HRSA-22-024_ACE TA Center_DSHAP final to post .pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

HIV/AIDS Bureau

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Access, Care, and Engagement

Technical Assistance Center (ACE TA Center)

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-024 Funding Opportunity Type: New

Assistance Listings (CFDA) Number: 93.145

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2022

Application Due Date: January 21, 2022

Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current immediately!

HRSA will not approve deadline extensions for lack of registration.

Registration in all systems may take up to 1 month to complete.

Issuance Date: October 18, 2021

Susan Robilotto, D.O.

Director, Division of State HIV/AIDS Programs Telephone: (301) 443-6554 Email: SRobilotto@hrsa.gov

See Section VII for a complete list of agency contacts.

Authority: 42 USC §§ 300ff-16, 300ff-54(b) (§§ 2606 and 2654(b) of the Public Health Service Act) mailto:srobilotto@hrsa.gov file://gss-fs1/shares/OFAM/General/DGP/NOFOs/FY22%20NOFOs/HAB/HRSA-22-037/HAB%20HRSA-22-037%20(H12)%20Part%20D%20prefinal%20for%20HAB%20review.docx#Section_VII

HRSA-22-024 i

508 Compliance Disclaimer

Note: Persons using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, please email or call one of the HRSA staff in Section VII.

Agency Contacts.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Access, Care, and Engagement Technical Assistance Center (ACE TA Center). This cooperative agreement will maintain and strengthen the ACE TA Center in order to build the capacity of RWHAP recipients and subrecipients to ensure people with HIV understand and use the range of health care coverage options available to facilitate access to and maintain engagement in care.

Funding Opportunity Title: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP)

Access, Care, and Engagement Technical Assistance Center (ACE TA Center)

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-024 Due Date for Applications: January 21, 2022 Anticipated Total Annual Available FY 2022 Funding:

$375,000

Estimated Number and Type of Award(s): Up to one cooperative agreement

Estimated Award Amount: Up to $375,000 per year. Subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

Cost Sharing/Match Required: No Period of Performance: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025 (three years) Eligible Applicants: Eligible organizations include national organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; institutions of higher education; other non-profit organizations (including faith- based, community-based, and tribal organizations); and academic health science centers.

See Section III.1 of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for complete eligibility information.

HRSA-22-024 ii

Application Guide

You (the applicant organization/agency) are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide, available online at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf, except where instructed in this NOFO to do otherwise.

Technical Assistance

HRSA has scheduled the following technical assistance:

Webinar

Day and Date: Thursday, November 04, 2021 Time: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET

Join ZoomGov Meeting https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1606979334?pwd=bHV1emZIS0NBNG1UQ1JkOW43VEtTUT09

Meeting ID: 160 697 9334 Passcode: HqQNA1en One tap mobile +16692545252,,1606979334#,,,,*17085376# US (San Jose) +16468287666,,1606979334#,,,,*17085376# US (New York)

Dial by your location +1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose) +1 646 828 7666 US (New York)

+1 551 285 1373 US

+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose) 833 568 8864 US Toll-free

Meeting ID: 160 697 9334 Passcode: 17085376 Find your local number: https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/u/abo1R6fyvU

Join by SIP 1606979334@sip.zoomgov.com

Join by H.323

161.199.138.10 (US West)

161.199.136.10 (US East) Meeting ID: 160 697 9334 Passcode: 17085376

The recorded webinar will be available on the TargetHIV website http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1606979334?pwd=bHV1emZIS0NBNG1UQ1JkOW43VEtTUT09 https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1606979334?pwd=bHV1emZIS0NBNG1UQ1JkOW43VEtTUT09 https://targethiv.org/

HRSA-22-024 iii

Table of Contents

I. PROGRAM FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

1. PURPOSE

2. BACKGROUND

II. AWARD INFORMATION

1. TYPE OF APPLICATION AND AWARD

2. SUMMARY OF FUNDING

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

2. COST SHARING/MATCHING

3. OTHER

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

i. Project Abstract

ii. Project Narrative

iii. Budget

iv. Budget Narrative

v. Program-Specific Forms, not applicable

vi. Attachments

3. DUN AND BRADSTREET DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBER TRANSITION

TO THE UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

4. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

5. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

6. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. REVIEW CRITERIA

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

3. ASSESSMENT OF RISK

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. AWARD NOTICES

2. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

3. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

HRSA-22-024 1

I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Access, Care and Engagement Technical Assistance Center (ACE TA Center), previously funded under Funding Opportunity Number HRSA- 19-030. This cooperative agreement will build the capacity of RWHAP recipients and subrecipients to ensure people with HIV understand and use the range of health care coverage options available to facilitate access to and maintain engagement in care.

