The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is establishing a Healthcare Extension Service to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) evidence into healthcare delivery.

This NOFO invites applications to establish and support State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives (Cooperatives) to conduct an initiative that is based on PCOR evidence to improve care for medically underserved people; the initiative's focus must be on behavioral healthcare.

The Cooperative will engage key stakeholders, build capacity to implement patient-centered healthcare delivery improvements, conduct evaluations, and provide support structure to ensure these activities are integrated and aligned.

Scope of Work

The Cooperative will plan, execute, and evaluate an initiative focused on behavioral health within the award period. The initiative should incorporate evidence-based improvements and corresponding implementation strategies based on PCOR findings that work at multiple levels to achieve a specific outcome.

These activities should incorporate attention to future sustainability. The initiative must address the current behavioral health crisis with the selected topic based on state data and stakeholder priorities.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include Higher Education Institutions, Nonprofits, For-Profit Organizations, Local Governments, State Governments, Federal Governments, and other organizations. Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations: System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. All Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) must have an eRA Commons account.

Budget and Duration

The total costs (direct and indirect) for a project awarded under this NOFO will not exceed $6.25 million in any given year and $25 million for the entire project period. Applicants may propose different total annual budgets based on their proposed approach. An application with a budget that exceeds $6.25 million total costs in any given year or that proposes a project period less than five years will not be reviewed. The project period must be 5 years.

Additional Information

Applicant organizations may NOT submit more than one application. AHRQ will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time. Applications that describe proposed improvements in healthcare policy, payment, and practice work to be conducted in more than one state will be deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed.

Key Dates

• Posted Date: September 06, 2024

• Open Date: September 06, 2024

• Letter of Intent Due Date: 30 days prior to the application due date

• Application Due Date: December 12, 2024

• Earliest Start Date: Generally, four months after the peer review date

• Expiration Date: December 13, 2024

Application Process

The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST or an institutional system-to-system solution. A button to apply using ASSIST is available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See the administrative office for instructions if planning to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

Selection Process

Applications that are complete and responsive to the NOFO will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate Scientific Review Group convened in accordance with standard AHRQ peer review procedures that are described in 42 CFR Part 67, Subpart A. Incomplete and/or non-responsive applications or applications not following instructions given in this NOFO will not be reviewed.

For More funding Opportunities, Visit Global Funding Opportunities.