Pregnancy and Postpartum Hypertension Control Initiative | WH AST 25 001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Pregnancy and Postpartum Hypertension Control Initiative?

The Pregnancy and Postpartum Hypertension Control Initiative is a discretionary federal grant program led by the Office on Women's Health (OWH) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funding opportunity number is WH AST 25 001 and the CFDA number is 93.088.

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The core purpose is to rapidly expand and normalize self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) as a routine part of care during pregnancy and the postpartum period across the United States. The emphasis is on real-world implementation and scaling, not prolonged planning.

What does "self-measured blood pressure (SMBP)" mean in this program?

SMBP is described as patients regularly checking their own blood pressure at home or in another non-clinical setting, paired with clinical support to interpret readings and act on them. In other words, it is not just home monitoring; it also includes a clinical workflow for follow-up and response to the readings.

What kinds of activities is HHS looking to fund?

Based on the description provided, HHS is looking for projects that accelerate real-world uptake of SMBP during pregnancy and postpartum by: getting validated blood pressure monitoring into patients' hands, setting up clinical workflows for follow-up, and ensuring SMBP data leads to timely detection and control of hypertension.

How is this opportunity positioned relative to other federal hypertension efforts?

This initiative is framed as an implementation-and-scaling push that builds on prior and ongoing federal hypertension efforts, including initiatives associated with HHS, CDC, HRSA, and OMH. The intent is to convert lessons learned from those efforts into practical, scalable models that can be adopted widely.

Why is SMBP considered an important approach in this funding opportunity?

The opportunity states that SMBP is already considered a best practice, supported by extensive evidence and reflected in national and international hypertension guidance for adults. It also cites additional support for postpartum use from an AHRQ systematic review and meta-analysis on postpartum hypertensive disorders.

What public health impact is this initiative aiming for?

The expected impact is described in terms of improved maternal and fetal outcomes, fewer hypertension-related complications, and reductions in admissions, morbidity, and downstream burden associated with uncontrolled blood pressure during pregnancy and after delivery.

How important is equity in this grant?

Equity is described as a central theme. Applicants are expected to prioritize underserved and rural communities, including maternity care deserts, where access to consistent prenatal and postpartum care is limited. The stated goal is not only broader adoption of SMBP overall, but more equitable detection and control of hypertension for populations facing higher risk and greater barriers to care.

What are "maternity care deserts" in the context of this opportunity?

The opportunity uses the term to describe areas where access to consistent prenatal and postpartum care is limited. Projects are expected to be designed to work realistically in these lower-access settings.

Are projects expected to work in low-resource settings?

Yes. The announcement emphasizes designing projects that realistically work in low-resource settings, address access and follow-up challenges, and reduce disparities rather than inadvertently widening them.

How fast do awardees need to start implementation?

Applicants must show they can fully implement within the first six months of the award. This requirement signals that HHS is seeking fast-moving projects with partners, workflows, staffing, and operational plans ready to execute.

How long can the project period last?

The period of performance can extend up to 24 months, structured as two 12-month budget periods.

Is there an option to continue funding into the second year?

Yes. Continuation into the second year requires submission of a non-competing continuation application. Continued funding depends on the availability of funds, satisfactory progress, and proper stewardship of federal dollars.

Will award amounts change between the two budget periods?

The listing indicates award amounts are generally expected to remain consistent across budget periods, though unused funds from the prior period may offset later amounts.

What evaluation expectations are included in this opportunity?

Recipients are expected to evaluate both process measures and outcome measures throughout the project so HHS can assess what worked, what did not, and what could be replicated.

What are the knowledge-sharing or reporting expectations?

Recipients must document and share findings with HHS and other stakeholders interested in SMBP during pregnancy and postpartum. The description explicitly includes sharing data, best practices, and lessons learned, indicating a strong emphasis on producing transferable implementation knowledge.

Does the program require a sustainability plan?

Yes. Because projects are described as time-limited demonstrations to assess effectiveness, applicants are expected to include a credible sustainability approach for maintaining SMBP practices after OWH funding ends.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes both public and private entities located in a "State" as defined by federal statute and regulation. Eligible applicants listed include: state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses); and small businesses.

Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The narrative highlights faith-based organizations and community-based organizations as eligible, along with American Indian/Alaska Native/Native American organizations.

What locations count as a "State" for eligibility?

The definition includes U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories and insular areas. Examples mentioned include Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

How many awards are expected?

The listing indicates an expected 18 awards.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed is $550,000.

When is the application due?

The original closing date provided is April 2, 2025.

When was this opportunity created?

The listing indicates the opportunity was created on July 31, 2024.

What makes this opportunity different from a planning grant?

The description emphasizes rapid deployment and scaling, with a requirement to fully implement within the first six months. It also stresses evaluation, documentation, and sharing of findings to support replication, which aligns with time-limited demonstrations rather than extended planning phases.

What does success look like for funded projects, based on the description?

Success is framed around accelerating SMBP uptake during pregnancy and postpartum, ensuring clinical support and workflows are in place, improving timely detection and control of hypertension, generating measurable process and outcome results, and producing practical lessons and models that can be adopted widely, especially in underserved and rural areas.