Get answers to questions about the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Quality Improvement Fund- Improving Access to Dental Services for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (QIF-DNDD) funding opportunity.
Submit other questions through the BPHC Contact Form. Under Funding, select Applications for Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) as the question type, then select Quality Improvement Fund (QIF).
On this page:
- Getting started
- Eligibility
- Application development
- Budget
- Allowable activities and costs
- Minor alteration/renovation (A/R) and equipment
Getting Started
How can I access the QIF-DNDD NOFO and application package?
- View the HRSA-26-062 grant opportunity on Grants.gov.
- Select:
- Package
- Preview in the Actions column
- Download Instructions in the Opportunity Package Details to access the NOFO Instructions
- Links to view the forms to be submitted in Grants.gov
- APPLY to use the Grants.gov Workspace
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Will the QIF-DNDD application have a HRSA Electronic Handbook (EHBs) component?
No. You will complete your QIF-DNDD application in Grants.gov only.
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Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply for QIF-DNDD funding?
To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria at the time of application submission:
- Be a Health Center Program award recipient with an active H80 award. A Health Center Program H80 award is funded under section 330 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.
- Provide preventive and additional dental services in at least one directly-operated in-scope service site in your Health Center Program scope of project.
You are not eligible to apply if you have received any of the following awards:
- QIF-Optimizing Virtual Care (HRSA-22-097)
- QIF-Maternal Health (HRSA-23-027)
- QIF-Transitions in Care for Justice-Involved Populations (HRSA-25-005).
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Application development
What is the population of focus for QIF-DNDD funding?
The population of focus for QIF-DNDD funding is children under 21 years old with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) such as autism spectrum disorder or Down Syndrome.
Please refer to the NOFO for the definition of NDDs. Appendix C includes a sample list of related ICD-10 diagnostic codes that may be used to identify NDDs. This list is not exhaustive.
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How do you define dental services?
Dental services to be supported by QIF-DNDD funding are defined as those provided by or under the supervision of a dentist. Services can be provided by a dentist directly employed by the health center or by a dentist via formal written contract or agreement who performs dental services in at least one directly-operated in-scope health center service site.
Dental services includes those outlined in the Service Descriptors for Form 5A: Services Provided (PDF - 454 KB) under preventive and additional dental services. Services can include, but are not limited to, diagnosis and treatment of disease, injury, or impairment in the teeth. Imaging, x-rays, fillings, extractions, periodontal therapies, bridges, dentures and non-surgical endodontics are all dental services.
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The NOFO states that my proposed project must implement specific evidence-based models and innovative approaches that will increase access to dental services for children with NDDs. How can I show that my proposed project fulfills these requirements?
In your application, you must describe how you plan to implement and evaluate innovative approaches that will increase access to dental services for children with NDDs. You can use models of care that have evidence of effectiveness in settings other than primary care.
Clearly explain how you used feedback from health center patients, community members and partners to develop your project.
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Is there a list of required evidence-based models and innovative approaches?
No. You can choose the evidence-based models and innovative approaches you want to implement, but they should be informed by feedback gathered from patients, community members and partners.
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What outcome measures are health centers responsible for developing?
You will develop two of your own outcome measures for this project: one to capture community engagement, and one to capture patient experience. You will report data for these measures every 6 months. HRSA and the HRSA-funded coordination and evaluation center may provide recommendations to recipients on measures to best capture the outcomes.
You will also report on a set of HRSA-determined quantitative measures every 6 months. These measures will include, but are not limited to, the three measures listed in the NOFO.
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What will award recipients be expected to report on?
There are three required reporting elements for the QIF-DNDD award:
- Monthly qualitative progress reports: Award recipients will report on their project activities each month, as well as challenges and successes related to each activity.
- Bi-annual reports: Every 6 months, award recipients will report on a set of quantitative quality measures. These measures will differ from UDS measures and will be specific to a subset of the health center’s patient population (for example, children with NDDs) in a 6-month time frame.
- Final Report: Within 120 days of the end of the period of performance, award recipients will complete a final report detailing their achievements and experience over the two years. The report must also include data demonstrating how project objectives were met.
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How will QIF-DNDD award recipients and the HRSA-funded coordination and evaluation center engage with each other?
Award recipients will participate in a collaborative learning environment and engage in technical assistance and evaluation activities with HRSA, other QIF-DNDD award recipients, and the HRSA-funded coordination and evaluation center.
