Grant Funding for FTS Programs

SAMHSA\\

For rural health departments and community health organizations, HRSA\\

Successful grant applications require clear, well-justified budget line items for fentanyl test strips. The key is to categorize FTS under supplies or commodities (not equipment) and provide unit-level cost detail that demonstrates fiscal responsibility and programmatic alignment. A model budget line item for an immunoassay-based strip such as the Subcheck SC-1 might read: \\

Procurement remains one of the highest-risk areas in federal grant compliance, and audit findings related to procurement violations can result in disallowed costs, funding clawbacks, or loss of future grant eligibility. Understanding the most common pitfalls is essential for any procurement officer working with federal harm reduction funds. The first and most frequent mistake is failing to follow competitive bidding requirements. Federal regulations mandate that grant-funded procurement transactions provide full and open competition. Activities that restrict competition include placing unreasonable qualification requirements on vendors, requiring unnecessary experience or excessive bonding, engaging in noncompetitive pricing practices, specifying only a brand-name product without allowing \\

Each federal grant program imposes specific reporting requirements that procurement officers and program managers must plan for from the outset. Failure to submit timely, accurate reports can jeopardize continuation funding and future grant eligibility. For SAMHSA SOR grants, reporting is conducted quarterly through the SPARS (SAMHSA Performance and Accountability Reporting System) platform. Key metrics include the quantity of fentanyl test strips purchased, the quantity distributed, the number of individuals served, and the settings in which distribution occurred. These data support SAMHSA\\

Understanding federal budget cycles is critical for planning FTS procurement. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30, and most grant programs align their award cycles accordingly. CDC OD2A operates on a five-year cooperative agreement cycle. The current cycle (OD2A-S and OD2A: LOCAL) was awarded in August-September 2023 and runs through 2028.

Federal funding for harm reduction has faced periods of uncertainty, and procurement officers should be prepared for potential shifts in funding availability and program priorities. In 2025, several CDC funding streams experienced temporary disbursement delays, though funds for overdose prevention were subsequently released. The political environment around harm reduction varies across administrations, and some programs have seen their NOFOs flagged with notices that they were posted under previous administrations and may not reflect current policy priorities. Procurement officers can mitigate political risk through several strategies.

The following summary provides at-a-glance details for the major federal programs that support fentanyl test strip acquisition. CDC Overdose Data to Action - States (OD2A-S): CFDA 93.136. Five-year cooperative agreement (2023-2028). Covers 49 states and D.C.