FAQ: Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP)

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-24-037

Eligibility

Are non-profits able to apply?

Yes, non-profits are eligible to apply. These types of domestic organizations may apply:

• Public or private
• Non-profit entities, including community-based organizations
• For-profit entities
• Institutions of higher education (public, private)
• Tribal governments or organizations

Are we required to have non-profit status for this opportunity?

No, non-profit status is not required for this opportunity.

Are state governments eligible to apply?

Yes, state governments are eligible to apply.

Are U.S. territories and freely associated states eligible to apply?

Yes, U.S. territories and freely associated states are eligible to apply.

Is there a limit of one application per institution/organization?

An organization may only submit one application for the opportunity. However, they can submit several versions of the same application. Applicants may apply to Grants.gov as many times as they want before the application deadline. The last application that Grants.gov verifies before the deadline will move forward.

Can you clarify whether entities within a large system with separate Unique Entity Identifier numbers will be considered separate organizations for this solicitation?

Organizations within a system that have Unique Entity Identifiers can each apply. Multiple applications from an organization with one UEI are not allowable. If HRSA receives multiple applications from an organization, we will only review the last validated application submitted before the submission deadline.

Is a lead applicant required or can organizations apply together?

Applicants may propose partnerships in the implementation of their proposed projects. However, the application must be submitted by one organization. In cases where a lead organization submits a successful application, HRSA will make the award to the successful applicant only, and that organization will be responsible for meeting the requirements of the cooperative agreement. Please see the Attachments section of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), starting on page 18, for more information on Letters of Agreement, Memoranda of Understanding, and Letters of Support.

Our organization was awarded another HRSA award several months ago. Are we still eligible to apply for the HRSA 24-037 opportunity?

Yes, awardees receiving other HRSA grants/cooperative agreements are eligible to apply.

Can an organization apply to both HRSA-24-037 (Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program) and HRSA-24-105 (Center for Maternal and Child Health Medicaid Partnerships)?

Yes.

Program history

Is there an incumbent or is this new funding?

Current Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP) awardees are listed on the Supporting State Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP) webpage.

The period of performance for the new cohort of awards selected under HRSA-24-037 begins on September 30, 2024.

Is this funding to continue investing in previously awarded state PIP programs?

HRSA-24-037 is a new competition. There is no guarantee that previous PIP awardees will receive continued funding. All eligible applications submitted will be reviewed based on their technical merit, as outlined in the NOFO.

Application content

Where can I learn more about MCH PIP and get questions answered related to this funding opportunity?

Please find information about past policy efforts supported through MCH PIP funding on the Supporting State Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP) webpage.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, HRSA hosted a live Technical Assistance Webinar for the HRSA-24-037 funding opportunity. Please view the webinar recording, along with this list of Frequently Asked Questions.

For business, administrative, or fiscal issues/questions:

Denise Boyer
Grants Management Specialist
Email: Dboyer@hrsa.gov

For Program issues or technical assistance:

Maura Dwyer
Public Health Analyst
Attn: Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation
Email: mdwyer@hrsa.gov

Please note that HRSA cannot provide information or guidance beyond what is included in the notice of funding opportunity. HRSA will not review or provide feedback on specific project proposals or ideas outside of the application review process outlined in the NOFO, as this is a competition.

Is the intent of this funding opportunity to focus on one geographic area or state, or is the focus to serve people from multiple geographic areas?

The intent is to focus on multiple states and geographic areas. However, the primary focus should be one of the priority stakeholder groups:

1. Governors’ Offices
2. State and Local Health Officials
3. State Legislatures
4. Other State and Local Officials

The NOFO states that “applicants are expected to conduct policy analysis, build relationships, and provide TA to only one of the following targeted stakeholder groups: Governors’ Offices, State and Local Health Officials, State Legislatures, and Other State and Local Officials.” Does this mean that applicants should select and center their proposal around supporting one of these audiences?

While the aim of this funding opportunity overall is to engage and provide TA to all four stakeholder groups across awardees, applicants are expected to conduct policy analysis, build relationships, and provide TA to only one of the following targeted stakeholder groups:

1. Governors’ Offices
2. State and Local Health Officials
3. State Legislatures
4. Other State and Local Officials

Do we select the six states, cities, and/or counties that we will serve with TA, or are those six entities identified by HRSA?

