Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-056
- Eligibility and Application Submission
- Programmatic Questions
- Priorities and Preferences
- Budget and Grants Management Questions
Eligibility and Application Submission
Eligibility
Are all nursing students graduating as Registered Nurses eligible, or is this limited to BSN or NP students?
Yes. Pre-licensure programs, associates, bachelor's, MS/MSN and DNP APRN programs are eligible to apply for the NEPQR-MHTP.
How will I know if my facility is an eligible entity?
Eligible entities are an accredited school of nursing, a health care facility, including federally qualified health centers or nurse-managed health clinics, or a partnership of such a school and facility. Tribes and tribal organizations may apply for these funds, if otherwise eligible.
Who would NOT be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
Individuals, for profit entities, and foreign entities are NOT eligible to apply for this award. Trainees receiving support from grant funds under this program must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States. Individuals on temporary or student visas are NOT eligible to participate.
Our nursing programs are online. Can the experiential clinical training be virtual?
All projects should meet the goals or objectives of the NOFO including the longitudinal experiential training.
Are applicants expected to use the HRSA developed NEPQR-MHTP objectives in the Standard Work Plan section of the application or may we create our own?
Applicants may use their own goals and objectives as long as they align with the goals and objectives of the NEPQR-MHTP.
Application Submission
What should be in the application related to the Business Model to be submitted in the application?
The business model should include how you plan to operate, fund, and sustain the business.
Programmatic Questions
Project Personnel
This Notice of Funding Opportunity states that there can only be one Project Director (PD)/ Principal Investigator (PI) on this project, are Co-PD/PI allowed?
HRSA will only recognize one individual as the Project Director/Primary Investigator for the NEPQR-MHTP project. You cannot have two individuals splitting the one role of PD/PI. You may add other key personnel to assist the PD/PI; however, they shouldn't have the same roles and responsibilities as the PD/PI.
Does the PD/PI on this program have to be a registered nurse?
The Project Director (PD)/Principal Investigator (PI) on this project must be a licensed registered nurse.
The application guide indicates 20 key personnel forms but only eight bio sketches are permitted. How are we to prioritize only eight?
Bio sketches are required for persons occupying key positions of the proposed project.
Is there an FTE requirement for the project manager (PM)? Do you have to hire the PM at 1.0 FTE?
The role doesn't have to be a full-time FTE as long as the effort aligns with the work plan and the goals and objectives and is reasonable and feasible.
Is a planning year allowed with this funding opportunity?
This program does not have a specified planning year. The award recipient is expected to be able to meet the program expectations and requirements that are listed in the NOFO. Award recipients are expected to report progress to goals and objectives both quarterly and annually.
Program Requirements
Would an applicant have to purchase a mobile health vehicle to participate in this cooperative agreement?
Acquisition of a vehicle is not a requirement for this cooperative agreement. However, your plan should be able to meet the goals and objective of the program. Specifically, meet the goal of being able to provide care to the target vulnerable populations in rural and/or underserved areas.
Do I have to render services from a vehicle?
The services rendered by your project should align with the program requirements, expectations, and goals and objectives outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
What does the term "longitudinal clinical experience" mean with respect for number of weeks or semesters in clinical, and are all the nursing students subjected to this requirement?
Per the Program Definition Section of this NOFO, longitudinal experiential training is the process of instruction between a designated faculty and/or nursing preceptor and an individual(s) that includes a component of direct work experience over a period of time to adequately immerse the individual(s) in that training. It is up to the applicant to determine the number of weeks or semesters that best fulfills the minimum number of hours required for the clinical training (at least 80 hours). Only the project's student participants are subject to this requirement, but it is encouraged to immerse other students as well.
The NOFO emphasized "rural and underserved". Is this opportunity specifically focused on underserved communities in rural areas?
This program supports communities that are in rural areas, underserved areas, or both. Applicants must be able to describe how they will be able to create and expand a NEPQR-MHTP for nursing students that meets the program goals and objectives.
Priorities and Preferences
Funding Factors
Are applicants able to receive more than one funding preference?
Applicants are able to submit supporting documentation for multiple funding preferences, however after verification, only one funding preference will applied to the application. Statutory funding preference shall be given to applicants with projects that substantially benefit rural populations, underserved populations, or meet the public health nursing needs in state or local health departments.
Are applicants awarded extra points for NEPQR-MHTP priority?
The NEPQR-MHTP has one (1) funding priority worth five (5) priority points. Funding priority will be granted to established and reputable applicants that can demonstrate increased educational opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic minority populations.
Would prior NEPQR recipients get preference for this funding opportunity?
This is a new funding opportunity and not a non-competing continuation of any of the NEPQR programs. There is also no competitive advantage given to prior NEPQR recipients.
Clinical Priorities
In regards to the HHS and HRSA Priorities listed on page 2 of the NOFO, you are encouraged to select and address ONE of the clinical priorities; are we allowed to address more than one of the HHS/HRSA priorities?
You are permitted to address one or more of the HHS/HRSA priorities.
Budget and Grants Management Questions
Allowable Costs
How much of the funding can be used for capital cost?
Some minor renovation to retrofit a mobile unit is allowable, but major renovations are not allowable for this cooperative agreement.
Is there a cap on the amount we can spend to purchase a mobile unit?
Per the federal guidelines, equipment is considered any item over $5000 and a useful life of over one year. There is no specific cap on costs you request. However, you would need to provide a budget justification of the cost and the reason the equipment is necessary and reasonable and in support of the goals and objectives of the cooperative agreement.
If we already have a Mobile Medical Unit, is it allowable to use funds for the purchase/rent of a storage location - garage/warehouse?
Yes, that would be an allowable cost if it is necessary for the performance of the award. As with all costs, it needs to be justified and budget justification stating why it is necessary.
Salary and Personnel Costs
Is there a salary limitation set for this award?
The salary limitation for this funding opportunity cannot exceed $203,700. This amount reflects an individual's base salary exclusive of fringe and any income that an individual may be permitted to earn outside of the duties to the applicant organization. This salary limitation also applies to subawards/subcontracts under this HRSA cooperative agreement.
Does paid release time equate to a percentage of faculty effort as part of their role on this project?
Paid release time is administratively authorized time spent away from the employee's normal job responsibilities to participate in other institution sponsored or sanctioned programs without loss of pay and without charge to paid time off (PTO) leave. Release time is considered work time; therefore, such time is counted when computing overtime. Paid release time is not allowable for this program.