PKG00257625-instructions.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of Planning, Analysis and Evaluation Office of External Engagement

National Organizations of State and Local Officials:

Health Legislation and Governance

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-20-092 Funding Opportunity Type(s): New

Assistance Listings (CFDA) Number: 93.011

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2020

Application Due Date: April 10, 2020

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

HRSA will not approve deadline extensions for lack of registration.

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

Issuance Date: January 10, 2020

Carolyn Robbins Public Health Analyst, Office of External Engagement Telephone: (301) 443-2291 Email: crobbins@hrsa.gov

Authority: Section 311(a) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act mailto:kbrothers@hrsa.gov

HRSA-20-092 i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 National Organizations of State and Local Officials (NOSLO) Program: Health Legislation and Governance.

The purpose of this program is to assist states and local authorities in a) preserving and improving public health, b) building capacity to address other public health matters and support and enforce regulations intended to improve the public’s health, and c) preventing and suppressing communicable diseases.

To fulfill the program’s purpose, NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance has the following objectives: 1) facilitate bidirectional communication and data/information-sharing between HRSA and state officials, 2) strengthen HRSA-funded programs by better understanding state stakeholder needs, priorities, and perspectives, and 3) support capacity-building activities at the state level that strengthen the health care safety net and advance shared public health goals with HRSA.

Through NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance, HRSA will provide assistance to an organization that can build the capacity of the nation’s state legislators and legislative officials to learn from one another about public health and health care safety net-related best practices.

Funding Opportunity Title: National Organizations of State and Local

Officials: Health Legislation and Governance

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-20-092 Due Date for Applications: April 10, 2020 Anticipated Total Annual Available FY 2020 Funding:

$2,557,000 for NOSLO1, of which between $639,250 and $1,065,416 will be available for NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance

Estimated Number and Type of Award(s): One cooperative agreement Estimated Award Amount: Award amount range: $639,250 to

$1,065,416 per year Cost Sharing/Match Required: No Period of Performance: September 1, 2020 through

August 31, 2023 (3 years)

1 NOSLO is comprised of three FY2020 tracks: 1) HRSA-20-084 NOSLO: Public Health Capacity; 2) HRSA-20-092 NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance; and 3) HRSA-20-093 NOSLO: Health Care Payment and Financing. Total funding per track will be determined based on need and HRSA priorities.

HRSA-20-092 ii

Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include all domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities, including faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations.

See Section III.1 of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) 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 Application Guide, available online at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf, except where instructed in this NOFO to do otherwise.

Technical Assistance

HRSA has scheduled the following technical assistance:

Webinar

Day and Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2020 Time: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET Call-In Number: 1-877-921-2940 Participant Code: 4943790 Weblink: https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/nofo_ta/ Weblink to Recorded Webinar: https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/nofo_ta/ http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/nofo_ta/

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Table of Contents

I. PROGRAM FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

1. PURPOSE

2. BACKGROUND

II. AWARD INFORMATION

1. TYPE OF APPLICATION AND AWARD

2. SUMMARY OF FUNDING

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

2. COST SHARING/MATCHING

3. OTHER

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

i. Project Abstract

ii. Project Narrative

iii. Budget

iv. Budget Narrative

v. 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

7. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

8. ASSESSMENT OF RISK

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. AWARD NOTICES

2. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

3. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX A: NOSLO PROGRAM APPLICATION TRACKS

APPENDIX B: HRSA-20-092 NOSLO: HEALTH LEGISLATION AND GOVERNANCE TRACK

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

HRSA-20-092 1

I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the National Organizations of State and Local Officials (NOSLO) Program: Health Legislation and Governance.

The purpose of this program is to assist states and local authorities in a) preserving and improving public health, b) building capacity to address other public health matters and support and enforce regulations intended to improve the public’s health, and c) preventing and suppressing communicable diseases.

