General HSII FAQs

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My organization is not a selected HSII Participant, but we are looking for ways to get involved in HSII. How can we get involved?

At this time, involvement in HSII is limited to HSII Participants. The best way for other organizations to stay informed about HSII is to see updates on PCORI’s HSII web page, www.pcori.org/HSII.

Will PCORI open more opportunities to join HSII? If so, when will future opportunities be available?

PCORI may open future opportunities to join HSII. The timing of any future opportunities is not known.

FAQs for HSII Participants

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Jump to: Master Funding Agreement | Learning Network Capacity Building Projects | Implementation Projects

HSII Master Funding Agreement

What are the terms and conditions in the HSII Master Funding Agreement?

The HSII Master Funding Agreement template is available on the PCORI Contracts & Compliance web page. Please note that all selected HSII Participants will be subject to the same terms and conditions. PCORI does not accept revisions to standard contract terms and conditions unless a provision (1) is not permissible under state law and does not already have the qualifier "to the extent permitted" under state law, or (2) has a material adverse impact on the awardee’s ability to contract with PCORI.  

Our organization would like to make changes to the HSII Project Lead(s) named in our HSII Master Funding Agreement. How do I request a change?

Adding or changing an HSII Project Lead will require PCORI review and approval. HSII Master Funding Agreements may include up to two HSII Project Leads. To submit a change request, your Administrative Official will need to submit the materials below to [email protected]:

1. Administrative Official-signed memo stating your organization’s request to add a Dual HSII Project Lead (or change your HSII Project Lead)
2. Section A.4 of the HSII Participation Project Plan template completed with information about the proposed Project Lead
3. Project Lead template with the proposed Project Lead’s information
4. Leadership Plan template, if adding a Dual Project Lead
5. Letter of Support from the proposed Project Lead’s leader

HSII Learning Network

When is the next HSII Learning Network meeting?

The next HSII Learning Network meeting will occur on Friday, June 9, 2–4 p.m. ET.

Who should attend HSII Learning Network meetings?

The HSII Project Lead should attend HSII Learning Network meetings. In the case of Dual Project Leads, at least one Project Lead should attend. Project Leads may invite a member of their organization to attend one or more meetings of the Learning Network in addition to themselves, as relevant to their activities.

Can an HSII Project Lead appoint someone to attend HSII Learning Network meetings in their place?

The HSII Project Lead may request to designate a representative (designee) to attend HSII Learning Network meetings on their behalf. The representative should be a leader at the HSII Participant organization who is closely tied to health care operations and authorized to speak on behalf of the HSII Project Lead and the HSII Participant.

All HSII Participants will receive a survey in March 2023 from the HSII Learning Network to gather information on HSII Project Lead(s)’ designees. In the future, requests to appoint a designee may be submitted to PCORI at [email protected]. Please email the designee’s:

• Name
• Position title
• Contact information
• Assistant’s name and contact information
• Length of time at the organization
• Brief description of their role at the organization, including their connection to the HSII Project Lead and authority to speak on behalf of the Project Lead
• Brief description of the designee’s connection to health care operations

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HSII Capacity Building Projects

What is the Call for Proposals for Capacity Building Projects to Support Participation in HSII?

This Call for Proposals is the first funding opportunity available to health systems that have been accepted as participants in HSII. The goal of this funding opportunity is to support HSII Participants in strengthening their ability to undertake successful implementation efforts under HSII and to conduct program evaluation of these efforts.

Who is eligible to submit HSII Capacity Building proposals?

Only organizations that PCORI has selected as HSII Participants will be eligible to apply for funding to undertake Capacity Building Projects under HSII. Specifically, these are organizations that have been approved to enter into Master Funding Agreements (MFAs) with PCORI. Organizations that have not been selected as HSII Participants are not eligible to apply for funding under this Call for Proposals.

Where can I find the full Call for Proposals and applicant materials?

HSII Participants can find instructions on how to access the Call for Proposals and applicant materials in the email notifying them of their selection as HSII Participants (sent February 24, 2023). If you have any trouble locating this information, please contact PCORI at [email protected].

Can you provide more information about the timing of the Master Funding Agreement contract and submission of the Capacity Building Project proposal?

An organization becomes eligible to submit a Capacity Building Project proposal once they have received their invitation from PCORI to enter into an MFA to become HSII Participants. The MFA need not be fully executed for organizations to submit proposals for Capacity Building Projects. However, the MFA must be fully executed for organizations to receive Capacity Building Projects funds.

Who at the applicant organization is eligible to lead Capacity Building Projects?

Capacity Building Projects can be led by a single principal investigator (PI) or by co-PIs, but no more than two individuals. For projects with co-PIs, at least one PI must be an approved HSII Project Lead. The other PI can either be another approved HSII Project Lead or another leader within the organization. Please refer to the upcoming Call for Proposals for Capacity Building Projects to Support Participation in HSII for more details.

Does the maximum $500,000 budget for Capacity Building Projects include indirect costs?

Yes, it does. The $500,000 maximum budget is total costs, including both direct and indirect costs.

What is the timeline for starting and completing a Capacity Building Project?

The earliest start date for a project is July 2023. You will have up to 18 months to complete the Capacity Building Project. Please note, your organization’s MFA must be in place and executed before funds can be awarded and projects can start.

