• The individual graduated from (or last attended) a high school with low grade point average (2.0 cumulative on a 4.0 scale), based on most recent annual data available.

• The individual graduated from (or last attended) a high school that—based on the most recent annual data available— had either a:

• Low percentage of seniors receiving a high school diploma; or

• Low percentage of graduates who go to college during the first year after graduation.

• The individual graduated from (or last attended) a high school with low per capita funding.

• The individual graduated from (or last attended) a high school where—based on the most recent annual data available— many of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

Cost sharing/matching is not required for this program.

3. Other

Ceiling Amount Applications that exceed the ceiling amount of up to $640,000 will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement.

Deadline Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.4 will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement.

Maintenance of Effort (MoE) The recipient must agree to maintain non-federal funding for award activities at a level, which is not less than expenditures for such activities during the fiscal year prior to receiving the award, as required by section 797(b) of the Public Health Service Act.

Complete the MoE document and submit as Attachment 3.

Multiple Applications

Multiple applications from an institution are not allowable. Eligible applicants can submit only one application per campus; multiple applications from a single campus are not allowable. A campus is defined as a division of a university that has its own grounds, buildings (e.g. school of medicine, school of pharmacy) and faculty.

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If for any reason (including submitting to the wrong funding opportunity number or making corrections/updates) an application is submitted more than once prior to the application due date, HRSA will only accept your last validated electronic submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, prior to the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application.

Failure to include all required documents as part of the application may result in an application being considered incomplete or non-responsive.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

HRSA requires you to apply electronically through Grants.gov. You must use the SF- 424 Research and Related (R&R) application package associated with this NOFO following the directions provided at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

Effective December 31, 2017 - You must use the Grants.gov Workspace to complete the workspace forms and submit your application workspace package. After this date, you will no longer be able to use PDF Application Packages.

HRSA recommends that you supply an email address to Grants.gov on the grant opportunity synopsis page and when accessing the NOFO (also known as “instructions” on Grants.gov) or application package. This allows Grants.gov to email organizations that supply an email address in the event the NOFO is changed and/or republished on Grants.gov before its closing date. Responding to an earlier version of a modified notice may result in a less competitive or ineligible application. Please note, you are ultimately responsible for reviewing the Find Grant Opportunities page for all information relevant to desired opportunities.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Section 4 of HRSA’s SF-424 R&R Application Guide provides instructions for the budget, budget justification, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, and abstract. You must submit the information outlined in the SF-424 R&R 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 R&R Application Guide except where instructed in the NOFO to do otherwise.

Applications must be submitted in the English language and must be in terms of U.S.

dollars (45 CFR § 75.111(a)).

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

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html http://www.grants.gov/search-grants.html http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf

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Application Page Limit The total size of all uploaded files may not exceed the equivalent of 70 pages when printed by HRSA. The page limit includes the abstract, project and budget narratives, attachments including biographical sketches (biosketches), and letters of commitment and support required in the HRSA’s SF-424 R&R Application Guide and this NOFO.

Standard OMB-approved forms that are included in the application package do NOT count in the page limitation. Biographical Sketches do count in the page limitation.

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) will not be counted in the page limit. We strongly urge you to take appropriate measures to ensure your application does not exceed the specified page limit.

Applications must be complete, within the specified page limit, and validated by Grants.gov under the correct funding opportunity number prior to the deadline to be considered under this notice.

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification

1) The prospective recipient certifies, by submission of this proposal, that neither it nor its principals is 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. 3321).

3) Where the prospective recipient is unable to attest to the statements in this certification, an explanation shall be included in Attachment 8 Other Relevant Documents.

See Section 4.1 viii of HRSA’s SF-424 R&R 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 R&R Application Guide (including the budget, budget justification, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, and abstract), please include the following:

i. Project Abstract See Section 4.1.ix of HRSA’s SF-424 R&R Application Guide.

The Abstract must include:

1. A statement verifying applicant’s eligibility;

2. A brief overview of the project as a whole;

3. Specific, measurable objectives that the project will accomplish;

4. The HHS Region10 in which the applicant is located;

10 More information on the HHS Regions is available at https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/regional-offices/index.html.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424rrguidev2.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/regional-offices/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/regional-offices/index.html

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5. Which of the clinical priorities (opioid abuse and mental and behavioral health) will be addressed by the project, if applicable;

6. How the proposed project for which funding is requested will be accomplished, i.e. the "who, what, when, where, why and how" of a project;

and

7. Request for statutory funding preference, “Comprehensive Approach” if applicable, and indicate in Attachment 4, how the requirement is met.

ii. Project Narrative

This section provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project. It should be succinct, self-explanatory and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

Successful applications will contain the information below. Please use the following section headers for the narrative:

PURPOSE AND NEED -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #1

Please provide a brief statement of the purpose of the proposed project. Applicants must include a discussion of the target population(s). The targeted health professions disciplines and workforce needs must also be described and documented in this section. This section should also define the geographic area (e.g., community, city, state, region, etc.) that will benefit from the proposed activities and current (within 3 years), well-cited data should be used whenever possible to support the information provided.

