Supporting Primary Care to Advance Cardiovascular Health in States with High Prevalence of Preventable CVD Events (U18) | RFA HS 20 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HS 20 002

Supporting Primary Care to Advance Cardiovascular Health in States with High Prevalence of Preventable CVD Events (U18) is a cooperative agreement funding opportunity from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) that focuses on getting proven patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) findings into day-to-day primary care practice, with an emphasis on better cardiovascular care. The core idea is not simply to produce new research, but to spread and implement existing clinical and organizational evidence in real-world primary care settings so that care quality improves in measurable ways. AHRQ signals a clear priority for states carrying the heaviest burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially where many CVD events are considered preventable, suggesting an intent to target places where better prevention, early detection, and management could have an outsized impact on outcomes.

A central goal of the initiative is to catalyze the creation or strengthening of a sustainable, state-based external quality improvement (QI) support infrastructure for primary care. In practical terms, this means building the kind of statewide support system that can help practices adopt evidence-based workflows and maintain improvements over time, rather than relying on short-lived projects that fade when funding ends. The program is designed to expand a state’s capacity not only for the current round of dissemination and implementation work, but also for future efforts to move PCOR evidence into practice. This implies an expectation that applicants will think about long-term capability building, such as statewide QI technical assistance, practice facilitation, data feedback and benchmarking supports, learning collaboratives, and other mechanisms that help many practices improve consistently and at scale.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement (U18), which typically indicates that AHRQ expects active involvement during the project period, such as substantial programmatic engagement, coordination, and shared decision-making on key aspects of the work. The opportunity falls under the health activity category and is associated with CFDA 93.226. While the provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards, it does establish the program’s intent and the kind of systems-oriented capacity building it wants to see, particularly in high-burden CVD states.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple levels of government and a wide range of organizational types. Eligible applicants listed include state governments as well as county and city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are eligible, as are federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The eligibility list also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (both categories excluding institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and an “other” category that typically covers additional entities fitting the federal eligibility framework. In addition, the notice explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized), regional organizations, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

There are also clear restrictions meant to keep the program’s impact focused on improving healthcare in the United States. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign institutions may still be involved in a limited way, such as through consortium arrangements or as subcontractors, as long as the prime applicant is eligible and U.S.-based; applications submitted by foreign institutions themselves will not be reviewed. The announcement also excludes certain lobbying organizations: organizations described under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying are not eligible.

The opportunity number is RFA HS-20-002, and the original closing date in the source data is May 25, 2020, with a creation date of February 21, 2020. Overall, the grant is aimed at states and partners that can translate PCOR findings into routine cardiovascular-related primary care improvements, while simultaneously building durable statewide QI support structures that can keep spreading and sustaining evidence-based practice changes well beyond a single funding cycle.

• The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting Primary Care to Advance Cardiovascular Health in States with High Prevalence of Preventable CVD Events (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 2020-02-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-25. (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.

Apply for RFA HS 20 002

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