Current Funding Announcements
Previous Funding Announcements
2023 Special Emphasis Notice (SEN)
ONC published a Special Emphasis Notice (SEN) under the Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology (Health IT) funding opportunity NAP-AX-22-001. In 2023, ONC is particularly interested in applications whose specific aims address one of the following areas of interest:
- Area 1: Exploring the Use of Advanced Fast Health Care Interoperability Resources (FHIR®) Capabilities
- Area 2: Identifying Data Quality Improvements for USCDI Data Elements
The application period closed on June 12, 2023.
Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology (Health IT)
ONC published a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) under the Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology (Health IT) funding opportunity NAP-AX-22-001. The goal of the funding opportunity is to advance health IT standards and tools to improve social determinants of health data (SDOH) exchange and research, and to develop tools for making electronic health record (EHR) data for research and artificial intelligence (AI)-ready.
In 2022, ONC is particularly interested in applications whose specific aims address one of the following areas of interest:
- Area 1: Address Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)Through Innovative, Open-Source Technology Tools, and Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
- Area 2: Demonstrate the Use of Equity-Enhancing Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD) for Clinical Care and Research
Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Immunization Information System (IIS) COVID-19 Data Management: Immunization Data Exchange, Advancement and Sharing (IDEAS)
This is a sole source Notice of Funding Opportunity intended to improve and help increase data sharing capabilities between health information exchanges (HIEs) and Immunization Information Systems (IISs). The program will facilitate exchange of immunization data with local/state HIEs using protected, safe and secure methods will provide enhanced opportunities for matching and identity verification to benefit patients, their health care providers, public health agencies, and others.
The NOFO will fund a single award with a 2-year period of performance for a maximum award of $10,000,000.
Public Health Emergency Response Related HL7® Standards, Solutions and Future Pandemics
This is a sole source Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) intended to prioritize and expedite the accelerated development and deployment of five (5) gap and opportunity areas specifically identified by ONC that advances the diagnoses, treatment, and care of patients of COVID-19 and other public health emergencies. Specifically, these five areas are:
- Expanding the clinical domains supported by HL7® Standards
- Privacy, Security, and Consent
- Application Programming Interface (API) for Population Level Services
- Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Standards
- Advancing Public Health Standards
This NOFO will fund a single award with a 4-year program period of performance for a maximum award of $2,000,000.
Accelerating and Expanding LOINC® Development to Support Public Health Needs
This is a sole source Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) intended to provide time sensitive support to increase the development and pre-release of LOINC® Special Use codes, and updating the technical infrastructure necessary in order to support the searchability and rapid dissemination of the codes to IVD manufacturers, laboratories, and other entities both nationally and internationally. Combined with the deployment of corresponding technical and educational resources, the outcomes of this cooperative agreement will ensure all affected stakeholders can adequately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to future public health needs. This cooperative agreement will fund a single award with a 5-year program period of performance for a maximum amount of $1,500,000.
Tracking Use and Impacts of Health IT on U.S. Office Based Physicians
On August 12, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled “Tracking Use and Impacts of Health IT on U.S. Office-Based Physicians.” This cooperative agreement will fund a single award with a 3-year program period to measure the use and impacts of health IT among a nationally representative sample of U.S. office-based physicians. It is also intended to produce national-level data on interoperability among office-based physicians. These data shall provide insights on the implementation and effects of federal health IT policies as well as identify disparities or unintended consequences resulting from their implementation.
This program will be funded $290,000 for the first year. Additional funds outside of the first year are subject to availability and progress made against the program.
Anticipated program period: September 30, 2020 – September 29, 2023
Strengthening the Technical Advancement and Readiness of Public Health via Health Information Exchange Program (STAR HIE Program)
On August 12, 2020, ONC released the STAR HIE Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The cooperative agreements under this NOFO will be funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This competitive NOFO is designed to strengthen and accelerate innovative uses of health information via health information exchanges (HIEs) within states, communities, and regions to support public health agencies’ abilities to advance data-driven prevention of, response to, and recovery from public health events, including disasters and pandemics. Funding will be focused toward strengthening existing HIE infrastructure so that public health agencies are able to better access, share, and use health information.
