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

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 24 155

The AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant Program (R03) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) that supports smaller, targeted health services research projects aligned with AHRQ priorities. Under Funding Opportunity Number PA 24 155 (CFDA 93.226), the program is designed to fund studies that generate practical evidence and insights aimed at improving the U.S. healthcare system, with particular emphasis on improving healthcare quality and patient safety, strengthening healthcare delivery and practice improvement, and advancing whole-person healthcare delivery. In other words, AHRQ is looking for research that can help healthcare work better, be safer, and address patient needs more comprehensively, rather than focusing narrowly on a single clinical outcome.

A key feature of this NOFO is its broad view of where meaningful health services research can happen. AHRQ explicitly supports research across essentially all major healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory and outpatient care, home healthcare, pharmacy environments, and the often challenging transitions between settings (for example, discharge from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility or home care). This means projects can examine care processes, systems, workforce models, communication and coordination, patient experience, safety practices, implementation strategies, and other operational or organizational factors that affect outcomes and value in real-world care delivery.

The opportunity also highlights AHRQ's interest in research that is grounded in partnership and stakeholder engagement. Applicants are encouraged to involve, as appropriate, a wide range of partners such as patients and families, clinicians, and non-clinical healthcare staff, as well as policymakers, payers, healthcare organizations, providers, accreditors, and multiple levels of government (local, state, and federal). This signals that 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.

Eligibility for this R03 is expansive across U.S.-based organizational types. Eligible applicants 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. The NOFO also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the program is clear about restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. This keeps the program focused on domestic applicants and domestic organizational components, consistent with AHRQ's mission to improve healthcare in the United States.

From a funding standpoint, the award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $100,000, reflecting the small-grant nature of the R03 mechanism. The posting indicates an original closing date of 2029-07-17, suggesting the opportunity may remain open over multiple cycles or receipt dates over several years (applicants should still verify the current submission schedule and any standard NIH/AHRQ due dates in the full NOFO). Overall, this R03 is best understood as a way to support focused, actionable health services research projects that can produce timely evidence to improve safety, quality, delivery, and whole-person care across the healthcare system.

• The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant Program (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.226.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2029-07-17.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PA 24 155

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