FQHC New Access Point Application: The 2026 Playbook for Section 330 Funding

HRSA opens NAP competitions roughly every 18-24 months — here is how to build a compliant, competitive application before the notice closes.

By Anthony Pinto · Founder, Triad Health Engine · Published 2026-07-28 · 11-min read

The short answer — HRSA's Health Center Program New Access Point (NAP) competition is the primary path for a clinic without existing Section 330 funding to become a federally qualified health center. Awards historically range from $650,000 to $1.1 million per year for initial project periods of three years, renewable. HRSA scores applications on a 100-point rubric split across need, response, evaluative measures, and organizational capacity. The last open competition (HRSA-25-006, closed January 2025) funded 73 new sites; the next window is anticipated in late 2026. Clinics that fail are almost always weak on two items: the Community Health Needs Assessment narrative and the sliding fee scale policy documentation. This post walks through every section of the application, the scoring math, and the 12-month operational calendar you need to start now if you want to be competitive when the next Notice of Funding Opportunity drops. It also covers how NAP eligibility differs from Look-Alike designation and when each path makes more sense for your organization.