PA-FPR-26-001 Title X Research NOFO_Final.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Population Affairs

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Title X Family Planning Research Grants

Opportunity Number

PA-FPR-26-001

Application Due Date

July 17, 2026

Technical Assistance Webinar Date

June 24, 2026

Table of Contents

SUMMARY

A. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Application Responsiveness Criteria

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Background

a. Expectations for Recipients

2. Federal Involvement in the Project

3. Eligibility criteria for project participants

C. AWARD INFORMATION

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

1.Format of the Application

2. Content

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DATES

1. Obtaining an Application Package

2. Required Registrations

3. Submission Instructions

4. Other Submission Requirements

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Responsiveness Review

2. Merit Review Criteria

3. Merit Review and Selection Process

4. Review of Risk Posed by Applicant

G. AWARD NOTICES

H. AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

2. Program Specific Terms and Conditions

3. Award Closeout

4. Lobbying Prohibitions

5. Non-Discrimination Requirements

6. Smoke- and Tobacco-free Workplace

7. Acknowledgement of Funding

8. HHS Rights to Materials and Data

9. Trafficking in Persons

10. Efficient Spending

11. Whistleblower Protection

12. Health Information Technology (IT) Interoperability

13. Certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment

14. Human Subjects Protection

15. Research Integrity

16. Reporting

I. CONTACTS

J. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Checklist

2. Acronyms

3. Glossary

4. Object Class Descriptions and Required Justifications

5. Considerations in Recipient Plans for Oversight of Federal Funds

6. Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations

7. Protections for Healthcare Entities under Weldon and Other Conscience Protection Statutes

BASIC INFORMATION

Opportunity Title

Title X Family Planning Research Grants

Program Office

Office of Population Affairs Application Submission and Format

Electronic application submitted via Grants.gov

ONLY. Opportunity Number

PA-FPR-26-001

Award Type

Grant

Application Deadline

7/17/2026

Announcement Type

Initial

Technical Assistance Webinar Date

6/24/2026

Assistance Listing

93.974 -Family Planning Service

Delivery Improvement Research

Grants

Technical Assistance Webinar Details visit the OPA website at https://opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/funding-opportunities for details

Eligible Applicants (see Section A.1 for full details)

Executive Order 12372 does apply to this NOFO (see section E.3.D)

Estimated Total Funding Available

$7.9 million

Estimated Period of Performance (months)

24 to 36 months

Estimated Number of Awards

Anticipated Award Date

9/30/2026

Anticipated Award Funding Range

$200,000 - $500,000

Anticipated Project Start Date

9/30/2026

QUESTIONS?

Additional contact information in Section I https://opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/funding-opportunities https://opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/funding-opportunities

SUMMARY

The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) announces the anticipated availability of funds for

Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 grants under the authority of Title X of the Public Health Service

Act (42 U.S.C. 300 et seq.).

This notice solicits applications for projects to conduct research or analyses that would make significant contributions to the mission of OPA and to the family planning fields.

OPA will consider research projects that explore questions that aim to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of Title X family planning services. OPA intends to make available approximately $7.9 million for an estimated 10 grant awards for a period of up to three (3) years. The actual amount available will not be determined until enactment of the FY 2027 federal budget.

Family Planning Service Delivery Improvement Research Grants program (Assistance

Listing 93.974) is authorized under the authority of Title X of the Public Health Service

Act, Section 1004 (42 U.S.C. 300a-2). This section authorizes the Secretary of Health and

Human Services to award grants to entities for research on issues of interest to the family planning field, including “research in the biomedical” and “program implementation fields related to family planning and population.”

While the research may benefit others in the family planning field, there should still be a link between research projects authorized under Title X and the ultimate benefit to Title

X projects and beneficiaries.

OPA is especially interested in Title X research projects that explore one or more of the following priority topics to improve service delivery:

• Assessing, expanding, and enhancing root-cause infertility services offered within

Title X settings.

• Assessing, expanding, and enhancing services focused on improving preconception health to help clients achieve pregnancy within Title X settings.

• Strategies for Title X clinics to address chronic disease risk factors that affect reproductive health, fertility, and healthy pregnancies within Title X settings, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, metabolic health, and environmental exposures.

• Assessing, expanding, and enhancing approaches to reduce delayed diagnosis and improve identification, counseling, referral, and management of reproductive health conditions affecting fertility within Title X settings, including endometriosis, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), thyroid https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/title-x-statute-attachment-a_0.pdf dysfunction, other chronic health conditions, and male-factor infertility conditions.

