Attachment N CDC-RFA-PS-24-0020 Grant.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

NATIONAL CENTER FOR HIV, VIRAL HEPATITIS, STD AND TB PREVENTION

Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) for HIV Prevention Programs to End the HIV Epidemic in the United States

CDC-RFA-PS-24-0020

04/30/2024

Table of Contents A. Funding Opportunity Description

B. Award Information

C. Eligibility Information

D. Application and Submission Information

E. Review and Selection Process

F. Award Administration Information

G. Agency Contacts

H. Other Information

I. Glossary

Part I. Overview Applicants must go to the synopsis page of this announcement at www.grants.gov and click on the "Subscribe" button link to ensure they receive notifications of any changes to CDC-RFA-PS- 24-0020. Applicants also must provide an e-mail address to www.grants.gov to receive notifications of changes.

A. Federal Agency Name:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

B. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title:

Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) for HIV Prevention Programs to End the HIV Epidemic in the United States

C. Announcement Type: New - Type 1:

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not be considered. For purposes of this NOFO, research is defined as set forth in 45 CFR 75.2 and, for further clarity, as set forth in 42 CFR 52.2 (see eCFR :: 45 CFR 75.2 -- Definitions and https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title42-vol1/pdf/CFR- 2007-title42-vol1-sec52-2.pdf. In addition, for purposes of research involving human subjects and available exceptions for public health activities, please see 45 CFR 46.102(l) (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-46/subpart-A/section- 46.102#p-46.102(l)).

D. Agency Notice of Funding Opportunity Number:

CDC-RFA-PS-24-0020

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title42-vol1/pdf/CFR-2007-title42-vol1-sec52-2.pdf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title42-vol1/pdf/CFR-2007-title42-vol1-sec52-2.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-46/subpart-A/section-46.102#p-46.102(l) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-46/subpart-A/section-46.102#p-46.102(l)

E. Assistance Listings Number:

93.834

F. Dates:

1. Due Date for Letter of Intent (LOI):

03/11/2024

2. Due Date for Applications:

04/30/2024 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time, at www.grants.gov.

3. Due Date for Informational Conference Call:

Conference calls related to the NOFO will be published on the NOFO website.

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/funding/announcements/ps-24-0020/index.html

G. Executive Summary:

1. Summary Paragraph CDC announces the competitive availability of fiscal year 2024 funds to implement a capacity building assistance (CBA) program to strengthen the capacity and improve the performance of the nation’s HIV workforce. This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) supports a network of funded providers, established and referenced as the CBA Provider Network (CPN), to implement the following six inter-related program components:

• Component A: Technical Assistance to Enhance Integrated HIV Activities for Health Department Jurisdictions

• Component B: Instructor-led Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

• Component C: eLearning Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

• Component D: Technical Assistance for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

• Component E: Organization/Workforce Development and Management for Community-

Based Organizations

• Component F: CPN Resource and Coordination Center

This NOFO promotes and supports the goals and strategies of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States 2022–2025, the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (EHE) initiative, the HIV Care Continuum, and CDC’s High-Impact Prevention (HIP) approach. This program also aligns with the Division of HIV Prevention’s (DHP) health equity priorities of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and syndemics affecting HIV-related outcomes.

a. Eligible Applicants:

Open Competition

b. Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement)

c. Approximate Number of Awards

• Component A: 1 Award https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/funding/announcements/ps-24-0020/index.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/National-HIV-AIDS-Strategy.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/National-HIV-AIDS-Strategy.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/endhiv/index.html https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/policies-issues/hiv-aids-care-continuum/ https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/highimpactprevention/index.html

• Component B: 1 Award

• Component C: 1 Award

• Component D: up to 10 Awards

• Component E: 1 Award

• Component F: 1 Award

d. Total Period of Performance Funding:

$127,500,000

Component Approximate Annual Funding

Component A: Technical Assistance to Enhance Integrated HIV Activities for Health Department Jurisdictions

$2,500,000

Component B: Instructor-led Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

$3,500,000

Component C: eLearning Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

$2,000,000

Component D: Technical Assistance for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

$14,000,000

Component E: Organization/Workforce Development and Management for Community-Based Organizations

$2,250,000

Component F: CPN Resource and Coordination Center $1,250,000

e. Average One Year Award Amount:

$2,150,000 Based on the availability of funding, the approximate average award amounts per budget period are as follows:

• Component A: $2,500,000

• Component B: $3,500,000

• Component C: $2,000,000

• Component D: $1,400,000

• Component E: $2,250,000

• Component F: $1,250,000

f. Total Period of Performance Length:

5 year(s)

g. Estimated Award Date:

July 01, 2024

h. Cost Sharing and / or Matching Requirements:

No Cost sharing or matching funds are not required for this program. Although no statutory matching requirement for this NOFO exists, leveraging other resources and related ongoing efforts to promote sustainability is strongly encouraged.

