HRSA-24-099 NASC FINAL.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2024

HIV/AIDS Bureau

Office of Program Support

National AETC Support Center

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-24-099

Funding Opportunity Type(s): Competing Continuation and New

Assistance Listing Number: 93.145

Application Due Date: February 7, 2024 Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current immediately!

We will not approve deadline extensions for lack of registration.

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

Issuance Date: November 9, 2023

Tanya Gunn Public Health Analyst Office of Program Support Call: 301-443-4304 Email: tgunn@hrsa.gov See Section VII for a complete list of agency contacts.

Authority: 42 USC §§ 300ff-111(a) and 300ff-121 (§§ 2692(a) and 2693 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act). Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative and Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. funds are authorized by Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Pub. L. 117-328, Division H.

mailto:tgunn@hrsa.gov

HRSA- 24-099 NASC i

508 COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

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

SUMMARY

Funding Opportunity Title: National AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Support Center

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-24-099

Assistance Listing Number: 93.145

Due Date for Applications: February 7, 2024

Purpose: The purpose of the National AETC Support Center (NASC) is to support the AETC program recipients and their local partners to deliver highly effective HIV training and workforce development programs and improve program coordination and outcomes.

Program Objectives: o Expand the national presence and utilization of the AETC Program services and resources;

o Develop and deliver activities that promote and support collaborative learning and incorporate evidenced-based strategies and best practices into AETC program components;

o Create and maintain an infrastructure that builds and supports the ability of the AETC Program recipients and local partners to effectively implement program activities and sustain partnerships;

o Provide program support and coordination to enhance program performance; and o Provide opportunities for continuous learning and knowledge sharing for HIV care practitioners.

Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include domestic public and nonprofit private entities, schools and academic health science centers, and institutions of higher

HRSA- 24-099 NASC ii education. Community-based organizations are eligible to apply. Tribal organizations and tribal governments are also eligible to apply.

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

Anticipated FY 2024 Total Available Funding:

Up to $2,200,000

We are issuing this notice to ensure that, should funds become available for this purpose, we can process applications and award funds appropriately. You should note that we may cancel this program notice before award if funds are not appropriated.

Estimated Number and Type of Award:

Up to 1: competing continuation or new cooperative agreement

Estimated Annual Award Amount:

Up to $2,200,000 per award, subject to the availability of appropriated funds

Cost Sharing or Matching Required:

No

Period of Performance: July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029 (5 years)

Agency Contacts: Business, administrative, or fiscal issues:

Nancy Gaines Grants Management Specialist Division of Grants Management Operations, Office of Federal Assistance Management Email: ngaines@hrsa.gov

Program issues or technical assistance:

Tanya Gunn Public Health Analyst, Office of Program Support, HIV/AIDS Bureau Email: tgunn@hrsa.gov

Application Guide

You (the applicant organization / agency) are responsible for reading and complying with the instructions included in this NOFO and in HRSA Application Guide (Application Guide). Visit HRSA’s How to Prepare Your Application page for more information.

mailto:ngaines@hrsa.gov mailto:tgunn@hrsa.gov http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application

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Technical Assistance

We have scheduled the following webinar:

Friday, November 17, 2023 1 – 3 p.m. ET

• Weblink: https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1606085331?pwd=RkVMY1BwNnN4NFVIOFBTSERWM0I0 Zz09

• Meeting ID: 160 608 5331

• Passcode: 63Kuk4bQ

Attendees without computer access or computer audio can use the following dial-in information:

• Call-In Number: 1-833-568-8864

• Meeting ID: 160 608 5331

• Passcode: 92065134

We will record the webinar. The webinar recording will be available on the TargetHIV website at https://targethiv.org/library/nofos.

https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1606085331?pwd=RkVMY1BwNnN4NFVIOFBTSERWM0I0Zz09 https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1606085331?pwd=RkVMY1BwNnN4NFVIOFBTSERWM0I0Zz09 https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1606085331?pwd=RkVMY1BwNnN4NFVIOFBTSERWM0I0Zz09 https://targethiv.org/library/nofos

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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 OR MATCHING

3. OTHER

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

i. Project Abstract

ii. Project Narrative

iii. Budget

iv. Budget Narrative

v. Attachments

3. 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

APPENDIX A: PAGE LIMIT WORKSHEET

HRSA-24-099 NASC 1

I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC), National AETC Support Center (NASC) program, a component of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part F AETC Program (RWHAP). HRSA will fund one entity under this announcement.

