National Center for Benefits Outreach Enrollment

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and its Center for Innovation and Partnership, is soliciting applications for the cooperative agreement funding opportunity titled “National Center for Benefits Outreach & Enrollment” under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2025-ACL-CIP-MINC-0022. This grant opportunity supports the establishment and operation of a national center that promotes benefits outreach and enrollment services for older adults and individuals with disabilities, particularly those with the greatest economic need. The initiative is authorized under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) and aims to expand access to critical programs such as the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), and Medicare preventive services. The primary goal of the Center is to increase enrollment in federal and state benefit programs through public education, integrated decision-support systems, technical assistance, and support for locally based Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs). Applicants are expected to propose strategies to develop or enhance online eligibility screening and enrollment tools, create a clearinghouse of outreach best practices, deliver training and technical support to MIPPA grantees and partners, and track program performance to measure impact. The Center must serve a national audience that includes states, tribes, territories, AAAs, SHIPs, ADRCs/NWD systems, and community-based organizations. The project must also foster innovation in outreach and enrollment, particularly through partnerships, media strategies, and data-driven targeting of economically disadvantaged Medicare beneficiaries. Funding will be provided via a single cooperative agreement with a total federal allocation of up to $15,000,000 annually for a three-year project period, contingent on continued federal funding. ACL will play an active role in the oversight and implementation of the project, including participation in work plan development, technical reviews, and performance evaluation. The selected grantee must participate in national conferences, provide regular updates to ACL, and ensure all products are 508-compliant and publicly accessible. In addition, the grantee must submit reports semiannually and comply with standard HHS financial and policy guidelines, including FFATA and SAM registration. Eligible applicants include domestic public or private non-profit entities such as state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, hospitals, and higher education institutions. No matching funds are required for this opportunity. Applicants must demonstrate expertise in managing web-based benefits tools and collaborating with key stakeholders in the aging and disability services network. Applications that do not meet responsiveness criteria—including tool demonstration or partnership experience—will not be reviewed. Letters of Intent are requested by July 10, 2025, while full applications are due by July 30, 2025. The anticipated start date for the project is September 1, 2025. All application materials must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov. The Project Narrative must be no longer than 20 double-spaced pages and include clearly defined goals, objectives, interventions, evaluation methods, and a detailed budget narrative. The proposal must also contain a work plan, letters of commitment from partner organizations, and resumes of key project staff. For inquiries or submission of Letters of Intent, applicants should contact Margaret Flowers at margaret.flowers@acl.hhs.gov. Technical questions about Grants.gov submissions can be directed to their support desk at 1-800-518-4726. Additional information regarding required forms and detailed instructions for submission can be found on www.acl.gov.

Ensure Project Narrative does not exceed 20 pages; include only required attachments; follow format and spacing guidelines strictly; submit via Grants.gov early to avoid technical issues.