Award recipients will also collect and share data with the HRSA-funded coordination and evaluation center to support ongoing evaluation of the QIF-DNDD innovations and help HRSA understand what activities or innovations can be shared more broadly across the Health Center Program and potentially scaled by other health centers.
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What are the expectations for patient and community input?
You must gather input from health center patients and their caregivers whose lives are impacted by NDDs, community members, and community partners to inform the development and evaluation of your proposed project.
Your application must also include at least one letter of support (Attachment 3: Letter of Support) from a community partner that currently works with children with NDDs, advocates for their needs, or has subject matter expertise in this topic area. The letter must document support for your project.
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Will HRSA provide a template to help me develop my Project Work Plan (PWP)?
No specific format is required for your PWP. However, you must ensure that your PWP is in a table format, easy to follow, and includes all the required information. See Appendix A of the NOFO for detailed instructions to help you develop your PWP.
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Is the health center board required to approve the QIF-DNDD application?
Yes. Board minutes should show that the board approved your application and budget. However, you are not required to submit your board minutes within your application.
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Can QIF-DNDD affect my H80 patient target?
No. Since these are one‑time funds, patient projections in your QIF-DNDD PWP will not be added to your H80 patient target. However, if you receive a QIF-DNDD award, patients may be included in your Uniform Data System (UDS) report that you submit to HRSA. See the 2025 UDS Manual (PDF - 4 MB) for more information.
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Do I need to project a minimum number of patients to be served by this funding?
No. However, in your application, you must describe and provide data on the dental health needs of children with NDDs living in your service area and the proportion of children with NDDs who had a dental visit or an established dental treatment plan at your health center in the past 12 months. You must also describe how patient and community input informed identification of these dental health needs.
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Can I add dental services to my Health Center Program scope of project through the QIF-DNDD funding opportunity?
No. Eligible applicants must already be providing preventive and additional dental services in at least one directly-operated in-scope service site in their scope of project at the time of application submission.
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Can I add additional health center services that may support improved dental outcomes for children with NDDs?
Yes. If there are additional health center services not currently included in your H80 scope of project that will support improved dental health outcomes for children with NDDs, you may submit a CIS request post-award.
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Budget
How do I complete the fields in the SF-424 submitted to Grants.gov?
See the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) form instructions (PDF - 333 KB) on Grants.gov. The following table tells you how to respond to specific sections.
| Box Number | Field | Response |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Type of Submission | Application |
| 2 | Type of Application | New |
| 3 | Date Received | Leave blank (completed automatically in Grants.gov) |
| 4 | Applicant Identifier | Enter your 10-digit H80 number (not required in the SF-424, but you will upload this information under Attachment 2: Program Specific Forms) |
| 5a, 5b | Federal Entity Identifier, Federal Award Identifier | Leave blank |
| 12 | Funding Opportunity Number | HRSA-26-062 |
| 14 | Areas Affected by Project | List where you will implement your QIF-DNDD project. You do not need to include the attachment. |
| 15 | Descriptive Title of Applicant’s project | “Quality Improvement Fund – Improving Access to Dental Services for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (QIF-DNDD)” |
| 16 | Congressional Districts | Include the congressional district for your main site. You do not need to include the attachment. |
| 17 | Proposed Project Start and End Dates | The period of performance is September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2028. |
| 18 | Estimated Funding ($) | Enter the amount of QIF-DNDD funding requested in a—Federal box (You can enter up to $2,000,000). |
| 19 | Is Application Subject to Review Under Executive Order 12372 Process? | To find your state’s approach, review the HHS Intergovernmental Review Guidance (PDF - 94 KB). Select b. if the program is subject to E.O. 12372 but has not been selected by the State for review. |
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How should I present my funding request on the SF-424A and budget narrative attachment?
You can request up to $2,000,000 in QIF-DNDD funding for the entire two-year period of performance.
In Sections A-C of your SF-424A, record information for the entire two-year period of performance.
Sections D-E can be left blank.
In Section F, enter the type of indirect rate (provisional, predetermined, final, fixed, or de minimis).
In your Budget Narrative, break out federal and non-federal funding by object class category (with detail and staff justification table) in each year of the two-year period of performance. You can divide your funding across the two years in the way that best supports your project. For example, you may budget $1,200,000 in Year 1 and $800,000 in Year 2 for a total budget of $2,000,000. If you propose to use QIF-DNDD funds for equipment and one minor A/R project, you must complete the minor A/R forms and Equipment List form. Include the total amount of equipment and the minor A/R project in your budget narrative. Your minor A/R project must not exceed $250,000 in federal funds and must be completed at one directly-operated in-scope service site within year 1 of the period of performance. The total federal and non-federal cost of your minor A/R project must be less than $500,000.