The purpose of the NASC is to support AETC Program recipients and their local partners to deliver highly effective HIV training and workforce development programs and improve program coordination and outcomes. The NASC will accomplish this by implementing activities that focus on program coordination and awareness, technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement to support recipients funded under the four AETC Program components below:

• The Regional AETC Program: The eight regional AETC recipients (funded under HRSA-24-059) train health care organizations and team members to care for and treat people with or at risk of HIV through various educational, training and technical assistance activities.

• National Clinician Consultation Center (NCCC): The NCCC offers warmlines and a hotline to provide one-on-one consultation with providers regarding prevention, screening, and the management of HIV, perinatal HIV transmission, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), substance use disorder, and Hepatitis C.

• National HIV Curriculum (NHC): The NHC is an on-demand, online learning platform that provides training on the most current information about HIV care and increase provider competency in HIV prevention, screening, diagnosis, and ongoing treatment.

• Integrating the NHC into Health Care Professions Programs: These projects focus on incorporating the NHC into health professions curricula at institutions including medical, nursing, allied health, pharmacy programs, as well as graduate education/residency programs across the country.

Local partners are subrecipient organizations that help AETC recipients implement their HIV training and technical assistance activities. These local partners have a cadre of HIV and training experts readily available to help address regional HIV training and workforce development needs. Collectively, the AETC recipients along with their local partners provide a comprehensive approach to develop the HIV workforce and advance the mission of the program.

https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/about/parts-and-initiatives/part-f-aetc https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/349053 https://nccc.ucsf.edu/ https://www.hiv.uw.edu/ https://www.hiv.uw.edu/

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The primary objectives of the NASC are to:

o Objective 1 - Expand the national presence and utilization of the AETC Program services and resources;

o Objective 2 – Develop and deliver activities that promote and support collaborative learning and incorporate evidenced-based strategies and best practices into AETC Program components;

o Objective 3 - Create and maintain an infrastructure that builds and supports the ability of the AETC Program recipients and local partners to effectively implement program activities and sustain partnerships;

o Objective 4 - Provide program support and coordination to enhance program performance; and o Objective 5 - Provide opportunities for continuous learning and knowledge sharing for HIV care practitioners.

The NASC will achieve these objectives through the implementation of the following program strategies:

• Strategic Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

• Capacity Building

• Program Coordination

• Technical Assistance

• Supporting HIV Care Practitioners

• Outreach and Engagement with Minority-Serving Institutions and Health

Professional Organizations, including those that focus on minority-serving providers

For more details, see Program Requirements and Expectations.

2. Background

The National AETC Support Center (NASC) is authorized by section 2692(a) (42 U.S.C.

§300ff-111(a)) and section 2693 (42 U.S.C. § 300ff-121) of the Public Health Service Act. The Secretary’s Minority AIDS Fund and Ending the HIV Epidemic funds will also be used to support the NASC and are authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Pub. L. 117-328, Division H.

The AETC Program

As the workforce development component of the RWHAP, the AETC Program supports and enhances the delivery of comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and treatment by providing training and technical assistance to health care organizations and health care team members. Since the inception of the program, AETC Program recipients have worked with local partners to provide quality HIV training and professional development resources across the nation.

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For over 30 years, AETC recipients have implemented programs to support the continuous growth and enhancement of the HIV workforce. From July 2020 through July 2021 alone, the AETC Program trained 59,972 HIV health care team members. While the AETC Program continues to experience success and is a national cornerstone in HIV workforce training, HRSA seeks to strengthen the framework and expand the impact of the program. As such, the NASC will support this effort by providing innovative capacity building and program support services to the AETC Program recipients.