Part II. Full Text

A. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Background

a. Overview In the United States, an estimated 1.2 million people are living with HIV. In recent years, the number of people with HIV (PWH) has increased while deaths have declined. Of PWH, about 87% were aware of their HIV status. In 2021, among people with diagnosed HIV, an estimated 75% received HIV medical care and 66% were virally suppressed. Promising progress has been made in HIV prevention as the estimated annual new HIV infections were 12% lower in 2021 (32,100 infections) compared to 2017 (36,500 infections). This decline was largely driven by a substantial decrease (34%) in new infections among 13- to 24-year-olds, mostly among gay and bisexual males. However, HIV prevention efforts must go further, and progress must be faster, for gains to equitably reach all populations and end the HIV epidemic.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) for the United States focuses on four goals:

preventing new HIV infections, improving HIV-related health outcomes of people with HIV, reducing HIV-related disparities and health inequities, and achieving integrated, coordinated efforts that address the HIV epidemic among all partners. Successful HIV programs must recognize the syndemics that affect the people and places disproportionately affected by HIV. A syndemic is population-level clustering of social and health problems. In the context of HIV, a syndemic is when HIV clusters with one or more other diseases or health conditions within a specific population, driven by the contextual, structural and social factors that increase the adverse effects on the health of people and communities. Syndemics may include HIV, STIs, TB, viral hepatitis, overdose, and substance use, and other existing and emerging conditions or factors that may be related to or impact HIV.

The Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US (EHE) initiative focuses on scaling up four science-based strategies in communities most affected by HIV across the country. The strategies are to diagnose all people with HIV as early as possible; treat people with HIV rapidly and effectively to result in sustained viral suppression; prevent new HIV transmissions by using proven interventions, including condom distribution, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), and syringe services programs (SSP); and respond quickly to potential HIV outbreaks to get vital prevention and treatment services to people who need them.

Toward achieving national HIV prevention goals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds state and local health departments and community-based organizations (CBOs) to plan, integrate, implement, evaluate, and sustain HIV prevention and surveillance programs, prioritizing people disproportionately affected by HIV including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, in particular Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native men, Black women, transgender women, youth aged 13-24, and people who inject drugs.

Racism, HIV stigma, discrimination, homophobia, poverty, and barriers to health care continue to drive disparities in HIV prevention.

Building individual competencies and technical expertise among staff, strengthening organizational capacities, and enabling supportive structural environments are critical strategies in addressing operational challenges for more effective HIV prevention and surveillance programs. Reflecting CDC’s continued investment in improving the performance of the nation’s HIV workforce, this NOFO will support the provision of capacity building assistance (CBA) services, including training and technical assistance (TA).

b. Statutory Authorities This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and 318 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 241(a) and 247c, as amended.

c. Healthy People 2030 This NOFO addresses the Healthy People 2030:

HIV and STI: Reduce the number of new HIV infections — HIV-01 - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov

Reduce sexually transmitted infections and their complications and improve access to quality STI care: Sexually Transmitted Infections - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov

d. Other National Public Health Priorities and Strategies

• National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2022-2025. National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United

States 2022–2025 (HIV Plan)

• Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States – (Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S.

(EHE) | CDC)

• Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States (2021–

2025) – (Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) National Strategic Plan: 2021-2025 (hhs.gov)

• Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan: A Roadmap to Elimination 2021-2025 – (New Federal Implementation Plan for Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan | HIV.gov)

• HIV/AIDS Care Continuum – (HIV Care Continuum | HIV.gov)

• Division of HIV Prevention Strategic Plan, Supplement 2022-2025 – (Division of HIV

Prevention Strategic Plan Supplement—An Overview of Refreshed Priorities for 2022– 2025 (cdc.gov)\)

• National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) Strategic Plan 2022-2026 – (Strategic Plan 2022-2026 | NCHHSTP | CDC)

• National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) Equity Initiative, Focus Area 3 (NCHHSTP Equity Initiative| NCHHSTP | CDC)

All NOFO activities must be consistent with current and future CDC-supported HIV prevention programmatic guidance, scientific advances, and recommendations.

e. Relevant Work This NOFO builds on work performed under previous NOFOs and will support current and future CDC HIV prevention programs and initiatives. Previous NOFOs include:

• CDC-RFA-PS19-1904: Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) for High-Impact HIV Prevention Program Integration

