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 through its Bureau of Health Workforce. This federal funding opportunity is designed to address persistent shortages and capacity challenges in dental education by strengthening the pipeline of qualified faculty in primary care dentistry. The program responds to national trends showing increasing faculty vacancies and growing enrollment in dental education programs, which together place pressure on institutions to recruit, train, and retain skilled educators capable of advancing oral health outcomes across diverse populations. The purpose of this program is to establish a national Primary Care Dental Faculty Development Center that serves as both a training hub and a resource for developing faculty who teach primary care dentistry. The funded center will provide structured training programs and subawards to partner organizations to support junior faculty members. These activities are intended to enhance teaching capabilities, expand leadership skills, and improve the ability of faculty to implement community-based and population-level oral health strategies. The program emphasizes strengthening clinical teaching, research capacity, and leadership development among dental educators, particularly those working in underserved or high-need settings. Funding for this opportunity is provided through a cooperative agreement mechanism, with an expected total program funding of 1,000,000 dollars and a single award anticipated. Individual award amounts range from 500,000 to 1,000,000 dollars per year, with a total period of performance spanning five years from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2031. Funds must be used to design and operate the development center, implement training curricula, support trainee cohorts, and carry out required programmatic activities. Certain costs are restricted, including construction, foreign travel, accreditation fees, and unrelated equipment purchases. There is no cost-sharing requirement, although recipients must meet maintenance of effort provisions and comply with federal financial and regulatory standards. Eligibility is limited to accredited dental schools, dental hygiene programs, residency programs, public or nonprofit hospitals, and other nonprofit entities deemed capable of carrying out the program. Applicants must be domestically based and accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation prior to the program start date. Individuals are not eligible to apply. The program also defines strict eligibility requirements for trainees, who must be licensed dental professionals with specific degrees, early-career faculty appointments, and affiliation with accredited institutions. These eligibility parameters ensure that program resources are directed toward developing a qualified and sustainable dental education workforce. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes a comprehensive set of components such as a project narrative, budget and budget narrative, organizational documentation, accreditation proof, staffing plans, and letters of support. Applicants must follow detailed formatting and content requirements, including a maximum page limit of 60 pages for the application narrative. The project narrative must address program need, proposed approach, evaluation strategies, sustainability planning, and organizational capacity. Evaluation criteria used in the merit review process include need, response, performance management, impact, organizational resources, and budget justification, with a total possible score of 100 points. Applications are due by July 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be issued around September 1, 2026. The program includes a structured timeline requiring an initial planning year followed by implementation of two trainee cohorts over the five-year project period. Recipients must also comply with ongoing reporting requirements, including annual performance reports, quarterly updates, and progress evaluations. The cooperative agreement structure means that HRSA will actively collaborate with awardees throughout implementation, providing technical assistance and participating in program design and evaluation. For additional information, applicants may contact the HRSA Project Officer or Grants Management Specialist listed in the funding announcement.

Align project narrative closely with HRSA review criteria especially response and evaluation; demonstrate strong faculty development experience; provide detailed work plan and measurable outcomes; ensure compliance with all formatting and submission requirements