Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HS 24 002
The grant opportunity titled "Evaluation and Coordinating Center for the AHRQ/PCORI Learning Health System Embedded Scientist Training and Research Centers (U18)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HS-24-002) is a discretionary health-focused cooperative agreement from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), listed under CFDA 93.226. It was created on January 25, 2024, with an application deadline of March 29, 2024, and an award ceiling of $1,000,000. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U18), which typically means the funded organization should expect substantial involvement and ongoing collaboration with the federal sponsor compared to a standard grant.
The core purpose of the NOFO is to fund a single Evaluation and Coordinating Center that will support and connect a separate set of AHRQ and PCORI-funded Learning Health System Embedded Scientist Training and Research Centers (the LHS E-STaR Centers) that are funded under a different announcement (RFA-HS-23-001 using the P30 mechanism). In practical terms, this U18 award is meant to function as the "hub" across the network of P30 centers, helping them operate as a coordinated national initiative rather than as isolated projects.
The opportunity sets out three major responsibilities for the Evaluation and Coordinating Center. First, it must facilitate coordination of activities among and between the LHS E-STaR Centers. That implies organizing cross-center communication, aligning approaches where appropriate, creating shared processes or tools, and helping the centers learn from each other as they implement embedded scientist training and conduct related applied research inside health system settings. Second, the center must support dissemination, implementation, and uptake of LHS E-STaR outputs so they are broadly used for health system improvement. That points to work such as packaging tools and lessons learned, promoting adoption by other health systems and stakeholders, and ensuring that products coming out of the centers do not remain confined to academic publications but are made usable in real-world improvement efforts. Third, the center must conduct a multi-year mixed-method evaluation that includes both formative and summative components. Formative evaluation generally focuses on ongoing feedback to improve performance during the project (for example, identifying barriers early and helping centers adjust), while summative evaluation focuses on overall results and outcomes over time (for example, what the network achieved, what worked, and what evidence supports impacts). The mixed-method requirement indicates the evaluation is expected to draw on both quantitative and qualitative data, which is typical for initiatives that combine training, organizational change, and implementation work across diverse health system environments.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common domestic applicant types such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly excludes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) and also excludes non-domestic components of U.S. organizations, meaning the work and applicant organizational footprint must remain within allowable U.S.-based structures.
Overall, the opportunity is designed to strengthen a national learning health system initiative by creating a dedicated center responsible for cross-site coordination, practical dissemination and implementation support, and rigorous multi-year evaluation of the LHS E-STaR Centers. The end goal is not only to track what the centers do, but to help them function as a cohesive program and to ensure the outputs produced by embedded scientist training and research efforts are adopted in ways that meaningfully improve health system performance and patient care.Apply for RFA HS 24 002
- The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Evaluation and Coordinating Center for the AHRQ/PCORI Learning Health System Embedded Scientist Training and Research Centers (U18)" 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 2024-01-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- 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 title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Evaluation and Coordinating Center for the AHRQ/PCORI Learning Health System Embedded Scientist Training and Research Centers (U18)."
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-HS-24-002.
3) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary, health-focused cooperative agreement opportunity from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
4) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.226.
5) What type of award mechanism is this?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement (U18).
6) What does a U18 cooperative agreement imply for how the project will be run?
A U18 cooperative agreement typically means the funded organization should expect substantial federal involvement and ongoing collaboration with the sponsor compared to a standard grant.
7) What is the core purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to fund a single Evaluation and Coordinating Center that supports and connects a separate set of AHRQ- and PCORI-funded Learning Health System Embedded Scientist Training and Research Centers (the LHS E-STaR Centers).
8) How does this U18 award relate to the LHS E-STaR Centers?
This U18 award is intended to function as the "hub" across the network of LHS E-STaR Centers, helping them operate as a coordinated national initiative rather than as isolated projects.
9) Are the LHS E-STaR Centers funded under this same announcement?
No. The LHS E-STaR Centers are funded under a different announcement: RFA-HS-23-001, using the P30 mechanism.
10) How many awards will be made under this opportunity?
The NOFO describes funding a single Evaluation and Coordinating Center.
11) What are the main responsibilities of the Evaluation and Coordinating Center?
The NOFO describes three major responsibilities: (1) facilitate coordination of activities among and between the LHS E-STaR Centers, (2) support dissemination, implementation, and uptake of LHS E-STaR outputs for broad use in health system improvement, and (3) conduct a multi-year mixed-method evaluation with both formative and summative components.
12) What does "facilitate coordination" across centers mean in practical terms?
It implies organizing cross-center communication, aligning approaches where appropriate, creating shared processes or tools, and helping centers learn from each other as they implement embedded scientist training and conduct related applied research inside health system settings.
13) What kinds of activities are included in "dissemination, implementation, and uptake" support?
It points to packaging tools and lessons learned, promoting adoption by other health systems and stakeholders, and ensuring outputs do not remain confined to academic publications but are made usable in real-world improvement efforts.
14) What is meant by a "multi-year mixed-method evaluation"?
It means the evaluation is expected to use both quantitative and qualitative data over multiple years, which is common for initiatives that combine training, organizational change, and implementation work across diverse health system environments.
15) What is the difference between formative and summative evaluation in this NOFO?
Formative evaluation focuses on ongoing feedback to improve performance during the project (such as identifying barriers early and supporting adjustments). Summative evaluation focuses on overall results and outcomes over time (such as what the network achieved, what worked, and what evidence supports impacts).
16) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on January 25, 2024.
17) What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is March 29, 2024.
18) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
20) Are there specific types of institutions explicitly highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The NOFO explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.
21) Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. The NOFO excludes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
22) Can a U.S. organization apply if the project includes non-U.S. components?
No. The NOFO also excludes non-domestic components of U.S. organizations, meaning the work and applicant organizational footprint must remain within allowable U.S.-based structures.
23) What is the overall goal of creating this Evaluation and Coordinating Center?
The overall goal is to strengthen a national learning health system initiative by creating a dedicated center responsible for cross-site coordination, practical dissemination and implementation support, and rigorous multi-year evaluation of the LHS E-STaR Centers so that outputs are adopted in ways that improve health system performance and patient care.
24) Is this award focused only on tracking what the centers do?
No. The NOFO frames the role as both evaluative and operational: helping the centers function as a cohesive program and supporting dissemination and uptake so outputs are used for real-world health system improvement.
25) What is the name of the network this center will support?
The network consists of the Learning Health System Embedded Scientist Training and Research Centers, referred to as the LHS E-STaR Centers.
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