The awardee will select the six entities in consultation with HRSA.

Can a proposal focus on the same cities/counties across all three years?

Yes, however, awardees are expected to have a national perspective and to be able to provide national-level technical assistance to stakeholders who can develop and implement policies at the city, county, and/or state level, to help improve outcomes and reduce drivers of health disparities in MCH. Organizations that have expertise and experience working at both the national and city, county, and/or state levels will be more likely to succeed when working on this project.

Would consideration be given to an applicant's goal of changing policy for six counties within the same state? As I come from a large state, we believe it may be interesting and informative to work towards implementing MCH policy initiatives within our large state.

Awardees are expected to have a national perspective and to be able to provide national-level technical assistance to stakeholders who can develop and implement policies, at the city, county, and/or state level, to help improve outcomes and reduce drivers of health disparities in MCH. Organizations that have expertise and experience working at both the national and city, county, and/or state levels will be more likely to succeed when working on this project.

Is the requirement for two in-person convenings (for the required two years of a learning community) or three in-person convenings (one for each project year)?

Awardees shall convene learning community stakeholders in-person at least once per year over the 3-year project period.

For the three in-person convenings, the NOFO says "convene LC stakeholders in-person at least once per year." Does a meeting of federal, national, state, and community-based SMEs to inform the development of TA provided to the LC meet the requirements of "convening LC stakeholders"?

Award recipients should start convening the LCs by the end of the first year and continue until the end of the project period. Expectations regarding the learning communities can be found in the Program Requirements and Expectations section of the NOFO, starting on page 10.

For the purposes of the MCH Policy Innovation Program, how do you define "policy initiative"?

“Policy initiative” is a general term meant to outline a change in city, county, or state-level law (e.g., proposing and enacting MCH-related legislation) or a change in a government’s administrative policy. It could also include internal processes or changes within stakeholder groups, such as professional development TA opportunities, innovative collaboration with new entities/stakeholders, etc. to help develop and implement MCH policy at the city, county, or state level to advance equity.

Is there an example of a policy initiative that you can provide?

Please find information about past policy efforts supported through MCH PIP funding on the Supporting State Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP) webpage.

How does HRSA define State and Local Health Officials?

State and Local Government Officials engaged in public health.

Can proposals include a funded pilot implementation project that serves as the basis for the learning communities? Can funding be used to create pilot implementation projects that focus on policy/systems change among PH and healthcare partners within a city or county?

Expectations regarding the learning communities can be found in the Program Requirements and Expectations section of the NOFO, starting on page 10. HRSA cannot provide information or guidance beyond what is included in the notice of funding opportunity.

Are eight TA products required per year or throughout the three-year project?

Awardees should produce at least eight TA products per year.

Do the eight TA products apply to all six states, counties, or cities we select? Or do we have to create a set of eight TA products for each of the six locations every year?

The awardees are required to produce at least eight TA products per year in total, not per geographic area.

Do we write our proposal with six entities in mind, or do we write it “in general”—what we would do with any six entities?

You may generally describe your proposal with six entities.

Please describe the TA.

The TA includes engaging multiple stakeholders across the nation in learning communities and supporting learning community participants in the development and implementation of MCH policy initiatives that will improve outcomes and reduce drivers of health disparities in MCH. TA also includes developing TA products (for example, legislation trackers, policy briefs, blogs) for key stakeholders at the city, county, and/or state levels, and responding to TA requests from learning community participants.

The NOFO mentions performance measures and monitoring as part of the reporting requirements for the grant. Are the performance measures or monitoring requirements pre-determined by HRSA (as a chart/data entry system, etc.) or do we develop and propose measures ourselves in the application?

There are performance measures required by HRSA, which you will find in the DGIS (Discretionary Grants Information System) forms, including Health Equity, Technical Assistance (including recipient satisfaction), Partnerships and Collaboration, Guidelines and Policy, Engagement of Persons with Lived Experience, Knowledge Change, and Products and Publications. Applicants may propose performance measures in addition to HRSA’s required measures.