What should Capacity Building Projects focus on?

Proposed capacity building activities should have the primary goal of serving upcoming Implementation Projects funded under HSII. Applicants must clearly outline how proposed capacity building activities prepare the health system for future HSII Implementation Projects. (Preparing for future Implementation Projects includes preparing for program evaluation that will accompany implementation efforts under HSII.) Note that since the specific topics for the upcoming calls for Implementation Projects have not yet been released, it will be important for applicants to propose capacity building activities that will prepare them to conduct Implementation Projects and program evaluation for a wide range of potential topics.

What are some proposed capacity building activities that would be considered out of scope?

Below are some examples of activities that would be considered out of scope:

• Conducting research or enhancing an organization’s research capabilities.
• Developing or testing new care delivery tools or technology, health care interventions, or care delivery approaches, such as requesting PCORI funds to expand general telehealth services across the health system.
  • Note: Development or improvement of new technology or approaches may be necessary for the success of future implementation projects, and HSII Participants will be able to support this work with funding for future Implementation Projects. However, these activities are not in scope under the Capacity Building opportunity.
• Expanding existing health system programs that focus on specific health conditions or populations (e.g., cardiovascular centers, neurology care, tele-nephrology programs, diabetes management programs).
• Enhancing general patient engagement, such as establishing, enhancing or convening Patient Family Advisory Councils.
  • Note: Patient and stakeholder engagement may be essential for the success of future Implementation Projects, and HSII Participants will be able to support the convening of such groups with funding for future Implementation Projects. However, Capacity Building Project funding may not have a primary focus on stakeholder engagement, as this funding is intended to promote preparedness within health system operations and enhance evaluation capabilities.
• Using PCORI funds to pay for the cost of health care interventions, which includes, but is not limited to, salary or other compensation for health system personnel providing direct patient care.

Note: Applicants may request a phone call with PCORI to address additional questions about allowable and out-of-scope capacity building activities after receiving notification of their selection as an HSII Participant. Prior to scheduling a call, please be sure to review the full Call for Proposals for Capacity Building Projects to Support Participation in HSII, as well as the Capacity Building Project applicant materials.

Does PCORI have suggestions for preparing for the evaluation of Implementation Projects that HSII Participants might consider when preparing Capacity Building proposals?

Additional PCORI suggestions related to evaluation capacity can be found in the PCORI HSII Evaluation Capacity Considerations resource document.

Can PCORI funds be used to pay for training during a Capacity Building Project?

PCORI Capacity Building Project funds may be used to pay for providing training (e.g., cover the cost of a trainer or cover staff time for a staff member who is organizing and providing the training to other staff).  However, Capacity Building Projects funds cannot be used to cover costs for staff receiving training.

Further, PCORI funds may not be used to incentivize, or in any way compensate, individuals to participate in or complete trainings. This will be true for all PCORI-funded HSII projects, including Implementation Projects.

What types of staff can be covered using PCORI funds for a Capacity Building Project?

Generally, PCORI funds may be used to cover staff time if the activities being conducted by staff are in scope for Capacity Building Projects (regardless of staff type). The Project Plan template and Budget Justification template should clearly explain and justify which staff are involved in the proposed Capacity Building Project by describing their activities in detail.

What constitutes an acceptable deliverable for a Capacity Building Project?

The main project deliverables will be the Interim Progress Reports and Final Project Report submitted to PCORI, documenting the completion of your organization’s activities. The Milestones template should include a detailed documentation of the activities you will do, what you will accomplish and any deliverables associated with these accomplishments that you intend to submit.

If our organization is selected to be an HSII Participant, can we change the Capacity Building Project that we proposed at the time of our HSII Participation proposal submission?

Yes, you may propose revised or new capacity building activities.

Should my organization reference our first proposal to participate in HSII within our proposal for a Capacity Building Project?

No. Your Capacity Building Project proposal should be a stand-alone proposal. If you need to draw on relevant and important pieces included in your first proposal, bring those forward and weave those into your Capacity Building Project proposal.

Will my organization need to complete a Capacity Building Project before we can apply for or start an Implementation Project?

No. HSII Participants will be able to apply for and start an Implementation Project while their Capacity Building Project is ongoing.

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HSII Implementation Projects

Can PCORI share a list of likely HSII Implementation Project topics drawing from PCORI-funded research studies?

PCORI has not yet identified the specific topics for HSII Implementation Projects. PCORI will seek input from HSII Participants to inform topic selection beginning in Summer 2023.

To see examples of the types of implementation projects PCORI has funded through the Dissemination & Implementation program, please visit this web page.

When will PCORI release the first Call for Proposals for HSII Implementation Projects?

PCORI anticipates releasing the first Call for Proposals for HSII Implementation Projects in Fall 2023.

Can the HSII Project Lead(s) propose Implementation Projects that include a Dual Principal Investigator?

Yes. In response to future Calls for Proposals for HSII Implementation Projects, the HSII Participant may include up to two co-PIs for specific projects being proposed in response to these calls. At least one PI must be an approved HSII Project Lead. This co-PI arrangement may be advantageous for projects that take place within specific departments and/or clinical care settings.

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Posted: January 20, 2022; Updated: March 16, 2023