Describe the educational and social support needs of the individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds intended to be participants of the National HCOP Academies within the defined geographic area. Discuss any relevant gaps or barriers in the defined area, including unmet needs of the population and limitations of the current educational system and how the proposed project plans to ameliorate or overcome them.

As appropriate, this section should include but not be limited to a discussion of:

• The project’s purpose(s), identified needs and potential barriers to meeting those needs;

• Demographics of the student populations to be served; such as o Percentage of students on applicants campus receiving need-based financial aid (e.g. Pell Grant) o Percentage of students in partnering high school receiving free and reduced meals

• The academic performance and social support needs of the students in the targeted geographic service area and a description of the activities the institution provides to address these needs;

• Unemployment rates for the geographic service area;

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• The high school drop-out rates or General Education Diploma (GED) attainment rates in the targeted geographic area;

• The employment projections data for individuals with only a high school diploma or GED in the targeted geographic area;

• Indicate the targeted health professions disciplines of the proposed National HCOP Academy project and how these mirror the health professions workforce needs of the geographic area to be served;

• Indicate if the targeted geographic service area is a Medically Underserved Community and/or Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs);

• The demographics of health professionals in the targeted geographic service area;

• Three-year trend data in the number/percentage distribution of 1st year enrollment of students from disadvantaged and rural backgrounds in health or allied health programs, by discipline, as applicable;

• Three-year trend data in the number/percentage of first-generation to college students from disadvantaged backgrounds to graduate from applicant’s college, university or health or allied health programs;

• Three-year trend data in the number/percentage distribution of total school enrollment of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in health or allied health programs, as applicable;

• Three-year trend data on the on-time graduation rates for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as applicable;

• Identified barriers along the educational pipeline for students from disadvantaged and rural backgrounds; and

• How the proposed project will impact the identified barriers along the educational pipeline for students from disadvantaged and rural backgrounds.

RESPONSE TO PROGRAM PURPOSE -- This section includes three sub-sections

— (a) Work Plan; (b) Methodology/Approach; and (c) Resolution of Challenges—all of which correspond to Section V’s Review Criteria #2 (a), (b), and (c).

(a) WORK PLAN -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #2 (a)

Describe in detail the activities or steps for achieving each of the activities proposed during the entire project period. Use a timeline that includes each activity and identifies responsible staff. As appropriate, identify meaningful support and collaboration with key stakeholders (e.g., partnering institutions, schools districts, and community-based entities) in planning, designing and implementing all activities, including development of the application and, further, the extent to which these contributors reflect the populations and communities served. A sample work plan can be found at http://bhw.hrsa.gov/grants/technicalassistance/workplantemplate.docx..

The applicant should clearly explain how the proposed objectives and sub-objectives will be implemented. Objectives and sub-objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-framed. The objectives and sub-objectives should also address:

http://bhw.hrsa.gov/grants/technicalassistance/workplantemplate.docx http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/grants/technicalassistance/workplantemplate.docx

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A plan and strategy for:

• Recruitment and retention of a cohort of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds interested in health or allied health careers;

• The specific criteria to be used to identify, recruit and retain trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in the identified academic and social support activities;

• A plan for how your institution will develop and/or strengthen existing collaborations with all partners, including colleges and universities, school districts, and other community-based entities to enhance pathways for participant matriculation into undergraduate, health or allied health professions programs. (Applicants at the time of application must have a formal written articulation agreement in place with partner institutions.)

• A plan that outlines the development of the National HCOP Academy to meet requirements for admissions into:

▪ Applicant’s college and/or university

▪ Allied Health Programs in 2 or 4 year colleges/universities

▪ Undergraduate Programs at Applicant’s university or partner institutions

▪ Health Professions Programs at Applicant’s university or partner institutions

• A plan for how the proposed project will work with community-based partners, including linkages with institutions of higher learning, school districts, technical and vocational training programs, and other community-based and rural entities (such as Area Health Education Centers).

• A plan for how the proposed project will collaborate with other pipeline programs as listed in the “Strategic Partnership Activities” section.

• A plan to develop and/or expand learning experiences in underserved and rural communities.

• A plan to develop structured program activities for the National HCOP Academy Ambassadors that includes curriculum development, training, and research projects that focus on the clinical areas of opioid abuse, and mental and behavioral health.

You must also propose a plan for project sustainability after the period of federal funding ends. Recipients are expected to sustain key elements of their projects (e.g., strategies or services and interventions), which have been effective in improving practices and those that have led to improved outcomes for the target population.

Your proposal should include a dissemination strategy.