The aim of the program during the next five-year period of performance (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2029) is to implement a modernized and strengthened program framework based on industry standards and the previous work and successes of the AETC Program and its local partners.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

The HRSA 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 priority 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 (TA);

clinical training; and the development of innovative interventions and strategies for HIV care and treatment to respond to emerging needs of RWHAP clients.

An important framework in the RWHAP is the HIV care continuum, which is comprised of 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 Healthy People 2030, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) (2022–2025); the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States (2021–2025); and the Viral Hepatitis National https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/ http://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/deliverhivaidscare/habperformmeasures.html https://health.gov/healthypeople https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/national-hiv-aids-strategy/national-hiv-aids-strategy-2022-2025 https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/national-hiv-aids-strategy/national-hiv-aids-strategy-2022-2025 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

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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 provide 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 the extent possible.

Expanding the Effort: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States

As demonstrated by recent data from the 2021 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Services Report (RSR), the RWHAP has made tremendous progress toward ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. From 2017 to 2021, 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 85.9 percent to 89.7 percent. Additionally, racial and ethnic, age-based, and regional disparities reflected in viral suppression rates have significantly decreased.[1]

In February 2019, the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S (EHE) initiative was launched to further expand federal efforts to reduce HIV infections. 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 and in care but not yet virally suppressed, to the essential HIV care, treatment, and support services needed to help them reach viral suppression.

Using Data Effectively: Integrated Data Sharing and Use

HRSA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of HIV 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:

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

[1] Health Resources and Services Administration. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Client-Level Data Report 2021. https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/data/reports. Published December 2022. Accessed December 13, 2022.

https://www.hhs.gov/hepatitis/viral-hepatitis-national-strategic-plan/national-viral-hepatitis-action-plan-overview/index.html https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/ryanwhite/data/rwhap-annual-client-level-data-report-2021.pdf https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/ryanwhite/data/rwhap-annual-client-level-data-report-2021.pdf https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/ending-the-hiv-epidemic/overview/ending-epidemic-timeline 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 https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/data/reports

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Integrated data sharing, analysis, and utilization of HIV data by state and territorial health departments can help further progress toward reaching the NHAS 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 secure 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 in the United States 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 (counts and percentages), all VL results (undetectable and specific values), and HIV nucleotide sequences.

HRSA’s RWHAP Compass Dashboard is an interactive data tool to allow users to visualize the reach, impact, and outcomes of the RWHAP and supports data utilization to understand outcomes and inform planning and decision making. The dashboard provides a look at national-, state-, and metro area-level data and allows users to explore RWHAP client characteristics and outcomes, including age, housing status, transmission category, and viral suppression. The RWHAP Compass Dashboard also visualizes information about RWHAP services received and the characteristics of those clients accessing the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

In addition, RWHAP recipients and subrecipients are encouraged to develop data sharing strategies with other RWHAP recipients and relevant entities to reduce administrative burden across programs. As outlined in Policy Clarification Notice 21-02, Determining Client Eligibility & Payor of Last Resort in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, recipients and subrecipients should use electronic data sources (for example, Medicaid enrollment, state tax filings, enrollment and eligibility information collected from health care marketplaces) to collect and verify client eligibility information, such as income and health care coverage (that includes income limitations), when possible.

RWHAP recipients and subrecipients should first use available data sources to confirm client eligibility before requesting additional information from the client.

https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/hiv-aids/compass-dashboard https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/ryanwhite/grants/pcn-21-02-determining-eligibility-polr.pdf https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/ryanwhite/grants/pcn-21-02-determining-eligibility-polr.pdf

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Program Resources and Innovative Models

HRSA has several projects and resources that may assist RWHAP recipients with program implementation. These include a variety of HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) projects focused on specific TA, evaluation, demonstration, and intervention activities. A full list is available on TargetHIV. Recipients should be familiar with these resources and are encouraged to use them as needed to support their program implementation.