To fulfill the program’s purpose, NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance has the following objectives: 1) facilitate bidirectional communication and data/information-sharing between HRSA and state officials, 22) strengthen HRSA-funded programs by better understanding state stakeholder needs, priorities, and perspectives, and 3) support capacity-building activities at the state level that strengthen the health care safety net and advance shared public health goals with HRSA.2

The term “capacity-building” includes actions that build, strengthen, and maintain the necessary competencies and resources needed to sustain or improve health services delivery to vulnerable and underserved populations. Capacity-building activities supported through NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance include technical assistance and training; data collection, sharing, and analysis; materials development;

or other agreed-to actions that enable states to operate in a comprehensive, responsive, coordinated, and effective manner.

Through NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance, HRSA will provide assistance to an organization that can build the capacity of the nation’s state legislators and legislative officials to learn from one another about public health- and health care safety net-related best practices.

Core Activities

Focusing on three or four cross-agency priority initiatives each year, NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance will support implementation of the HRSA FY 2019-2022 Strategic Plan by addressing the following core activities:

2 From the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: “The health care safety net is commonly referred to but less frequently defined…. [W]e use the term to include health care providers that deliver care in a variety of settings to a diverse group of people. These providers include public hospitals, community health centers, local health departments, free clinics, special service providers, and in some cases, physician networks and school-based clinics that deliver care to low-income, vulnerable patients. Although many receive state and federal funding, safety nets are locally organized and managed, giving rise to a patchwork of systems with little coordination and integration. At the same time, they serve unique local needs and are attuned to the needs of the population they serve.” Hall, MA. 2012. “Health Care Safety Net Resources by States.” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2012/02/health-care-safety-net-resources-by-state.html.

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/about/strategic-plan/HRSA-strategic-plan-2019-2022.pdf https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/about/strategic-plan/HRSA-strategic-plan-2019-2022.pdf https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2012/02/health-care-safety-net-resources-by-state.html

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“Educate” Core Activities

A. Provide HRSA and public health stakeholders with policy analysis, research, and other relevant information related to state legislators’ and legislative officials’ needs and priority issues

B. Increase state legislators’ and legislative officials’ awareness of HRSA priorities, programs, initiatives, and resources to strengthen the health care safety net

“Innovate” Core Activities

A. Share state health care and public health best practices with HRSA and the public to inform HRSA-funded programs and public health stakeholders

B. Offer capacity-building assistance to state legislators and legislative officials to support and spread best practices that benefit populations3 served by HRSA and enhance the impact of HRSA-funded programs

“Situate” Core Activities

A. Provide HRSA with state context and feedback from state legislators and legislative officials on the state policy landscape and HRSA-funded program activities

B. Facilitate engagements between HRSA staff and state legislators and legislative officials to strengthen the health care safety net

HHS and HRSA Priorities

Applicants are encouraged to address HHS and HRSA priorities (as applicable) as they relate to state legislators and legislative officials.

2. Background

This program is authorized by Section 311(a) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.

Many public health and health care safety net decisions occur at the state and local levels but are affected by decisions made at the national level. An organization that has expertise and experience at both the national and state levels will be more likely to succeed when working in alignment with key state health policymakers. Therefore, highly qualified applicants include national organizations that a) support state

3 HRSA’s mission focuses on vulnerable and underserved populations. Examples of HRSA populations include (but are not limited to) rural populations; the under- and uninsured; pregnant women, mothers, and children; people living with HIV; migratory and seasonal agricultural workers; people experiencing homelessness; residents of public housing; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations; Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders; American Indians and Alaska Natives; people living in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs); patients receiving services at Federally Qualified Health Center facilities; people with low health literacy; people with oral health care needs; children with special health care needs; school-aged children; and older adults.

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legislators and legislative officials, and b) have a history of successful capacity-building activities, existing communication platforms with a national reach, and expertise and resources relevant to HRSA’s mission: “To improve health outcomes and address health disparities through access to quality services, a skilled health workforce, and innovative, high-value programs.”

