Apply for Service Area Competition (SAC)

Jump to:

• Key funding details
• Who can apply
• How to apply
• When to apply
• Resources for your application
• Technical assistance
• Contact us

Get key funding details

We fund health centers to provide primary and preventive health care services to defined service areas.

We define a service area by a list of ZIP codes where you must provide services. Each service area requires caring for medically underserved populations and providing specific service types.

Service areas with existing health centers are announced for competition in the Service Area Announcement Table (SAAT).

When each health center's current period of performance ends, new or existing health centers can apply for a SAC award to continue to provide the same services to the populations currently served in this service area.

We may announce additional service areas in a SAC-AA if an awarded health center cannot continue to provide services in their area. We update the SAAT when additional service areas become available.

Who can apply

You must:

• Be a public or non-profit private entity in the United States or its territories. Your organization could be tribal, faith-based, or community-based.
• Serve an entire service area that we list in the SAAT. This ensures people in those areas continue to get comprehensive, high-quality primary and preventive health care.
• Meet all additional eligibility requirements outlined in the SAC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

How to apply

Before you apply

You must register in SAM.gov and Grants.gov before you apply.

Your information must be the same in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and HRSA Electronic Handbooks (EHBs). Allow at least four weeks to register in case you run into a problem.

Apply in these two systems

1. Grants.gov: Apply by 11:59 p.m. ET on the date in the NOFO.
2. HRSA EHBs: Apply by 5 p.m. ET on the date in the NOFO.

When to apply

SAC NOFO releases and deadlines

Start Date (2027)	NOFO #	HRSA EHBs Application Open Date	Grants.gov Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)	HRSA EHBs Deadline (5:00 p.m. ET)
April 1	HRSA-27-005	September 18, 2026	October 19, 2026	November 18, 2026
January 1	HRSA-27-006	November 30, 2026	December 30, 2026	February 1, 2027
February 1	HRSA-27-007	November 30, 2026	December 30, 2026	February 1, 2027
March 1	HRSA-27-008	December 9, 2026	January 8, 2027	February 8, 2027
August 1	HRSA-27-009	December 9, 2026	January 8, 2027	February 8, 2027

Find resources for your application

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• FY 2027 SAC/SAC-AA FAQ
• Patient Target FAQ

Application guides

• HRSA SF-424 Two-Tier Application Guide (PDF - 883 KB)

Application aids

• Patient and Budget Calculator

Health Center Program compliance aids

• Attachment 13: Health Center Program Compliance Narrative Instructions
• Health Center Program Compliance Review Presentation (PDF - 527 KB)

Attachment 1: service area map and table

• Health Center Program GeoCare Navigator
• Health Center Program GeoCare Navigator User Guide (PDF - 3 MB)
• Health Center Program GeoCare Navigator Introductory Video

Attachment 12: Operational plan (required for New and Competing Supplemental applicants)

• Attachment 12: Operational Plan Instructions and Sample

Budget presentation

• Budget Narrative Sample

Forms and instructions

• Form 1A: General Information Worksheet (PDF - 188 KB)
• Form 1C: Documents on File (PDF - 153 KB)
• Form 2: Staffing Profile (PDF - 179 KB)
• Form 3: Income Analysis (PDF - 211 KB)
• Form 5A: Services Provided (PDF - 242 KB)
• Form 5B: Service Sites (PDF - 161 KB)
• Form 6A: Current Board Member Characteristics (PDF - 119 KB)
• Form 6B: Request for Waiver of Board Member Requirements (PDF - 178 KB)
• Form 8: Health Center Agreements (PDF - 149 KB)
• Form 12: Organization Contacts (PDF - 119 KB)
• Summary Page (PDF - 160 KB)
• Program specific form instructions (PDF - 411 KB)

Find technical assistance

• Compliance
• Uniform Data System (UDS) Technical Assistance
• Sign up to receive the Primary Health Care Digest
• HRSA Scoring Rubric
• Policies, Regulations, and Guidance 

Contact us

If you have a question about:	You can reach us at:
Your application	BPHC Contact Form  Under Applications and Funding, select Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) Select Service Area Competition (SAC)
Budget	Email Joi Grymes Call 301-443-2632
Grants.gov	Call 800-518-4726 (international callers, call 606-545-5035) Email Grants.gov Self-Service Knowledge Base
EHBs	BPHC Contact Form  Under Technical and System Support, select EHBs Tasks and Technical Issues  Call 877-464-4772 (select option 1) 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET, Monday – Friday (except federal holidays) EHBs: Updating Your Role in Your Health Center (PDF - 301 KB)