Examples of these resources include:

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

• Best Practices Compilation

• Center for Innovation and Engagement (CIE)

• Center for Quality Improvement and Innovation (CQII)

• Dissemination of Evidence-Informed Interventions (DEII)

• Using Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes among People Living with HIV (E2i)

• Ending Stigma through Collaboration and Lifting All to Empowerment (ESCALATE)

• Engage Leadership through Employment, Validation, and Advancing Transformation and Equity for persons with HIV (ELEVATE)

• Integrating HIV Innovative Practices (IHIP)

• AIDS Education Training Center Program – National Coordinating Resource Center

II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Application type(s): Competing Continuation and New.

We will fund you via a cooperative agreement.

A cooperative agreement is like a grant in that we award money, but we are substantially involved with program activities.

Aside from monitoring and technical assistance (TA), we also get involved in these ways:

• Participating in the design and development of plans, models, tools, white papers, and other project materials required under this cooperative agreement;

https://targethiv.org/help/ta-directory https://targethiv.org/ace https://targethiv.org/bestpractices https://targethiv.org/CIE https://targethiv.org/cqii https://targethiv.org/deii https://targethiv.org/e2i https://targethiv.org/e2i https://targethiv.org/escalate https://targethiv.org/elevate https://targethiv.org/elevate https://targethiv.org/ihip https://targethiv.org/ta-org/aetc-ncrc

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• Participating in the planning, coordination, and approval of trainings, and workgroups/committees as appropriate;

• Facilitating relationships between the AETC recipients to identify and support collaboration across and within programs;

• Reviewing, as necessary, activities, procedures, and measures to be developed and implemented for accomplishing the goals of the cooperative agreement;

• Reviewing and, as appropriate, assisting the recipient with the dissemination of project findings, lessons learned, promising practices, and other information and materials developed as part of this project;

• Coordinating partnership and communication with federally funded HIV care and treatment facilities and other federal entities that may be relevant for the successful completion of tasks and activities identified in the approved scope of the cooperative agreement; and

• Providing consultation regarding the collection of information and administrative data designated by HRSA.

You must follow all relevant federal regulations and public policy requirements. Your other responsibilities will include:

• Completing activities proposed in response to the Program Requirements and Expectations section of this NOFO;

• Providing the federal project officer with the opportunity to review and discuss any publications, audiovisuals, and other materials produced, as well as meetings planned, through this cooperative agreement;

• Participating with HRSA HAB in face-to-face and virtual meetings, and conference calls conducted during the period of performance;

• Leveraging existing products or resources developed by the previously funded entity, as well as internal and external resources, to maximize the NASC’s efficiency and effectiveness, if applicable;

• Working with HRSA HAB, as appropriate, to analyze and modify activities in keeping with the changing health care environment trends and the needs of the

RWHAP;

• Attending the biennial Ryan White National Conference, and other AETC Program meetings noted under this cooperative agreement;

• Developing and leading meetings, trainings, and technical assistance as described in this NOFO;

• Ensuring the staff of the NASC are well qualified to carry out the activities as described in this NOFO; and

• Onboarding and orienting new AETC recipients and local partners in partnership with HRSA-HAB staff);

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2. Summary of Funding

We estimate $2,200,000 will be available each year to fund 1 recipient. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $2,200,000 annually (reflecting direct and indirect costs).

This funding includes:

• NASC Base funds – $1,600,000 to support core NASC activities.

• Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) funds – $300,000 to support technical assistance coordination and collaboration activities to increase AETC best practices in EHE jurisdictions. EHE funds must be tracked separately and reporting accordingly.

• Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) funds – $300,000 to support outreach and engagement activities with minority-serving institutions and organizations to increase awareness and utilization of AETC training and professional development resources. MAI funds must be tracked separately and reporting accordingly.

The period of performance is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029 (5 years).

This program notice depends on the appropriation of funds. If funds are appropriated for this purpose, we will proceed with the application and award process.

Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

• Appropriation

• Satisfactory progress in meeting the project’s objectives

• A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest

HRSA may reduce funding levels or take other enforcement actions after the initial budget year, if recipients are unable to fully succeed in achieving the goals listed in the application.