The NOSLO Program

The NOSLO Program has three funding tracks: 1) Public Health Capacity, 2) Health Legislation and Governance, and 3) Health Care Payment and Financing. See Appendix A for detailed descriptions of the three tracks. Applicants are encouraged to apply to the track(s) most closely aligned with their organization’s priorities.

As the diagram below illustrates, NOSLO Program award recipients facilitate the relationship between HRSA and state and/or local stakeholders.

National organizations that speak on behalf of key state and/or local officials are uniquely positioned to respond to urgent and emergent public health needs, disseminate promising/best practices, and identify challenges in the state and/or local policy landscape that require attention. Moreover, because organizations representing state and/or local officials have strong relationships with their constituents, as well as rich data on needs and trends in the U.S. health care system, they can swiftly reach out to their constituents to gather information at the regional/state/local levels and share that information with HRSA. Similarly, they are well positioned to share HRSA priorities and activities with their constituents.

NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance Track Performance Measures

See Appendix B for the list of measures that HRSA will use to evaluate program performance.

NOSLO

Organizations

HRSA State and Local Officials

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II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Type(s) of applications sought: New

HRSA will provide funding in the form of a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is a financial assistance mechanism that entails substantial collaboration between HRSA and the recipient during performance of the contemplated project.

HRSA program involvement will include:

• Collaborate with award recipients to refine the Project Work Plan according to HRSA priorities and changes in the nation’s health care landscape through such activities as identifying and prioritizing capacity-building activities that need to be addressed with federal investments.

• Monitor and support implementation of the Project Work Plan through collaborative meetings, monthly calls, and progress report reviews.

• Review and support the development of key reports and other activities (i.e., data collection), including approval of the publication plan and approval of reports and other specialized materials for general distribution prior to their publication, distribution, and/or online posting.

• Attend and participate in NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance-related meetings (in-person or remotely), as appropriate.

• Coordinate efforts with HRSA to identify and support collaboration across other NOSLO tracks.

• Identify opportunities to coordinate NOSLO Program activities with similar HRSA programs, such as the Supporting State Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP), to ensure complementarity and non-duplication of efforts.

• Conduct a NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance site visit once per project period to review and assess compliance with NOSLO Program requirements, review activities and key accomplishments, and identify promising practices that support the capacity building needs of the health care safety net.

The cooperative agreement recipient’s responsibilities will include:

• Collaborate with HRSA on refining and implementing the Project Work Plan based on HRSA priorities and changes in the health care landscape, to include updates needed based on changes at the national level.

• Participate in collaborative meetings, monthly calls, and progress report reviews to support successful and complete implementation of the Project Work Plan.

• Collaborate with other NOSLO track award recipients and similar HRSA programs, such as the Supporting State Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP).

https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/AboutMCHB/mch-pip-factsheet.pdf https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/AboutMCHB/mch-pip-factsheet.pdf https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/AboutMCHB/mch-pip-factsheet.pdf https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/AboutMCHB/mch-pip-factsheet.pdf

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• Negotiate with HRSA to update Project Work Plans at least annually, or more frequently as needed (e.g., to establish new objectives and activities once current objectives are met).

• Notify project officers about changes in the Project Work Plan, timelines, and other project management logistics as soon as possible.

• Provide a plan for publications to be created and/or disseminated with NOSLO:

Health Legislation and Governance funds. The plan should factor in time for HRSA review of publications and include each publication’s purpose, target audience, title, publication code or type, summary description, expected impact and benefit, and projected publication date.

• Adhere to HRSA guidelines pertaining to required acknowledgement and disclaimer on all products produced with HRSA award funds, as noted on the Notice of Award.

• Participate in HRSA and related stakeholder meetings, as appropriate.

• Coordinate with national, federal, and state organizations to strengthen Project

Work Plan development and implementation.

• Ensure compliance with NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance requirements.

• Participate in a HRSA-led NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance site visit once per project period.

2. Summary of Funding

HRSA estimates between $639,250 and $1,065,416 to be available annually to fund one recipient. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $1,065,416 total cost (this includes both direct and indirect, facilities, and administrative costs) per year.

