The Poison Control Program Competitive Supplement, announced under opportunity number HRSA-25-097 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), offers a funding opportunity focused on ensuring poison control services are accessible to residents of Puerto Rico. The initiative, administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau within the Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health, aims to support a poison control center in handling calls made to the national Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) originating from Puerto Rico. This effort addresses a gap left in the prior funding cycle when no application was received to cover Puerto Rico.

The overarching goal of the program is to reduce poisonings and the harm they cause by providing immediate, expert consultation through accredited poison control centers. Specifically, this supplement is designed to maintain and enhance poison control coverage and data collection from Puerto Rico. The recipient will be responsible for delivering treatment guidance, supporting prevention education, and ensuring the collection and use of poisoning data for public health preparedness and emergency responses.

The total funding available for fiscal year 2025 is $265,188, with one award to be granted for a four-year period from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2029. The program is contingent on federal appropriations and is subject to change based on the availability of funds. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants, but recipients must maintain their level of non-federal funding consistent with the prior fiscal year.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of accredited domestic organizations such as nonprofits, for-profits including small businesses, academic institutions, tribal governments and organizations, and state and local government entities. Only one application will be accepted from each eligible organization, and applicants must be accredited poison centers or obtain a waiver with the intent to gain accreditation within a reasonable timeframe.

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by April 22, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Required application components include a project abstract, project narrative, budget narrative, and several attachments such as a work plan, staffing plan, accreditation documentation, and a designation letter from the Puerto Rico Health Department. Specific performance metrics, including encounter counts and follow-up rates, must be reported throughout the grant period.

The application evaluation will be based on six merit criteria: Need (20 points), Response (20 points), Performance Reporting and Evaluation (15 points), Impact (20 points), Resources and Capabilities (15 points), and Support Requested (10 points). Additional factors such as assessed risk and alignment with HRSA’s broader programmatic goals will also influence final award decisions.