AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant Program (R03) | PA 24 155

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant Program (R03)

What is this grant opportunity?

This is the AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant Program (R03), a discretionary grant opportunity from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). It supports smaller, targeted health services research projects that align with AHRQ priorities.

What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PA 24 155, and the CFDA listing provided is 93.226.

What is the main purpose of the R03 program under this opportunity?

The purpose is to fund studies that produce practical evidence and insights to improve the U.S. healthcare system. The emphasis is on improving healthcare quality and patient safety, strengthening healthcare delivery and practice improvement, and advancing whole-person healthcare delivery.

What kinds of research topics is AHRQ looking for?

AHRQ is looking for health services research that helps healthcare work better in real-world settings. Examples of the kinds of topics highlighted include care processes and systems, workforce models, communication and coordination, patient experience, safety practices, implementation strategies, and other operational or organizational factors that affect outcomes and value.

Does the opportunity focus on clinical outcomes or on healthcare delivery?

The opportunity emphasizes improving how healthcare is delivered, how safe and high-quality it is, and how well it addresses patient needs as a whole. It is framed as broader than a narrow focus on a single clinical outcome.

In what healthcare settings can the research take place?

AHRQ explicitly supports research across essentially all major healthcare settings. The information provided includes hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory and outpatient care, home healthcare, pharmacy environments, and transitions between settings (such as discharge from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility or to home care).

Can a project focus on transitions of care (like hospital discharge)?

Yes. The opportunity specifically calls out transitions between settings as an area where meaningful health services research can occur, including examples such as discharge from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility or home care.

Is stakeholder engagement encouraged?

Yes. The opportunity highlights AHRQ's interest in partnership and stakeholder engagement, encouraging applicants to involve a wide range of partners as appropriate.

Who are examples of stakeholders or partners that may be involved?

Examples listed include patients and families, clinicians, non-clinical healthcare staff, policymakers, payers, healthcare organizations, providers, accreditors, and multiple levels of government (local, state, and federal).

Why does AHRQ emphasize partnerships and stakeholder engagement?

Based on the description provided, AHRQ values projects that are not only methodologically sound but also connected to decision-makers and end users who can apply findings in practice, policy, or organizational improvement efforts.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when classified separately); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.

Are small businesses eligible?

Yes. Small businesses are explicitly included among eligible applicant types.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are included among the eligible applicant types listed.

Are nonprofits eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (with the note provided that higher education institutions are excluded when classified separately).

Are universities and colleges eligible to apply?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are included in the eligibility list.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible. The opportunity also includes Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) among eligible applicants, and additionally calls out Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are specifically called out as additional eligible applicant categories.

Are federally eligible agencies allowed to apply?

Yes. The opportunity lists eligible federal agencies among additional eligible applicant categories.

Are specific institution types (like HBCUs or HSIs) mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The opportunity calls out several categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and others.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly included in the additional eligible applicant categories.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.

Can a U.S. organization include a foreign (non-U.S.) component in the project?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, based on the restrictions described.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $100,000, reflecting the small-grant nature of the R03 mechanism.

What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?

The posting indicates an original closing date of 2029-07-17. The description also suggests the opportunity may remain open over multiple cycles or receipt dates, and notes that applicants should verify the current submission schedule and any standard NIH/AHRQ due dates in the full NOFO.

Does this opportunity likely have multiple submission cycles?

The information provided indicates the opportunity may remain open over multiple cycles or receipt dates over several years, but applicants are encouraged to confirm the current submission schedule in the full NOFO.

What makes this an "R03" opportunity?

Based on the details provided, this is positioned as a small-grant mechanism intended to support focused, smaller-scale, targeted projects that can produce timely and actionable evidence.

What kind of impact is AHRQ aiming for with funded projects?

The opportunity is framed around generating practical evidence to improve safety, quality, healthcare delivery and practice improvement, and whole-person care across the U.S. healthcare system, with findings that can be used by decision-makers and end users.