Fiscal Year 2026 Expanding Nutrition Services

The Expanding Nutrition Services opportunity is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through its Bureau of Primary Health Care. This program operates under the Health Center Program and is designed to strengthen the capacity of federally funded health centers to deliver comprehensive primary care services. The funding builds on the agency’s broader mission to improve access to care for medically underserved populations and to address widespread chronic health conditions across the United States. The initiative reflects a national priority to expand preventive care and improve health outcomes through nutrition-based interventions in clinical settings. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to increase access to nutrition services at HRSA-funded health centers. These services are intended to prevent, manage, and treat chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease through food-based and nutritional interventions. Health centers are expected to use the funding to increase the number of patients receiving nutrition services or the number of nutrition-related visits. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, requiring applicants to demonstrate how they will expand services and track improvements in patient health over time. Funding is provided as a competing supplement to existing Health Center Program award recipients. The total available funding is $125,000,000, with approximately 357 awards anticipated, each providing up to $350,000 annually. Awards will support two 12-month budget periods, resulting in a two-year period of performance from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2028. Funds may be used for a wide range of allowable activities, including hiring nutrition staff, implementing nutrition counseling programs, purchasing equipment, conducting minor facility alterations, and even procuring healthy foods for patient-related activities. However, there are strict limitations on spending, including prohibitions on major construction, land acquisition, and certain incentive-based expenditures. Eligibility is limited to domestic organizations that are current recipients of a Health Center Program H80 award under Section 330(e) of the Public Health Service Act. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicants must maintain their H80 status throughout the period of performance and ensure that all proposed activities align with their approved scope of project. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, although voluntary contributions may be included but will not influence the review process. Only one application per eligible organization is permitted. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple required components such as a project narrative, budget narrative, and several standardized forms. Applicants must clearly describe community need, planned service expansion, collaboration strategies, expected impact, and organizational capacity. Evaluation is conducted through a merit review process based on six criteria: need, response, collaboration, impact, capacity, and budget justification. Applications must also meet strict formatting and completeness requirements to advance beyond initial review. Key dates include a notice of funding opportunity release on May 22, 2026, an application deadline of June 22, 2026, and an expected award start date of September 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. Awards are contingent upon funding availability, applicant eligibility, and alignment with program priorities. Following submission, applications undergo eligibility screening, merit review, and risk assessment prior to final funding decisions. Program oversight continues after award through reporting and compliance requirements. Recipients must track performance metrics, participate in ongoing reporting, and demonstrate progress toward increasing nutrition service utilization. Continued funding into the second year depends on satisfactory progress and federal appropriations. The program is structured as a non-recurring funding opportunity tied to a specific fiscal year, although similar initiatives may be released in future cycles depending on policy priorities and funding availability.

Strongly align proposal with measurable increases in nutrition service utilization; demonstrate clear community need using UDS data; ensure budget justification aligns precisely with proposed activities