Primary Care Dental Faculty Development Center Program (PCDFD)

The Primary Care Dental Faculty Development Center Program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This federal initiative is designed to strengthen the nation’s oral health workforce by investing in the development of dental faculty who specialize in primary care dentistry. The program aligns with HRSA’s broader mission to improve access to health services for underserved populations by enhancing the training and leadership capacity of educators responsible for preparing future dental professionals. The primary purpose of this program is to establish and support a centralized resource and training hub that focuses on faculty development in primary care dentistry. The funded center is expected to provide structured training and professional development opportunities that enhance clinical teaching capabilities, leadership competencies, and scholarly dissemination skills among dental faculty. In doing so, the program aims to improve the quality of dental education and expand the integration of community-based and population health approaches within dental curricula. Funding under this opportunity is provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, indicating substantial involvement from the federal agency in program implementation. The total estimated program funding is one million dollars, with a single award anticipated. Individual award amounts are expected to range from five hundred thousand dollars to one million dollars. Funds may be used to support faculty training programs, curriculum development, leadership training initiatives, and dissemination activities such as publications and presentations. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity. Eligible applicants include accredited schools of dentistry, public or nonprofit hospitals, and other public or private nonprofit entities capable of carrying out the program objectives. A critical eligibility requirement is accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation prior to the project start date. The program is open to a range of organizational types including institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, provided they meet the accreditation and capability requirements outlined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The application process is expected to follow standard federal grant submission procedures through Grants.gov, with electronic applications required by the stated deadline. Applicants must submit their proposals by June 12, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast notice, typical submissions for HRSA programs include project narratives, budget justifications, organizational capacity descriptions, and detailed work plans. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent indicated in the available information. The anticipated timeline includes an estimated posting date of May 12, 2026, with awards expected to be issued by September 1, 2026, which also serves as the projected project start date. As a forecasted opportunity, this notice provides advance information to allow potential applicants to prepare in advance of the official funding announcement. The program does not indicate recurring funding cycles within the provided information, and applicants are encouraged to monitor official updates for any changes or additional requirements.