• Exploring the cost drivers behind the rising cost of services per client across the

Title X network and strategies to reduce costs.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Grants and Acquisitions Management

Division (GAM) will administer this competition.

We encourage you to review all program requirements, eligibility information, application format and submission instructions, OASH Priorities, and other content of this notice to ensure your application complies with all requirements.

A. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Any public or private nonprofit entity is eligible to apply.

You must meet all of the eligibility requirements in order for us to review your application.

a. Eligible Entities

Additional examples of eligible organizations include:

Any public or private nonprofit entity located in a State (which includes one of the 50

United States, District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the

Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Outlaying

Islands (Midway, Wake, et al.), the Marshall Islands, the Federated State of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau (hereafter, States)) is eligible to apply for a grant under this announcement. Faith-based organizations and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native

American (AI/AN/NA) organizations are eligible to apply. Examples of eligible

Organizations include:

• State Governments

• U.S. territories

• County Governments

• City or township governments

• Special district governments

• Independent school districts

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

• Public Housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)

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

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

• Non-profit private institutions of higher education

b. PD/PI Eligibility

There is no restriction on an individual’s eligibility to be Project Director (PD)/Principal

Investigator (PI) on an application. However, we will not make an award with a PD/PI who has an active government-wide exclusion, suspension, or debarment recorded in SAM.gov.

We expect that throughout the period of performance the PD/PI will be involved in, and have substantial knowledge about, all aspects of the project. Although your organization may recognize co-PD/PIs on team-managed projects, we recognize only a single PD/PI who will be responsible for the programmatic aspects of the project.

c. Other Considerations

Submitting Multiple Applications

You may submit more than one application, but each application must be for a distinctly different project.

If you submit multiple applications for the same project, we will accept only the last application submitted a Grants.gov timestamp that is before the due date and time. We will disqualify all other versions of the application. See Section F.1.b for all disqualification factors.

Submitting an Application as a Group or Consortium

For any given project, we will only make an award to a single eligible entity. More than one entity may choose to work together on a project under this opportunity, but only one entity may submit the application. If awarded, that entity will be the award recipient and will be responsible for conducting the project.

The other entities may participate in the project, if awarded, and would be responsible to the recipient for their respective roles, typically as subrecipients.

Groups may form a consortium, partnership, or other legally recognized entity for the purpose of applying for this opportunity and carrying out any awarded project. The resulting entity must exist and be legally recognized when it applies and must have an active registration in SAM.gov.

We will conduct a risk assessment on the applying entity (Section F.4) prior to making any award.

Eligibility Documentation

We do not require you to submit documentation of your eligibility (e.g., proof of 501(c)(3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service or an authorizing tribal resolution) when you submit your application. It is important that your organization is correctly classified in your

SAM registration (Section E.2.a).

During our review of your application, we might request additional documentation to support your eligibility. This request means only that your application is under review and not that you will receive an award.

More specific information on the type of documentation that we might request specific to this opportunity appears in Section E.4.b.

Application Disqualification

We will disqualify applications that fail to meet the eligibility, responsiveness, formatting, and submission requirements (Sections F.1.b) prior to conducting merit review. Disqualified applications will not undergo further review.

We will notify disqualified applicants at the end of the competition when we announce the award recipients.

2. Application Responsiveness Criteria

We will review your application to determine whether it meets the responsiveness criteria below.

If your application does not meet the responsiveness criteria, we will disqualify it from the competition; we will not review it beyond the initial screening.

The responsiveness criteria are as follows:

• Not applicable

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

You are not required to provide cost sharing or matching in your proposed budget.

B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Office of Population Affairs

(OPA) announces the anticipated availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 grants under the authority of Title X of the Public Health Service Act, Section 1004 (42 U.S.C.

300a-2). The section authorizes funding for research on issues of interest to the family planning field, including “research in the biomedical” and “program implementation fields related to family planning and population.”

The primary focus of OASH is to lead Americans toward healthier lives by promoting health and well-being across the lifespan. This includes the reproductive lifespan, supported through innovative, evidence-based programs, services, partnerships, and research that strengthens family formation and promotes healthy pregnancies. OPA advances reproductive health outcomes and adolescent health and well-being by supporting high-quality clinical services, evidence-based and innovative programs, and rigorous research and evaluation. OPA advises the Secretary of

HHS and the Assistant Secretary for Health on a wide range of topics, including adolescent health, family planning, and other population issues.

Grants funded through this NOFO will conduct research projects or analyses that explore questions that aim to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of Title X family planning services.

Required Alignment with OASH Mission and Agency Priorities

Consistent with OASH’s mission, in carrying out any project that is funded under this NOFO, recipients must align program design and activities with agency priorities where consistent with program authority and the scope of the award (Priorities of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health,” available online at: https://health.gov/priorities), and when authorized by law according to the Title X statute, regulations, legislative mandates, and additional program guidance. Funded activities must advance and support OASH’s mission to improve the health and well-being of Americans.

In addition, the recipient is required to administer any project that is awarded under this NOFO in accordance with the following objectives in the Title X program that are authorized to advance them:

1. Promote body literacy education for making informed and healthy decisions that advance optimal health

2. Advance reproductive goals counseling

The recipients must demonstrate ongoing compliance with these priorities, in all programs that are authorized to advance them, through program design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation. Failure to meaningfully align funded activities with the applicable requirements may result in corrective action, additional reporting requirements, or other actions consistent with federal grant regulations found at 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and the terms and conditions of this award (including termination pursuant to 2 C.F.R. 200.340(a)(4) for no longer effectuating program goals or agency priorities).

1. Background

Title X Family Planning Program

Established in 1970, the Title X Family Planning Program is the only domestic federal program dedicated solely to family planning and related preventive health services. Title X services are guided by the requirements of the Title X statute, regulations, and legislative mandates are detailed in the Title X Program Handbook: https://www.opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants. Current Title X service priorities are also described in the FY2027 NOFO here:

https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/770eae58-b245-4431-a4b8-https://health.gov/priorities https://www.opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants https://www.opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/770eae58-b245-4431-a4b8-7b1aca9e917f/attachments/5e3ac609-8998-466a-a8b6-c3d7d49a2e6c/2027_Title_X_Services_NOFO_PA-FPH-27-001_PDF.pdf

7b1aca9e917f/attachments/5e3ac609-8998-466a-a8b6-c3d7d49a2e6c/2027_Title_X_Services_NOFO_PA-FPH-27-001_PDF.pdf

Title X is implemented through competitively awarded grants to a network of public and private nonprofit health and community-based clinics. The Title X network consists of more than 80

Title X service grant recipients and their approximately 1,600 sub-recipients who operate more than 3,800 service sites every year. To learn more about the Title X program, please visit the

OPA website https://www.opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants.

All Title X service grant recipients are required to submit Family Planning Annual Report

(FPAR) data for each calendar year they receive funding. FPAR data are used in a variety of ways, including for monitoring performance and compliance with statutory requirements, fulfilling federal accountability and performance reporting requirements, guiding strategic and financial planning, and estimating the impact of Title X on reproductive health outcomes. More information on FPAR data can be found at https://opa.hhs.gov/research-evaluation/title-x-services-research/family-planning-annual-report-fpar, including the last published summary report. Only national and state level aggregate data is available for secondary data analysis through a Data Use Agreement (DUA) with OPA. Applicants wishing to work with individual grantee-level data will need to work separately with the respective Title X grant recipients to procure that data. Some other federal sources of data on reproductive health are listed below.

Again, applicants will have to secure permission/access to this data on their own.

• The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) gathers national information on issues including pregnancy and births, marriage, infertility, family life, and general and reproductive health. See their website for more information

(https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/).

• The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collects state data about US residents regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, health-care access, and use of preventive services. See their website for more information

(https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/).

• Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is an ongoing, site-specific, and population-based surveillance system. PRAMS is designed to identify groups of women and infants at high risk for health problems, to monitor changes in health status, and to measure progress towards goals in improving the health of mothers and infants.

See their website for more information (https://www.cdc.gov/prams/).

a. Expectations for Recipients

OPA will consider research projects or analyses that explore questions that aim to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of Title X family planning services, especially as described in the priority topics below. These grants are for projects that can be conducted within two to three years. Subject to availability of funding, the awards will be funded through the Family

Planning Service Delivery Improvement Research Grants Program (93.974).

The Family Planning Service Delivery Improvement Research Grants Program (93.974) is authorized under the authority of Title X of the Public Health Service Act, Section

1004 (42 U.S.C. 300a-2), which is for research on issues of interest to the family https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/770eae58-b245-4431-a4b8-7b1aca9e917f/attachments/5e3ac609-8998-466a-a8b6-c3d7d49a2e6c/2027_Title_X_Services_NOFO_PA-FPH-27-001_PDF.pdf https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/770eae58-b245-4431-a4b8-7b1aca9e917f/attachments/5e3ac609-8998-466a-a8b6-c3d7d49a2e6c/2027_Title_X_Services_NOFO_PA-FPH-27-001_PDF.pdf https://www.opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants https://opa.hhs.gov/research-evaluation/title-x-services-research/family-planning-annual-report-fpar https://opa.hhs.gov/research-evaluation/title-x-services-research/family-planning-annual-report-fpar https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/ https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/ https://www.cdc.gov/prams/ planning field, including “research in the biomedical” and “program implementation fields related to family planning and population.”