• CDC-RFA-PS19-1906 Component A: Strategic Partnerships and Planning to Support Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/sexually-transmitted-infections/reduce-number-new-hiv-infections-hiv-01 https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/sexually-transmitted-infections/reduce-number-new-hiv-infections-hiv-01 https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/sexually-transmitted-infections https://files.hiv.gov/s3fs-public/NHAS-2022-2025.pdf https://files.hiv.gov/s3fs-public/NHAS-2022-2025.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/endhiv/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/endhiv/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/STI-National-Strategic-Plan-2021-2025.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/STI-National-Strategic-Plan-2021-2025.pdf https://www.hiv.gov/blog/new-federal-implementation-plan-viral-hepatitis-national-strategic-plan/ https://www.hiv.gov/blog/new-federal-implementation-plan-viral-hepatitis-national-strategic-plan/ https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/policies-issues/hiv-aids-care-continuum/ https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/division-of-hiv-prevention/cdc-hiv-dhap-external-strategic-plan-2022.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/division-of-hiv-prevention/cdc-hiv-dhap-external-strategic-plan-2022.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/division-of-hiv-prevention/cdc-hiv-dhap-external-strategic-plan-2022.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/strategicpriorities/default.htm https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/about/equity-initiative/index.html

2. CDC Project Description

a. Approach

Bold indicates period of performance outcome.

Strategies Short-term Outcomes Intermediate Outcomes

Long-term Outcomes

Component A: Technical Assistance to Enhance Integrated HIV Activities for Health Department Jurisdictions

Facilitate communication and partnership engagement among HDs and other national organizations

Provide TA to HDs on policy analysis and interpretation

Provide TA to HDs to address challenges related to the planning, implementation and evaluation of integrated HIV activities

Strengthened national partnerships to support implementation of HIV prevention and surveillance programs

Improved HD capacity for policy-informed, integrated HIV activities

Optimal HD planning, integration, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of comprehensive HIV prevention and surveillance programs

Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

Component B: Instructor-Led Training; Component C: eLearning

Provide instructor-led and/or eLearning training to HD and CBO staff on CDC-supported high-impact equitable HIV prevention interventions, public health strategies, and topics of national importance

Increased HIV knowledge, skills and competencies and enhanced HD and CBO staff capacity for equitable HIV program planning, implementation, evaluation, and service delivery

Effective implementation and operation of equitable HIV prevention programs by HD and CBO staff

Component D: Technical Assistance for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

National highly skilled

HIV

workforce that promotes and supports the reduction of new

HIV

infections, increased access to care and improved health outcomes for people with HIV, reduction of HIV-related health disparities and health inequities, and a coordinate d national

Provide TA to HDs and CBOs to address challenges related to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of HIV prevention programs, reducing HIV-disparities, and addressing syndemic conditions and social determinants of health

(SDOH)

Strengthened HD and CBO organizational capacity to support comprehensive HIV programs to diagnose, treat, and prevent HIV and syndemic conditions, and address SDOH and inequities

Enhanced HD and CBO structural environments to support the effective operation of equitable HIV prevention programs and address syndemic conditions, SDOH and inequities

Component E: Organization/Workforce Development & Management for CBOs

Provide training and TA on Organizational Development and Management to CBOs

Develop and manage the National Learning Community for HIV CBO Leadership program for CBOs

Increased capacity of CBOs in fiscal management, human resources, DEIA efforts, and other management functions

Increased CBO leadership capacity

Enhanced CBO organizational capacity, sustainability, and quality of HIV prevention programs

Component F: CPN Resource and Coordination Center

Promote CBA services through designing and implementing marketing campaigns, managing the Resource Center, and coordinating meetings

Increased awareness of CBA services by HDs and CBOs

Increased utilization of CBA services by HDs and CBOs response to end the

HIV

epidemic.

i. Purpose The NOFO supports a network of providers to implement a multi-component program that builds individual competencies, technical expertise, strengthens organizational capacities, and enables supportive structural environments for the nation’s HIV workforce to plan, integrate, implement, evaluate, and sustain HIV prevention and surveillance programs. It promotes and supports national HIV prevention goals and strategies, CDC’s HIP approach, and the Division of HIV Prevention’s health equity priorities of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and syndemics affecting HIV-related outcomes.

ii. Outcomes The program is expected to demonstrate measurable progress toward addressing short-term and intermediate outcomes that appear bolded in the logic model. The section entitled CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement Strategy further describes the outputs and indicators that quantify program outcomes. (These are outcomes expected to be achieved under the NOFO only, i.e. bolded in the logic model). A summary of short-term and intermediate outcomes to be measured and reported by recipients is as follows:

Component A: Technical Assistance to Enhance Integrated HIV Activities for Health Department Jurisdictions

Short-Term Outcome:

• Strengthened national partnerships to support implementation of HIV prevention and surveillance programs

Component B: Instructor-Led Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

Short-term Outcome:

• Increased HIV knowledge, skills and competencies and enhanced HD and CBO staff capacity for equitable HIV program planning, implementation, evaluation, and service delivery

Intermediate Outcome:

