Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology

The goal of the LEAP in Health IT funding opportunity is to address well-documented and fast emerging challenges inhibiting the development, use, or advancement of well-designed, interoperable health IT, which are scalable across the healthcare indus

It is critical for the health IT field to be able to innovate and leverage the latest technological advancements and breakthroughs to optimize real-time solutions, especially in areas where health IT has potential to improve the health and healthcare for individuals and populations. The descriptions provided for the two areas of interest, Area 1 and Area 2, include ways applicants may approach developing a project. The areas of interest have been assigned numbers for ease of reference, not for prioritization. While there are many challenges associated with the use of health IT, ASTP identified these two areas of interest as 2025 priority areas: • Area 1: Demonstrate readiness of FHIR®-based Subscriptions capability as a foundational health IT capability for improved interactivity with third-party applications. • Area 2: Identify and test innovative technical approaches that would inform future changes to the TEFCA infrastructure to increase adoption of IAS.

Public or non-profit private institutions, such as a university, college, or a faith-based or community-based organization; units of local or state government, eligible agencies of the federal government, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (federally recognized, other than federally recognized, and tribally designated organizations).

For Objective 1: The goal of this focus area is for the awardee to develop a prototype and propose enhancements to existing technical specifications that would make it possible for an independent entity to securely access data on various populations of patients from a FHIR-based API. For Objective 2: The goal of this focus area is to advance clinical knowledge into the health care setting via innovative health IT tools and solutions.

Assistance will be available during the period of performance of the award (September 2018-2023), and 90 days after the close of the period of performance for reconciliation.

Proposals will be reviewed by a review panel comprised of no less than one (1) federal employee and subject matter experts (non-federal employees). Each proposal will receive a score based on strength and merit of their proposals based on the merit review criteria of Understanding of Project Purpose, Approach and Activities, Applicant Capabilities , and Budget, Level of Effort, and Justification. A detailed list of merit review criteria in these areas are detailed in the funding opportunity announcement.

The final award decision will be made by the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology taking into consideration several factors such as the results of the merit review process, results of the pre-award risk assessment, compliance with programmatic and grants management requirements; the reasonableness of the estimated costs, available funding, geographical dispersion, program priorities; and the likelihood that the proposed project will result in the benefits expected. All applicants will receive a summary of the objective review panel's assessment of the application's strengths, weaknesses, and score. The recipients Authorized Representatives will receive the notice of award electronically from ONC. The Recipient accepts the award by drawing down funds. By accepting an ONC award, the recipient assumes legal, financial, administrative, and programmatic responsibility for administering the award in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award, as well as applicable laws, rules, regulations, and Executive Orders governing HHS assistance awards, all of which are to be incorporated into the award by reference. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in suspension or termination of the awards and/or ONC's recovery of award funds.

Renewals may be available if the applicant is able to successfully show progress towards achieving specified goals.