NEPQR:
The NEPQR program provides grant support for academic, service, and continuing education projects designed to enhance nursing education, improve the quality of patient care, increase nurse retention, and strengthen the nursing workforce.

The NEPQR program has broad statutory authority

credit: Nick Amoscato/CC/flickr

to address the development and enhancement of the nursing workforce.

The three priority areas defined in statute are (1) Education, (2) Practice, and (3) Retention.



NEPQR - Veterans Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing program (VBSN):
The Veterans Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) program?s aim is to strengthen the quality of care and expand the nursing workforce through increased enrollment of veterans in baccalaureate nursing programs.

The VBSN program supports the development and implementation of innovative practice models that enable veterans to earn baccalaureate nursing degrees.

The program expands employment opportunities for veterans and prepares them to make the transition from their former military role to that of a civilian nurse.

NEPQR-IPCP: Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) program:
The NEPQR-IPCP:BHI program aims to expand the evidence-based practice of integrating behavioral health providers into nurse-led primary care teams in order to increase access to care, enhance care coordination and improve patient outcomes in vulnerable and/or underserved community-based settings.

NEPQR-BSN Practicums in Community Settings (BPCS) program: The NEPQR-BPCS program aims to increase experiential training opportunities for senior-level BSN students in primary care community-based settings by (1) establishing and expanding upon academic-practice partnerships between schools of nursing and community-based clinical sites; and (2) providing senior-level BSN students with meaningful clinical experiences and training in medically underserved and rural communities.

This experiential training will lead to increased competencies in primary care and ultimately improved distribution of the nursing workforce.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds may be used for salaries of personnel specifically employed for the project; consultant fees; supplies and equipment necessary to conduct the project; essential travel expenses and other expenses related to the project.

Restricted Uses: Indirect costs under training awards to organizations other than State, local or American Indian tribal governments will be budgeted and reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement, and are not subject to upward or downward adjustment. Student support through stipends, tuition, and fees is not eligible for support.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

NEPQR, NEPQR-VBSN NEPQR-IPCP:BHI, NEPQR-BPCS: Eligible applicants are: accredited schools of nursing, health care facilities, a partnership of such a school and a health care facility.

A health care facility may include a nurse-managed health center, Indian Health Service health center, Native Hawaiian health center, hospital, Federally-qualified health center, rural health clinic, nursing home, home health agency, hospice program, public health clinic, State or local department of public health, skilled nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, or any other facility designated by the Secretary (see PHS Act section 801(11)).

Eligible faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government and Native American Organizations may apply for these funds.

In addition to the 50 States, only the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S.

Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau are eligible to apply under this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

The eligible applicant must be capable of carrying out the legislative purpose of the NEPQR program.

For the NEPQR-BPCS program, lead applicants must apply in a partnership structure.

The lead applicant, if a school of nursing, must apply in partnership with at least one health care facility.

Likewise, the lead applicant, if a health care facility must apply in partnership with at least one school of nursing Schools of nursing providing undergraduate education and formal degree programs must be accredited by a national nurse education accrediting agency or State approval agency recognized by the Secretary of the U.S.

Department of Education.

Newly established programs and those that are established but not yet accredited must contact a national nursing accrediting body recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education before requesting a reasonable assurance letter from the U.S.

Department of Education.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Project participants, or students in the program, must be U.S. Citizens, non-citizen nationals, or foreign nationals who possess visas permitting permanent residence in the United States. Individuals on temporary student visas are not eligible. VBSN Project Participants must be honorably or generally discharged service members or reservists, with prior medical training, who have not yet earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants should review the individual HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted with an application package. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov. All eligible, qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions. Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Award.

