Cooperative Agreement to Support an Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Obstetrics Pain | RFA FD 22 028

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA FD 22 028

The Cooperative Agreement to Support an Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Obstetrics Pain (Funding Opportunity Number RFA FD 22 028) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the FDA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The overall purpose is to produce a high-quality, evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) focused on the management of postoperative pain in obstetric patients, with a strong emphasis on improving the safety of opioid prescribing and use in this population.

The scope centers on obstetric patients who experience postoperative pain following surgeries that occur in the context of pregnancy and delivery. The opportunity explicitly includes cesarean delivery and vaginal delivery, and it also notes other surgeries during pregnancy such as appendectomy, signaling that the guideline should not be limited only to cesarean sections. The intent is for applicants to cover the full pathway from generating or synthesizing evidence, to turning that evidence into practical clinical recommendations, and then ensuring those recommendations are actually used in real-world settings. In other words, the work is not just about writing a document; it is about developing the guideline and then actively disseminating it, supporting implementation, and evaluating whether it changes practice and improves outcomes.

A central requirement is that applicants propose a comprehensive, evidence-based plan that advances safe prescribing of opioid analgesics for obstetric patients with postoperative pain. That focus reflects a public health priority: obstetric care often involves acute pain management, but opioid exposure can carry risks for the birthing person and, depending on circumstances, the newborn and household members as well. The grant’s emphasis suggests the FDA is looking for guideline recommendations that balance effective pain control with minimizing unnecessary opioid exposure, supporting appropriate dosing and duration, encouraging use of non-opioid options when suitable, and promoting patient-centered counseling and follow-up. Because the project includes evaluation, applicants are expected to think beyond clinical recommendations and address how success will be measured, such as changes in prescribing patterns, patient pain outcomes, opioid-related adverse events, refill rates, leftover medication, or other indicators of safer, more appropriate pain management.

The funding mechanism is tied to CFDA number 93.103, and the activity category is listed as Consumer Protection, Education, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development. The award ceiling is $2,000,000, and the FDA anticipated making about five awards under this announcement, indicating a competitive process with multiple funded efforts possible. The opportunity was created on June 1, 2022, with an original closing date of August 3, 2022.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that could credibly lead guideline development and implementation work. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. This breadth suggests the FDA is open to applications from clinical and academic groups, professional associations, research organizations, health systems, implementation-science teams, and other entities capable of producing a rigorous guideline and moving it into practice.

In practical terms, a strong application would likely describe a transparent and methodologically sound approach to guideline development, such as systematic evidence review, grading the strength of evidence, handling areas where evidence is limited, and managing conflicts of interest. It would also typically include a dissemination strategy to reach obstetric clinicians and surgical teams, implementation supports such as tools, order sets, education, and patient-facing materials, and an evaluation plan that tests uptake and impact in clinical settings. The grant’s framing makes clear that the end goal is safer, evidence-based postoperative pain management for obstetric patients, with opioid prescribing practices that are better aligned with clinical need and patient safety.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration in the consumer protection, education, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement to Support an Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Obstetrics Pain" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.103.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 01, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 03, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for RFA FD 22 028

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