• Effective implementation and operation of equitable HIV prevention programs and services by HD and CBO staff

Component C: eLearning Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

Short-term Outcome:

• Increased HIV knowledge, skills and competencies and enhanced HD and CBO staff capacity for equitable HIV program planning, implementation, evaluation, and service delivery

Intermediate Outcome:

• Effective implementation and operation of equitable HIV prevention programs and services by HD and CBO staff

Component D: Technical Assistance for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

Short-term Outcome:

• Strengthened HD and CBO organizational capacity to support comprehensive HIV programs to diagnose, treat, and prevent HIV and syndemic conditions, and address SDOH and inequities

Intermediate Outcome:

• Enhanced HD and CBO structural environments to support the effective operation of equitable HIV prevention programs and address syndemic conditions, SDOH and inequities

Component E: Organization/Workforce Development & Management for CBOs

Short-term Outcome:

• Increased capacity of CBOs in fiscal management, human resources, DEIA efforts and other management functions

• Increased CBO leadership capacity

Intermediate Outcome:

• Enhanced CBO organizational capacity, sustainability and quality of HIV prevention programs and services

Component F: CPN Resource and Coordination Center

Short-term Outcome:

• Increased awareness of CBA services by HDs and CBOS

Intermediate Outcome:

• Increased utilization of CBA training and TA by HDs and CBOs

iii. Strategies and Activities This program will constitute a national Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) Provider Network (CPN) to deliver CBA services to an interdisciplinary HIV workforce (e.g., professional, technical, clinical, managerial staff, and community staff) within CDC-funded community-based organizations (CBOs), state and local health departments and their local partners. All recipients funded under Components A-E will be considered members of the CPN. Component F recipients will coordinate the CPN. The CBA program comprises the following six components:

1. Component A: Technical Assistance to Enhance Integrated HIV Activities for Health Department Jurisdictions (Year 1 Program Period of Performance Start Date – September 30, 2024)

2. Component B: Instructor-led Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

3. Component C: eLearning Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

4. Component D: Technical Assistance for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

5. Component E: Organization/Workforce Development and Management for Community-

Based Organizations

6. Component F: CPN Resource and Coordination Center

Applicants can only submit one application but may apply for a maximum of two (2) components. See “Additional Information on Eligibility” section for guidance for applying for more than one component.

Throughout the entire period of performance, recipients will be required to implement all activities as delineated for each component. In addition, all recipients must adhere to the following program implementation requirements regardless of the component for which they are funded:

1. Develop a workplan annually, in collaboration with CDC, that addresses all NOFO requirements including component-specific activities for which your organization is funded.

2. Collaborate with CDC and other PS24-0020 CBA providers.

3. Submit all developed CBA products (e.g., PowerPoint presentations, implementation manuals, instructional curriculum, web-based modules, products, tools, materials, outlines, storyboards, learning guides, video scripts, multimedia files, etc.) for CDC review and clearance in accordance with stated timelines. These materials should be carefully reviewed prior to CDC submission to ensure that they are formatted clearly and that they contain scientifically sound, grammatically correct, plain language and fully 508-compliant (https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/index.html).

4. Participate in all CPN meetings, conference calls, and other activities to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration among all CPN members. Routinely exchange information regarding program implementation with other members of the

CPN.

5. Comply with CDC data collection and reporting requirements.

6. Understand that all training curricula, web-based modules (including all eLearning development files), national TA products, and materials are the property of CDC, and all source files should be transferred to CDC upon completion of each developmental project.

7. Conduct monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities as described in the NOFO.

8. In partnership with recipient funded under Component F, promote CBA services, to include the development and implementation of training and technical assistance products.

9. Ensure compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Note: As this NOFO supports a five-year program that must remain responsive to the changing capacity building needs of the HIV workforce, applicant's programs are expected to be flexible within and across funding components to address current and emergent programmatic focus areas. CDC may re-direct programmatic activities in an ongoing effort to ensure project outcomes. CDC will provide recipients with the PS24-0020 Program and Training Guidance that will support the NOFO and provide guidance on the implementation of the NOFO.

Component A - Technical Assistance to Enhance Integrated HIV Activities for Health Department Jurisdictions (Period of Performance Start Date – September 30, 2024 for Year 1 Only)

CDC recognizes the benefit of collaborating with an organization that can assist with the critical and complex functions of bridging programs with national partners, emerging policies, and cutting-edge communications.

The primary focus of Component A is to fund an organization to assist CDC in supporting HIV programs in a changing public health landscape through the development and implementation of strategic national partnerships, enhanced communication efforts, policy analysis and interpretation, and integrated equitable HIV activities.

