The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting a funding opportunity for the Cooperative Agreement to manage the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This nationwide initiative is designed to provide immediate access to crisis services through phone, text, chat, and videophone, connecting individuals to certified crisis contact centers that offer emergency response, behavioral health services, and social support. The Lifeline is part of the broader federal strategy to enhance mental health infrastructure and improve outcomes for people in crisis.
This cooperative agreement will support an organization responsible for administering the 988 Lifeline network. The grantee will be charged with overseeing the certification, coordination, and quality assurance of the participating crisis centers. Responsibilities may include expanding technological capabilities, maintaining an effective network response time, ensuring equity and accessibility across all communication modes, and integrating services with local and state behavioral health systems.
Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity are domestic public and private nonprofit entities. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, indicating that full funding may be provided by the federal government without the need for supplementary contributions from the recipient organization. The funding is categorized under health, with the assistance listings number 93.243, indicating its alignment with projects of regional and national significance in substance abuse and mental health.
While the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has not yet been posted, the forecast suggests an estimated total program funding of $231,482,876 with one expected award. Specific award ceiling and floor amounts have not yet been disclosed, nor has the estimated project start date. The application window is projected to open on December 31, 2025, but the exact due date remains unlisted.
There is no mention of specific application components, submission systems, or evaluation criteria at this stage, as this is a forecasted opportunity. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov for the NOFO release to access detailed instructions, submission requirements, and performance metrics. Contact for this opportunity is James Wright, who can be reached at james.wright@samhsa.hhs.gov or (240) 276-1615 for inquiries. Based on the historical pattern of SAMHSA's funding cycles, this opportunity is expected to recur annually.