OPA is especially interested in Title X research projects that explore one or more of the following priority topics:

• Assessing, expanding, and enhancing root-cause infertility services offered within

Title X settings.

• Assessing, expanding, and enhancing services focused on improving preconception health to help clients achieve pregnancy within Title X settings.

• Strategies for Title X clinics to address chronic disease risk factors that affect reproductive health, fertility, and healthy pregnancies within Title X settings, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, metabolic health, and environmental exposures.

• Assessing, expanding, and enhancing approaches to reduce delayed diagnosis and improve identification, counseling, referral, and management of reproductive health conditions affecting fertility within Title X settings, including endometriosis, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), thyroid dysfunction, other chronic health conditions, and male-factor infertility conditions.

• Exploring the cost drivers behind the rising cost of services per client across the

Title X network and strategies to reduce costs.

Recipients are expected to propose research projects that can be completed within 3 years. Proposed methodology is expected to be feasible within a 3-year project period.

Any proposals for secondary data analysis need to clearly describe the data source that will be used and confirm that the data are available and accessible to the recipient during the project period. Recipients are required to obtain and document any necessary permissions to collect these data. Documentation may include written formal agreements with partners (e.g., MOUs), consent forms from clients, citation to state law, etc. to collect these data. Recipients may be required to provide the supporting documentation for review, on request. There are no exceptions or waivers for this requirement.

2. Federal Involvement in the Project

If you receive an award, we will encourage you to seek the advice and opinion of federal staff when problems arise. However, you would be responsible for making sound programmatic and administrative judgments. The responsibility for operating decisions will be yours and does not shift to HHS, OASH, or Office of Population Affairs.

Under a grant, the program office’s involvement may include routine monitoring and technical assistance such as monthly conference calls, occasional site visits, ongoing review of plans and progress, participation in relevant meetings, provision of training and technical assistance.

3. Eligibility criteria for project participants

You must not restrict participation in the project on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, or another protected characteristic (See Section H.5).

C. AWARD INFORMATION

Budget period(s)

We expect to fund awards in 12-month budget periods for a total period of performance up to 36 month(s). However, we may approve shorter periods of performance. Budget periods may vary from the estimated 12 months because of the timing of award issuance or other administrative factors.

For multi-year projects, recipients must submit a non-competing continuation (NCC) application for each budget period after the first. We will provide guidance generally 3 months prior to the end of the active budget period. Continuation funding is contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, appropriate stewardship of federal funds, and the best interests of the government. Funding for all approved budget periods after the first is generally the same as the initial award amount and may be subject to any offset with funds unused in a previous budget period.

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

1.Format of the Application

You must prepare your application using the forms and information described in this NOFO.

The official online application package on Grants.gov contains all necessary forms and guidance for preparing an application. This package includes but is not limited to:

• Full Text of the NOFO

• Standard forms (required) and their instructions o SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance o SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs o SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities o Project Abstract Summary

• Sample templates, if available.

In addition to the four standard forms in the application package, your application will consist of

3 sections of materials you prepare:

1. Project Narrative

2. Appendices to the Project Narrative

3. Budget Package.

We strongly encourage you to read all instructions for the application format and content to avoid disqualification of your application. An application checklist is available in Section J.1.

a. Project Narrative – Formatting

Following the formatting instructions below will help ensure that your application is readable for review process. Acceptable electronic file formats are in Section E.3.a.

Names of Individuals

We encourage you to use individuals’ full names (first, middle, last) on the standard forms and any other documents such as résumés/curricula vitae/biographical sketches to distinguish them for verification in the SAM exclusion records. Delays may result in award processing if full names are not provided.

You should avoid submitting personally identifiable information such as personal contact information (e.g., home address and telephone number) on résumés/curricula vitae/biographical sketches. Do not submit social security numbers.

If you receive an award, only one Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) will be named on the award documents. (Section A.1.b) Avoid using a placeholder or honorary

PD/PI. If you have not hired an individual to be the PD/PI, you should name an interim

PD/PI, and your application should clearly identify that person as such.

We typically expect the PD/PI to be named on the SF-424 in box 8.f. Avoid naming grant writers in box 8.f unless they have the expertise to respond to technical questions about the proposed project in a timely manner.

