Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 12 008
Apply for HRSA 12 008
- The Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers of Excellence Program (COE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.157 Centers of Excellence.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 29, 2012 and posted on Feb 10, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 2, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- With the exception of Centers of Excellence programs at four designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities, eligible applicants are accredited allopathic schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or graduate programs in behavioral or mental health that meet the requirements of Section 736(c) of the PHS Act. With respect to COE programs at the four designated HBCUs, eligible applicants are schools described in Section 799B(1) of the PHS Act which received a contract under Section 788B of the PHS Act (Advanced Financial Distress Assistance) for Fiscal Year l987 (see Four Designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities ).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Centers of Excellence Program (COE) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under Title VII, Section 736 of the Public Health Service Act, as updated by the Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148). The program is designed to strengthen the nations health workforce by helping health professions schools become strong, sustained hubs for recruiting, training, and retaining underrepresented minority (URM) students and faculty. A key idea behind COE is that improving diversity in the health professions is not just about admissions numbers; it requires long-term investments in preparation pipelines, student support, faculty development, curriculum quality, and community-based training that connects education to real-world care in underserved settings. The legislation also updated the way funding is allocated when appropriations rise above $40 million, specifying a method to distribute those additional funds among awarded schools that serve URM individuals.
The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HRSA-12-008; CFDA 93.157) solicits both new applications and competitive continuation applications, meaning existing COE-funded institutions could re-compete alongside new applicants. HRSA anticipated making about 14 awards with an estimated total funding level of $20.5 million for the cycle described in the notice. Cost sharing or matching is not required, which lowers the barrier for eligible institutions that may have limited discretionary funds but strong programmatic capacity.
COE grantees are expected to operate as innovative resource and education centers within their institutions. In practice, this means building or expanding structured programming that supports URM learners from early recruitment through graduation and into professional practice, while also strengthening the environment that supports URM faculty. Grantees are also expected to improve the educational experience for all students by enhancing information resources, clinical education, curricula, and cultural competence related to minority health issues. Another major emphasis is research: schools are encouraged to facilitate faculty and student research focused on health concerns that disproportionately affect URM communities, including research related to health care delivery. The broader, long-term goal is to increase the national supply of well-trained health professionals whose racial and ethnic diversity more closely reflects the U.S. population.
Applications must explicitly address seven legislative requirements. First, applicants must show how they will develop a large and competitive applicant pool by building linkages with colleges and universities, local school districts, and community-based organizations, effectively creating a pipeline into health careers. Second, they must establish, strengthen, or expand programs that improve URM student academic performance, which can include structured academic supports, mentoring, advising, and other retention-focused interventions. Third, they must improve the schools ability to train, recruit, and retain URM faculty, including the use of stipends and fellowships when appropriate. Fourth, they must carry out activities that improve information resources, clinical education, curricula, and cultural competence in relation to minority health issues, ensuring graduates are better prepared to serve diverse populations. Fifth, they must facilitate faculty and student research on health issues affecting URM groups, including research on health care delivery challenges and solutions. Sixth, they must train students to provide health care services to a significant number of URM individuals in community-based health facilities located away from the main teaching site, reinforcing community-engaged training and exposure to underserved care settings. Seventh, they must provide stipends in amounts deemed appropriate by the Secretary, reinforcing the programs focus on tangible support mechanisms that help URM students and faculty succeed.
Eligibility is limited and tied closely to statute. Generally, eligible applicants (outside of certain designated institutions) are accredited allopathic medical schools, osteopathic medical schools, dental schools, pharmacy schools, or graduate programs in behavioral or mental health that meet the requirements in Section 736(c) of the Public Health Service Act. The announcement also identifies a specific eligibility pathway for Centers of Excellence programs at four designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), referencing Section 799B(1) of the Act and a historic connection to Advanced Financial Distress Assistance contracts from fiscal year 1987 under Section 788B. In other words, most applicants must be accredited health professions schools in specified disciplines that meet statutory COE requirements, with a special statutory category carved out for a small number of designated HBCU programs.
Key administrative details in the notice include a posted date of February 10, 2012, with an application closing date of April 2, 2012, and an archive date of June 1, 2012. Applicants seeking the full announcement and instructions were directed to HRSA resources, with support available through the HRSA Call Center (877-464-4772) or CallCenter@HRSA.GOV.
Centers of Excellence (COE) Program (HRSA) - FAQs
What is the Centers of Excellence (COE) Program?
The Centers of Excellence (COE) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under Title VII, Section 736 of the Public Health Service Act (as updated by the Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148). It supports health professions schools in becoming sustained hubs for recruiting, training, and retaining underrepresented minority (URM) students and faculty.
What is the main purpose of the COE Program?
The program is designed to strengthen the nation's health workforce by improving diversity in the health professions through long-term investments in preparation pipelines, student support, faculty development, curriculum quality, and community-based training connected to care in underserved settings.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
HRSA (the Health Resources and Services Administration) administers this opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HRSA-12-008 and the CFDA number is 93.157.