The funded entity will work collaboratively with Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) on a national scale to achieve the following goals:

(1) Maximize engagement of people with HIV in health care through increased health literacy on how to access and engage with the health care system, including clinicians, support service providers, and other practitioners.

(2) Increase awareness and understanding of RWHAP recipients, subrecipients, providers, and people with HIV on how to enroll in and/or utilize health care coverage options available in the evolving health care landscape.

(3) Identify or develop strategies and messages to promote equitable access to health care coverage options for people with HIV to increase engagement in HIV care and maintain health care coverage through the assistance of outreach workers; health educators; case managers; peer navigators; health care navigators; certified application counselors, and other assisters; and administrators.

(4) Improve health outcomes across the HIV care continuum for people with HIV, including maximizing health care coverage for people aging with HIV.

2. Background

This program is authorized by the technical assistance (TA) authorities in the RWHAP legislation (codified at title XXVI of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act). The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) provides a comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, essential support services, and medications for low-income people with HIV. The program funds grants to states, cities, counties, and local community-based organizations to provide care and treatment services to people with HIV to improve health outcomes and reduce HIV transmission among hard-to-reach populations.

The RWHAP has five statutorily defined Parts (Parts A, B, C, D and F) that provide funding for core medical, support services, and medications; technical assistance;

clinical training; and the development of innovative models of care to meet the needs of different communities and populations affected by HIV.

https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding/hrsa-19-030 https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding/hrsa-19-030

HRSA-22-024 2

An important framework in the RWHAP is the HIV care continuum, which depicts the series of stages a person with HIV engages in from initial diagnosis through their successful treatment with HIV medication to achieve viral suppression. Supporting people with HIV to reach viral suppression not only increases their own quality of life and lifespan, it also prevents sexual transmission to an HIV-negative partner.

The HIV care continuum framework allows recipients and planning groups to measure progress and to direct HIV resources most effectively. RWHAP recipients are encouraged to assess the outcomes of their programs and should work with their community and public health partners to improve outcomes across the HIV care continuum. HRSA encourages recipients to use the performance measures developed for the RWHAP at their local level to assess the efficacy of their programs and to analyze and improve the gaps along the HIV care continuum.

Strategic Frameworks and National Objectives

National objectives and strategic frameworks like the Healthy People 2030, the HIV National Strategic Plan: A Roadmap to End the HIV Epidemic (2021 – 2025); the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States (2021 – 2025); and the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan for the United States: A Roadmap to Elimination (2021 – 2025) are crucial to addressing key public health challenges facing low-income people with HIV. These strategies detail the principles, priorities, and actions to guide the national public health response and provides a blueprint for collective action across the federal government and other sectors. The RWHAP supports the implementation of these strategies and recipients should align their organization’s efforts, within the parameters of the RWHAP statute and program guidance, with these strategies to extent possible.

Expanding the Effort: Ending the HIV Epidemic

According to recent data from the 2019 Ryan White Services Report (RSR), the RWHAP has made tremendous progress toward ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. From 2015 to 2019, HIV viral suppression among RWHAP patients who have had one or more medical visits during the calendar year and at least one viral load with a result of <200 copies/mL reported, has increased from 83.4 percent to 88.1 percent.

Additionally, racial/ethnic, age-based, and regional disparities reflected in viral suppression rates have significantly decreased.1 For example, the disparities in viral suppression rates between Black/African Americans and white clients have decreased since 2010.2 These improved outcomes mean more people with HIV in the United States will live near normal lifespans and have a reduced risk of transmitting HIV to others.3

1 Health Resources and Services Administration. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Client-Level Data Report 2019. http://hab.hrsa.gov/data/data-reports. Published December 2020. Accessed December 2, 2020.

2 Black/African American clients went from 79.4 percent viral suppression in 2015 to 85.2 percent in 2019, while 88.3 percent of white clients were virally suppressed in 2015 and 91.8 percent in 2019 3 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Preventing Sexual Transmission of HIV with Anti-HIV Drugs. In: ClinicalTrials.gov [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US).