Applicants must propose activities that benefit a public health agency. The cooperative agreements will fund up to five (5) awards with a period of performance of up to two (2) years to accelerate the interoperability of health information to advance data-driven prevention of, response to, and recovery from public health emergencies and disasters, including pandemics such as COVID-19.
Cooperative Agreement Funding: $2,500,000.
Approximate Amount of Each Award: $500,000
Program Period: 9/30/2020 – 9/30/2022
Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement – Recognized Coordinating Entity
On April 19, 2019, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement – Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The purpose of this NOFO is to support the 21st Century Cures Act’s efforts to advance the establishment of nationwide interoperability of Electronic Health Information (EHI) through a Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement. This Cooperative Agreement will fund a single award with a 4-year program period to select a RCE to develop, update, implement, and maintain the Common Agreement component of the Trusted Exchange Framework for ONC approval. The RCE will also work with ONC to designate and monitor Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs), modify and update an accompanying QHIN Technical Framework, engage with public stakeholders through virtual public listening sessions, adjudicate noncompliance with the Common Agreement, and propose sustainability strategies for an RCE to continue to support trusted data exchange through QHIN connectivity at the expiration of the term of the Cooperative Agreement.
The program will be funded $900,000 for the first year.
Program Period: 8/30/2019 – 8/29/2023
Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) US Cooperative Agreement Program
On June 14, 2019, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released the Integrating the Health Enterprise US (IHE) Cooperative Agreement Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This is a non-competitive funding opportunity and is restricted to the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise USA. The purpose of this NOFO is to support advancements in the technical standards necessary to achieve interoperability among health IT systems and to reach the milestones identified in the Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap and in support of section 4003 (Interoperability) of the Cures Act. This cooperative agreement will advance the implementation consistency and readiness of the current and new versions of IHE integration profiles that support the restful exchange of HL7 FHIR and other dependent technical standards for adoption by the healthcare industry.
The program will be funded up to $500,000 for the first year. Further funding is subject to the availability of funds.
Program Period: 8/30/2019 – 8/29/2024
Market Transparency Project for Health IT Interoperability Services Cooperative Agreement Program
On June 30, 2017, ONC released the Market Transparency Project for Health IT Interoperability Services Funding Opportunity Announcement (MTP FOA). This funding opportunity announcement is designed to improve transparency in the current market by funding the development of an independent, open, online resource (e.g., an interactive website containing crowdsourced and voluntarily submitted data), whose design features and functionality is to be guided by market research to be performed by the recipient on costs frequently associated with health IT interoperability services.
The total funding available under this FOA is $250,000.
View the MTP FOA Information Session Slides [PDF - 772 KB]
The Certified Health IT Surveillance Capacity and Infrastructure Improvement Cooperative Agreement Program
ONC is excited to announce a new cooperative agreement program called the Certified Health IT Surveillance Capacity and Infrastructure Improvement No. NAP-AX-17-003. This new approach is aimed at improving and expanding the surveillance capacity and infrastructure that exists for health IT certified under the ONC Health IT Certification Program. Awardees will be required to develop a Strategic Plan and an Operational Plan that will demonstrate how they will improve and expand the surveillance capacity and infrastructure that currently exists for health IT.
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ONC FUNDING FOR CYBER THREAT INFORMATION SHARING IN THE HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH (HPH) SECTOR
The purpose of this five-year cooperative agreement is to build the capacity of an information sharing and analysis organization (ISAO) to share CTI bi-directionally with the Health and Public Health (HPH) sector and HHS about cyber threats and provide outreach and education that improves cyber security awareness and equips. The recipient may anticipate a total budget of $250,000 from ONC for the first year. Continued funding will be contingent on the recipient continuing to meet all the milestones and the availability of funds.
Blockchain Challenge
Up to 15 winners will be awarded a cash prize and up to 8 winners may be invited to present their papers at an upcoming industry-wide workshop co-hosted with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
Visit the Blockchain Challenge Web site directly, or go to challenge.gov and click the Blockchain link.
PRIZES
12-15 white papers will be awarded a cash prize in the range of $1,500 - $5,000
The High Impact Pilots (HIP) Cooperative Agreement Program
ONC is excited to announce a new cooperative agreement program called the High Impact Pilots (HIP). This new approach implements HIT Standards Committee recommendations, continues ONC’s investment toward implementing the Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, and fits within the ONC Tech Lab’s focus on pilots for standards and technology.
