Evaluation of AHRQ Initiative to Accelerate the Dissemination and Implementation of PCOR Findings into Primary Care (R01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) discretionary research grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HS-14-009) to support a rigorous, independent (external) evaluation of an AHRQ-supported initiative. The initiative is focused on spreading and putting into routine use patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) findings in primary care.

What is the main purpose of the evaluation being funded?

The central purpose is to assess how well the AHRQ-supported initiative helps primary care practices translate PCOR evidence into day-to-day clinical workflows, with a particular emphasis on improving heart health. The evaluation is also expected to measure whether the initiative builds lasting practice capacity to implement PCOR findings beyond the life of the project.

Is this grant for creating a new clinical intervention?

No. The FOA specifies an external evaluation, meaning the funded work is positioned as an independent assessment of an existing AHRQ-funded dissemination and implementation initiative, rather than proposing a brand-new clinical intervention from scratch.

What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity uses the R01 grant mechanism.

What is the CFDA number and associated program area?

The opportunity falls under CFDA 93.226, titled Research on Healthcare Costs, Quality and Outcomes, and is described as a health-related research activity area.

What does AHRQ mean by a "rigorous" evaluation in this FOA?

Based on the FOA description, AHRQ is looking for an evaluation that credibly determines what was implemented, how it was implemented, how implementation varied across settings, what outcomes were achieved, and what factors enabled or hindered success. The emphasis on rigor implies strong design choices, such as well-justified evaluation frameworks, clear analytic plans, and careful measurement suited to real-world primary care environments.

What types of questions should the evaluation answer?

The FOA indicates the evaluation should be able to determine: (1) what was implemented, (2) how it was implemented, (3) how implementation varied across different primary care settings, (4) what outcomes were achieved, and (5) what factors supported or impeded success.

What aspects of implementation are expected to be examined?

The evaluation is expected to examine both process and results, including the dissemination and implementation strategies used to move PCOR findings into primary care, the degree to which practices adopt and sustain those findings, and how implementation varies across diverse practice environments.

What outcomes should the evaluation consider?

The FOA indicates the evaluation should consider impacts on care processes and, where feasible, heart-health-related outcomes. It should also address whether the initiative builds lasting practice capacity to implement PCOR findings beyond the project period.

Why is heart health specifically mentioned?

The FOA places particular emphasis on improving heart health as a focal area for assessing translation of PCOR evidence into routine primary care workflows and for examining heart-health-related outcomes where feasible.

What is meant by "external" or "independent" evaluation?

In this FOA, external evaluation means the evaluator is conducting an independent assessment of an AHRQ-supported dissemination and implementation initiative. The intent is for the evaluation to be rigorous and credible as an independent assessment of what the initiative did and what it achieved.

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

When was the FOA posted, and what were the key dates?

The FOA was posted and created on March 11, 2014. The original and current application due date is July 3, 2014. The archive date is August 3, 2014.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of the award.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governments. Eligible applicants listed include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows certain other applicants as described in the announcement, including eligible agencies of the federal government and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign institutions, are explicitly not eligible to apply. The evaluation must be led by a U.S.-based organization.

Can tribal governments and tribal organizations apply?

Yes. The FOA supports tribal participation through eligibility for federally recognized Native American tribal governments and also Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA states that faith-based or community-based organizations are among the applicants allowed, as described in the announcement.

What is the expected focus of a competitive application?

Based on the FOA description, a competitive application would propose a well-justified evaluation framework and methodology suited to real-world primary care environments. This includes attention to implementation context, measurement of adoption and fidelity, indicators of practice capacity-building, and outcomes relevant to heart health and quality of care.

Does the FOA indicate specific methodological expectations?

The FOA emphasizes rigor and suggests strong design choices may include mixed-methods approaches, comparative or quasi-experimental designs where appropriate, validated measures, and clear analytic plans, along with strategies for capturing variation across diverse primary care practices.

What does the evaluation need to capture across different settings?

The FOA states that the evaluation should assess how implementation varied across settings and should include thoughtful strategies for capturing variation across diverse primary care practices.

Where can applicants find the full announcement?

The full announcement was made available through an AHRQ/NIH grants posting linked in the opportunity record.

Who should be contacted for technical problems accessing the announcement link?

For technical difficulties accessing or linking to the announcement, the contact provided is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.