2000- [cited 2016 Mar 29]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ NCT00074581 NLM Identifier:

NCT00074581.

http://hab.hrsa.gov/deliverhivaidscare/habperformmeasures.html https://health.gov/healthypeople https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/hiv-national-strategic-plan/hiv-plan-2021-2025 https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/hiv-national-strategic-plan/hiv-plan-2021-2025 https://www.hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/sexually-transmitted-infections/plan-overview/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/sexually-transmitted-infections/plan-overview/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/hepatitis/viral-hepatitis-national-strategic-plan/national-viral-hepatitis-action-plan-overview/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/hepatitis/viral-hepatitis-national-strategic-plan/national-viral-hepatitis-action-plan-overview/index.html https://hab.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hab/data/datareports/RWHAP-annual-client-level-data-report-2019.pdf http://hab.hrsa.gov/data/data-reports https://clinicaltrials.gov/

HRSA-22-024 3

In February 2019, the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative was launched to further expand federal efforts to reduce HIV infections. This 10-year initiative seeks to achieve the important goal of reducing new HIV infections in the United States to fewer than 3,000 per year by 2030. The initiative promotes and implements four strategies to substantially reduce HIV transmissions – Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, and Respond. The initiative is a collaborative effort among key HHS agencies, primarily HRSA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

For the RWHAP, the EHE initiative expands the program’s ability to meet the needs of clients specifically focusing on linking people with HIV who are either newly diagnosed, diagnosed but currently not in care, or are diagnosed in care but not yet virally suppressed to the essential HIV care and treatment and support services needed to help them achieve viral suppression.

Using Data Effectively: Integrated Data Sharing and Use

HRSA and CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention support integrated data sharing, analysis, and utilization for the purposes of program planning, conducting needs assessments, determining unmet need estimates, reporting, quality improvement, enhancing the HIV care continuum, and public health action. HRSA strongly encourages RWHAP recipients to:

• Follow the principles and standards in the Data Security and Confidentiality Guidelines for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and Tuberculosis Programs: Standards to Facilitate Sharing and Use of Surveillance Data for Public Health Action.

• Establish data sharing agreements between surveillance and HIV programs to ensure clarity about the process and purpose of the data sharing and utilization.

Integrated data sharing, analysis, and utilization of HIV data by state and territorial health departments can help further progress toward reaching the HIV National Strategic Plan goals and improve outcomes on the HIV care continuum.

HRSA strongly encourages complete CD4, viral load (VL) and HIV nucleotide sequence reporting to the state and territorial health departments’ HIV surveillance systems to benefit fully from integrated data sharing, analysis, and utilization. State health departments may use CD4, VL, and nucleotide sequence data to identify cases, stage of HIV disease at diagnosis, and monitor disease progression. These data can also be used to evaluate HIV testing and prevention efforts, determine entry into and retention in HIV care, measure viral suppression, monitor prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance, detect transmission clusters and understand transmission patterns, and assess unmet health care needs. Analyses at the national level to monitor progress toward ending the HIV epidemic can only occur if all HIV-related CD4, VL, and HIV nucleotide sequence test results are reported by all jurisdictions. CDC requires the reporting to the National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) all HIV-related CD4 results https://www.hhs.gov/blog/2019/02/05/ending-the-hiv-epidemic-a-plan-for-america.html http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/programintegration/docs/pcsidatasecurityguidelines.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/programintegration/docs/pcsidatasecurityguidelines.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/programintegration/docs/pcsidatasecurityguidelines.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/programintegration/docs/pcsidatasecurityguidelines.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/programintegration/docs/pcsidatasecurityguidelines.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/programintegration/docs/pcsidatasecurityguidelines.pdf

HRSA-22-024 4

(counts and percentages), all VL results (undetectable and specific values), and HIV nucleotide sequences.

Program Resources and Innovative Models

HRSA has a number of projects and resources that may assist RWHAP recipients with program implementation. These include a variety of HRSA HAB cooperative agreements, contracts, and grants focused on specific technical assistance (TA), evaluation, and intervention activities. A list of these resources is available on TargetHIV. Recipients should be familiar with these resources and are encouraged to use them as needed to support their program implementation.

An important technical assistance resource is the RWHAP Recipient Compilation of Best Practices Intervention Strategies (Best Practices Compilation). The Best Practices Compilation includes strategies that have been implemented in real world settings and that improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum. The RWHAP Best Practices Compilation is an easily searchable resource to support recipients’ work and the needs of the people served by the RWHAP.

In addition, many RWHAP Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) projects have demonstrated promising new approaches for linking and retaining priority populations into care. As resources permit, RWHAP recipients are encouraged to review and integrate these tools within their HIV system of care in accordance with the allowable service categories defined in PCN 16-02 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Services: Eligible Individuals and Allowable Uses of Funds. Examples of these resources include:

• E2i: Using Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes among People Living with HIV E2i uses an implementation science approach to evaluate and understand existing and new intervention strategies that can be used in RWHAP provider settings. Once interventions or strategies are demonstrated and evaluated using implementation science, manuals, guides, interactive online tools, publications, and instructional materials are developed and disseminated for replication and integration into RWHAP provider settings.