The minor A/R budget justification supports the information you provide in Section B: Object Class Categories of the SF-424A for the Construction and Equipment lines. It includes the service site location, total QIF-DNDD funding request, total funding from other sources (if applicable), total project cost, an itemized breakdown and justification of the allowable and unallowable costs, and summary of the minor A/R project. The document must align with your Budget Narrative with Staff Justification Table, SF-424A, and Equipment List Form.
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Will funding continue beyond the two-year period of performance?
No. This is a one-time funding opportunity with a two-year period of performance.
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Should I include contract FTEs in the staff justification table?
Yes. You must include all direct hire and contract FTEs that you will support with QIF-DNDD funding. See the sample Budget Narrative on the QIF-DNDD technical assistance webpage for more information.
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Does the federal executive salary limitation apply to QIF-DNDD funding?
Yes. QIF-DNDD funds may not be used to pay an individual at a rate over the Federal Executive Level II, which is $228,000 (effective January 1, 2026). This is the individual’s annualized base salary, including bonuses and overtime. It does not include fringe.
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Allowable activities and costs
What activities can QIF-DNDD funding support?
All activities must align with QIF-DNDD’s purpose. The approval of your project and activities under this NOFO is limited to the two-year period of performance.
Examples of allowable activities include workforce training and development, enabling and patient support services, health information technology, and dental-related equipment and minor A/R. This is not an exhaustive list. See the NOFO for more information.
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Can I propose to purchase a mobile unit?
Yes. You may spend up to $250,000 in federal funds for the purchase of a mobile unit, other equipment and/or one minor A/R project.
For your one minor A/R activity, the total federal and non-federal cost of the A/R project must be less than $500,000, excluding the cost of movable equipment. Any minor A/R must be completed within year 1 of your project and take place at one in-scope directly-operated service site.
Equipment includes movable items that are non-expendable, tangible personal property (including IT systems) with a useful life span of more than 1 year and a per-unit acquisition cost that equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the recipient for financial statement purposes, or $10,000. Movable equipment can be readily shifted from place to place without requiring a change to utilities or structural characteristics of the space. Mobile units are often categorized as movable equipment under the Health Center Program. If you use QIF-DNDD funds for a mobile unit, you must purchase it in year 1 of your project.
As a reminder, at the time of your application, your Health Center Program scope of project must already include preventive and additional dental health services in at least one directly-operated in-scope health center service site. Applicants will need to submit a CIS request to add the mobile site to Form 5B. See the Scope of Project Resources page for instructions on how to complete your request.
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Can I use funding to provide telehealth services?
Yes, you may use funds to support telehealth services.
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Minor Alteration/Renovation (A/R) and Equipment
How much can I request for one-time funding activities?
You may request to use up to $250,000 in federal funds for equipment purchases and/or one minor A/R project. This is part of, and not in addition to, the $2,000,000 in federal funding you may request. The total federal and non-federal cost of your minor A/R project, excluding the cost of movable equipment, must be less than $500,000.
Your minor A/R must be completed at a directly-operated in-scope service site within year 1 of the period of performance.
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How do you define minor A/R?
Minor A/R is a stand-alone project consisting of work in an existing facility. Installing fixed equipment, flooring, painting, carpeting, or improving the inside or outside of a building are all part of an A/R project.
The total federal and non-federal cost of your minor A/R project, excluding the cost of movable equipment, must be less than $500,000. You cannot use funding for new construction activities such as expansion or additions, new parking surfaces, or major A/R. See Appendix B in the NOFO for more information.
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What attachments do I need to complete if I request funds for equipment and minor A/R?
If you request minor A/R and equipment funding, you must complete the Equipment List form and the applicable minor A/R forms and upload them under the indicated attachment in the NOFO:
- Minor A/R Cover Page
- Minor A/R Budget Justification
- Environmental Information and Documentation (EID) Checklist
- Floor Plans/Schematic Drawings/Site Plans
- Landlord Letter of Consent-Minor Alteration/Renovation
If you request funds for equipment without minor A/R, you need to submit an Equipment List Form.
See the Application Checklist and the Attachments section of the NOFO for more information.
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