Cooperative Agreement for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Administrator

The Cooperative Agreement for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Administrator is a high-impact federal funding opportunity offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This initiative is designed to support the continued development, oversight, and expansion of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—a critical behavioral health service in the United States that provides 24/7 support via phone, text, and chat to individuals in emotional distress or experiencing suicidal crises. The grant will fund one entity to serve as the national administrator responsible for managing the infrastructure, quality standards, data systems, and partnerships required to sustain and improve the Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline Administrator will oversee a network of over 200 independently operated crisis contact centers. These centers serve as the front line of support for help-seekers, connecting them with skilled crisis counselors and local emergency and behavioral health resources when necessary. The administrator is expected to implement and continuously refine national clinical standards, provide technical assistance to network partners, and ensure seamless system-wide operations. A particular emphasis is placed on ensuring culturally competent care, integration with the Veterans Crisis Line, and effective coordination with state and tribal partners. The successful applicant will also be responsible for building and maintaining real-time operational monitoring, predictive analytics, and robust disaster recovery systems. The scope of work spans operations, technology, data infrastructure, training, evaluation, and public communications. Operational duties include ensuring 90% or higher response rates across all service modalities, implementing surge protocols, and managing specialized sub-networks such as services for the deaf or hard of hearing and non-English speakers. On the technology front, the administrator will manage the 988 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, integrate state-level platforms, ensure cybersecurity compliance, and support georouting for improved local access. Data responsibilities include managing a centralized 988 Data System, supporting federal and state evaluation efforts, and providing both internal and public dashboards for performance transparency. Applicants must be domestic public or private nonprofit entities. Eligible types include states and territories, tribal organizations, higher education institutions, health facilities, and other nonprofits. Applicants are expected to have significant capacity and experience in behavioral health crisis systems, national service coordination, and data-driven quality improvement. A detailed organizational structure, with clearly defined Key Personnel roles, is required. These include a Project Director, Directors of Communications, Technology, Finance, Quality Improvement, and others—all at 100% Level of Effort. All hiring must comply with federal regulations, including prohibitions on race- or sex-based preferences. Applications are due by February 27, 2026, and must be submitted via Grants.gov. Pre-submission requirements include registration in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. Applicants must also complete a Public Health System Impact Statement and engage with the appropriate Single State Agency if required. Submission materials include a project narrative, budget narrative, letters of commitment (if applicable), and supporting attachments such as data collection protocols and documentation of nonprofit status. The project period is up to five years, and the annual budget cannot exceed $231,482,876. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning SAMHSA will retain substantial oversight during implementation. No cost sharing or matching is required. The program is not designated as recurring, and the current application cycle does not indicate future funding rounds. All funded activities must comply with SAMHSA’s Strategic Priorities and Executive Orders, including restrictions on harm reduction strategies and mandatory standards for financial and data management. Upon award, the grantee will be expected to participate in rigorous performance measurement, data reporting through SPARS, and cross-site evaluation activities. Regular engagement with SAMHSA officials, including biannual in-person site visits, is also required. This cooperative agreement represents a significant investment in the nation’s crisis response infrastructure, with expectations for high performance, innovation, and accountability.

Align with SAMHSA Strategic Priorities; Avoid harm reduction activities; Ensure full data reporting and 90%+ response benchmarks; Detail key personnel qualifications.