Technical AssistancePREFERENCES and PRIORITIES

Bureau of Health ProfessionsHRSA

September 2012

Funding Priority

A funding priority is defined as the favorable adjustment of combined review scores of individually approved applications when applications meet specified criteria.

Funding Priority

• An adjustment is made by a set, pre-determined number of points that will be added to the application score.

• Funding priorities vary by grant program.

• Detailed instructions/information about specific funding priorities will always be found in Section V.2 of the FOA (Review and Selection Process).

Sample Priorities

Within Title VII primary care programs, common priorities include:

• Having a record of training the greatest percentage of providers, or that have demonstrated significant improvements in the percentage of providers trained

• Having a record of training individuals from underrepresented minority groups or from a rural or disadvantaged background

• Providing training in the care of vulnerable populations

• Teaching trainees the skills to provide interprofessional, integrated care through collaboration among health professionals.

Meeting Priorities

• Show how each requested priority has been satisfied.• Do not superficially address multiple priorities.• Address at least one priority through

curriculum and behavior change, applying the priority in the most suitable way for the patient populations, communities, learners and resources.

• Request for a priority should show a rich and sustained intervention that addresses the priority.

• Provide data. Often historical data is needed to demonstrate meeting a priority.

Funding Preference

A funding preference is defined as the funding of a specific category or group of approved applications ahead of other categories or groups of applications. A funding preference is an adjustment to the rank of an application.

Funding Preference

• Applications receiving a preference will be placed in a more competitive position among applications that can be funded.

• All applications, including those who receive and those who do not receive a funding preference, will be given full and equitable consideration during the review process.

• Funding preferences vary by grant program.

Funding Preference

• Detailed instructions/information about specific funding preferences will always be found in Section V.2 of the FOA (Review and Selection Process).

• A funding preference is granted to any qualified applicant that specifically requests the preference and meets the criteria for the preference.

• Generally, BHPr policy is that funding preferences are not available to applicants ranked at or below the 20th percentile of the applicant pool.

Sample Preferences

Common Title VII preferences include:• Applicants that have a high rate for placing graduates

in practice settings having the principal focus of servicing residents of medically underserved communities.

• During the preceding 2-year period, has achieved a significant increase in the rate of placing graduates in such settings.

• Utilizes a longitudinal evaluation.

Common Title VIII preferences include:• Projects that will substantially benefit rural or

underserved populations, or help meet public health nursing needs in State or local health departments.

Meeting Preferences

Provide a statement identifying the appropriate preference, and requesting the preference.

Show how the requested preference has been satisfied.

• Do not address multiple preferences.• Provide specific rationale to justify how the

selected funding preference will be met through program activities and outcomes.