Q1: Can I support multiple regions in one application?
A: The NEPQR-CFPA will comprise a program that serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the six U.S. Pacific Jurisdictions based on the 10 HHS regions. HRSA will fund up to 10 NEPQR-CFPA, no more than one in each HHS Region—to ensure that the United States and its territories and jurisdictions have access to nursing education and training.
You must select no more than one region to support in your application and you must agree to support the nursing clinical faculty and preceptor workforce education and training needs across the entire region for the full 4-year period of performance.
Q2: Does this program support the training of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) or just Registered Nurses (RNs) to become clinical faculty or preceptors?
A: The NEPQR-CFPA program supports nursing at all degree levels. This includes nurses that are APRNs and RNs that want to become clinical faculty and preceptors.
Q3: What is the ceiling amount that can be requested for each year of the award?
A: You may request up to $1,000,000 per budget period. Each budget period consists of 12-month intervals. The project period consists of the total time of the approved project. The NEPQR-CFPA project period is four years.
Q4: Is there a cap on the percentage that can be awarded for financial support through this grant?
A: No. The NOFO does not restrict the amount of student financial support (stipends) that may be provided to clinical faculty and preceptors being trained by the NEPQR-CFPA. Financial support should NOT pay clinical faculty and preceptor salaries.
Q5: Is paid release time an allowable cost for this program?
A: Paid release time is administratively authorized time spent away from the employee’s normal job responsibilities to participate in other institution sponsored or sanctioned programs without loss of pay and without charge to paid time off (PTO) leave. Release time is considered work time; therefore, such time is counted when computing overtime. Paid release time is not allowable for this program.
Compensation for personnel services cover all amounts, including fringe benefits, paid currently or accrued by the organization for employee services rendered to the grant-supported project or program. Compensation costs are allowable to the extent that they are reasonable, conform to the established policy of the organization, consistently applied regardless of the source of funds, and reflect no more than the percentage of time actually devoted to the HHS Operating Division (OPDIV) funded project or program. Where restricted by language in the HHS appropriations act, OPDIVs will not reimburse recipients for the direct salaries of individuals at a rate in excess of the level specified. Direct salary is exclusive of fringe benefits and indirect costs. If there is a salary limitation, it does not apply to consultant payments or to contracts for routine goods and services, but it does apply to sub-recipients (including consortium participants).
