Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awards funding to organizations who serve as Navigators in states with a Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE). This posting reflects a 5-year funding opportunity, which began August 27, 2024 and runs through August 26, 2029. Funded projects are expected to operate as Navigators year-round, using the funding from CMS to conduct outreach and education in their communities—raising awareness among the remaining uninsured about the coverage options available to them, help consumers find affordable coverage that meets their needs primarily in the Health Insurance Marketplace, and to assist consumers beyond the enrollment process—ensuring they're equipped with the tools and resources needed to utilize and maintain their health coverage all year. Navigators are required to provide targeted assistance to underserved and vulnerable populations within their FFE service area (state).
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- State
- Tribal Government (other)
This funding opportunity is open to individuals, public and private entities, and consortia capable of carrying out the program requirements at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-155.210 and meeting the terms and conditions of the award that will be issued to awarded applicants. Examples of eligible entities include: • Community and consumer-focused nonprofit groups • Trade, industry, and professional associations • Institutions of higher education • Indian tribes and tribal organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native) • State or local human service agencies
Examples of eligible entities include:
• Community and consumer-focused nonprofit groups
• Trade, industry, and professional associations
• Institutions of higher education
• Indian tribes and tribal organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native)
• State or local human service agencies
Beneficiaries
- Other
Navigators are required to assist all consumers who contact them seeking assistance with health care enrollment and post enrollment needs through the federal Marketplace. For purposes of this funding opportunity, Navigators are expected to target priority populations (vulnerable or underserved) who are members of communities which have been historically disenfranchised and disproportionately impacted by health disparities and inequities. Priority populations are often affected by social determinants of health (SDOH)— geographic location (e.g., rural or urban), gender, or sexual orientation and health-related social needs (HRSNs) — housing instability, housing quality, food insecurity, employment, personal safety, lack of transportation, and affordable utilities), all of which can have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
If you are successful, your Authorized Official Representative will receive an automated email notification from GrantSolutions, notifying you that the Notice of Award (NoA) is available. We will notify you if your application is disqualified or unsuccessful within 30 days of the award date.
The NoA is the only official award notification document. The NoA tells you about the amount of the award, important dates, and the terms and conditions you need to follow. You can only begin to start work as of the Budget Period Start Date, item 19 on the NoA.
The start date of the 5-year period of performance was August 27, 2024 and runs through August 26, 2029. At any time, CMS could decrease funding or terminate an award if the entity fails to perform the requirements of the award. See 45 CFR 75.372 “Termination.”
Program details & compliance
Description
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awards funding to organizations who serve as Navigators in states with a Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE). This posting reflects a 5-year funding opportunity, which began August 27, 2024 and runs through August 26, 2029. Funded projects are expected to operate as Navigators year-round, using the funding from CMS to conduct outreach and education in their communities—raising awareness among the remaining uninsured about the coverage options available to them, help consumers find affordable coverage that meets their needs primarily in the Health Insurance Marketplace, and to assist consumers beyond the enrollment process—ensuring they’re equipped with the tools and resources needed to utilize and maintain their health coverage all year. Navigators are required to provide targeted assistance to underserved and vulnerable populations within their FFE service area (state).
Mission Categories
Primary: General Health and Medical
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
The use of the cooperative funding allows awarded entities to have federally and, if applicable, state certified Navigators provide outreach, education, enrollment, and post-enrollment assistance to consumers in the federally-facilitated Marketplaces. The Funding Opportunity also includes a list of unallowable uses and costs under the grant. The following costs are not allowed: • Pre-award costs. • Meeting matching requirements for any other federal funds or local entities. • Services, equipment, or supports that are the legal responsibility of another party under federal, state, or tribal law, such as vocational rehabilitation or education services, or under any civil rights laws, such as modifying a workplace or providing accommodations that are obligations under law. • Goods or services not allocable to the project.• Supplanting existing state, local, tribal, or private funding of infrastructure or services, such as staff salaries, etc. • Construction. • Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment that materially increase their value or useful life as a direct cost, except with our prior written approval. • The cost of independent research and development, including their proportionate share of indirect costs (see 45 C.F.R. 75.476). • Funds related to any activity designed to influence the enactment of legislation, appropriations, regulation, administrative action, or executive order. • Certain telecommunications and video surveillance equipment (see 2 C.F.R. 200.216). • Meals, unless in limited circumstances such as: subjects and patients under study; where specifically approved as part of the project or program activity, such as in programs providing children’s services; and as part of a per diem or subsistence allowance provided in conjunction with allowable travel. • Costs to provide direct health care services to individuals. • Costs that supplant funds provided under Funding Opportunity CA-NAV-21-001, entitled “Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges.” • Costs that supplant funds for any other Notice of Funding Opportunity or Financial Assistance Program. • Costs of carrying out services that are the responsibility of the Exchange, such as eligibility determinations and transferring enrollment information for consumers to a QHP. • Assistance for consumers residing in a SBE or SBE-FP state or in a state the Navigator has not been awarded cooperative agreement funding to serve. • Staff retreats or promotional giveaways. • Gifts or gift cards, or promotional items that market or promote the products or services of a third party, that would be provided to any applicant or potential enrollee.
Required Documentation
All of the instructions that an eligible applicant must follow to apply for the Cooperative Agreement to Support Navigators in Federally-facilitated Exchanges will be published on https://www.grants.gov. You are ineligible for funding under this funding opportunity if you or your organization are:
• Health insurance issuers
• Subsidiaries of health insurance issuers
• Issuers of stop loss insurance and their subsidiaries
• Associations that include members of, or lobby on behalf of, the insurance industry
• Recipients of any direct or indirect consideration from any health insurance issuer or issuer of stop loss insurance in connection with the enrollment of any individuals or employees in a qualified health plan (QHP) or non-QHP
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements