Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-19-005
SRSA PLANS | NEEDS ASSESSMENT | PURPOSE & NEEDS | WORKLOAD | REPORTING | FUNDING | WORK PLAN | ATTACHMENTS
Statewide Rational Service Area (SRSA) Plans
- What is the definition of an SRSA plan?
An SRSA plan is essentially a plan that outlines what the rational service areas (RSAs) in a state/territory are. The SRSA plan is not a designation plan because there are RSAs that do not meet the criteria for designation.
- What are the requirements and details of how to create an RSA plan?
HRSA recommends applicants follow the guidelines in the regulations that govern shortage designations; namely using a group of census tracts or minor civil divisions, a whole county, or multiple counties to create a rational service area.
- Once awardees complete the RSA plan, will awardees be tied to those RSAs when evaluating and updating designations in the future? And will awardees need to reevaluate current designations to fit into the new RSA plan?
While awardees will not be locked into using those boundaries when creating HPSA applications, HRSA would prefer that they are thoughtfully developed alongside the communities and other stakeholders, so they can be used for long-range health planning.
- If a state/territory has an SRSA plan in development and it is close to completion can it be submitted early or does awardee have to wait until year four of the period of performance?
HRSA recommends submitting the SRSA once complete.
Needs Assessment
- What is HRSA’s expectation regarding the requirement to partner with at least two different stakeholders on the needs assessment for states that normally do not have at least two partners on these matters?
It is HRSA’s expectation that the awardees meet this requirement, as collaboration is a priority effort of the cooperative agreement.
- On Page 9 regarding the needs assessment and the work plan and what is needed in order to get maximum points in that applicants must supply a large amount of data - could HRSA clarify if applicants need to include this large amount of data in the application regarding the needs assessment?
For the purpose of this NOFO, describe in general some of the needs already seen at a high level. Applicants do not need to be providing a detailed analysis, as they will provide that in the actual needs assessment if awarded this cooperative agreement.
Purpose & Needs
- When applicant was reading Purpose and Needs section they thought it is likely referring to the needs of the population that the applicant is serving and not specifically the program's needs. Could HRSA elaborate on what that means?
Yes, this section specifically speaks to addressing the needs of applicant’s state/territory population.
Workload Units
- How do applicants verify the workload units for their state/territory?
The workload units are the number of providers in eligible disciplines listed in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registry in applicant’s state/territory as of April 24, 2018.
These units account for all providers within those disciplines that are loaded into the Shortage Designation Management System (SDMS) on a weekly basis.
Reporting Requirements
- On Page 18 of the NOFO it mentions a progress report that must be attached for competing continuations. What is the time period that applicants are reporting on?
Current grantees should report on what has been accomplished in relation to the goals set per the work plan within the awarded cooperative agreement from 2015-2019 performance period.
This progress report replaces the deliverable that grantees normally submit in December of each year. Please note: this requirement is only for applicants who are current grantees.
Funding
- Do applicants need to include additional state funds, in-kind funds, and additional other funds that they are using for this project in the budget narrative?
Yes.
Work Plan
- How does the work plan section differ from the methodology/approach section?
The Work Plan is a detailed description of what the applicant is planning to do. The NOFO provides a link to a sample, and also is fairly specific on what other information should be included here. Info on the Work Plan requirements is found on pages 9-12, as well as on pages 21-22.
The Methodology/Approach section is exactly that – how they plan to do it. Again, it is specific regarding what to include, and it includes a logic model requirement. Requirements are on pages 13 and 22.
Attachments
- What should the Project Organizational Chart consist of?
Provide a one-page figure that depicts the organizational structure of the project. This consists of personnel in your organization who have involvement in the project.