Identify other personnel who are essential or key to the execution of the proposed project clearly in your project narrative.

If you receive an award, a request for a change in PD/PI or key personnel under any circumstance requires prior approval of the grants management officer before becoming effective. We may disallow any costs incurred as a result of that change prior to our approval. See Section H.1.c.

Page Formatting

If you submit documents that do not conform to the following instructions, GAM will disqualify your application during the review process (SectionF.1.b).

Use an easily readable typeface, such as Times New Roman or Arial.

Use a 12-point font.

Use an 8.5” X 11” page size. Any other size page (e.g., A4, legal) will disqualify your application.

You must double-space the Project Narrative pages or we will disqualify your application. You may single-space tables or use alternate fonts, but you must ensure the tables are easy to read.

Do not number pages or include a table of contents. Our grants management system will generate page numbers once your application is complete.

You must submit your application in the English language and in terms of U.S. dollars (2

C.F.R. § 200.111(a)).

Page Limits

Your project narrative and appendices must adhere to these page limits.

The page limits do not include the budget package (Section D.2.c)

The page limits do not include the required forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL, and the

Project Abstract Summary)

If your application exceeds the specified page limits when printed on 8.5” X 11” page, we will not review your application further.

We encourage you to print out your application before submitting it to ensure that it is within the page limits and is easy to read. Do not reduce pages to fit multiple pages on a single sheet to avoid exceeding the page limitation.

Do not hyperlink to documents or sites outside of your application to augment your application. Reviewers will not be permitted to follow links to external content during their assessment of your application. The one exception to this is a link to your internal controls as part of your budget package (Section D.2.c.3).

Page Limit

Project Narrative _____40____

Project Narrative plus Appendices ____80_____

Labeling Proprietary Information

Proprietary information includes patentable ideas, trade secrets, privileged or confidential commercial or financial information, the disclosure of which may harm the applicant.

You should include proprietary information in your application only to the extent that it is essential to the reviewers’ understanding of the project. Proprietary information should not appear in your Project Abstract Summary.

If your application contains proprietary information, you should clearly label the top of the first page of the project narrative. For example, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-B/section-200.111#p-200.111(a) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-B/section-200.111#p-200.111(a)

Contains proprietary or confidential information that [Your Organization Name] requests not be released to persons outside the government, except for purposes of review and evaluation.

Awarded applications are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act

(FOIA) with redactions as the FOIA statute permits.

b. Appendices to the Project Narrative – Formatting

Your appendices should include any specific items outlined in Section D.2.b. Your documents should be easy to read.

You should use the same formatting specified for the Project Narrative. However, documents such as résumés/curricula vitae/biographical sketches, organizational charts, tables, Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) or Letters of Commitment (LOCs) may have formatting common to those documents, so long as the pages are easy to read. For example, resumes, MOAs and LOCs may be single-spaced.

You must upload all of your appendices as a single, consolidated file in the Attachments section of your Grants.gov application. You must use an acceptable file format (Section E.3.a). We strongly encourage you to convert your file(s) to PDF format before uploading and review them to ensure accurate conversion.

Your Project Narrative plus the Appendices may not exceed the total number of pages for the application (Section D.1.a).

c. Budget Package - Formatting

The budget narrative should use the formatting required of the project narrative for the explanatory text. Budget tables may be single-spaced but should be laid out in an easily readable format and within the printable margins of an 8.5” x 11” page. You must use an acceptable file format (Section E.3.a). We do not accept Excel or other similar spreadsheet formats.

The application page limit does not include the SF-424A or the budget narrative (including budget tables).

We recommend you present budget amounts and computations in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, federal funds requested; third column, non-federal resources; and last column, total budget.

Object Class Federal Funds

Requested

Non-Federal

Resources Total Budget

Personnel $100,000 $25,000 $125,000

2. Content

a. Project Narrative - Content

The Project Narrative is the most important part of your application. We will use it as the primary basis to determine whether your project merits an award. The project narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. We recommend that your project narrative include the following components with the requested information. Labeling the sections accordingly will help the reviewers find information quickly. We recommend that your project narrative include the following components: 1) Project Significance; 2) Technical Approach;

3) Organizational Capability and Experience and 4) Project Management.

You must clearly describe the administrative, management, and clinical capability of the applicant organization and plans for delivering family planning services that meet the expectations outlined in the NOFO. You should include all services to be provided by the project as part of the program plan. Proposed projects must adhere to all requirements of the Title X statute; applicable regulations, including regulations regarding sterilization of persons in federally assisted family planning projects; and legislative mandates.