45 CFR part 75 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards applies to all HRSA awards.

If you have never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC)*. You may use this for the life of the award. If you choose this method, you must use it for all federal awards until you choose to negotiate for a rate. You may apply to do so at any time. See Section 4.1.v. Budget Narrative in the Application Guide.

*Note: One exception is a governmental department or agency unit that receives more than $35 million in direct federal funding.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75

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Limitations on Indirect Cost Rates for Training and Education Grants:

Training awards are budgeted and reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC). To calculate the (MTDC), we exclude from the direct cost base:

• Direct cost amounts for, equipment, tuition, fees and participant support costs

• Subawards and subcontracts exceeding $25,000

State or local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes, receive reimbursement based on their negotiated rate or state cost allocation plans. State universities or hospitals are not considered governmental agencies.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

You can apply if your organization is in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau and is:

• Public or nonprofit private entity

• School or academic health science center

• Institutions of higher education

• Community-based organization

• Tribal (governments, organizations)

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is not required for this program.

3. Other

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

• Exceeds the funding ceiling amount

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

Multiple Applications

We will only review your last validated application before the Grants.gov due date.

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IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

We require you to apply online through Grants.gov. Use the SF-424 workspace application package associated with this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Follow these directions: How to Apply for Grants. If you choose to submit using an alternative online method, see Applicant System-to-System.

Note: Grants.gov calls the NOFO “Instructions.”

Select “Subscribe” and enter your email address for HRSA-24-099 to receive emails about changes, clarifications, or instances where we republish the NOFO. You will also be notified by email of documents we place in the RELATED DOCUMENTS tab that may affect the NOFO and your application. You’re responsible for reviewing all information that relates to this NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Application Format Requirements Submit your information as the Application Guide and this program-specific NOFO state. Do so in English and budget figures expressed in U.S. dollars. There is an Application Completeness Checklist in the Application Guide to help you.

Application Page Limit The total number of pages that count toward the page limit shall be no more than 60 pages when we print them. We will not review any pages that exceed the page limit.

Using the pages within the page limit, HRSA will determine eligibility using Section III.

Eligibility Information of the NOFO.

These items do not count toward the page limit:

• Standard OMB-approved forms you find in the NOFO’s workspace application package

• Abstract (standard form (SF) “Project Abstract Summary”)

• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

• Proof of non-profit status (if it applies)

If there are other items that do not count toward the page limit, we will make this clear in Section IV.2.vi Attachments.

If you use an OMB-approved form that is not in the HRSA-24-099 workspace application package, it may count toward the page limit.

Applications must be complete and validated by Grants.gov under HRSA-24-099 before the deadline.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants https://www.grants.gov/system-to-system/applicant-system-to-system/

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Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification

• When you submit your application, you certify that you and your principals1 (for example, program director, principal investigator) can participate in receiving award funds to carry out a proposed project. That is, no federal department or agency has debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, claimed you ineligible, or you have voluntarily excluded yourself from participating.

• If you fail to make mandatory disclosures, we may take an action like those in 45 CFR § 75.371. This includes suspending or debarring you.2

• If you cannot certify this, you must include an explanation in Attachment 10-15:

Other Relevant Documents.

(See Section 4.1 viii “Certifications” of the Application Guide)

Program Requirements and Expectations The successful NASC award recipient is expected to meet the following program requirements and expectations as outlined below:

• Strategic Communication and Stakeholder Engagement – Design and implement a communication plan to increase AETC Program awareness and utilization among HAB recipients, stakeholders and partners throughout the period of performance. Specifically, you must:

o Develop and maintain a public facing website that will serve as a gateway for the AETC Program and serve as a centralized source for AETC Program information and updates;

The website must be compliant with Section 508 Compliance and

Accessibility of Information and Communications requirements and have the capacity to host an AETC learning events calendar.

