ARP Act Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Innovation Award – COVID-19 Related Data/Technology Innovations (Track Two)

This announcement solicits applications for two (2) separate funding opportunities, MIECHV Innovation Award – General Data/Technology Innovations (Track One) | HRSA-22-089 and ARP Act MIECHV Innovation Award – COVID-19-Related Data/Technology Innovations (Track Two) | HRSA-22-102. The purpose of these awards is to fund the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovations by MIECHV recipients that leverage new technology and/or data collection and sharing strategies to improve MIECHV service delivery, and extend the impact of MIECHV-funded voluntary early childhood home visiting services. Such innovations must be consistent with the service delivery model(s) being implemented by the awardee. The MIECHV Innovation Awards aim to address HRSA and HHS goals of achieving health equity and advancing population health. Innovations may also respond to the evolving and long-term impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency, or foster a workforce capable of addressing current and emerging needs of communities that historically face structural racisim and discrimination resulting in barriers to accessing resources they need to thrive. Track One aims to leverage data- and technology-driven innovations in the key priority areas identified below to improve MIECHV service delivery consistent with the service delivery model(s) being implemented by the awardee. Track Two aims to leverage data- and technology-driven innovations in the key priority areas identified below to improve MIECHV service delivery, including virtual service delivery, in order to address the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency, consistent with the service delivery model(s) being implemented by the awardee. For the purpose of this NOFO, an innovation is defined as a process, product, strategy, or practice that improves (or is expected based on evidence of promise or strong theory1 to improve) upon the outcomes reached with current or status quo service delivery implementation and that can ultimately reach widespread effective usage. You are strongly encouraged to propose only one innovation, which may consist of multiple strategies and activities (see below for examples of potential innovations). You may propose to improve, expand, or advance innovations that are currently being developed or implemented through MIECHV programs. MIECHV recipients are already considering how data and technology can advance their programs, and the COVID-19 public health emergency has required recipients to pivot quickly towards new modes of service delivery. These awards aim to build on these advances and innovative strategies.

Current MIECHV recipients, as of March 11, 2021 (the date of the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021), are eligible to apply for HRSA-22-102: MIECHV Innovation Award Track Two - COVID-19-Related Data/Technology Innovations. ARP identifies additional eligibility requirements. Specifically, to be eligible to receive ARP funds: • Recipients must establish modifications to contracts and other agreements with LIAs/subrecipients as necessary to ensure that during the period of performance: o Funding or staffing levels of a funded local implementing agency (LIA) will not be reduced on account of reduced enrollment in the program. o Recipients will ensure coordination with local diaper banks when using funds to provide emergency supplies to eligible families, to the extent practicable. • Recipients must reaffirm that, in conducting the program, the recipient will focus on priority populations.32 Applicants must not submit an application with a budget request exceeding $2,000,000 for a single eligible applicant to develop, implement, and evaluate an innovation. However, as noted above, if the proposal reflects a collaboration of two or more eligible entities (wherein one eligible entity, as the applicant and potential funding recipient, proposes to receive and expend grant funding for work performed, in whole or in part, through a subaward by contract with one or more other eligible entities to develop, implement, and evaluate an innovation applicable to all the entities), the applicant may submit an application with a budget request that does not exceed $4,000,000. Applicants must ensure that the necessary relationships, legal agreements (including data rights), and infrastructure are already in place across recipients to facilitate effective partnerships if submitting a proposal reflecting a collaboration. In this case, only one eligibile entity should submit an application and should indicate which additional eligible entities they propose to collaborate with through subawards.

Rachel Herzfeldt-Kamprath

(301)443-2524