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9 Common SAC Application Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

 

The Service Area Competition’s (SAC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is released. That four-letter word – NOFO – comes with lots of opportunity - and lots of scary details!

A quick overview of SAC’s NOFO 2021 guidelines:

  • 44 pages of Guidance

  • 12 Forms

  • 12 Attachments

  • FAQs posted online here

  • FAQs specifically about Patient Target online here

  • 160-page limit

And here are 9 Common Mistakes health centers tend to make when applying for the SAC. Avoid making the same grant application mistakes and increase your odds of approval.

  1. Remember What It Is A SAC application is long, involved, and a lot is riding on it. But in the end, a SAC is just like any other grant application. The same principles of grant writing apply: Read the Guidance, review the answers to the FAQs, and make sure you thoroughly answer each question. Don’t rush it.

  2. Take It Seriously The SAC isn’t just a grant application anymore. It’s now a serious Compliance Check as well. So, don’t just answer the questions, but use your answers as an opportunity to prove your compliance with HRSA’s Program Requirements. If there is a question about your bylaws, for example, make sure you referenced the correct page and that your bylaws are up to date and in compliance. Take the application seriously so the reviewers can do the same with you.

  3. Break It Down Treat each section of the SAC grant application like it is its own grant application. Large grants like the SAC get split into several parts for review by multiple people. It can be frustrating when it seems like you are asked the same question more than once – but you need to answer each question completely, every time, even if it’s duplicative. No shortcuts.

  4. Copy Copy Copy Yes, answering the same questions over and over is tedious and feels pointless. But it’s necessary. And that brings us to another handy tip. Use full names followed by acronyms the first time they are used in every section: multiple reviewers, multiple opportunities to be clear and concise.

  5. Capitalize On The Underutilized Utilize the resources on the Technical Assistance website. Listen to Technical Assistance calls. You never know when a hint will be dropped about something related to the SAC or a future opportunity. And even if you’ve written several SACs, it’ll keep you fresh.

  6. HRSA Spells It Out HRSA has grant writing tips too. They are clear and concise, just like they encourage you to be in your writing. Following HRSA’s tips will add clarity to your grant applications, something always appreciated by the reviewers.

  7. One Captain Per Ship With a lengthy application like the SAC, it is tempting to divide the sections up far and wide among your whole team. Resist this temptation. The grant leader should write the full narrative and take the lead on most Forms and Attachments. Sure, you can assign a limited number of sections (such as the budget) to others, but the grant leader must have a complete understanding of the entire application.

  8. Measure Twice, Cut Once You’ve finished! No, you can’t just do a spellcheck and call it done. Check - and double-check - each section, and then cross-check to ensure consistency between sections. The line items in your budget and staffing profile, for example, need to match the narrative. Would you take my work seriously if I titled this article 11 Common Mistakes - and then only talked about 9? No.

  9. Track Your App Make sure you submit the application successfully. If you’re new to the Electronic Handbook, be aware that just because you think you submitted it doesn’t mean that you did. You may have only sent it to your Authorized Official (AO), who must then submit to HRSA. Check your Recently Completed applications in the EHB to be 100% sure.


Bonus tip: The grant lead and the budget writer (if different people) should compare the budget to the narrative to ensure consistency. Consistency is key!

Are You Grant Ready?

Find out with a free 1-hour consultation with Gib Clarke, founder of Unduplicated. No obligation, no cost. Gib can help you develop a plan for sustainable funding and growth.

Unduplicated’s Promise To You: If you don’t find the complimentary consultation call useful, we’ll do further research to uncover your best funding opportunities. It’s worth your time.

Take the first step now. Schedule your free call.

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