The Component A recipient will be responsible for actively assisting CDC-funded health department jurisdictions by supporting communication needs, facilitating partnerships and providing peer-to-peer TA to participants that include state and local HIV prevention, surveillance, care, and treatment programs, national partners, local community partners, and other potential collaborators. In addition, Component A will assist the HIV prevention workforce to understand the impact of laws and policies on integrated HIV programs and to support communication between the HIV prevention workforce and policy makers to advance HIV prevention goals.

Required Strategies and Activities

Applicants must propose a program that describes how they will collaborate with CDC and other partners to implement the following strategies and activities:

1. Collaborate and engage with a broad spectrum of national partners, including organizations that represent hepatitis/sexually transmitted infection (STI) programs, that have common interests and that represent state, territorial, and local health department jurisdictions HIV prevention and surveillance programs.

2. Establish, cultivate, and maintain collaborative strategic partnership(s) with other national partner(s) in support of HIV prevention and surveillance programs.

3. Establish contractual partnerships(s) with other national partner(s) to strengthen the recipient's ability to support the required strategies and activities of this NOFO.

Applicants may propose to execute contractual partnerships with up to two national partners to support the implementation of the NOFO requirements under Component A.

4. Develop and disseminate timely and relevant information on key HIV-related issues and topics, to include the integration of HIV and STI prevention and treatment, surveillance, cluster detection and response (CDR), science, policy (e.g., data sharing), and education to HIV program staff, national partners, and community partners.

a. Support the development and roll out of guidance documents intended to support the implementation of HIV prevention and surveillance activities at state and local levels.

b. Support the dissemination of information on strategies that address disparities in specific populations (see Populations of Focus section for additional details)

5. Use established communication channels and partnerships with CDC funded health department jurisdictions to assist CDC with addressing emerging issues, policies, new and innovative biomedical breakthroughs, HIV priority populations, and special projects that affect HIV prevention and surveillance programs nationwide.

6. Facilitate and host national planning and collaboration meetings with CDC-funded organizations in partnership and with guidance from CDC program staff.

a. Provide educational advancement opportunities on topics relevant to advancements in HIV and STI prevention, such as community engagement, PrEP, Data-to-Care (D2C) models, surveillance, activities that address disparities in specific populations, CDR activities, etc.

b. Support the dissemination of CDC social marketing campaign messaging, materials, and resources that support HIV prevention, care, and treatment, status neutral approach/sexual wellness, and/or syndemic messaging at the state and local levels through these activities.

7. Work with partners to increase visibility of HIV prevention and surveillance programs among potential audience.

8. Support and facilitate active communication and consultation between organizations and CDC, as well as between CDC and the HIV prevention and surveillance program staff (i.e., AIDS directors, managers and surveillance coordinators) within health department jurisdictions, via the development and utilization of various communication strategies to support the implementation of high-impact HIV prevention and surveillance programs.

a. Identify and establish mechanisms to promote and facilitate active and increased communication between national partners, federal partners, state and local health department jurisdictions, community-based organizations (CBO), and other relevant agencies. Focus should be on: 1) obtaining input in the development and implementation of HIV prevention activities; 2) educating state and local health departments on policies that are relevant to HIV programs; and 3) addressing health inequities.

b. Maintain, broker, and enhance processes that allow for peer-to-peer TA, collaboration, communication, and information exchange between state and local health department AIDS directors, HIV prevention program managers, HIV surveillance coordinators, and epidemiologists about relevant issues (e.g., data sharing, CDR, etc.).

9. Collaborate with other federal and CDC-funded CBA providers in the dissemination of information and the provision of TA to health department jurisdictions, as appropriate.

a. Examples of collaboration and coordination include, but are not limited to, facilitating peer-to-peer technical assistance opportunities to support the implementation of EHE program plans, participation on CBA specific webinars, presentations at CDC meetings and professional conferences.

10. Produce regular updates and other periodic communications to HIV programs, as well as maintain microsites, strong social media and website presence to serve HIV programs, its partner agencies, and the community. The recipient will produce communication materials such as press releases, fact sheets, infographics, and other educational materials as part of this program. To assist CDC with addressing emerging issues, the recipient may establish a mechanism to help CDC respond to urgent information needs related to pressing HIV program issues and sharing of critical HIV prevention and surveillance information.

Examples of ways the recipient may implement these strategies include (but are not limited to):

• Representing HIV program interests at relevant national meetings and workgroups; and

• Engaging in strategic partnerships with other agencies working in the areas of STI, family planning, maternal and child health, adolescent health, school health, violence prevention, substance use, mental health, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQIA+) health, correctional health, housing, and primary care.

Content Areas of Focus for Component A

Applicants should have experience and expertise in the content areas of focus for supporting HIV programs in a changing health care environment on a national level. Below are content areas for which the recipient will develop and deliver TA products and services for health departments throughout the period of performance.

