By: Megan Eickmeyer
HRSA’s FY2023 Service Area Competition (SAC) grant calendar has been posted with two Notice of Funding Opportunity’s available to view (the remaining four will be released in June, July, August, and September of 2022).
To support a focus on COVID-19 emergency response, HRSA extended periods of performance for SAC grants last year and will carry forward that extension into this year. Those health centers that received an extension on their SAC deadline last year completed a BPR/NCC instead and will complete a full SAC grant this year.
For organizations that received a FY2020 SAC award that would normally have a SAC grant deadline this FY, HRSA will provide a one-year extension. These health centers will complete a BPR/NCC in 2023. So, it is advisable to double check your EHB and confirm your project period end date!
Here are five tips to help your SAC process go well:
1. Start your SAC process early. Once your clinic has identified when your SAC application is due, based on your current project period end date, make sure to have your leadership team assess if your clinic has the capacity to take on this large grant. Should you decide you will require some assistance, contact CLC as soon as possible to get on the FY 2023 SAC calendar.
2. Check that your system registrations are up to date. It is essential to verify that your clinic is up to date on your SAM.gov, Grants.gov, EHB, and Unique Entity Identifier information. A SAC application cannot be submitted without these and the process to renew them can take up to three weeks.
3. Get your materials together. Not having easy access to documents needed to complete your SAC can greatly prolong the SAC process, and every day is valuable! Early on, ensure your clinic has the following documents readily available:
· Forms 5 A, B, and C
· Prior Year’s UDS Report
· Sliding Fee Discount Schedule and Policy
· Bylaws
4. Schedule your CLC kick-off meeting. At the kick-off meeting, your team will meet with SAC experts at CLC who will lay out a plan to make your SAC application a breeze. Kick-off meetings establish what elements CLC will take on for your clinic and gets the ball rolling on the SAC process.
5. Be prepared to submit ahead of the deadline. Structuring your SAC application timeline to complete a week before the EHB deadline allows your clinic some breathing room to address any last-minute issues which may arise. Pushing your internal deadline to submit up by one week means you will have peace of mind in knowing your application is good to go, rather than being rushed up to the deadline and discovering a last-minute error that there is no time to fix.
Are you struggling with a heavy workload already and can’t imagine adding a SAC to your workload? Good news! Community Link Consulting offers diverse and customizable SAC support to help your health center submit a strong application for continued funding.
From grant writing to budget support, to general project management and form design, to reviewing contracts and submitting changes in scope in preparation for filing your SAC, let Community Link Consulting support your needs as you prepare for SAC season.
If you are planning to get started on your SAC soon and would like CLC support, please contact megane@communitylinkconsulting.com.