• Integrating HIV Innovative Practices (IHIP) Resources on the IHIP website include easy-to-use training manuals, curricula, case studies, pocket guides, monographs, and handbooks, as well as informational handouts and infographics about SPNS generally. IHIP also hosts TA training webinars designed to provide a more interactive experience with experts, and a TA help desk exists for you to submit additional questions and share your own lessons learned.

• Replication Resources from the SPNS Systems Linkages and Access to Care There are intervention manuals for patient navigation, care coordination, state bridge counselors, data to care, and other interventions developed for use at the state and regional levels to address specific HIV care continuum outcomes among hard-to-reach people with HIV.

https://targethiv.org/help/ta-directory https://targethiv.org/bestpractices https://targethiv.org/bestpractices https://hab.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hab/program-grants-management/ServiceCategoryPCN_16-02Final.pdf https://hab.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hab/program-grants-management/ServiceCategoryPCN_16-02Final.pdf https://targethiv.org/e2i https://targethiv.org/e2i https://targethiv.org/ihip https://targethiv.org/library/replication-resources-spns-systems-linkages-and-access-care

HRSA-22-024 5

• Dissemination of Evidence Informed Interventions

The Dissemination of Evidence-Informed Interventions initiative ran from 2015-2020 and disseminated four adapted linkage and retention interventions from prior SPNS and the Minority HIV/AIDS Funds (MHAF) from the HHS Secretary’s Office initiatives to improve health outcomes along the HIV care continuum. The initiative produced four evidence-informed care and treatment interventions (CATIs) that are replicable, cost-effective, capable of producing optimal HIV care continuum outcomes, and easily adaptable to the changing healthcare environment. Manuals are currently available at the link provided and will be updated on an ongoing basis.

HRSA HAB also recognizes the importance of addressing emerging issues, as well as supporting the needs of special populations. To help recipients in responding to these critical issues, HRSA HAB funds projects to provide technical assistance and resources for recipients. Examples of projects include:

• Building Futures: Supporting Youth Living with HIV

• The Center for Engaging Black MSM Across the Care Continuum (CEBACC)

• Using Community Health Workers to Improve Linkage and Retention in Care

II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Type of applications sought: New

HRSA will provide funding in the form of a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is a financial assistance mechanism where HRSA anticipates substantial involvement with the recipient during performance of the contemplated project.

HRSA program involvement will include:

• Make available experienced HRSA personnel to inform, support, or participate in planning, developing, and/or delivering cooperative agreement activities.

• Ensure cooperative agreement activities build upon past progress, needs assessment and evaluation results, success, and lessons learned by providing access to materials and information from previous work in this area.

• Coordinate communication and develop partnerships with personnel from HRSA, other state and federal agencies, including other TA providers focused on equitable access to health care coverage, and other federally funded training and capacity building programs.

• Participate in designing, developing, directing, and/or delivering procedures, strategies, tools, training, TA, and peer learning activities, including the selection of sites to receive targeted training and TA.

• Provide ongoing monitoring and review of the design, development, direction, and/or delivery of cooperative agreement activities, including procedures, evaluation measures, and quality improvement efforts for accomplishing the goals of the cooperative agreement, as stated in Section I.1 of this NOFO.

https://targethiv.org/deii https://targethiv.org/library/hrsa-hab-building-futures-supporting-youth-living-hiv https://targethiv.org/cebacc https://targethiv.org/chw

HRSA-22-024 6

• Participate, as appropriate, in conference calls, meetings, and learning sessions that are conducted to support cooperative agreement activities.

• Participate in cooperative agreement trainings, TA, or other meetings with RWHAP recipients, subrecipients, and other stakeholders.

• Review and provide substantive and stylistic input on cooperative agreement materials and activities.

• Inform methods for evaluating the process and outcomes of cooperative agreement activities, and use evaluation findings to inform future work.

• Participate in disseminating cooperative agreement activities, progress, and results (e.g., formal or informal presentations to internal and external stakeholders, presentations at national or regional conferences), including best practices and lessons learned.

The cooperative agreement recipient’s responsibilities will include:

• Track, assess, and keep RWHAP recipients and subrecipients apprised of legislative, regulatory, policy, and programmatic changes in the health care environment, with particular attention to Medicaid, Medicare, and private health care coverage options.