The period of performance is September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2023 (three years). Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance track in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory recipient performance, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

NOTE: Additional funding for special projects may become available at HRSA’s discretion, but this funding is not guaranteed. Recipients may request supplemental funding at any point in their period of performance to address unique activities that are connected to, but not duplicative of, the funded scope of work. HRSA may choose to support such supplemental projects if funding is available and allocable, the request is reasonable and allowable, sufficient time remains in the budget period to approve the request, and the activities are aligned with HRSA priorities and non-duplicative of work performed by HRSA or other funded recipients.

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

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

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III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include all domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities, including faith-based and community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

Cost sharing/matching is not required for this program.

3. Other

HRSA will consider any application that exceeds the ceiling amount as non-responsive and will not consider it for funding under this notice.

HRSA will consider any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.4 as non-responsive and will not consider it for funding under this notice.

NOTE: Multiple applications from an organization for NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance are not allowable.

NOTE: Organizations may apply for multiple NOSLO Program application tracks. You must submit each application separately, and under the correct opportunity number.

NOTE: While you may apply for multiple NOSLO Program application tracks, no organization will receive more than one NOSLO award.

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.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

HRSA requires you to apply electronically. HRSA encourages you to apply through Grants.gov using the SF-424 workspace application package associated with this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) following the directions provided at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

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The NOFO is also known as “Instructions” on Grants.gov. You must provide your email address when reviewing or preparing the workspace application package in order to receive notifications including modifications and/or republications of the NOFO on Grants.gov before its closing date. You will also receive notifications of documents placed in the RELATED DOCUMENTS tab on Grants.gov that may affect the NOFO and your application. 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 For Applicants page for all information relevant to desired opportunities.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

See Section 8.5 of the Application Guide for the Application Completeness Checklist.

Application Page Limit The total size of all uploaded files may not exceed the equivalent of 80 pages when printed by HRSA. The page limit includes the abstract, project and budget narratives, attachments, and letters of commitment and support required in the Application Guide and this NOFO. Standard OMB-approved forms that are included in the workspace application package do not count in the page limit. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) do not count 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) You, on behalf of the applicant organization certify, by submission of your proposal, that neither you nor your principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal department or agency.

2) Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 45 CFR § 75.371, including suspension or debarment. (See also 2 CFR parts 180 and 376, and 31 U.S.C. 3321).

3) Where you are unable to attest to the statements in this certification, an explanation shall be included in Attachments 8-15: Other Relevant Documents.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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

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

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

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

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

INTRODUCTION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 1 – “Need”

Describe the purpose of the proposed project. The introduction should briefly discuss your organization’s target audience, your constituents’ need for capacity-building activities, your proposed response to that need, and how you will enhance bidirectional communication between HRSA and state legislators and legislative officials.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 1 – “Need”

This section will help reviewers understand the constituents that your organization serves. Be specific and cite data to the extent possible in your response. Data used to complete this section should derive from appropriate sources and reflect the most recent timeframe available. Data collected by your organization (e.g., constituent surveys, internal records) are an acceptable source, but provide details about the methodology and sample size.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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Reach and Membership

1. Create a table (example below) that depicts the categories of officials served by your organization, the number of officials served in each category, and the percent of officials your organization reaches in each category. For example, if your organization represents county and local health departments, provide the percent of county and local health departments your organization serves out of the total number of county and local health departments in the U.S.

Categories of Officials Served

Total Number of Officials Served Per Category

Percent of Population Served Per Category

State legislators X X% State legislative officials X X%

2. Provide evidence that your organization is nonpartisan/bipartisan and has a national reach regarding relationships with and impact upon the officials discussed above.

3. Describe your constituents’ roles in the health care safety net, as well as their relevance for the populations HRSA serves and the HRSA Strategic Plan.

Alignment of Constituent Needs, Organizational Expertise, and HRSA Priorities

1. Describe how you continuously gather information about your constituents’ needs and priority issues. For example, indicate whether you routinely survey your constituents, regularly collect constituent data, conduct listening sessions at annual meetings, etc.