Establish a process to track and report analytics on website usage.

o Develop AETC data infographics and disseminate to internal and external partners and stakeholders;

o Establish and maintain a social media presence;

o Develop communication strategies to ensure that RWHAP recipients and traditional and non-traditional stakeholders receive relevant AETC Program information and updates. Non-traditional stakeholders are defined as organizations that are typically not involved with HIV-related organizations, however, are engaged with communities at high risk or disproportionally impacted by HIV or whose membership is comprised of health care team members able to provide care to people with or at risk of HIV;

o Foster and support relationships with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders to increase partnership opportunities and utilization of AETC services and training; and

1 See definitions at eCFR :: 2 CFR 180.995 -- Principal. and eCFR :: 2 CFR 376.995 -- Principal (HHS supplement to government-wide definition at 2 CFR 180.995).

2 See also 2 CFR parts 180 and 376, 31 U.S.C. § 3354, and 45 CFR § 75.113.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75#se45.1.75_1371 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=4d52364ec83fab994c665943dadf9cf7&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=pt45.1.75#se45.1.75_1371 https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/index.html https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-180/subpart-I/section-180.995 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-376/subpart-I/section-376.995 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-376/subpart-I/section-376.995 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-180 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-376 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title31-chapter33&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-B/section-75.113

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o Develop AETC Program logo and clearance package in partnership with HRSA HAB. Develop guidelines for logo usage and train AETC recipients and local partners on logo guidelines.

• Capacity Building – Develop, manage, and facilitate an array of collaborative learning activities and accompanying resources to facilitate knowledge sharing, the identification of promising practices, and increase standardized practices among AETC recipients. Specifically, you must:

o Establish a web-based HIV Expert Speakers’ Bureau for use by AETC recipients to share experts across the regions and national programs;

o Establish a Peer-to-Peer Learning Collaborative for AETC recipients and their local partners that will allow the real time sharing of information and best practices and encourage networking and collaboration;

o Host expert speakers during AETC meetings to present on emerging research and evidenced-based practices on topics relevant to the work of the AETCs; and o Develop and maintain a repository of AETC training and technical assistance resources and best practices.

Technical Assistance – Develop and deliver a cadre of one-on-one and group technical assistance activities. Technical assistance activities will assist AETC recipients and their local partners with meeting program requirements, objectives, as well as promote emerging and best practices for training health care team members.

The implementation of group technical assistance includes planning, facilitating and providing logistical support for up to six virtual and one in-person technical assistance meetings annually over the five-year period of performance.

Technical assistance topics should include but, are not limited to the following:

AETC Program guidance and requirements;

Program areas for Regional AETCs: Foundations of HIV (FH), Practice Transformation (PT), Inter-Professional Education (IPE), and Capability and Expertise Expansion (CEE), integrating the NHC into curricula, and promising practices for effective virtual training;

Program evaluation;

Data collection and reporting;

Emerging and best practices related to the work of the AETCs; and Replicating and expanding AETC best practices in EHE jurisdictions.

One-on-one technical assistance includes the planning and facilitation of technical assistance sessions for individual recipients to be provided on an as-

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needed basis. AETC recipients or HRSA staff may identify the areas where one-on-one technical assistance is needed. One-on-one technical assistance should be delivered virtually. The NASC recipient must develop a clear and easily accessible process for requesting one-on-one technical assistance.

• Program Coordination- Support program coordination activities to improve overall AETC Program operations and effectiveness. Specifically, you must:

o Lead the development of core competencies for levels of expertise in HIV care and treatment for providers in collaboration with the AETC recipients These levels of expertise will inform the development of individualized training plans for participants interested in substantially increasing their current level of expertise;

o Facilitate the development of training tracks for health care team members and produce training materials;

o Facilitate engagement and collaboration between all AETC recipients and local partners to promote the sharing of resources and best practices;

o Develop whitepapers and articles on HIV topics that require a rapid response;

o Develop and maintain a public-facing, web-based AETC training calendar;

o Maintain an electronic listing of active PT sites, HIV IPE programs, and

NHC Curriculum Integration projects;

o Create and maintain a current list of AETC Program data for PT sites, IPE programs, NHC Curriculum Integration project sites.

o Utilize program data to develop a tool that provides a visual representation of program reach;

o Support the monthly AETC Directors Meeting. This includes attending meetings, note-taking and, as needed, obtain speakers for special topic discussions. The Director’s Meeting is a virtual meeting, convened monthly by federal staff to provide program updates, introduce new and trending topics related to training health care team members and, serves as a forum for recipients to discuss issues impacting program implementation;

o Conduct needs assessments and other surveys among AETC recipients;

and o Coordinate and collaborate with the Ending the HIV Epidemic Technical Assistance Provider and the Systems Coordination Provider to share information and resources as appropriate to help enhance HIV workforce development resources available in EHE jurisdictions.