• Assess the training and TA needs of RWHAP recipients and subrecipients related to building capacity for outreach and enrollment of people with HIV into health care coverage options, addressing health literacy, and ensuring equitable access to health care coverage options for people with HIV.

• Establish measures and methods for assessing needs and evaluating the process and outcome of cooperative agreement activities, and use findings to improve future work.

• Develop and update culturally appropriate tools, training, and/or TA for RWHAP recipients, subrecipients, and people with HIV to enroll and engage people with HIV in health care coverage.

• Identify, assess, and disseminate best practices pertaining to outreach and enrollment activities implemented by RWHAP recipients and subrecipients that would facilitate health care coverage to support access to health care.

• Work with established networks in both rural and urban areas to continue to train RWHAP recipients and subrecipients, including outreach workers; health educators; community health workers; case managers; peer navigators; health care navigators, certified application counselors, and other assisters; and administrators in healthcare coverage options including enrollment and engagement for people with HIV.

• Market the ACE TA Center and its resources.

• In close collaboration with HRSA HAB, identify or develop strategies and messages for how health equity principles can be used to increase client engagement in care and maintain health care coverage through the assistance of outreach workers; health educators; community health workers; case managers;

peer navigators; health care navigators, certified application counselors, and other assisters; and administrators.

• Develop culturally appropriate health literacy materials focused on people with HIV and the RWHAP care and treatment system, health care providers, and

HRSA-22-024 7

people with HIV regarding the use of the health care system to improve the health outcomes of people with HIV.

• Identify, assess, and disseminate best practices to facilitate health care coverage for people aging with HIV to support access to health care.

• Develop methods and models for peer learning opportunities across RWHAP recipients and subrecipients, building on and leveraging currently available opportunities (e.g., meetings, conferences).

• Identify and incorporate best practices and innovation in the delivery of virtual training and TA.

• In response to feedback from HRSA HAB and/or RWHAP recipients, subrecipients, and people with HIV, modify approaches to the content, design, and/or delivery of tools, training and TA to improve their quality, utility, effectiveness, and impact.

• Disseminate promising or best practices, project accomplishments, results from project evaluation activities, and other pertinent information to key stakeholders and constituents.

• Develop a multi-year evaluation plan comprised of both quantitative and qualitative data as well as process and impact outcomes.

• Provide HRSA HAB with a complete, updated, and accessible copy of all federally supported materials, including online content, prepared under this cooperative agreement in an electronic zip file format on an annual basis for the duration of the project period.

2. Summary of Funding

HRSA estimates approximately $375,000 to be available annually to fund one recipient.

The actual amount available will not be determined until enactment of the final FY 2022 federal appropriation. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $375,000 total cost (includes both direct and indirect, facilities and administrative costs) per year. The period of performance is July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025 (three years). Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the RWHAP ACE TA Center in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory progress, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

All HRSA awards are subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements at 45 CFR part 75.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible organizations include national organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; institutions of higher education; other non-profit organizations (including faith-based, community-based, and tribal organizations); and academic health science centers.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75

HRSA-22-024 8

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

Cost sharing/matching is not required for this program.

3. Other

HRSA may not consider an application for funding if it contains any of the non-responsive criteria below:

• Exceeds the ceiling amount

• Fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.4

NOTE: Multiple applications from an organization are not allowable.

HRSA will only accept your last validated electronic submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, prior to the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

HRSA requires you to apply electronically. HRSA encourages you to apply through Grants.gov using the SF-424 workspace application package associated with this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) following the directions provided at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

The NOFO is also known as “Instructions” on Grants.gov. You must select “Subscribe” and provide your email address for HRSA-22-024 in order to receive notifications including modifications, clarifications, and/or republications of the NOFO on Grants.gov.

You will also receive notifications of documents placed in the RELATED DOCUMENTS tab on Grants.gov that may affect the NOFO and your application. You are ultimately responsible for reviewing the For Applicants page for all information relevant to this

NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Section 4 of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide provides general instructions for the budget, budget narrative, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, and abstract. You must submit the information outlined in the Application Guide in addition to the program-specific information below. You are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide except where instructed in the NOFO to do otherwise. You must submit the application in the English language and in the terms of U.S. dollars (45 CFR § 75.111(a)).

See Section 8.5 of the HRSA SF-424 Application Guide for the Application Completeness Checklist.

https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

HRSA-22-024 9

Application Page Limitation The total size of all uploaded files included in the page limitation may not exceed the equivalent of 60 pages when printed by HRSA. The page limitation includes the project and budget narratives, attachments, and letters of commitment and support required in the HRSA SF-424 Application Guide and this NOFO. Hyperlinks are not allowed and will not be accessed or reviewed by the Objective Review Committee (ORC) reviewers.

