State Newborn Screening System Priorities Program (NBS Propel)

Background
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is accepting applications for the State Newborn Screening System Priorities Program (NBS Propel) to support state/territory NBS programs addressing state/territory-specific challenges, pursuing priorities to enhance, improve, and expand the NBS System, improving on NBS timeliness, supporting implementation of new conditions added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, and increasing access to treatment and follow-up activities for individuals and their families with conditions identified through NBS. The National Center for Newborn Screening System Excellence (NBS Excel) will support one national organization to provide leadership, technical assistance (TA), and quality improvement expertise to state NBS programs; collect data to identify barriers to achieving health equity and equitable access to NBS services for all infants and families; enhance state performance in NBS; and provide subject matter expertise, TA and training, education, and other resources to youth and families in order to promote meaningful engagement of, active partnership with, and leadership by families and/or individuals with heritable disorders at all levels of the newborn screening system.

Grant Details
The purpose of NBS Propel is to support state/territory NBS programs addressing state/territory-specific challenges; pursue priorities to enhance, improve, and expand the NBS System; improve on NBS timeliness; support implementation of new conditions added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel; and increase access to treatment and follow-up activities for individuals and their families with conditions identified through NBS. NBS Propel has two focus areas: Focus Area 1 includes activities related to improving collection of specimens, testing of specimens, and reporting out results, including improving the timeliness of these activities; and implementing screening for newly added RUSP conditions. Focus Area 2 includes activities related to improving short-term follow-up through long-term follow-up and helping families understand and navigate the process from confirmation of a diagnosis to treatment, and through follow-up across the lifespan. Up to 25 recipients will be awarded under NBS Propel to up to 25 different states. Up to three awards will be made to states in each of the 10 HHS/HRSA regions listed in the document.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include a state or political subdivision of a state, or a consortium of two or more states or political subdivisions of states.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028 (5 years). Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for HRSA-23-065 in subsequent fiscal years.

Grant Value
HRSA estimates approximately $8,600,000 annually for HRSA-23-065 (NBS Propel) with a ceiling amount of up to $345,000 per year subject. For HRSA-23-077 (NBS Excel), HRSA estimates approximately $2,300,000 annually with a ceiling amount of up to $2,300,000 per year.