2. Describe your target audience’s priority issues, unmet capacity-building assistance needs, and any relevant barriers to capacity-building assistance that you hope to overcome through NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance track funding.

3. Outline and prioritize the short-term (<1 year), medium-term (2-3 years), and long-term (>4 years) capacity-building needs of your target audience.

4. Explain your rationale for how you prioritized the needs in Question 3. Discuss the significance of those priorities for HRSA programs and the nation’s health care safety net.

5. Identify the HRSA-related programs, key issues, and populations that are currently of the most interest to your constituents.

6. Describe the range of topics your organization has covered in your research, projects, publications, etc., particularly those that pertain to HRSA-related programs, key issues, and populations, as well as health care policy issues more broadly (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance policy, health reform).

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/about/strategic-plan/HRSA-strategic-plan-2019-2022.pdf

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7. Describe how enhanced bidirectional communication between your constituents and HRSA would benefit your constituents, HRSA’s mission, and the health care safety net.

8. If applicable, provide examples of topics where your constituents would like to engage with HRSA staff to obtain a federal perspective on state issues and initiatives.

METHODOLOGY -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria 2 – “Response” and #4

– “Impact”

Use the following headings as you complete the Methodology section:

• Methods for Fulfilling Core Activities: Educate

• Methods for Fulfilling Core Activities: Innovate

• Methods for Fulfilling Core Activities: Situate

• General Methods

For the “Educate” section, answer the following questions:

1. Describe how you will share information about state needs, policies, and priority issues for state legislators and legislative officials with HRSA and public health stakeholders. Be sure to discuss any limitations you may face around sharing of such information (e.g., non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements).

2. Describe how you will share information about HRSA programs and initiatives with state legislators and legislative officials to strengthen the health care safety net.

For the “Innovate” section, answer the following questions:

1. Describe how you will identify and share state best practices with HRSA and public health stakeholders.

2. Describe the strategies you will use to provide capacity-building assistance to state legislators and legislative officials on best practices that support the health care safety net. Explain why you believe those strategies would be effective.

For the “Situate” section, answer the following questions:

1. Explain how you would facilitate public opportunities for state legislators and legislative officials to engage with federal staff to strengthen the health care safety net. For example, explain how you would arrange a forum (e.g., as part of an annual meeting) for state legislators and legislative officials to strategize and align efforts on work towards achieving shared goals.

2. HRSA often plays a role in a responding to emerging public health issues and advancing HHS priority initiatives (e.g., addressing Zika, combating the opioid

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crisis, the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative). Explain how your organization will interact with your constituents to assist HRSA in identifying the geographic areas of greatest need, state and/or local barriers to action, and how you will respond and support (currently unknown) emerging public health issues.

3. Describe how your program will obtain feedback from your constituents on HRSA programs, activities, initiatives, materials, etc. For example, indicate whether your organization can host focus groups to collect state feedback on materials promoting a new HRSA program.

For the “General Methods” section, please answer the following questions:

1. NOSLO Program award recipients are expected to engage and collaborate with other organizations to share data, coordinate and align capacity-building activities, and share resources and tools that will amplify impacts in a complementary manner while reducing any potential duplication of efforts. Such organizations may include other HRSA-supported partners (e.g., other NOSLO Program award recipients, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program-funded entities, Maternal and Child Health program recipients, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy program recipients, Bureau of Primary Health Care National Cooperative Agreement recipients, state Primary Care Offices/Associations, safety net health care providers and their representative professional organizations, etc.) and other organizations that serve state legislators and legislative officials. Describe how you will fulfill this requirement and communicate such efforts to HRSA.

2. Discuss why the methodology proposed is optimal for this project. Include a description of any innovative methods that you will use to address the stated needs.

3. Describe how you will routinely assess and respond to the unique needs of your constituents, monitor factors that affect your constituents to inform capacity-building assistance and support HRSA awareness of these factors, and identify and respond to emerging issues affecting populations HRSA serves and/or the health care safety net.

