Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 21 088
The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Implementation is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), designed to help high-risk rural communities reduce illness and death linked to substance use disorder (SUD), with a primary emphasis on opioid use disorder (OUD). The central purpose of this funding is to strengthen and expand the real-world availability of prevention, treatment, and recovery supports so that rural residents can more easily access care, stay engaged in treatment, and move toward long-term recovery. The program is framed as part of a multi-year federal effort and is explicitly aligned with HHS's five-point strategy to combat opioid abuse, misuse, and overdose, meaning funded projects are expected to translate that national strategy into concrete, community-level action.
Under RCORP-Implementation, recipients are expected to put a defined set of core OUD-related activities into practice, following HRSA's program-specific instructions. The approach emphasizes evidence-based, promising, and innovative interventions that have demonstrated impact on opioid-related harms, including overdose prevention. Examples called out in the notice include naloxone distribution and other harm reduction services, as well as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). While OUD is the program's main focus, HRSA recognizes that many people affected by opioids also face polysubstance use and co-occurring conditions. Because of that, awardees may use funds to address additional SUD-related needs when those activities clearly connect to the target population's needs and the realities of the local service area. At the same time, the notice makes clear that proposing extra activities beyond the required core elements does not create a competitive advantage or special preference in scoring.
A key design feature of the opportunity is the requirement to apply as part of a broad, multi-sector consortium, reflecting HRSA's view that opioid response work in rural areas depends on coordination across healthcare, behavioral health, public health, social services, and other community systems. For this program, a consortium is defined as an organizational arrangement involving at least four separately owned domestic public or private entities, including the applicant organization, that already have working relationships. Each participating entity (including the applicant) generally must have its own Employer Identification Number (EIN), with noted exceptions such as possible exemptions for Tribal entities. HRSA also expects these consortia to be ready to operationalize their work plans quickly once an award is made, which underscores the implementation focus: the goal is not just planning, but rapid execution and service expansion.
The target population includes three groups living in HRSA-designated rural areas (as determined using HRSA's Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer): people who are at risk for OUD, have been diagnosed with OUD, and/or are currently in treatment or recovery; their families and caregivers; and other community members involved in improving health in rural communities. HRSA strongly encourages applicants to address inequities by intentionally including populations that have historically experienced worse outcomes and greater barriers to care within rural settings. Examples referenced include racial and ethnic minorities, people experiencing homelessness, pregnant women, and youth and adolescents. This emphasis signals that projects should not only expand services broadly, but also ensure those services reach people who are most likely to be left out due to cost barriers, lack of providers, stigma, or other access challenges.
The program is structured around a three-year period of performance, with a clear expectation that funded communities will build capacity that lasts beyond the grant. HRSA expects awardees to sustain the expanded or strengthened SUD/OUD services during the grant period and to develop detailed sustainability plans over the course of the three years so the consortium and services can continue after federal funding ends. Recipients are also required to work closely with a HRSA-funded technical assistance (TA) provider throughout the project period. This targeted TA is provided at no additional cost and is intended to help grantees improve implementation, solve operational barriers, align evaluation and performance reporting, carry out quality improvement, and stay focused on outcomes.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as HRSA-21-088 under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 93.912, categorized as a grant in the health funding activity area. The published funding details included an award ceiling of $1,000,000, with an expectation of 78 awards. The original posting listed a creation date of December 21, 2020, and an original closing date of March 12, 2021. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility clarification provided in the full notice, but the practical eligibility hinge is the applicant's ability to lead a compliant multi-entity consortium serving HRSA-designated rural communities and to carry out the required implementation activities at scale.Apply for HRSA 21 088
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Implementation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.912.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 21, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 12, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 78 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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RCORP-Implementation (HRSA-21-088) Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Implementation?
RCORP-Implementation is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is designed to help high-risk rural communities reduce illness and death associated with substance use disorder (SUD), with a primary emphasis on opioid use disorder (OUD).
What is the main purpose of RCORP-Implementation funding?
The central purpose is to strengthen and expand the real-world availability of prevention, treatment, and recovery supports so rural residents can more easily access care, remain engaged in treatment, and move toward long-term recovery.
Is this program focused on planning or implementation?
This opportunity is explicitly implementation-focused. HRSA expects recipients to operationalize a work plan quickly after award and to put required core OUD-related activities into practice rather than only conducting planning efforts.
