Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HS 24 006
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is soliciting applications for a National Coordinating Center (NCC) under a U54 cooperative agreement as part of its Healthcare Extension Service initiative, focused on state-based solutions to healthcare improvement. The basic idea is to create a national hub that helps multiple state-based partners strengthen how they spread and implement proven, actionable healthcare knowledge in real-world settings. Rather than funding individual improvement projects directly, this opportunity centers on building the backbone infrastructure that supports, connects, and guides the broader Healthcare Extension Service portfolio so that state efforts are consistent, practical, and scalable.
The NCC is expected to deliver support across four major service areas. First, it will provide technical assistance, meaning hands-on guidance to participating state-based extension cooperatives to help them plan, launch, and sustain implementation activities, troubleshoot barriers, use evidence effectively, and build operational capacity. Second, the NCC will develop and run learning networks that allow participating teams to learn from one another through structured peer exchange, shared problem solving, training events, communities of practice, and other mechanisms that speed up adoption of what works. Third, the NCC will lead communications and dissemination, translating lessons learned into clear materials, products, and messaging that can be shared across sites and with broader audiences, helping successful approaches spread beyond the original participants. Fourth, it will provide leadership and project management, which includes coordinating timelines, aligning expectations across partners, supporting governance, managing cross-site collaboration, and maintaining steady communication with AHRQ so the overall program stays on track and delivers usable outputs.
A key feature of this grant is that the NCC will not operate in isolation; it must work closely with AHRQ and with awardees from two related funding opportunities. Those include (1) the State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives to Accelerate Implementation of Actionable Knowledge into Practice (U19), which are the state or regional entities doing the on-the-ground extension work, and (2) the National Evaluation Center (NEC) (also under a U19 mechanism), which will assess performance and outcomes across the initiative. In practice, the NCC is positioned as the connector and operational coordinator among implementation teams (the cooperatives), evaluators (the NEC), and the federal sponsor (AHRQ), helping create shared tools, shared learning, consistent reporting approaches, and coordinated dissemination so the initiative functions like a coherent national program rather than a set of disconnected projects.
The funding opportunity is titled "National Coordinating Center (NCC) for AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service - State-based Solutions to Healthcare Improvement (U54)," with Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HS-24-006. It is a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which typically means AHRQ anticipates substantial involvement in the conduct of the program, including strategic collaboration and ongoing coordination. The activity category is Health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.226. The original application closing date is November 25, 2024, and the opportunity was created on September 26, 2024. While the listing references an award ceiling and expected awards fields, those values are not provided in the source text you shared.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the announcement is clear that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.
Overall, this NOFO is aimed at establishing a central national organization that can make a multi-state healthcare improvement effort run smoothly by providing practical support, building shared learning structures, ensuring strong communication and dissemination, and supplying steady program leadership and management. The NCC role is to help state-based extension cooperatives implement actionable evidence more effectively and consistently, while working in tandem with a national evaluation partner and AHRQ to capture lessons learned and spread successful approaches.Apply for RFA HS 24 006
- The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Coordinating Center (NCC) for AHRQs Healthcare Extension Service - State-based Solutions to Healthcare Improvement (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.226.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the funding opportunity?
This opportunity is AHRQ's "National Coordinating Center (NCC) for AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service - State-based Solutions to Healthcare Improvement (U54)" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HS-24-006.
2) What is AHRQ seeking to fund through this award?
AHRQ is seeking to fund a National Coordinating Center (NCC) that serves as a national hub for its Healthcare Extension Service initiative. The NCC is intended to strengthen and coordinate how state-based partners spread and implement proven, actionable healthcare knowledge in real-world settings.
3) Is this opportunity funding individual healthcare improvement projects?
No. Based on the description provided, the focus is not on directly funding individual improvement projects. Instead, the award centers on building and operating the backbone infrastructure that supports, connects, and guides the broader Healthcare Extension Service portfolio so state efforts are consistent, practical, and scalable.