For monitoring efforts, recipients are expected to track project-related processes, activities, and milestones and use data to identify actual or potential challenges to implementation. Provide an initial list of measures (indicators, metrics) you will use to monitor progress. Please see the Reporting section on page 28 of the NOFO for more information.

Is it possible to get some samples of prior grants that I can use as a guide to help me understand what type of projects are expected for this Notice of Funding Opportunity?

HRSA cannot provide information or guidance beyond what is included in the notice of funding opportunity. HRSA will not review or provide feedback on specific project proposals or ideas outside of the application review process outlined in the NOFO, as this is a competition.

Please find information about past policy efforts supported through MCH PIP funding on the Supporting State Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP) webpage.

Budget

For in-person convenings, can applicants include travel dollars for all expected participants in our budget narratives?

Yes, applicants should include travel, lodging, and airfare in their budget narratives.

On the budget recommendation slide, a budget increase was listed as not being allowed. In the NOFO, there is a section detailing that grantees may request supplemental funding during the period of performance, if available. Can you please clarify?

An increase in the base award is not allowed. Additional funding may become available at HRSA’s discretion, but this is not guaranteed. Recipients may request supplemental funding at any point in their period of performance to address unique activities that are connected to, but not duplicative of, the funded work plan. HRSA may choose to support such supplemental projects if HRSA-24-037 MCH PIP funding is available and allocable, the request is reasonable and allowable, sufficient time remains in the budget period to approve the request, and the activities are aligned with HRSA priorities and are not duplicative of work performed by HRSA or other HRSA-funded recipients.

Can we budget to assist organizations to do the work?

Yes.

Are there any funding limitations, such as funding community partners (as subcontractors), etc.?

Please see the Funding Restrictions section of the NOFO on page 21 for more information. Community partners can be included as subcontractors.

Attachments

Do you expect both an organizational chart of our organization and an organization chart for the project? Or just one of these (and if so, which one)?

The project organizational chart (Attachment 6) is the applicant's organizational structure, and applicants should make it clear where the MCH PIP Program falls within that structure.

How would you distinguish between the Work Plan in the project narrative vs. attachment 1?

The Work Plan Narrative should be included as part of the Project Narrative. The Work Plan Matrix should be included as part of Attachment 1.

What is considered personally identifying information that we cannot include in the bio sketch attachment?

Sensitive data, such as medical, financial, salary, or legal information, work and personal addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses do not need to be included. Biographical sketches describe a person’s role on the project and their qualifications and experience for that role. Please do include key personnel names.

Do you only want Letters of Commitment for activity implementation or will letters of support also be considered in the application?

Include in Attachment 4 Letters of Agreement or Memoranda of Understanding that describe working relationships between your organization and other entities and programs you cite in the proposal. Documents that confirm actual or pending contracts or agreements should clearly describe the roles of the contractors and any deliverables. Make sure you sign and date any letters of agreement. You may include Letters of Support as attachments 9 – 12, Other Relevant Documents.

To clarify the budget narrative requirement, we need to submit a 3-year budget narrative (for the period of performance) and also attach the third year only as an attachment 5?

A year 3 budget attachment is not required as Attachment 5. Complete Sections A – F of the SF-424A Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs form included in the application package for each year of the three-year period of performance. In Section A use rows 1 – 3 to provide the budget amounts for the three years of the project. See page 18 of the Application Guide (PDF - 673 KB) for more information.

Technical challenges

When I hit the "apply" button on the grants.gov website, it gives me an error message. What should I do?

Please contact Grants.gov support, which is available 24/7 (except federal holidays). They can be reached at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726 (U.S.). Please be sure to include supporting details when you call or email. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions on the grants.gov/support page.

Miscellaneous

I missed the technical assistance webinar on May 21, 2024. Is an audio recording available?

This webinar recording will be posted on MCHB’s website by the end of May.

Will Title V agencies have their own funding to engage in this work?

There will not be separate funding available solely for Title V agencies to engage in this work.

Is there a deadline to submit questions?

There is no deadline for submitting questions. However, as the email inbox is not monitored 24 hours a day, it is recommended that you send any questions as soon as possible so we have time to respond.