Service Area Competition | HRSA 22 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 22 004

The Service Area Competition (SAC) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HRSA 22-004) is a discretionary grant program run by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It falls under the Health Center Program (CFDA 93.224) and is focused on maintaining and strengthening primary health care access for medically underserved communities in the United States. The core intent is continuity: this funding is designed to ensure that communities already being served through the Health Center Program continue to receive comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary care services without disruption.

SAC is aimed at community-based, patient-directed organizations that deliver primary health care services, with an emphasis on serving medically underserved populations. In practical terms, the opportunity supports entities that operate or propose to operate as health centers under the Health Center Program model, where care is organized around community need, broad access, and patient governance principles. While the notice emphasizes domestic public or private, nonprofit organizations, the eligibility list is broad and includes various government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts), federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions), and also for-profit entities (including small businesses). The listing also notes an "Others" category, indicating that additional eligibility nuances may be described in the full eligibility section of the notice.

From an operational standpoint, the SAC NOFO supports the ongoing delivery of comprehensive primary care services, meaning applicants are generally expected to provide a wide range of front-line health services rather than a narrow, single-purpose program. The description highlights culturally competent care, which signals that applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how services will be responsive to the language, cultural, and community context of the populations served. The emphasis on high-quality care further implies that applicants should have systems and processes that support effective service delivery and accountability, consistent with HRSA health center expectations.

Key administrative details include an opportunity creation date of June 14, 2021, and an original application closing date of August 13, 2021. HRSA anticipated making about 40 awards under this competition. The notice lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that a single fixed maximum award amount is not specified in the summary field and that award sizes may vary based on the service area, scope, or other program-specific determinations described in the full NOFO.

Overall, the SAC opportunity is best understood as a mechanism HRSA uses to preserve stable primary care infrastructure in underserved areas by competitively funding organizations to continue serving specific health center service areas. The program’s focus is not simply on launching new services, but on ensuring uninterrupted access to essential primary health care for communities already connected to the Health Center Program network.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Service Area Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.224.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 13, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HRSA 22 004

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