Standard Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved forms that are included in the workspace application package do not count in the page limitation. Please note: If you use an OMB-approved form that is not included in the workspace application package for HRSA-21-067, it may count against the page limitation. Therefore, we strongly recommend you only use Grants.gov workspace forms associated with this NOFO to avoid exceeding the page limitation. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) do not count in the page limitation. It is therefore important to take appropriate measures to ensure your application does not exceed the specified page limitation.

Applications must be complete, within the specified page limitation, and validated by Grants.gov under the correct funding opportunity number prior to the deadline.

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification

1) You certify on behalf of the applicant organization, by submission of your proposal, that neither you nor your principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal department or agency.

2) Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 45 CFR § 75.371, including suspension or debarment. (See also 2 CFR parts 180 and 376, and 31 U.S.C. § 3321).

3) If you are unable to attest to the statements in this certification, you must include an explanation in Attachment 9: Other Relevant Documents.

See Section 4.1 viii of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide for additional information on all certifications.

Program-Specific Instructions In addition to application requirements and instructions in Section 4 of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide (including the budget, budget narrative, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, and abstract), include the following:

i. Project Abstract

Use the Standard OMB-approved Project Abstract Summary Form 2.0 that is included in the workspace application package. Do not upload the abstract as an attachment or it will count toward the page limitation. For information required in the Project Abstract Summary Form, see Section 4.1.ix of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.See Section 4.1.ix of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

HRSA-22-024 10

NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

To ensure that you fully address the review criteria, the table below provides a crosswalk between the narrative language and where each section falls within the review criteria. Any forms or attachments referenced in a narrative section may be considered during the objective review.

Narrative Section Review Criteria Introduction (1) Need Needs Assessment (1) Need Methodology (2) Response Work Plan (2) Response and (4) Impact Resolution of Challenges (2) Response Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity

(3) Evaluative Measures and

(5) Resources/Capabilities

Organizational Information (5) Resources/Capabilities Budget and Budget Narrative

(6) Support Requested

ii. Project Narrative INTRODUCTION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #1 – Need

Briefly describe the purpose of the proposed project. Include a discussion that exhibits an expert understanding of the issues related to the activities included in this NOFO among your employees, subcontractors, and any partnering/collaborating organizations.

Describe how the proposed project will address the goals of this cooperative agreement as outlined in Section I.1. Include a discussion that exhibits an expert understanding of health care access, RWHAP recipients’ and subrecipients’ capacity for outreach and enrollment, health equity, health literacy, and program evaluation. Include how you will address the intended national scope of this announcement. Also, include a discussion that exhibits expertise in nationwide collaborations with state and federal agencies and national organizations, including other TA providers focused on equitable access to health care coverage, relevant for the purpose of this NOFO, and program evaluation.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #1 – Need

Describe your understanding of and relevant work related to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and the HIV care continuum. Describe the current state of health care access outreach and enrollment activities for people with HIV nationwide and provide an assessment of the challenges and strategies that may affect the TA work.

Describe how you will assess, in collaboration with HRSA, best practices for outreach and enrollment to engage people with HIV in health care coverage options, equitable access to health care coverage, and increased health literacy of the RWHAP recipients, subrecipients, and clients regarding use of the health care system to improve the health outcomes of people with HIV. Use and cite data

HRSA-22-024 11

whenever possible to support the information provided. Discuss any relevant barriers the proposal hopes to overcome as well as any challenges in meeting the expectations identified by HRSA.

METHODOLOGY -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #2 – Response

Discuss the methods and approaches you will use to address the stated purpose and goals in Section I.1., and meet each of the recipient responsibilities listed in Section II.1. of this NOFO. Include innovative strategies, procedures, and activities for collaborating meaningfully with HRSA HAB, CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP), and other state and federal agencies including other TA providers focused on equitable access to health care coverage and programs;

efficiently implementing the proposed project; and effectively meeting the purpose and goals of the cooperative agreement.

Discuss why the methodology chosen is appropriate for this project. Discuss how the chosen methodology aligns with the overview provided in the Needs Assessment section and will contribute to the success of the proposed project over the entire project period.