Policy Analysis and Interpretation

1. State and local level activity on policies and laws relevant to HIV programs.

a. Disseminate state level activity on policies and reporting laws relevant to the implementation of HIV prevention and surveillance programs.

b. Establishing a central fiduciary agent, administering microgrants (distribution of small funds to organizations with the intent of enabling the recipient to develop capacity or leadership), and other fiscal structural interventions

2. Policy-related educational and informational products in support of the NOFO strategic partnerships and communication activities.

3. National and jurisdictional-level data in areas of HIV prevention, surveillance, and CDR policies and programs for analysis and interpretation.

a. Analyze health department jurisdictions' policies nationally to support programmatic activities.

b. Gather information nationally on the Integrated Planning process to inform the development of future guidance.

4. Jurisdictions' policies about HIV prevention, surveillance, care, and treatment programs, including their impact on health disparities. Work with jurisdictions, as needed, to develop or update comprehensive policies that support the implementation of jurisdictional End the Epidemic plans.

Examples of ways the recipient may implement these strategies include but are not limited to developing briefs, fact sheets, infographics, program impact reports, investment strategies, professional judgments, spotlight videos, etc., and/or success stories for HIV program staff and their community for the purpose of educating policy makers and informing policy setting.

Activities may also include forging new partnerships to advance HIV program interests, speaking at conferences and meetings attended by decision makers and HIV prevention colleagues, and providing information and guidance on policy issues and education to individual HIV programs.

Integrated HIV Activities

Integrated HIV programs, services, and activities allow for maximum impact of federal HIV prevention funding, strengthen implementation of CDC’s High-Impact Prevention approach, align resources to better match the geographic burden of HIV infections, syndemics, and improve data-driven public health action. The recipient will be required to provide technical assistance to address implementation challenges for the following integrated HIV activities:

1. Integrated HIV prevention and care planning TA activities

a. Partnerships to conduct HIV prevention and care planning (e.g., HIV Planning

Group)

b. Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan development, implementation, and monitoring

c. Strategies to align planning processes within jurisdictional plans (e.g. National

HIV/AIDS Strategy, Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative, CDC/HRSA HIV Planning Guidance, etc.)

d. Stakeholder identification to ensure parity, inclusion, and representation (PIR)

e. Facilitation of formal processes to broker peer-to-peer mentorship for, and in support of, health department jurisdictions and HIV Planning Groups (HPGs) to share lessons learned and best practices in HIV planning activities

f. HIV prevention and care networks for increased coordination of, availability of, and access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, and support services including those that address SDOH when appropriate

g. Leveraging resources for integrated HIV prevention and care services within the jurisdiction

2. Linkage and Re-engagement in Care (Data-to-Care) TA Activities

a. Use surveillance and other data sources to identify people with diagnosed HIV who are potentially not receiving HIV medical care or other prioritized groups, such as people not virally suppressed or experiencing virologic failure, to support the HIV care continuum

b. Continuum of care analysis to quantify the percent of people with diagnosed HIV linked to care, retained in care, and virally suppressed

3. HIV Surveillance TA Activities to support complete, timely, and accurate and confidential reporting of persons with diagnosed HIV infection and all laboratory test results indicative of HIV infection.

a. Support the development and implementation of jurisdiction laboratory assessment as described in the HIV Technical Guidance Reporting file

b. Support the jurisdictions on the review and assessment of HIV data sharing and protections

c. Develop provider communications and materials for HIV case reporters (e.g., care providers, laboratories) on topics such as case reporting, the laboratory diagnostic testing algorithm, HIV treatment guidelines, state reporting regulations, uses of surveillance data

4. Cluster Detection and Response (CDR) TA Activities

a. Assisting health department jurisdictions and their local partners to build strong

CDR programs, develop meaningful community partnerships to support CDR, and review and integrate data to guide the selection and implementation of response actions to address identified gaps and challenges in HIV prevention and care among communities affected by rapid HIV transmission. Provider will coordinate with Component D as needed related to TA for specific prevention and care interventions in the setting of a cluster or outbreak response.

5. New advances in HIV prevention and priority activities based on DHP initiatives.

Component B: Instructor-led Training for High-Impact HIV Prevention Programs

CDC has a continued investment to support the national HIV workforce and ensure that CDC-funded programs and their partners receive the support needed to successfully implement HIV prevention strategies and activities within their respective programs. DHP supports this mission by providing instructor-led trainings to facilitate the implementation of local programs.