Successful proposals should include the following:

1) Project Significance

State the priority area(s) that your project is addressing in the first sentence of the abstract, as well as in the first paragraph of the project narrative. Explain the importance of the proposed project and how it will meaningfully improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of services for the target population and related stakeholders. Be sure to discuss the scientific merit of the project and how the project is aligned with OASH priorities (Section

B).

Describe your problem and solution

Explain the specific problem you're addressing and how your project will help solve it.

Include:

• What the problem is and why it matters

• How your project will address it

• Who will be affected (the people you serve and other stakeholders)

Focus on information directly relevant to your project:

• Key background and existing research

• Current situation

• Related policies

• Relevant agencies at national, state, and local levels

• Avoid broad historical overviews that don't directly connect to your work.

2) Technical Approach

Goals and Objectives

State your project's goal and main objectives. Unless your project is very complex, stick to one overall goal.

Methodology

Explain what you'll do and why. Include:

• Your planned activities and approach; and data sources, if proposing secondary data analysis

• Why you chose this method (Has it worked elsewhere? What does research show?)

• How your activities address the gaps you identified

• How your activities will achieve your goals

At a minimum, cover:

• Your research questions and hypotheses

• Why this methodology is the right fit

• Major barriers you expect and how you'll overcome them

• Specific products or outcomes you'll develop or modify

Measurable Outcomes

Identify clear, measurable outcomes for your project. HHS/OASH only funds projects with measurable outcomes.

What counts as a measurable outcome?

• An observable end result showing your project's impact, such as changes in:

o Mental well-being o Knowledge or skills o Attitudes or awareness o Behavior

What doesn't count as a measurable outcome?

• Outputs like number of clients served, training sessions held, or service units provided.

Note: Most projects should focus on achieving ONE outcome.

Explain how your project will benefit the broader field.

Evaluation Methods

Describe how you'll evaluate your project's success:

• What tools and techniques (quantitative and qualitative) you'll use to measure outcomes

• How you'll track and report results

• How you'll document lessons learned

3) Organizational Capacity and Expertise

Staff Experience

Describe the qualifications of your key staff including:

• Relevant research and evaluation experience

• Experience with similar projects or analyses

• Include references to resumes/CVs, an organizational chart, and time commitment for each person

If you need to hire staff after funding, explain your hiring process and timeline.

Staffing Plan

Show you have enough staff to complete the project, such as:

• Principal Investigator/Project Director

• Research assistants

• Statisticians

• Technical writers/editors

• Project coordinators

For each key person, note their qualifications, time commitments, and other ongoing projects. For positions not yet filled, describe the role and required qualifications.

Organizational Capability

Explain your organization’s ability to:

• Manage a project of this size and scope

• Combine and analyze datasets to answer your research questions

• Protect human subject data (if applicable)

Partners and Contractors

If other organizations or contractors will help implement the project, describe:

• Their role

• Their organizational structure

• How much work they'll contribute

4) Project Management

Roles and Responsibilities

Explain who does what and how they'll help achieve your objectives. Include brief qualifications for each role and specify who handles:

• Day-to-day project leadership

• Progress monitoring

• Report preparation

• Communications with partners and HHS/OASH

Progress Tracking

Describe how you'll monitor and track progress on tasks and objectives.

Principal Investigator/Project Director

Identify who will serve as PI/Project Director and their qualifications. This person must be actively involved in and knowledgeable about all aspects of the project throughout the entire award period.

Sharing Results/Dissemination

Explain how you'll share your findings in a timely, easy-to-understand way with:

• The population you serve

• Teen pregnancy prevention and public health researchers

• The general public

• Others who might use your results

HHS/OASH may publish your findings (including online). Describe creative ways you'll reach people who could use your results to improve practice, service delivery, or program development—especially those who might want to replicate your project.

You'll be expected to:

• Share findings nationwide

• Submit at least one abstract proposal to a family planning, public health research, or other relevant conference.

• Participate in potential annual meetings to discuss research approaches, methods, and findings

b. Appendices to the Project Narrative – Content

All items described in this section will count toward the total page limit of your application. You must submit them as a single electronic file uploaded to the Attachments section of your

Grants.gov application.

Samples and optional forms/templates for some of these items are located under the Related

Documents tab for this NOFO on Grants.gov.

Your application should include the following appendices:

1) Work Plan

Your work plan should reflect, and be consistent with, the Project Narrative and

Budget Narrative, and must cover all years of the period of performance. However, each year’s activities should be fully attainable in one budget year. You may propose multi-year activities, as well as activities that build upon each other, but each phase of the project must be discreet and attainable within a single budget year.