WORK PLAN -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria #2 – Response and #4 –

Impact Describe the action steps you will use over the duration of the three-year project period to implement the methods discussed in the Methodology section, including methods for assessing TA needs, updating existing tools and training, developing new tools and training, project implementation, dissemination, training of recipients, sustainability, evaluation, and meaningful collaboration. Be sure all methods discussed in the Methodology section are included and appropriately described in the work plan. Identify the type and number of resources to be developed (e.g., tools, trainings, TA opportunities) and appropriate milestones (e.g., a significant or important event in the project period).

Develop a time-framed and measureable work plan in table format that corresponds with the work plan narrative and include as Attachment 1. The work plan table should identify for each project activity and the specific action steps, intended target population(s) including people aging with HIV, measureable outcome(s), targeted end date, and person(s) responsible for implementation. The work plan must include goals, objectives, and outcomes that are SMART (specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, and time measurable). The work plan must include the goals, objectives, and action steps for the entire three-year project period, and be broken out by each year of the project.

RESOLUTION OF CHALLENGES -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #2 – Response Discuss challenges that you are likely to encounter in designing and implementing the activities described in the work plan, and approaches that you plan to use to resolve such challenges. Discuss challenges with partner organizations, identified resources, effectively addressing identified health inequities, health literacy, and processes for maintaining engagement of national and local participants.

HRSA-22-024 12

EVALUATION AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT CAPACITY -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria #3 – Evaluative Measures and #5 – Resources/Capabilities State the anticipated or intended outcome or impact of proposed activities on RWHAP recipients, subrecipients, and people with HIV. Discuss your plan for the program performance evaluation, including process, outcome, and/or impact evaluation. Describe how the proposed evaluation plan will allow you to determine whether you were successful in realizing this anticipated or intended outcome or impact.

Describe how you will monitor processes, track progress toward fulfilling the goals and objectives of the project, modify objectives as needed, and measure outcomes over time. Identify specific performance measures and corresponding benchmarks you will use to support process, outcome, and/or impact evaluation.

Identify the data collection and analytical strategies, methods, systems, tools and/or techniques that you will use. Describe how you will share with key stakeholders and/or broadly disseminate evaluation findings, best practices, and/or accomplishments to advance work in this area. Describe how you will use evaluation findings to support continuous quality improvement across project activities and throughout the entire project period.

Describe the current experience, technical knowledge, and skills of employees or contractors who will implement the program performance evaluation, and identify any materials published and previous work of a similar nature.

Describe any potential obstacles for implementing the program performance evaluation, and how you plan to address those obstacles.

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review

Criterion #5 – Resources/Capabilities NOTE: Applicants have the option to submit proposals with collaborating organizations if the partnership enhances the capability and approach of the cooperative agreement purpose and goals. You must clearly demonstrate that you and any partners bring the following experience and expertise:

(1) ensuring equitable access to health care coverage options for people with HIV, and

(2) providing health literacy trainings and technical assistance, and

(3) with disseminating enrollment health care coverage options at the state, local health department, and HIV service provider levels, and

(4) conducting program evaluation.

Provide information on your organization’s current mission, values, structure, and scope of work.

Describe the ability, capacity, expertise, and experience held by your organization and any subcontractors/partners/collaborators that demonstrate an ability to fulfill the stated purpose in Section I.1., and the recipient responsibilities listed in Section II.1. of this NOFO. Describe past performance managing collaborative

HRSA-22-024 13

federal grants at the national level, including examples of the extent to which resources were completed. You should demonstrate a minimum four-year story of experience doing work directly related to the proposed project on a national scale.

Provide a staffing plan and job descriptions for key personnel as Attachment 2.

Provide biographical sketches of key personnel as Attachment 3. The staffing plan, job descriptions, and biographic sketches should support the narrative description of your ability, capacity, expertise, and experience described in the narrative.

Provide an organizational chart for the proposed project as Attachment 4. The organizational chart should be a one-page figure that depicts the organizational structure of only the proposed activities to be funded through this cooperative agreement, not the entire organization, and it should include subcontractors and other significant partners/collaborators.

Provide any relevant letters of agreement or contract documents exhibiting partner commitment to the proposed project as Attachment 5. Applications proposing partners/collaborators must provide information on how you will monitor and assess performance by partner organizations, and how the individual efforts of the partner organization help to implement the activities in the cooperative agreement overall work plan.

iii. Budget

The directions offered in the SF-424 Application Guide may differ from those offered by Grants.gov. Follow the instructions in Section 4.1.iv of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide and the additional budget instructions provided below. A budget that follows the Application Guide will ensure that, if HRSA selects the application for funding, you will have a well-organized plan and, by carefully following the approved plan, may avoid audit issues during the implementation phase.