4. Propose a sustainability plan by explaining how you will make NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance capacity-building resources publicly available after the period of performance ends.

WORK PLAN -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria 2 – “Response”, 3 – “Evaluative Measures”, 4 – “Impact,” and 6 – “Support Requested”

Work Plan Matrix

Submit a 36-month work plan matrix (Attachment 1) for the three-year period of performance. The matrix should contain the following elements for each proposed activity within the category (e.g., “Educate (A)” and “Innovate (B)”):

• Activity description

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• Responsible individual(s)

• Timeline (e.g., start date, milestones, completion date)

• Proposed performance measures for outputs and outcomes/impact (<1 year;

at the end of the period of performance; after the period of performance)

• Proposed data source for performance measures

• Target goals for outputs and outcomes/impact

The Budget Narrative should reflect the strategies described in this work plan.

Work Plan Narrative

In addition to the matrix, answer the following questions in narrative form. Use the following headers as you complete the Work Plan Narrative section:

• Work Plan for Fulfilling Core Activities: Educate (A)

• Work Plan for Fulfilling Core Activities: Educate (B)

• Work Plan for Fulfilling Core Activities: Innovate (A)

• Work Plan for Fulfilling Core Activities: Innovate (B)

• Work Plan for Fulfilling Core Activities: Situate (A)

• Work Plan for Fulfilling Core Activities: Situate (B)

For the “Educate (A)” section, answer the following questions:

1. Describe how you will implement Educate (A) activities, including how you will evolve and/or add new activities in Years 2 and 3 of the period of performance to achieve the stated milestones and target goals by the end of each year.

2. Demonstrate your ability to successfully complete the proposed activities, in alignment with the organizational resources described in the “Organizational Resources” section.

3. Provide evidence of how the proposed activities address the needs identified in the “Needs Assessment” section.

For the “Educate (B)” section, answer the following questions:

1. Describe how you will implement Educate (B) activities, including how you will

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For the “Innovate (A)” section, answer the following questions:

1. Describe how you will implement Innovate (A) activities, including how you will

For the “Innovate (B)” section, answer the following questions:

1. Describe how you will implement Innovate (B) activities, including how you will

For the “Situate (A)” section, answer the following questions:

1. Describe how you will implement Situate (A) activities, including how you will

For the “Situate (B)” section, answer the following questions:

1. Describe how you will implement Situate (A) activities, including how you will

HRSA-20-092 14

RESOLUTION OF CHALLENGES -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion 2 – “Response”

1. Describe any potential obstacles for implementing program performance evaluations and your plan to address those obstacles.

2. Discuss challenges that you are likely to encounter in designing and implementing the activities described in the work plan, and outline approaches you will use to overcome such challenges. Include current or anticipated national, state, or local initiatives that may impact milestone and target goal attainment, affect performance measurement, or result in the need to adjust planned activities.

EVALUATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT CAPACITY -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria 3 – “Evaluative Measures,” 4 – “Impact,” and 5 – “Resources/Capabilities”

1. Describe your plan to evaluate program performance. Be sure to discuss how your performance evaluation efforts will demonstrate how, over the project period, you have developed products and achieved results that would not be possible without NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance funding. Include a timeline.

2. Identify and explain your strategy to collect, analyze and track data to measure progress toward the target goals listed in the “Core Activities” section and to fulfill performance measure reporting requirements (see Appendix B).

3. Explain how you will use the results of your evaluations to support continuous quality improvement and strengthen the NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance activities your organization plans to provide.

4. Describe how you will share your evaluation results with HRSA and its capacity-building partners (e.g., award recipients of the HRSA Health Center Program’s training and technical assistance programs).

https://bphc.hrsa.gov/program-opportunities/funding-opportunities/nttap https://bphc.hrsa.gov/program-opportunities/funding-opportunities/nttap

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ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria 3 – “Evaluative Measures” and 5 – “Resources/Capabilities”

Organizational Resources

1. Describe how you currently provide capacity-building assistance to support and spread best practices among state legislators and legislative officials.

