Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-26-095
Eligibility
Which organizations are eligible to apply for HRSA-26-095?
Eligible applicants include accredited nursing schools, nursing centers, academic health centers, and public or private nonprofit entities within the U.S. For a complete list of eligible organization types, refer to the “Eligibility” section of the NWD NOFO (PDF - 623 KB) (pages 3–4).
Application
What accreditation documentation must be submitted with the application?
Applicants must submit accreditation or provisional accreditation documentation that is recognized by a national nurse education accrediting agency or by a state approval agency recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Refer to Attachment 1: Accreditation Documentation (pages 16–17).
Can applicants submit more than one application under this funding opportunity?
You may not submit more than one application. If you submit more than one application, we will only accept the last on-time submission.
What are the qualifications for the Project Director (PD)?
The proposed Project Director must be a licensed Registered Nurse (RN). Applicants should include the Project Director's time commitment and qualifications in the Project Narrative. HRSA recognizes only one Project Director per application. Refer to the Qualifications for Principal Investigator or Project Director section (page 4) of the NOFO for additional information.
What is the point value for Criterion 2b, High-Level Work Plan?
Under Criterion 2: Response, the High-Level Work Plan is worth 10 points. The point breakdown for Criterion 2 is as follows: Approach—15 points; High-Level Work Plan—10 points; and Resolution of Challenges—5 points.
Budget/Funding
Does the maximum funding amount of $555,000 apply annually or to the entire four-year project period?
The maximum funding amount is up to $555,000 in total costs per year, which includes both direct and indirect costs.
Does the budget for years 2 through 4 need to match the total amount of the budget for year 1?
No. Budget allocations for Years 2 through 4 must not exceed the total amount requested for Year 1. This stipulation is non-negotiable. Refer to NOFO under “Funding Detail” on page 3.
Is paid release time allowable?
The NWD program prohibits paid release time. However, compensation for actual personnel services performed under the grant may be allowable. To qualify, the services must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable to the project, and the compensation must reflect only the documented percentage of effort devoted to grant activities. This must remain consistent with the institution's compensation policies and 2 CFR Part 200. Applicants should clearly distinguish salary support for actual grant effort from prohibited faculty release time in the budget justification.
Can a percentage of a current full-time staff member’s effort be budgeted for managing the project or is budgeted salary only for those who will be hired as new staff dedicated to the project?
Yes. A percentage of an existing full-time staff member's salary may be budgeted to the NWD award if that individual devotes a portion of their effort to managing or carrying out the approved grant activities. The grant does not require that all personnel supported by the award be newly hired or dedicated exclusively to the project.
Personnel costs charged to the award must be based on the actual level of effort devoted to the project, be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the award and be supported by the recipient's established payroll and internal controls in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200. The proposed effort should be clearly described and justified in the budget and budget justification.
If the awardee plans to charge a percentage of an existing staff member's salary to the award, they should ensure the individual's project responsibilities are clearly defined and that the salary charged reflects only the time spent working on the NWD project.
Are applicants required to maintain a formal agreement with an external entity to support proposed program activities?
The HRSA-26-095 NOFO (PDF - 623 KB) requires applicants to establish or enhance clinical, academic, and community partnerships as part of the proposed project. However, the NOFO does not require applicants to maintain a formal agreement with a specific external organization. The NOFO recommends that applicants establish or enhance partnerships that support the proposed project and its goals. Applicants should document the required partnerships by providing the applicable Letters of Agreement and/or Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in Attachment 3 and Letters of Support in Attachment 8, as described in the NOFO.
Does the Project Director need to maintain 25% effort in every year of the project, or may the level of effort be lower in later years (e.g., 25% in Years 1–2 and 10% in Years 3–4)?
The NWD NOFO does not require the Project Director to maintain a minimum level of effort. The Project Director's level of effort may vary throughout the period of performance, provided it is appropriate for the proposed project activities and adequately justified in the budget narrative.