Reminder: The Total Project or Program Costs are the total allowable costs (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) you incur to carry out a HRSA-supported project or activity. Total project or program costs include costs charged to the award and costs borne by you to satisfy a matching or cost-sharing requirement, as applicable.

HRSA-22-024 14

In addition, the RWHAP ACE TA Center program requires the following:

• The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), Division H, § 202 and Division A of the FY 2022 Extending Funding and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43) states, “None of the funds appropriated in this title shall be used to pay the salary of an individual, through a grant or other extramural mechanism, at a rate in excess of Executive Level II.” See Section 4.1.iv Budget – Salary Limitation of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide for additional information. Note that these or other salary limitations may apply in the following FY, as required by law.

• Project Activity Budget. You must submit a separate program-specific line item budget for each year of the three-year project period. Upload this budget as Attachment 7. Note: If indirect costs are included in the budget, please attach a copy of your organization’s indirect cost rate agreement as Attachment 8.

Indirect cost rate agreements will not count toward the page limit.

iv. Budget Narrative See Section 4.1.v. of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

v. Program-Specific Forms, not applicable

vi. Attachments

Provide the following items in the order specified below to complete the content of the application. Unless otherwise noted, attachments count toward the application page limitation. Your indirect cost rate agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) will not count toward the page limitation. Clearly label each attachment.

You must upload attachments into the application. Any hyperlinked attachments will not be reviewed/opened by HRSA.

Attachment 1: Work Plan Attach the work plan in table format that corresponds with the work plan narrative detailed in Section IV.2.ii. Project Narrative.

Attachment 2: Staffing Plan and Job Descriptions for Key Personnel (see Section

4.1. of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide)

Keep each job description to one page in length as much as is possible. Include the role, responsibilities, and qualifications of proposed project staff.

Attachment 3: Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel

Include biographical sketches for persons occupying the key positions described in Attachment 2, not to exceed two (2) pages in length per person. In the event that a biographical sketch is included for an identified individual not yet hired, include a letter of commitment from that person with the biographical sketch.

Attachment 4: Project Organizational Chart

Provide a one-page figure that depicts the organizational structure of the proposed TA activities to be funded through the cooperative agreement including any significant partners/collaborators.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf

HRSA-22-024 15

Attachment 5: Letters of Agreement, Memoranda of Understanding, and/or Description(s) of Proposed/Existing Contracts (project-specific)

Provide any documents that describe working relationships between your organization and other entities and programs cited in the proposal. Documents that confirm actual or pending contractual or other agreements should clearly describe the roles of the contractors and any deliverable. Ensure any letters of agreement are signed and dated.

Attachment 6: Tables, Charts, etc.

Provide any additional tables and charts with additional details about the proposed project (e.g., Gantt or PERT charts, flow charts). NOTE: Additional tables and charts are optional.

Attachment 7: Program Specific Line Item Budget

You must submit a separate program-specific line item budget with a separate budget for each year of the three-year project period. NOTE: HRSA recommends that you convert the budget or scan it into PDF format for submission. Do not submit Excel spreadsheets. Please submit the line item budget in table format.

The budget should include personnel name and title, fringe benefits, total personnel costs, consultant costs by individual consultant, supplies, staff travel, other expenses by individual expense, total direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs. Include annual salary and total project full-time equivalent (FTE).

See Section 4.1.iv of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

Attachment 8: Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, if applicable

If indirect costs are included in the budget, please attach a copy of your organization’s federal indirect cost rate agreement. Indirect cost rate agreements will not count toward the page limit.

Attachments 9-15: Other Relevant Documents

Include here any other documents that are relevant to the application, including letters of support. Letters of support must be dated and specifically indicate a commitment to the project/program (e.g., in-kind services, dollars, staff, space, equipment).

3. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number

Transition to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

You must obtain a valid DUNS number, also known as the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and provide that number in the application. In April 2022, the *DUNS number will be replaced by the UEI, a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). For more details, visit the following webpages: Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms and General Service Administration’s UEI Update.

HRSA-22-024 16

You must register with SAM and continue to maintain active SAM registration with current information at all times during which you have an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by an agency (unless you are an individual or federal agency that is exempted from those requirements under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or you have an exception approved by the agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)). For your SAM.gov registration, you must submit a notarized letter appointing the authorized Entity Administrator.

If you are chosen as a recipient, HRSA will not make an award until you have complied with all applicable SAM requirements. If you have not fully complied with the requirements by the time HRSA is ready to make an award, you may be deemed not qualified to receive an award, and HRSA may use that determination as the basis for making an…