4) What is the primary purpose of the National Coordinating Center (NCC)?
The NCC's primary purpose is to function as the connector and operational coordinator across the initiative, helping state-based extension cooperatives implement actionable evidence more effectively and consistently, while coordinating with the national evaluation partner and AHRQ to capture lessons learned and spread successful approaches.
5) What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This is a cooperative agreement under the U54 mechanism.
6) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means AHRQ anticipates substantial involvement in the conduct of the program, including strategic collaboration and ongoing coordination with the awardee.
7) What are the major service areas the NCC is expected to deliver?
The NCC is expected to deliver support across four major service areas:
- Technical assistance to participating state-based extension cooperatives (hands-on guidance to plan, launch, sustain implementation activities; troubleshoot barriers; use evidence effectively; build operational capacity).
- Learning networks that enable structured peer exchange, shared problem solving, training events, communities of practice, and other mechanisms to speed adoption of what works.
- Communications and dissemination to translate lessons learned into clear materials, products, and messaging to share across sites and with broader audiences.
- Leadership and project management to coordinate timelines, align expectations, support governance, manage cross-site collaboration, and maintain communication with AHRQ.
8) What does "technical assistance" mean in this program?
Technical assistance refers to hands-on, practical support provided to participating state-based extension cooperatives. This includes guidance to help them plan, launch, and sustain implementation activities, troubleshoot barriers, apply evidence effectively, and strengthen operational capacity.
9) What are "learning networks" in the context of this NCC?
Learning networks are structured ways for participating teams to learn from each other. They can include peer exchange, shared problem solving, training events, communities of practice, and other activities intended to accelerate adoption of effective approaches.
10) What is expected under communications and dissemination?
The NCC is expected to translate lessons learned into clear materials, products, and messaging that can be shared across participating sites and with broader audiences, supporting spread of successful approaches beyond the original participants.
11) What is included in leadership and project management responsibilities?
Leadership and project management include coordinating timelines, aligning expectations across partners, supporting governance, managing cross-site collaboration, and maintaining steady communication with AHRQ so the program stays on track and delivers usable outputs.
12) Who are the key partners the NCC must coordinate with?
The NCC must work closely with:
- AHRQ (the federal sponsor)
- State-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives funded under a related U19 opportunity (the on-the-ground extension implementation entities)
- The National Evaluation Center (NEC) funded under a related U19 opportunity (the evaluation entity assessing performance and outcomes)
13) What is the relationship between the NCC and the state-based extension cooperatives?
The state-based extension cooperatives are responsible for on-the-ground extension work. The NCC supports them by providing technical assistance, operating learning networks, coordinating shared tools and learning, and helping align implementation approaches across sites.
14) What is the relationship between the NCC and the National Evaluation Center (NEC)?
The NEC evaluates performance and outcomes across the initiative. The NCC coordinates with the NEC to help enable consistent reporting approaches, shared learning, and coordinated dissemination so lessons learned can be captured and shared effectively.
15) Why is the NCC described as a "national hub" or "backbone infrastructure"?
The NCC is designed to provide the central coordination, shared supports, and cross-site alignment needed for a multi-state initiative to function like a coherent national program rather than a set of disconnected projects.
16) What is the activity category and CFDA number for this opportunity?
The activity category is Health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.226.
17) What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is November 25, 2024.
18) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on September 26, 2024.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities, including:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as specified)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
20) Are any specific institution types explicitly highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; and U.S. territories or possessions.
21) Are non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities eligible?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
22) Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.
23) Is the award ceiling or the number of expected awards provided?
The listing references fields for an award ceiling and expected awards, but the specific values are not provided in the information shared.
24) What does success look like for this NCC role, based on the description?
Success is described in terms of making a multi-state healthcare improvement effort run smoothly by providing practical support to state-based implementers, building shared learning structures, ensuring strong communication and dissemination, and supplying steady program leadership and management in close coordination with AHRQ and the evaluation partner.
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