Your work plan should include a statement of the project’s overall goal, anticipated outcome(s), key objectives, and the major tasks, action steps, or products that will be pursued or developed to achieve the goal and outcome(s). For each major task of each year, action step, or product, your work plan should identify the timeframes involved (including start and end dates), and the lead person responsible for completing the task.

2) Letters of Commitment from Partners

You may include signed Letters of Commitment for the organizations that have been specifically named to carry out any aspects of the project. The signed letters of commitment should include the specific role and resources that will be provided (if any), or activities that will be undertaken, in support of the applicant. The entity’s expertise, experience, and access to the targeted population(s) should also be described in the letter of commitment. Applicants proposing to work with non-public data sources are required to submit a specific Letter of Commitment from the data owner detailing their responsibilities for the proposed project. Documentation may include written formal agreements with partners (e.g., MOUs), consent forms from clients, citation to state law, etc. to access these data. Recipients may be required to provide the supporting documentation for review, on request. There are no exceptions or waivers for this requirement.

Letters of commitment are not the same as letters of support. Letters of support are letters that are general in nature that speak to the writer’s belief in the capability of an applicant to accomplish a goal/task. Letters of support also may indicate an intent or interest to work together in the future, but they lack specificity. You should NOT provide letters of support, and letters of support such as this will not be considered during the review.

3) Curriculum Vitae/Resume for Key Project Personnel

You must submit with your application curriculum vitae and/or resumes of all key personnel. Key Personnel includes those individuals who will oversee the technical, professional, and managerial functions and/or assume responsibility for assuring the validity and quality of your organization’s program. This includes at a minimum the Project Director and Program

Manager/Coordinator. We encourage individuals to use their full name (first, middle, last) on these documents to distinguish them for verification in the System for Award Management exclusion records. Also, include with your application, position descriptions for key personnel positions that will need to be filled if funds are awarded.

4) Organizational Chart

You must submit a staff organization chart that includes all key personnel, project personnel, and any proposed subawards or collaborators. If subaward organizations or collaborators are part of the proposed project, the organization chart should make clear how they will interact with key personnel on the project.

c. Budget Package – Content

A complete budget package consists of the following required components:

• SF-424A “Budget Information Non-Construction Programs”

• Budget narrative with detailed justification by cost category/object class, and

• Plan for oversight of federal funds.

You should include supporting documentation for your budget (e.g., a copy of your approved indirect cost rate) as part of the budget package, not as part of your appendices to the project narrative. There is no page limit for the budget package contents. If you are recommended for an award, you may be asked to provide additional information about your budget package.

Throughout your budget package, “Federal resources” refers only to the funds you are requesting from the program office for this project. “Non-federal resources” are all other non-HHS/OASH federal and non-federal resources. Funds from federal grant programs typically are not eligible as cost share for other federal grants. It is your responsibility to confirm with other federal agencies whether funds you receive from them are eligible resources to apply to your proposed project.

1. Standard Form SF-424A

You must enter the project budget according to the directions provided with the standard form.

You must provide costs by object class category for the first 12 months (i.e., first budget period) of the proposed project using Section B, box 6 of SF-424A. If the estimated period of performance is 12 months or less, this will be your total budget request for the entire project.

"Federal resources" refers only to the funds for which you are applying under this NOFO. "Non-federal resources" are all other resources (federal and non-federal).

Do not include costs beyond the first budget period in the object class budget in box 6 of SF-

424A or box 18 of SF-424. The amounts entered in these sections should only reflect the first budget period.

If there is a discrepancy between your SF-424A and budget narrative and justification, we will rely on the narrative and justification to determine the final amounts.

2. Budget Narrative with Justification

Your budget narrative must include a detailed line-item budget and must include calculations for all costs and activities by the “object class categories” identified on SF-424A. You must provide a detailed justification for the costs by object class. The object class budget organizes your proposed costs into a set of defined categories.

Use the guidelines in Section J.4 for preparing the detailed object class budget.

Budget Periods

Your budget narrative must describe the first budget period in detail. For each proposed cost for the first budget period, provide a justification that includes explanatory text and line-item detail.

You should describe how you derived your categorical costs. Your justification should show the necessity and reasonableness of the proposed costs for the project.

For subsequent budget years in an anticipated multi-year period of performance, provide a summary narrative and line-item budget for each year beyond the first. For categories or items that differ significantly from the first budget period, provide a detailed justification explaining these changes.