Is this opportunity for new applicants, existing grantees, or both?
Both. The notice solicits new applications and competitive continuation applications, meaning existing COE-funded institutions can re-compete alongside new applicants.
How many awards was HRSA expecting to make, and what was the estimated total funding?
HRSA anticipated making about 14 awards with an estimated total funding level of $20.5 million for the cycle described in the notice.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required.
What does it mean for COE grantees to operate as "innovative resource and education centers"?
COE grantees are expected to build or expand structured programming that supports URM learners from early recruitment through graduation and into professional practice, while also strengthening the environment that supports URM faculty.
Does the COE Program focus only on admissions and enrollment?
No. A key idea behind COE is that improving diversity is not just about admissions numbers. The program emphasizes long-term, sustained investments such as pipeline development, student supports and retention, faculty development, curriculum enhancements, and community-based training experiences.
What kinds of educational improvements are COE grantees expected to make?
Grantees are expected to improve the educational experience for all students by enhancing information resources, clinical education, curricula, and cultural competence related to minority health issues.
Is research part of the COE Program?
Yes. Schools are encouraged to facilitate faculty and student research focused on health concerns that disproportionately affect URM communities, including research related to health care delivery.
What is the long-term outcome HRSA is trying to achieve through COE?
The broader, long-term goal is to increase the national supply of well-trained health professionals whose racial and ethnic diversity more closely reflects the U.S. population.
What are the seven legislative requirements that applications must address?
Applications must explicitly address seven legislative requirements:
- Develop a large and competitive applicant pool by building linkages with colleges and universities, local school districts, and community-based organizations (pipeline development).
- Establish, strengthen, or expand programs that improve URM student academic performance (such as academic supports, mentoring, advising, and retention-focused interventions).
- Improve the school's ability to train, recruit, and retain URM faculty, including stipends and fellowships when appropriate.
- Carry out activities that improve information resources, clinical education, curricula, and cultural competence in relation to minority health issues.
- Facilitate faculty and student research on health issues affecting URM groups, including research on health care delivery challenges and solutions.
- Train students to provide health care services to a significant number of URM individuals in community-based health facilities located away from the main teaching site.
- Provide stipends in amounts deemed appropriate by the Secretary.
What does the COE Program mean by "pipeline" linkages?
The program expects applicants to show how they will build linkages with colleges and universities, local school districts, and community-based organizations to create a pathway (or pipeline) into health careers and to develop a large, competitive applicant pool.
What types of student support are contemplated under the academic performance requirement?
The notice highlights structured academic supports, mentoring, advising, and other retention-focused interventions as examples of activities that can help improve URM student academic performance.
What does the program require related to URM faculty?
Applicants must address how they will improve the school's ability to train, recruit, and retain URM faculty. The notice indicates that stipends and fellowships may be used when appropriate.
What is expected regarding cultural competence and curriculum?
Applicants must include activities that improve information resources, clinical education, curricula, and cultural competence as they relate to minority health issues, with the intent of preparing graduates to serve diverse populations more effectively.
What kinds of community-based training does COE emphasize?
The legislation requires training students to provide health care services to a significant number of URM individuals in community-based health facilities located away from the main teaching site. This reinforces community-engaged training and exposure to underserved care settings.
Does the program require stipends?
Yes. One of the seven legislative requirements is to provide stipends in amounts deemed appropriate by the Secretary.
Who is eligible to apply under the general eligibility category?
Generally, eligible applicants are accredited allopathic medical schools, osteopathic medical schools, dental schools, pharmacy schools, or graduate programs in behavioral or mental health that meet the requirements in Section 736(c) of the Public Health Service Act.
Is there a special eligibility pathway for certain HBCU programs?
Yes. The announcement identifies a specific eligibility pathway for Centers of Excellence programs at four designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), referencing Section 799B(1) of the Act and a historic connection to Advanced Financial Distress Assistance contracts from fiscal year 1987 under Section 788B.
What statutory authority is cited for the COE Program?
The notice cites Title VII, Section 736 of the Public Health Service Act (as updated by the Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148). It also references Section 736(c) for eligibility requirements, and for the designated HBCU category it references Section 799B(1) and Section 788B (historical contracts).
How does the Affordable Care Act affect this program?
The program is described as updated by the Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148), including an update to the way additional funds are allocated when appropriations rise above $40 million, specifying a method to distribute additional funds among awarded schools that serve URM individuals.
What happens if appropriations rise above $40 million?
The legislation updated the way funding is allocated in that scenario, specifying a method to distribute funds above $40 million among awarded schools that serve URM individuals.
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The notice lists a posted date of February 10, 2012, an application closing date of April 2, 2012, and an archive date of June 1, 2012.
Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement and instructions?
Applicants were directed to HRSA resources for the full announcement and instructions.
Who can applicants contact for help with the announcement?
Support was available through the HRSA Call Center at (877) 464-4772 or by email at CallCenter@HRSA.GOV.
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