The Component B recipient will be responsible for the development and delivery of a comprehensive instructor-led training program to increase the HIV prevention knowledge, skills, and competencies of interdisciplinary staff (e.g., professional, technical, clinical, and managerial) within CDC-funded programs and their local partners. The recipient should be able to provide training using both in person and virtual instructor-led formats. Training development and delivery includes utilization of existing and newly developed training packages for CDC-supported High-Impact HIV Prevention (HIP) interventions and public health strategies (e.g., testing, surveillance, cluster detection and response activities, etc.). Trainings may also include, but not be limited to, topics that support meeting national HIV prevention goals such as the HIV care and prevention continuum, social determinants of health, syndemics, health equity, whole person approaches to care, community engagement, recruitment, retention, modification of curricula, and monitoring and evaluation (including logic models, evaluation design, performance measurement, and program and performance improvement).

The recipient should conduct an environmental scan to identify new and existing HIP interventions, public health strategies, and topics of national importance, and ways in which revised, or newly developed competency-based training can meet the capacity building needs of the HIV prevention workforce. CDC will prioritize HIP interventions, public health strategies, and topics of national importance for training development and dissemination.

Training curricula, products, and materials must be culturally, linguistically, and educationally appropriate to meet the capacity building needs of CDC-funded programs and their local partners as they serve PWH and populations at greatest risk for HIV infection.

Required Strategies and Activities

Applicants must propose a program that describes how they will collaborate with CDC and other partners to implement the following strategies and activities:

1. Develop new in person and/or virtual instructor-led training packages for a minimum of four HIP interventions, public health strategies, and/or topics of national importance per budget year. Provide a plan describing capacity to complete the development of these four courses within one year. All training packages must meet 508-compliance requirements and should include:

a. Training of Facilitators (TOF) curriculum (e.g., trainer’s manual, participant’s workbook, PowerPoint slides and other job aids) to teach how to implement HIP interventions, public health strategies, and/or topics of national importance

b. Training of Trainer (TOT) structured agenda for walkthrough of how to deliver TOF curriculum

c. Implementation and promotional materials (e.g., guidelines, forms, checklists, factsheets, videos, posters, launch plans and marketing materials) needed for successful implementation

d. A plan to pilot test trainings with intended audiences, revise, and finalize content for 508-compliant training packages.

2. In consultation with CDC, maintain and/or update content for existing in person and/or virtual instructor-led training curricula and related materials for HIP interventions, public health strategies, and topics of national importance to reflect the most advanced science and practice. Use updated content to develop and/or revise related implementation and promotional materials (e.g., guidelines, forms, checklists, videos).

3. Annually deliver a minimum of 125 in person or virtual instructor-led trainings for existing and/or new HIP interventions, public health strategies, and/or topics of national importance throughout the U.S. and its territories. This activity includes promotion with Component F recipient, scheduling, dissemination of training materials, securing appropriate, state of the art training space or platform, provision of experienced trainers, and pre- and post-course communication with trainees for coordination, evaluation, and cross-component referrals.

4. Use evidence-informed models for instructional design and adult learning techniques to develop and deliver all instructor-led training. All training should be highly interactive and engaging.

5. Use CDC approved state-of-the-art platforms and interactive technology (e.g., multi-device formats, social media applications, gamification) in the development and/or delivery of all training.

6. Develop and maintain a community advisory board to review and inform development of training materials for cultural competency and relevance to the priority populations prior to submission to CDC. The community advisory board should have members that represent people with HIV and populations disproportionately affected by HIV and be approved by CDC.

7. Continually review content of all updated or newly developed courses, in partnership with CDC. This would include using feedback from CDC, CDC directly funded programs and their local partners, and other CPN members to inform continuous improvement of training.

8. In partnership with CDC and CPN Resource Center, contribute to the development and maintenance of a CDC approved web-based or electronic library of all final training curricula, products, and materials.

9. Develop a plan for recruitment of appropriate participants into in-person and virtual instructor-led trainings.

10. Provide a post-training follow-up activity (e.g., conference call, email) with each agency to introduce appropriate TA provider who in turn will contact agency to determine and address additional technical assistance needs related to organizational implementation of HIP interventions and public health strategies, within 60 days following each training.

11. Ensure in-house staffing capacity and expertise are in place to develop and implement classroom and/or virtual instructor-led training curricula and related materials for HIP interventions, public health strategies, and topics of national importance to reflect the most advanced science and practice in HIV prevention. At minimum, the following in-house staff or contractor positions should be in place: instructional designer(s), trainer(s) (in person and virtual – instructor-led expertise), HIV subject matter experts, copy editor, graphic designer, video developer and project manager.

12. In consultation with CDC, establish and implement requirements for acknowledgment or confirmation of completion for in person and virtual instructor-led training.

13. Secure professional continuing education units for in person and virtual instructor-led trainings.

14. In partnership with CDC, provide a review of the content of all updated or newly developed courses for CPN members and CDC staff.

15. Translate new (or update existing) in person and/or virtual instructor-led training packages developed in English into Spanish. Training curricula, products, and materials must be culturally, linguistically, and educationally appropriate to meet the capacity building needs of CDC-funded programs and their local partners as they serve people with HIV and populations disproportionately affected by HIV.