How does this program relate to HHS's national opioid strategy?
The program is aligned with HHS's five-point strategy to combat opioid abuse, misuse, and overdose. Funded projects are expected to translate that national strategy into concrete, community-level action in rural areas.
What types of interventions does HRSA expect applicants to use?
HRSA emphasizes evidence-based, promising, and innovative interventions that have demonstrated impact on opioid-related harms, including overdose prevention. Examples referenced include naloxone distribution and other harm reduction services, as well as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Are applicants required to implement core OUD activities?
Yes. Under RCORP-Implementation, recipients are expected to implement a defined set of core OUD-related activities in accordance with HRSA's program-specific instructions.
Can grant funds be used to address substance use disorders beyond opioid use disorder?
Yes, in certain cases. While OUD is the main focus, HRSA recognizes polysubstance use and co-occurring conditions. Awardees may use funds to address additional SUD-related needs when those activities clearly connect to the target population's needs and the realities of the local service area.
Does proposing additional activities beyond the core requirements improve scoring?
No. The notice states that proposing extra activities beyond the required core elements does not create a competitive advantage or special preference in scoring.
Is a consortium required to apply?
Yes. A key requirement is applying as part of a broad, multi-sector consortium, reflecting HRSA's expectation that rural opioid response depends on coordination across healthcare, behavioral health, public health, social services, and other community systems.
What is HRSA's definition of a consortium for this opportunity?
For this program, a consortium is an organizational arrangement involving at least four separately owned domestic public or private entities, including the applicant organization, that already have working relationships.
How many entities must be included in the consortium?
At least four separately owned domestic public or private entities are required, and this count includes the applicant organization.
Do consortium members need to have their own EINs?
Generally, yes. Each participating entity (including the applicant) typically must have its own Employer Identification Number (EIN). The notice mentions there may be exceptions, such as possible exemptions for Tribal entities.
Who is the target population for RCORP-Implementation?
The target population includes three groups living in HRSA-designated rural areas: (1) people who are at risk for OUD, have been diagnosed with OUD, and/or are currently in treatment or recovery; (2) their families and caregivers; and (3) other community members involved in improving health in rural communities.
How is "rural" determined for eligibility purposes?
Rural status is determined using HRSA-designated rural areas as identified through HRSA's Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer.
Does HRSA emphasize any specific equity or priority populations?
HRSA strongly encourages applicants to address inequities by intentionally including populations that have historically experienced worse outcomes and greater barriers to care in rural settings. Examples referenced include racial and ethnic minorities, people experiencing homelessness, pregnant women, and youth and adolescents.
What is the period of performance for the program?
The program is structured around a three-year period of performance.
Is sustainability expected after the grant ends?
Yes. HRSA expects awardees to sustain expanded or strengthened SUD/OUD services during the grant period and to develop detailed sustainability plans over the three years so the consortium and services can continue after federal funding ends.
Is technical assistance (TA) provided to grantees?
Yes. Recipients are required to work closely with a HRSA-funded technical assistance provider throughout the project period.
Does the technical assistance cost extra?
No. The targeted technical assistance is provided at no additional cost.
What is the purpose of the required technical assistance?
The technical assistance is intended to help grantees improve implementation, solve operational barriers, align evaluation and performance reporting, carry out quality improvement, and maintain a focus on outcomes.
What is the opportunity number and Assistance Listing (CFDA) for this grant?
The opportunity is listed as HRSA-21-088 under Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) 93.912.
What type of funding opportunity is this and what activity area does it fall under?
It is categorized as a grant, in the health funding activity area.
What is the maximum award amount mentioned in the notice?
The published funding details included an award ceiling of $1,000,000.
How many awards were expected?
The notice indicated an expectation of 78 awards.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The original posting listed a creation date of December 21, 2020, and an original closing date of March 12, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional clarification in the full notice. Based on the information provided, practical eligibility hinges on an applicant's ability to lead a compliant multi-entity consortium serving HRSA-designated rural communities and to carry out the required implementation activities at scale.
What is HRSA's expectation about readiness to begin work after award?
HRSA expects consortia to be ready to operationalize their work plans quickly once an award is made, underscoring the program's emphasis on rapid execution and service expansion.
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