State Health Insurance Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center (SHIP TAC)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), has announced a funding opportunity for a cooperative agreement to operate the State Health Insurance Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center (SHIP TAC). This program, managed by ACL’s Center for Innovation and Partnership, is designed to provide a centralized hub of information, training, technical assistance, and operational support for the nationwide SHIP network. The SHIP program was created under Section 4360 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and currently consists of 54 grantees across all U.S. states and territories, serving Medicare-eligible individuals and their families through education and personalized counseling. The SHIP TAC is intended to strengthen the SHIP infrastructure by serving as a resource center and technical advisor for SHIP projects and personnel. The center will help SHIPs achieve strategic goals, which include improving beneficiary and team member education, workforce development, operational excellence, and adaptability through innovation and partnerships. Specific functions of the SHIP TAC will include developing training materials, managing an online learning and certification platform, coordinating outreach strategies, producing newsletters, maintaining an online Medigap plan comparison tool, and collecting and disseminating best practices across the SHIP network. The funding opportunity will support one cooperative agreement of up to $1,500,000 per year over a three-year period, with the possibility of continuation based on performance and federal fund availability. The project start date is anticipated to be September 1, 2025. The application closing date is July 30, 2025, and a letter of intent is requested by July 10, 2025. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and follow all formatting and submission guidelines, including a 20-page limit for the project narrative and the use of required federal forms and certifications. Eligibility for this opportunity is restricted to domestic public or private non-profit entities, including government bodies, tribal organizations, educational institutions, hospitals, and community-based and faith-based organizations. Matching funds are not required, but voluntary cost-sharing is permitted. ACL will maintain substantial involvement in the cooperative agreement, including participation in planning, evaluation, and oversight. Proposals will be evaluated based on five key criteria: project relevance and need (10 points), approach and dissemination (45 points), budget (10 points), impact and evaluation (15 points), and organizational capacity (20 points). Successful applicants will demonstrate extensive knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid, experience with state health agencies and aging services networks, technical training capacity, and the ability to manage a national assistance and training center. Applicants must include a comprehensive work plan, budget narrative for each year, and letters of commitment from any collaborating organizations. For additional information, applicants may contact Melissa Simpson at the Administration for Community Living via email at Melissa.Simpson@acl.hhs.gov or by phone at 202-795-7314. The opportunity is listed under funding number HHS-2025-ACL-CIP-SATC-0021 with CFDA number 93.324.

Submit early to avoid technical issues. Ensure all forms and narrative sections follow format rules. Letters of commitment should be signed and scanned as attachments.