16. In partnership with CDC and CPN Resource Center, post and maintain an up-to-date national training schedule to an existing CDC-approved learning management system (LMS) for web-based training registration and information for logistical coordination.

Component C: eLearning Training for HIV Prevention Programs

The primary focus of Component C is to provide self-paced eLearning training to staff within CDC funded HIV programs and their partners on HIV prevention interventions, public health strategies and topics of national significance. The eLearning training curricula, products and materials should directly support DHP’s strategic priorities, including efforts towards ending the HIV epidemic.

The Component C recipient will be responsible for the development and delivery of a comprehensive eLearning training program to increase the HIV prevention knowledge, skills, and competencies of the interdisciplinary staff (e.g., professional, technical, clinical, and managerial) within CDC-funded programs and their local partners. eLearning trainings will address CDC-supported high-impact prevention (HIP) interventions and, public health strategies and topics of national importance related to meeting HIV prevention goals. eLearning trainings may also include, but not limited to, topics that support meeting national HIV prevention goals such as the HIV care and prevention continuum, social determinants of health, syndemics, health equity, whole person approaches to care, community engagement, recruitment, retention, modification of curricula, monitoring and evaluation, and other topics that support ending the HIV epidemic.

Conduct an environmental scan to identify new and existing high-impact HIV prevention (HIP) interventions, public health strategies and topics of national importance, and ways in which revised or newly developed competency-based training can meet the capacity building needs of the HIV prevention workforce. CDC will prioritize HIP interventions, public health strategies, and topics of national importance for training dissemination.

All eLearning training products, and materials must be culturally, linguistically, and educationally appropriate to meet the capacity building needs of CDC-funded programs and their local partners as they serve people living with HIV (PWH) and populations at greatest risk for HIV infection. All training curricula, products, and materials are the property of CDC, and all source files should be transferred to CDC upon completion of each developmental project.

Applicants should have demonstrated direct experience designing, developing and delivering comprehensive and accessible eLearning training modules. Each applicant should demonstrate through a description of their staffing resources the skills sets of those staff members who will directly develop eLearning modules and have the requisite skills needed to utilize the CDC-approved eLearning development authoring tool, Lectora Online to develop accessible (i.e., Section 508-compliant) modules.

Required Strategies and Activities

Applicants must describe how they will collaborate with CDC to implement the following strategies and activities:

1. Develop new asynchronous web-based training using CDC approved software (i.e., Lectora Online) for a minimum of four courses that may comprise of HIP interventions, public health strategies, and/or topics of national importance per budget year. Use new content to develop eLearning implementation and supporting materials (e.g., guidelines, forms, checklists, etc.). Provide plan for course development of four eLearning courses within one year.

a. In collaboration with CDC staff, design and develop course content and storyboards.

b. Pilot test new content with intended audiences, and based on pilot feedback revise, test, and finalize content for 508-compliant web-based training modules, implementation materials, and educational/promotional materials.

c. Conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with intended audiences, revise, and finalize 508-compliant web-based training modules and supporting materials (see Accessibility Conformance Checklists | HHS.gov).

d. In consultation with CDC, establish and implement requirements for acknowledgment or confirmation of completion for eLearning training.

2. Maintain, update and transition existing content from classroom training to asynchronous web-based training using CDC approved software (i.e., Lectora Online). Use updated content to develop web-based implementation and supporting materials (e.g., guidelines, forms, checklists).

a. Use updated content to develop and/or revise related web-based implementation and promotional materials (e.g., guidelines, forms, videos, checklists).

b. Use feedback from CDC, CDC-funded programs and partners to inform continuous quality improvement of all eLearning training. Make updates as needed to ensure all courses reflect current scientific information and reflect needs of learners.

3. Use evidence-informed models for asynchronous eLearning instructional design, including utilizing adult learning techniques, to develop, update, and deliver all eLearning training. All training should be highly interactive and engaging.

4. Use a community advisory board to review and inform development of eLearning training materials for cultural competency and relevance to the priority populations prior to submission to CDC. The community advisory board should have members that represent persons with HIV and populations disproportionately affected by HIV and be approved by CDC.

5. Use state-of-the-art and interactive CDC-approved authoring tools (e.g., Lectora Online) and technology (e.g., responsive design for multi-device formats, social media applications, etc.) to develop innovative and engaging eLearning trainings. All training must meet Section 508 and HHS Accessibility standards (see Accessibility Conformance Checklists | HHS.gov). https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility-checklists/index.html).

6. Ensure in-house staffing capacity and expertise are in place to develop and launch asynchronous eLearning training. At a minimum, the following in-house staff or contractor positions should be in place: eLearning instruction designer(s), eLearning…