The program is intended to catalyze the implementation of standards and technology that can be used to:
- Improve the sharing of health information among health care stakeholders
- Improve care delivery
- Demonstrate how health IT can positively impact patient experience.
The Standards Exploration Award (SEA) Cooperative Agreement Program
ONC is excited to announce a new cooperative agreement program called the Standards Exploration Awards (SEA). This new approach implements HIT Standards Committee recommendations, continues ONC’s investment toward implementing the Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, and fits within the ONC Tech Lab’s focus on pilots for standards and technology. Awardees under this program will need to be ready to hit the ground running and produce results within one year. Through this funding, awardees will be able to test solutions, evaluate scalability, and identify the potential impacts of their selected standards and technology solutions.
Standards Development Organization Collaboration to Enhance Standards Alignment, Testing, and Measurement
ONC is excited to announce a new cooperative agreement program called the Standards Exploration Awards (SEA). This new approach implements HIT Standards Committee recommendations, continues ONC’s investment toward implementing the Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, and fits within the ONC Tech Lab’s focus on pilots for standards and technology. Awardees under this program will need to be ready to hit the ground running and produce results within one year. Through this funding, awardees will be able to test solutions, evaluate scalability, and identify the potential impacts of their selected standards and technology solutions.
Community Interoperability and Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program
On April 14, 2015, ONC released the Community Interoperability and Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program (Community Interoperability and HIE Program) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The Community Interop & HIE Program will provide funds to entities (United States-based non-profit institution or organization, state or local government, agency or group in a designated community) to work collaboratively with non-eligible care providers to identify opportunities to support and extend the use of secure, interoperable health information technology (health IT) tools and health information exchange (HIE) services.
View the Community Interoperability and HIE Program FOA [PDF - 792 KB]
Advance Interoperable Health Information Technology Services to Support Health Information Exchange
On February 3, ONC released the Advance Interoperable Health Information Technology Services to Support Health Information Exchange Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). This funding opportunity announcement will leverage the investments and lessons learned from the original State HIE Program and accelerate the widespread adoption and use of health information exchange infrastructure. Furthermore, this funding opportunity supports the HHS-wide effort to achieve the safe and secure exchange and use of electronic health information to improve health and transform care as outlined in the Shared Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, Connecting Health and Care for the Nation: A Shared Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap Version 1.0.
The total funding available under this FOA is $28M.
View the HIE FOA [PDF - 1.6 MB]
Blog post: HHS and ONC invest $28 Million in Health Information Exchange Grants
Workforce Training to Educate Health Care Professionals in Health Information Technology
On February 3, ONC released the Workforce Training to Educate Health Care Professionals in Health Information Technology Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The Workforce Training Program will update training materials from the original Workforce Curriculum Development Program and train health care workers to use new health information technologies in a changing healthcare environment that is moving towards better care, smarter spending, and healthier people.
The total funding available under this FOA is $6.4M.
Closing the Gap between Standards Development and Implementation
On April 24, 2015 ONC released the Closing the Gap between Standards Development and Implementation Cooperative Agreement Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). This FOA aims to provide specific dedicated support to Health Level Seven International (HL7) for work on HL7-led standards development as well as corresponding implementation guidance and testing concepts of mutual interest to ONC and HL7. Initial tasks include collaboration with HL7 to advance the implementation consistency and readiness of the current versions of the Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA) (Releases 1.1 and 2.0) and supporting the implementation and governance of the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR) standard and its accompanying resources and profiles.
Community Health Peer Learning Program
On February 3, ONC released the Community Health Peer Learning Program (CHP) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). This two-year funding will establish a cooperative agreement to address health challenges at the population level through a community-based collaborative approach. The CHP Program helps address the national priority of better care, smarter spending, and healthier people. Achieving this goal requires a strong, flexible health IT ecosystem that can support transparency and decision-making through enhancing the use of data, reducing redundancy, and informing payment reform, all of which will help transform care delivery. The goal of the CHP Program is to identify data solutions, accelerate local progress, and disseminate local learning to other communities through the development of shared learning resources around population health challenges.
The total funding available under this FOA is $1.7M.