Demonstrate a strong history of developing and disseminating capacity-building activities to state legislators and legislative officials nationwide.

2. List the media products (e.g., publications, e-newsletters, postcards, social media platforms) your organization uses to communicate information to state legislators and legislative officials. Provide information about the recipients for each medium (i.e., target audience, total number of recipients, number of individuals who interact with the messages [e.g., number of page hits, percentage of individuals who open e-newsletter emails, number of retweets or “likes”]).

Indicate whether it would be possible to incorporate NOSLO: Health Care Legislation and Governance activities into these media products.

3. List the major meetings and events your organization typically holds for state legislators and legislative officials throughout the year, with the number of attendees per meeting/event. Indicate whether it would be possible to incorporate NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance activities into these meetings/events.

4. Describe your organization’s ability to create effective, well-designed visual communications and marketing materials. For example, indicate whether your organization has a graphic designer and/or someone with experience creating infographics.

5. List and describe the data that you collect on state legislators and legislative officials, including how you identify best practices, needs, priorities, and relevant issues. Discuss how you can leverage this data to quickly and effectively assist HRSA when urgent, emergent, and/or priority issues arise.

6. List and describe the data that the constituents of your organization collect on state legislators and legislative officials, best practices, needs, priorities, and other relevant issues. Indicate whether the data are publicly available and, if not, whether your organization and your constituents will share the data with HRSA upon request. Discuss how you can leverage this data to quickly and effectively assist HRSA when urgent, emergent, and/or priority issues arise.

7. Describe how your organization works with a national audience of state legislators and legislative officials through a variety of media, meetings/events, and other strategies to obtain meaningful constituent feedback on the activities, resources, and materials of your organization and other organizations.

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Organizational Structure, Staffing, and Project Management

1. Provide a brief overview of the history of your organization. Include your mission and structure (consistent with Attachment 2: Organizational Chart) and the scope of your current activities.

2. Describe how your organizational structure, including your organization’s management team (e.g., Chief Financial Officer, Project Director) and any contracts or agreements, is appropriate for the operational and oversight needs of this project.

3. Describe your organization’s financial accounting and internal control systems and how they, as well as related policies and procedures, will reflect Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).4

4. Discuss the systems and processes that will support your organization's performance management requirements, including a description of your data systems, data management software, and staff with expertise in data collection, data analysis, data reporting, and data management.

5. Describe the evaluation and technical support capacity of your organization, including experience conducting qualitative and quantitative evaluations and the evaluation skillset of staff assigned to the NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance project.

6. Provide a proposed staffing plan (consistent with Attachment 3: Staffing Plan and Job Descriptions for Key Personnel). Define all roles and demonstrate why the plan is appropriate for the number and variety of activities to be provided during the period of performance. Include information on how you will recruit and/or retain staff to achieve or maintain the proposed staffing plan.

7. Describe the training, experience, skills, and subject matter expertise of individuals in the roles defined in Question 6 (consistent with Attachment 4:

Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel).

a) If applicable, describe recent changes in key management staff or significant changes in roles and responsibilities.

8. Describe how you will ensure that you initiate the proposed activities for Year 1 within 60 days of award by documenting that appropriate staff will be in place.

Provide a timeline for hiring, onboarding, and staff development, as needed.

9. Describe past performance managing collaborative federal awards at the national level, including examples of the extent to which measurable accomplishments were completed in full and on time.

10. Submit a logic model for designing and managing the project (Attachment 5) to demonstrate that you have a broad understanding of the project, including

4 GAAP are used as defined in HHS Grants Policies and Regulations 45 CFR Part 75.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=pt45.1.75

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required inputs and desired outputs and outcomes. A logic model is a one-page diagram that presents the conceptual framework for a proposed project and explains the links among program elements. While there are many versions of logic models, for the purposes of this notice, the logic model should summarize the connections between the:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fysb/prep-logic-model-ts.pdf.

NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

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

Narrative Section *Review Criteria Introduction (1) Need

Needs Assessment (1) Need

Methodology (2) Response

(4) Impact

Work Plan (2) Response

(3) Evaluative Measures

(4) Impact

(6) Support Requested

Resolution of Challenges (2) Response

Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity

(3) Evaluative Measures

(4) Impact

(5) Resources/Capabilities

Organizational Information (3) Evaluative Measures

(5) Resources/Capabilities http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fysb/prep-logic-model-ts.pdf

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Budget and Budget Narrative

(6) Support Requested – the budget section should include sufficient justification to allow reviewers to determine the reasonableness of the support requested.

iii. Budget

See Section 4.1.iv of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide. Please note: the directions offered in the SF-424 Application Guide may differ from those offered by Grants.gov.

Follow the instructions included in the Application Guide and the additional budget instructions provided below. A budget that follows the Application Guide will ensure that, if HRSA selects the application for funding, you will have a well-organized plan and by carefully following the approved plan can avoid audit issues during the implementation phase.

Complete Application Form SF-424A Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs. The project/budget period is 3 years. Provide a separate line item budget narrative using the budget categories in the SF-424A for each year for the period of September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2023 (3 years).

Reminder: The Total Project or Program Costs are the total allowable costs (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) incurred by the recipient to carry out a HRSA-supported project or activity. Total project or program costs include costs charged to the award and costs borne by the recipient to satisfy a matching or cost-sharing requirement, as applicable.

In addition, the maximum number of budget periods allowed is three (3). A budget period represents 12 months of project effort.

The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94), Division A, § 202 states, “None of the funds appropriated in this title shall be used to pay the salary of an individual, through a grant or other extramural mechanism, at a rate in excess of Executive Level II. . . .” See Section 4.1.iv Budget – Salary Limitation of HRSA’s SF- 424 Application Guide for additional information. Note that these or other salary limitations may apply in the following fiscal years, as required by law.

iv. Budget Narrative Provide a narrative that explains the amounts requested for each line in the budget, The budget narrative should specifically describe how each item will support the achievement of the proposed objectives. See Section 4.1.v. of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

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v. Attachments Provide the following items in the order specified below to complete the content of the application. Unless otherwise noted, attachments count toward the application page limit. Indirect cost rate agreements and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) will not count toward the page limit. You must clearly label each attachment.

Attachment 1: Project Work Plan Matrix (Required)

Attach the project work plan matrix that includes all information detailed in Section IV.2.ii. Project Narrative.

Attachment 2: Organizational Chart (Required)

Attach a one-page document that depicts the organizational structure, including key personnel, staffing, and any sub-recipients or affiliated organizations of the proposed NOSLO: Health Legislation and Governance project.

Attachment 3: Staffing Plan and Job Descriptions for Key Personnel (see Section

4.1. of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide) (Required)

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

Attachment 4: Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel (Required) Include biographical sketches for persons occupying the key positions described in Attachment 4, not to exceed two pages in length per person. In the event that a biographical sketch is included for an identified individual not yet hired, include a letter of commitment from that person with the biographical sketch.

Attachment 5: Logic Model (Required) Attach the logic model for the project that includes all information detailed in Section IV.2.ii. Project Narrative.

Attachment 6: Letters of Agreement, Memoranda of Understanding, and/or Description(s) of Proposed/Existing Contracts (project-specific) (Optional)

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

Attachment 7: Indirect Cost Rate Agreement if applicable (Not counted in the page limit)

Submit a copy of your most recently approved IDC rate agreement, which supports the indirect cost rate requested in the application budget.

Attachments 8-15: Other Relevant Documents (Optional)

Include here any other documents that are relevant to the application, including letters of support. Letters of support must be dated and specifically indicate a

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commitment to the project/program (in-kind services, dollars, staff, space, equipment, etc.). You may also include tables and charts to provide additional details about the proposal (e.g., Gantt charts, flow charts).

3. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and

System for Award Management

You must obtain a valid DUNS number, also known as the Unique Entity Identifier, for your organization/agency and provide that number in the application.