Opportunity Information: Apply for ARP PHIT 21 001

The Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT) Workforce Development Program is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). It was released as a discretionary Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under funding opportunity number ARP PHIT 21 001 and uses a cooperative agreement structure, meaning awardees should expect active involvement and collaboration with the federal program office rather than a hands-off grant model.

At its core, the program is designed to grow and modernize the public health workforce by building practical skills in public health informatics and technology. The NOFO references the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII) definition of public health informatics as the effective use of information and information technology to improve population health outcomes. Using that framing, the program aims to prepare people to work at the intersection of public health practice and data/technology, where capabilities like data collection, management, analysis, and the real-world use of health information systems are essential to improving decision-making and outcomes at the population level.

The headline workforce goal is ambitious: the program intends to train at least 4,000 individuals in public health informatics and technology over the life of the initiative. The underlying idea is that many public health agencies and local health partners need more staff who can work with data systems, translate information into actionable insights, and support technology-enabled public health services. The training focus is meant to be applied and job-relevant, with an emphasis on preparing participants not only to complete the program but to succeed in employment and continued education afterward.

A major priority built into the program is equity-focused recruitment and training. In an effort to address longstanding health disparities and inequities, the NOFO emphasizes recruiting underrepresented minorities, with particular attention to candidates connected to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The expectation is not simply to enroll diverse cohorts, but to intentionally design the pathway so that communities historically excluded from informatics and technology careers are meaningfully supported into and through training that leads to real opportunities.

The program also places weight on how the training is built and delivered. The curriculum is expected to be culturally responsive and designed to meet local needs, particularly the needs of local health care and public health agencies that will ultimately rely on this workforce. In practice, that implies training content should reflect the contexts where participants will work, including the communities served, the operational realities of health agencies, and the types of technology and data environments commonly used in the field. The NOFO language also suggests programs should be structured in a way that supports learner success beyond the classroom, such as through wraparound supports, practical experiences, and clear connections to career advancement or further education. It also anticipates participation that extends beyond a single institution, encouraging engagement with other colleges and universities as well as students and community members, which points toward partnerships, consortium models, or community-based recruitment pipelines.

Funding is substantial and spread across multiple awards. ONC indicated it would fund up to 30 cooperative agreement awards for a four-year period of performance. Total planned program funding was listed as $75,000,000, with the note that additional funding could be available depending on appropriations, milestone progress, and a federal determination that continued funding serves the public interest. Each individual award was capped at $10,000,000, signaling that awards could support sizable training operations, multi-partner efforts, and capacity-building activities needed to train and place large numbers of participants.

Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include the CFDA number 93.355, the original posting date of June 17, 2021, and an original closing date of August 11, 2021. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full NOFO, which typically means applicants may include a range of organizations beyond a narrow set of public entities, depending on the specific criteria laid out in the detailed announcement.

  • The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (The PHIT Workforce Development Program)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.355.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 17, 2021.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for ARP PHIT 21 001

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Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT) Workforce Development Program FAQs

What is the PHIT Workforce Development Program?

The Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT) Workforce Development Program is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). It is intended to grow and modernize the public health workforce by building practical skills in public health informatics and technology.

Which federal agency is offering this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by HHS through ONC (the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology).

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is ARP PHIT 21 001.

What type of funding mechanism is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement structure. That means awardees should expect active involvement and collaboration with the federal program office, rather than a hands-off grant model.

What does "cooperative agreement" imply for awardees?

Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement implies ONC will have an active role during the period of performance, with ongoing involvement and collaboration with funded recipients.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The program is designed to strengthen the public health workforce by developing applied, job-relevant skills at the intersection of public health practice and data/technology. The aim is to improve population health outcomes by improving how information and technology are used in real public health settings.

How does the NOFO define public health informatics?

The NOFO references the Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII) definition: public health informatics is the effective use of information and information technology to improve population health outcomes.

What kinds of skills or capabilities are emphasized?

The opportunity emphasizes practical capabilities that support population-level decision-making and outcomes, including data collection, data management, data analysis, and the real-world use of health information systems.

How many people does the program aim to train?

The stated workforce goal is to train at least 4,000 individuals in public health informatics and technology over the life of the initiative.

Why is this workforce training considered necessary?

The description indicates many public health agencies and local health partners need additional staff who can work with data systems, translate information into actionable insights, and support technology-enabled public health services.

Is the training expected to be applied and job-relevant?

Yes. The training focus is described as applied and job-relevant, with emphasis on helping participants succeed in employment and continued education after completing the program.

Does the program prioritize equity-focused recruitment?

Yes. The NOFO emphasizes equity-focused recruitment and training, including recruiting underrepresented minorities and intentionally supporting participants into and through training pathways that lead to real opportunities.

Which institutions or communities are specifically highlighted for recruitment efforts?

The NOFO gives particular attention to candidates connected to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Is the expectation only to enroll diverse cohorts?

No. The expectation described is not only to enroll diverse cohorts, but also to intentionally design the pathway so communities historically excluded from informatics and technology careers are meaningfully supported through training that leads to real opportunities.

Are there expectations about how the curriculum should be designed?

Yes. The curriculum is expected to be culturally responsive and designed to meet local needs, especially the needs of local health care and public health agencies that are expected to rely on this workforce.

What does it mean that training should meet "local needs"?

In practice, the description suggests training content should reflect the contexts where participants will work, including the communities served, the operational realities of health agencies, and the types of technology and data environments commonly used in the field.

Does the program anticipate supports beyond classroom instruction?

Yes. The opportunity suggests programs should be structured to support learner success beyond the classroom, such as wraparound supports, practical experiences, and clear connections to career advancement or further education.

Are partnerships or multi-institution efforts encouraged?

Yes. The description anticipates participation extending beyond a single institution and encourages engagement with other colleges and universities as well as students and community members. This points toward partnerships, consortium models, or community-based recruitment pipelines.

How many awards did ONC plan to make?

ONC indicated it would fund up to 30 cooperative agreement awards.

What is the period of performance?

The planned period of performance is four years.

What was the total planned funding amount?

Total planned program funding was listed as $75,000,000.

Could additional funding be available beyond the planned amount?

Yes. The listing notes additional funding could be available depending on appropriations, milestone progress, and a federal determination that continued funding serves the public interest.

What is the maximum award size per recipient?

Each individual award was capped at $10,000,000.

What does the award cap suggest about the size of supported projects?

The description indicates the cap signals awards could support sizable training operations, multi-partner efforts, and capacity-building activities needed to train and place large numbers of participants.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.355.

When was the opportunity originally posted?

The original posting date was June 17, 2021.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was August 11, 2021.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full NOFO. This typically indicates a potentially wide range of eligible organization types, depending on the specific criteria in the detailed announcement.

Where would an applicant find the detailed eligibility requirements?

The listing indicates that additional eligibility details are in the full NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity).

What is a NOFO?

In this context, NOFO refers to the Notice of Funding Opportunity, the formal discretionary funding announcement that describes the program goals, requirements, and application details.

Is this opportunity described as discretionary funding?

Yes. It was released as a discretionary NOFO.

What kind of workforce outcomes is the program trying to achieve?

The program aims to develop a workforce that can support public health agencies and local partners by improving how data and technology are used in practice, including turning information into actionable insights and supporting technology-enabled public health services.

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