• Supporting HIV Care Practitioners – Develop and host the annual RWHAP

Clinical Conference. This conference is a forum of national thought leaders and experts in HIV, brought together to advance the knowledge and skills of HIV providers. The conference should be in-person. Specifically, you must:

https://targethiv.org/tap-in https://targethiv.org/tap-in https://targethiv.org/ta-org/ehe-systems-coordination-provider

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o Implement all aspects of conference planning, such as logistics, communication plan to promote the conference, registration, staffing, presenter support, and onsite support.

o Provide continuing medical education credits and maintenance of board certification.

o Provide a separate budget for the conference.

For conference planning purposes please see additional information provided in the iii. Budget (Specific Instructions) section of this NOFO. If unforeseen emergency circumstances arise, the awardee may seek approval from HRSA HAB to deliver the conference virtually.

• Outreach and Engagement with Minority-Serving Institutions and Health Professional Organizations, including those that focus on minority-serving providers – Develop and implement a plan to identify and engage minority-serving institutions and health professional organizations, including those that focus on minority-serving providers, to increase their awareness and utilization of AETC resources and services by their members. The plan should include strategies to:

o Engage minority-serving institutions and health professional organizations including those that focus on minority-serving providers;

o Disseminate information on AETC Program updates and resources;

o Develop and facilitate a virtual, biennial stakeholders’ meeting to highlight the AETC Program resources and discuss HIV care workforce opportunities and challenges (starting in year two of this cooperative agreement); and o Provide technical assistance to AETC recipients to increase their engagement with minority- serving institutions and organizations to improve program outcomes.

• Evaluate Performance – Develop and implement a plan to evaluate the performance and operations of the NASC. The plan must track and measure program performance. At a minimum, the evaluation plan must contain the performance measures outlined below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional performance measures to assess program performance:

o Number and type of technical assistance and training events held per year o Number of engagement activities initiated with stakeholders o Number of engagement activities initiated with minority-serving organizations and minority professional organizations o Number and type of AETC Program updates and materials disseminated to stakeholders

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o Number of new collaborations established as a result of program coordination activities implemented by the NASC o Number of individuals from AETC recipient organizations attending technical assistance meetings and peer learning sessions o Percentage of AETC recipient staff surveyed who indicate that NASC-sponsored events met the stated objectives o Percentage of AETC local partner staff surveyed who indicate that NASC sponsored events met the stated objectives o Number of participants attending the RWHAP Clinical Conference o Percentage of RWHAP Clinical Conference participants surveyed that indicate the learning event met the stated objectives and that specific topics were effectively covered.

• Quality Improvement – The evaluation plan should indicate how and what quality improvement processes will be implemented to consistently assess and improve the training, technical assistance and program coordination support required under this cooperative agreement. Additionally, the plan should address how program data will be used to inform program enhancements.

Participant surveys must be issued after the completion of all technical assistance, training, learning events, the annual RWHAP Clinical Conference and other activities delivered by the NASC to assess participant satisfaction and help determine if the event’s intended objectives and outcomes were achieved. You are expected to analyze participant survey data and report the extent to which each event achieved the intended outcome.

• Ensure qualified staff and expertise for each component of your program.

The NASC recipient should hire staff with the appropriate education, experience, and skills necessary to implement the requirements and expectations of this NOFO.