Funding levels for all approved budget periods after the first are generally the same as the initial award amount and are subject to an offset with funds unused in the previous budget period.

Carryover of unobligated funds from one budget period to the next requires prior approval.

Determining Proposed Costs

Your budget narrative should justify the overall cost of the project as well as the proposed cost per activity, service delivered, and/or product. For example, the budget narrative should define the amount of work you have planned and expect to perform, what it will cost, and an explanation of how the result is cost effective. If you are proposing to provide services to clients, you should describe how many clients you expect to serve, the unit cost of serving each client, and how this is cost effective.

Proposed costs must adhere to the cost principles described in 2 C.F.R. §200.416. We have provided additional information on the most common cost categories for applications for OASH awards in Section J.4.

Budget calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient to verify the calculations. Carefully review Funding Restrictions

(below) for specific information regarding allowable, unallowable, and restricted costs.

Describing Federal and Non-federal Share

Both federal and non-federal resources (if applicable) must be detailed and justified in the budget narrative. “Federal resources” refers only to the HHS/OASH funds for which you are applying under this NOFO. “Non-federal resources” are all other non-HHS/OASH federal and non-federal resources.

If matching or cost sharing is required or offered voluntarily, you must include a detailed listing of any funding sources identified in box 18 of SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance).

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs for training are limited to a fixed rate of eight percent of the modified total direct costs (MTDC) exclusive of tuition and related fees, direct expenditures for equipment, and subawards in excess of $50,000 (2 C.F.R. § 200.414 (c)(1)).

Funding Restrictions

The following restrictions apply to costs you may propose and be awarded.

Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs are NOT allowed. Pre-award costs (2 C.F.R. § 200.458) are those incurred prior to the effective date of the Federal award directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the Federal award where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work.

Salary Rate Limitation

Each year’s appropriations act limits the salary rate that you may charge to the grants and cooperative agreements that we award. You must not use award funds to pay the salary of an individual at a rate in excess of Federal Executive Pay Scale Executive Level II.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd41a10959e1acab/section-200.416 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.458

As of January 2026, the Executive Level II maximum salary is $228,000. This amount reflects an individual’s base salary exclusive of fringe benefits and any income that an individual working on the award project may be permitted to earn outside of the duties to the applicant organization. This salary rate limitation also applies to subawards/subcontracts under an HHS/OASH award.

An example of the application of this limitation for an individual devoting 50% of their time to this award is broken down below:

Salary Rate Limitation

Individual’s actual base full-time salary $350,000 with 50% of time devoted to project, i.e., 0.5 FTE

Direct salary ($350,000 x 0.5) = $175,000

Fringe (25% of salary) = $43,750

Total = $218,750

Individual’s base full-time salary adjusted to Executive Level II:

$225,700 with 50% of time devoted to the project

Direct salary ($225,700 x 0.5) = $112,850

Fringe (25% of salary) = $28,212.50

Total amount allowed = $141,062.50

Appropriate salary rate limits will apply as required by law.

Vehicle Purchase

We will not approve a vehicle purchase at the time of award even when included in your application. You must obtain prior approval before the purchase of a mobile health unit or any other vehicle with award funds. A request for prior approval must include a detailed justification of the need for the vehicle that includes an analysis of comparing purchase, lease, and other alternatives. Equipment purchases are subject to transfer to another federal project or sale at the end of the period of performance (2 C.F.R. §

200.313(e)).

Construction Costs

We will not approve construction costs. This includes major improvements to or significant renovations of facilities.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.313#p-200.313(e) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.313#p-200.313(e)

Medical Services Costs

Costs of medical services are NOT allowed under this funding opportunity.

Medical services are clinical services provided in an outpatient clinic and or inpatient hospital setting by a licensed practitioner. In contrast, non-medical social and support services include community-based strategies that address social determinants of health

(SDOH). Trained individuals, such as community health workers (CHWs) or promotores/as de salud provide non-medical social and support services.

3. Plan for Recipient Oversight of Federal Award Funds

You must include a plan for oversight of federal award funds which describes:

• how your organization will provide oversight of federal funds and how award activities and partner(s) will adhere to applicable federal award and programmatic regulations.

Include identification of risks specific to your project as proposed and how your oversight plan addresses these risks.

• the organizational systems that demonstrate effective control over and accountability for federal funds and program income, compare outlays with budget amounts, and provide accounting records supported by source documentation.

• for any program incentives proposed, the specific internal controls that will be used to ensure only qualified participants will receive them and how they will be tracked.

• organizational controls that will ensure timely and accurate submission of Federal

Financial Reports to the OASH Grants and…