Award Procedures

Notification of award is made in writing (electronic) by a Notice of Award.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Section 831 and 831A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296p and 42 U.S.C. 296p-1).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 120 - 180 days after receipt of applications.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Depending on Agency priorities and availability of funding, during the final budget year of the approved project period competing continuation applications may be solicited from interested applicants.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. The recipient must agree to maintain non-federal funding for grant activities at a level which is not less than expenditures for such activities during the fiscal year prior to receiving the award.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

NEPQR-Veteran?s Bachelor of Science in Nursing: This funding opportunity provides support for a 3-year project period. NEPQR-IPCP: Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) program: This funding opportunity provides support for a 2-year project period. NEPQR-IPCP program: This funding opportunity provides support for a 3-year project period. NEPQR-BSN Practicums in Community Settings (BPCS) program:. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Recipients draw down funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Both program and financial reports are required.

The recipient will be required to submit annual performance and progress reports.

Cash reports are not applicable.

A Federal Financial Report (SF-425) is required according to the schedule in HRSA?s Application Guide.

A final report is due within 90 days after the project period ends.

If applicable, the recipient must submit a Tangible Personal Property Report (SF-428) and any related forms within 90 days after the project period ends.

New awards (?Type 1?) issued under this notice of funding opportunity are subject to the reporting requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006 (Pub.

L.

109?282), as amended by section 6202 of Public Law 110?252, and implemented by 2 CFR Part 170.

Grant and cooperative agreement recipients must report information for each first-tier subaward of $25,000 or more in federal funds and executive total compensation for the recipient?s and subrecipient?s five most highly compensated executives as outlined in Appendix A to 2 CFR Part 170 (The FFATA details are available online at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/ffata.html).

Competing continuation recipients may be subject to this requirement and will be so notified in the Notice of Award.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

Records

Recipients are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the date they submit the Federal Financial Report (FFR). If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3 year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3 year period, whichever is later.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0350-0-1-550.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 16 $22,860,063; FY 17 est $16,180,395; and FY 18 est $0 - NEPQR-IPCP. (Cooperative Agreements) FY 16 $4,321,275; FY 17 est $9,642,645; and FY 18 est $0 - NEPQR-IPCP:BHI. (Project Grants) FY 16 $9,639,618; FY 17 est $9,517,638; and FY 18 est $0 - NEPQR-VBSN. (Project Grants) FY 16 $3,115,607; FY 17 est $3,101,223; and FY 18 est $0 - NEPQR-BPCS.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range and Average of Financial Assistance (123): NEPQR-VBSN: FY16 Range: $131,830-$350,000, Average: $310,955; FY 17 Range: $131,830-$350,000, Average $310,955; FY 18 $0.00. NEPQR-IPCP: FY16 Range $133,581-$575,381, Average: $316,496; FY 17 Range: $368,385-$500,000, Average: $457,619; FY 18 $0.00 NEPQR-IPCP:BHI: FY16 Range: $350,000-$500,000, Average: $480,142; FY 17 Range: $350,000-$500,000, Average $487,935; FY 18 $0.00 NEPQR-BPCS: FY 16 Range $102,845-$499,573, Average $356,285; FY 17 Range: $127,225-$499,939, Average $345,102.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

All administrative and audit requirements and the cost principles that govern Federal monies associated with this activity will be subject to the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 as codified by HHS at 45 CFR 75. HRSA awards are also subject to the requirements of the HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) that are applicable based on recipient type and purpose of award. The HHS GPS is available at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/hhsgrantspolicy.pdf.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

NEPQR-IPCP/NEPQR-IPCP:BHI: Kirk Koyama, Nurse Consultant, Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11N-104A,, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone: 301-443-4926 Fax: 301-443-0791

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Procedures for assessing the technical merit of grant applications have been instituted to provide an objective review of applications and to assist the applicant in understanding the standards against which each application will be judged. Critical indicators have been developed for each review criterion to assist the applicant in presenting pertinent information related to that criterion and to provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation. Competing applications are reviewed by non-Federal expert consultant(s) for technical merit recommendations. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria: (1) Purpose and Need; (2) Response to Program Purpose; (3) Impact; (4) Organizational Information, Resources and Capabilities; and (5) Support Requested. See the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed selection criteria.