This includes staff with an understanding of HIV workforce development, experience providing technical assistance, program support, event and strategic communications planning, experience with federal grants administration, program management and evaluation, data collection and reporting. The following descriptions are examples of key duties and positions that may be needed to execute the functions of the NASC. The NASC applicant may determine specific staff titles, roles, and responsibilities.

o Principal Investigator – This individual is responsible for the preparation, conduct, and administration of the NASC cooperative agreement within the recipient organization. Requires skills and experience in providing training and technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, data analysis and reporting, and communication.

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o Project Director – This individual should have the experience and ability to manage a federal award, provide oversight and direction to the program’s activities, and ensure that the day-to-day operations of the NASC are conducted in accordance with the NOFO requirements and Notice of Award terms. The individual should have prior experience leading program support and technical assistance activities and providing other capacity building services to a national public health program. The level of effort should range between 0.5 and 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE).

o Communications Director – This individual should have the experience and skills necessary to:

1. establish and drive a multi-channel communication strategy;

2. prepare and manage all communication activities and materials;

3. develop a brand voice and maintain brand integrity across all platforms;

and

4. create internal communications protocols, managing all communications plan activities and building external relationships with the AETC Program stakeholders.

o Data Manager – This individual should have the knowledge, skills, and experience to manage data collection and reporting activities for national public health project.

o Web Designer – This individual should have the experience and ability to create the design and layout of a website or web pages and manage all visual aspects of a website, such as website layout and usability.

o Web Developer – This individual should have the experience and ability to create and maintain websites. This staff person should have the expertise to develop and manage all technical aspects of the website, such as website performance, capacity, and maintenance.

o Digital Project Manager – This individual should have the experience and ability to manage digital projects from concept to completion. The role of a digital project manager is to ensure all of the necessary deliverables for a project are completed and handed over on time and on budget.

o Instructional Designer – This individual should have extensive knowledge of instructional theory and proficiency in learning management systems. They are responsible for creating compelling learning activities and course content, working with subject matter experts to identify training needs, applying instructional design theories and methods, and utilizing multimedia tools to enhance the learning process.

o Event Planner/Meeting Coordinator – This individual should have the experience and ability to lead the planning and coordination for all aspects of

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professional conferences and meetings that will be required under the NASC NOFO. This individual should have experience planning meetings on a national scale that includes arranging meeting locations and transportation, developing agendas, organizing, and procuring speakers, developing speaker biographies and meeting materials and managing logical support.

Program-Specific Instructions Include application requirements and instructions from Section 4 of the Application Guide (budget, budget narrative, staffing plan and personnel requirements, assurances, certifications, and abstract). Also include the following:

i. Project Abstract

Use the Standard OMB-approved Project Abstract Summary Form that you will find in the workspace application package. Do not upload the abstract as an attachment or it may count toward the page limit. For information you must include in the Project Abstract Summary Form, see Section 4.1.ix of the Application Guide.

NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

The following table provides a crosswalk between the narrative language and where each section falls within the review criteria. Make sure you have addressed everything.

We may consider any forms or attachments you reference in a narrative section during the merit review.

Narrative Section Review Criteria

Introduction Criterion 1: NEED

Organizational Information Criterion 5: RESOURCES/CAPABILITIES

Need Criterion 1: NEED

Approach Criterion 2: RESPONSE Criterion 4: IMPACT

Work Plan Criterion 2: RESPONSE Criterion 4: IMPACT

Resolution of Challenges Criterion 2: RESPONSE

Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity

Criterion 3: EVALUATIVE MEASURES

Criterion 5: RESOURCES/CAPABILITIES

Budget Narrative Criterion 6: SUPPORT REQUESTED

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ii. Project Narrative

This section must describe all aspects of the proposed project. Make it brief and clear.

Provide the following information in the following order. Please use the section headers.

This ensures reviewers can understand your proposed project.

Introduction – Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion (1) Need o Briefly describe your understanding of the need and purpose of the NASC that is consistent with Section I.1 Purpose of this NOFO. Your description should be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized.

Organizational Information – Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion (5) Resources/Capabilities o Describe your organization’s current mission, structure, and scope of current activities, and how these elements all contribute to the…