Dissemination and Implementation of Equity-Focused Evidence-Based Interventions in Healthcare Delivery Systems (R18) | RFA HS 23 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HS 23 002

The grant opportunity titled "Dissemination and Implementation of Equity-Focused Evidence-Based Interventions in Healthcare Delivery Systems (R18)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HS-23-002) is a discretionary grant program offered by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) under CFDA 93.226. It supports applied health services research that moves beyond identifying effective clinical or organizational approaches and instead focuses on how to successfully put proven, equity-focused interventions into real-world healthcare delivery settings. The central aim is to fund innovative studies that test, refine, and implement evidence-based interventions designed to reduce inequities in care and outcomes, while also generating practical knowledge about what makes implementation succeed or fail across diverse systems and populations.

A defining feature of this NOFO is its emphasis on pairing implementation work with rigorous evaluation. Funded projects are expected to integrate implementation evaluation (for example, assessing adoption, fidelity, reach, feasibility, sustainability, and context) alongside outcome or impact evaluation (for example, changes in quality of care, access, patient experience, safety, utilization, or health outcomes). In other words, applicants are being asked to not only deploy an intervention, but also to measure both the "how" of implementation within healthcare delivery systems and the "so what" of whether the intervention measurably improves equity-relevant outcomes. The intent is to produce actionable evidence that healthcare organizations and policymakers can use to scale effective approaches and avoid strategies that do not translate well outside controlled research environments.

The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of public, private, and community-based entities capable of conducting health services research in partnership with healthcare delivery organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible agencies of the federal government, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized). This breadth signals an interest in funding projects that are grounded in the realities of different care settings and that can authentically engage communities disproportionately affected by inequities.

There are clear restrictions related to foreign participation. While the source text lists "Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations)" in a way that can look confusing, the eligibility statement clarifies that 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. Practically, that means applicants should be U.S.-based and propose work carried out by domestic components, which aligns with AHRQ's mission to improve healthcare quality, safety, access, and equity in the United States.

In terms of basic award details, the funding instrument is a grant and the activity category is health. The posted award ceiling is $2,500,000, indicating the program is designed for substantial, multi-component implementation and evaluation efforts rather than small pilot projects. The opportunity was created on February 15, 2023, with an original closing date of April 22, 2023. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source data, which often means final award counts depend on available appropriations, application volume and quality, and programmatic priorities.

Overall, this R18 opportunity is best understood as an implementation-oriented equity grant: it seeks projects that take interventions with existing evidence and do the hard work of embedding them into healthcare delivery systems, while producing credible evaluation findings about both implementation performance and equity-related outcomes. Applicants that are well-positioned to compete are typically those with strong partnerships with healthcare delivery organizations, the ability to recruit and retain populations experiencing disparities, a clear plan to measure implementation processes and outcomes, and a practical strategy for dissemination and scaling within real operational constraints.

• The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Dissemination and Implementation of Equity-Focused Evidence-Based Interventions in Healthcare Delivery Systems (R18)" 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 2023-02-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-22. (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 $2,500,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA HS 23 002

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