PKG00253823-instructions.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

HIV/AIDS Bureau

Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America –

Technical Assistance Provider Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-20-079 and Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America –

Systems Coordination Provider Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-20-089

Funding Opportunity Type(s): New

Assistance Listings (CFDA) Number: 93.145

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Fiscal Year 2020

Application Due Date: October 15, 2019

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, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov, may take up to 1 month to complete.

Issuance Date: August 13, 2019

Heather Hauck, MSW, LICSW Deputy Associate Administrator Telephone: (301) 443-3613 Email: hhauck@hrsa.gov

Authority: Public Health Service Act, Section 311(c) (42 USC 243(c)) and title XXVI (42 U.S.C.

§§ 300ff-11 et seq.)

mailto:XXX@hrsa.gov

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America –Technical Assistance Provider (HRSA-20-079) and Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America

– Systems Coordination Provider (HRSA-20-089). The overall purpose of this notice of funding opportunity is to undertake a series of activities to support the recipients of Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America – Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Parts A and B (HRSA-20-078) in meeting the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (hereafter referred to as the “initiative”). The two announcements under this funding opportunity are as follows:

• The Technical Assistance Provider (HRSA-20-079) is responsible for providing technical assistance to the recipients of HRSA-20-078 on implementation of work plan activities, innovative approaches, and interventions.

• The Systems Coordination Provider (HRSA-20-089) is responsible for assisting HRSA-20-078 recipients in coordinating and integrating their initiative plans, funding sources, and programs with the existing HIV care delivery systems. In addition, the Systems Coordination Provider will assist in identifying existing and new stakeholders, as well as collate and disseminate best practices, innovative approaches, and interventions identified by the Technical Assistance Provider that will advance recipient’s progress in meeting the goals of the initiative.

HRSA will fund one organization under each announcement to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the implementation of activities by HRSA-20-078 recipients to support Pillar Two (Treat) and Four (Respond) of the initiative. Ultimately, the intent of the funding opportunity is to maximize the success in developing, implementing, coordinating, and integrating strategies, interventions, approaches, and core medical and support services to achieve the goals of the initiative. HRSA expects that the recipient(s) of these awards will collaborate to support the recipients of HRSA-20-078.

You must apply to the correct announcement number (HRSA-20-079 or HRSA-20-

089) that corresponds to the stated activities listed above. If you are applying for both announcement numbers, you must submit a separate application for each.

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 ii

Funding Opportunity Title and Number:

Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America – Technical Assistance Provider (HRSA-20-079) and

Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America – Systems Coordination Provider (HRSA-20-089)

Due Date for Applications: October 15, 2019 Anticipated Total Annual Available FY 2020 Funding:

HRSA-20-079 – up to $3,750,000 HRSA-20-089 – up to $1,250,000

Estimated Number and Type of Award(s):

HRSA-20-079 – One (1) cooperative agreement HRSA-20-089 – One (1) cooperative agreement

Estimated Award Amount: HRSA-20-079 – up to $3,750,000 in year one

HRSA-20-089 – up to $1,250,000 in year one

All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds

Cost Sharing/Match Required: No Period of Performance: HRSA-20-079 March 1, 2020 through

February 28, 2025

HRSA-20-089 March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2025

Each period of performance is for five (5) years.

Eligible Applicants: Public and nonprofit private entities, including institutions of higher education and academic health science centers involved in addressing HIV related issues on a national scope. Faith-based and community-based organizations, Tribes, and tribal organizations also are eligible to apply

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

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 iii

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, August 29, 2019 Time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET Call-In Number: 1-888-950-9561 Participant Code: 6408323 Weblink: https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/ending_the_hiv_epidemic/ Playback: Webinar will be available on the TargetHIV website.

http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply/applicationguide/sf424guide.pdf https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/ending_the_hiv_epidemic/ https://www.targethiv.org/

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 iv

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

A. Instructions for the Technical Assistance Provider (HRSA-20-079) B. Instructions for the Systems Coordination Provider (HRSA-20-089)

iii. Budget

iv. Budget Narrative

v. Attachments

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

SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

4. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

5. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

6. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. REVIEW CRITERIA

A. Review Criteria for the Technical Assistance Provider (HRSA-20-079) B. Review Criteria for the Systems Coordination Provider (HRSA-20-089)

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-20-079, HRSA-20-089 1

I. Program Funding Opportunity Description

1. Purpose

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding for the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America – Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) and/or Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America – Systems Coordination Provider (SCP), as administered by the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) in conjunction with the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Parts A and B. The purpose of this program is to fund technical assistance and systems coordination for the 48 counties, Washington, D.C., San Juan, Puerto Rico (PR), and seven states (hereafter referred to as “jurisdictions”) identified in and funded through HRSA-20-078 (the funded entities hereafter referred to as “recipients”). HRSA will award one cooperative agreement for each of the following announcement numbers:

• The Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) funded under HRSA-20-079 is responsible for providing technical assistance to the recipients of HRSA-20-078 on implementation of work plan activities, innovative approaches, and interventions.

• The Systems Coordination Provider (SCP) funded under HRSA-20-089 is responsible for assisting HRSA-20-078 recipients in coordinating and integrating their initiative plans, funding sources, and programs with the existing HIV care delivery systems. In addition, the SCP will assist in identifying existing and new stakeholders, as well as collate and disseminate best practices, innovative approaches, and interventions identified by the TAP that will advance recipients’ progress in meeting the goals of the initiative.

HRSA HAB will award one cooperative agreement for each announcement number under this funding opportunity. Organizations may choose to submit applications for both announcement numbers and potentially receive both the TAP and SCP awards.

You must apply to the announcement number that corresponds to your selected activities as stated above. If you are applying for both announcement numbers, you must submit a separate application for each. Collaborations via subcontracts or memoranda of understanding to secure specific expertise are encouraged. HRSA will review all applications utilizing the review criteria for each announcement number as described in Section V.1.

(1) The Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) funded under HRSA-20-079:

The initiative has four pillars, or key strategies: Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, and Respond. The role of HRSA HAB and its recipients under HRSA-20-078 focus on Pillar Two (Treat) and Pillar Four (Respond). The recipients of HRSA-20-078 will have a broader approach to addressing HIV in their communities than what exists in services authorized by the RWHAP legislation. These recipients are encouraged to be innovative and creative as they design ways to use initiative funds in conjunction with the current RWHAP Parts A and B systems of care and treatment to end the HIV epidemic in their jurisdictions. The funding directed to these initiative recipients under HRSA-20-078 will allow jurisdictions to implement evidence informed practices shown to increase linkage, engagement, and retention in care in addition to funding the additional

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 2

care and treatment needs of the newly identified and re-engaged individuals. The evidence informed interventions can include such linkage interventions as the "Red Carpet" program implemented by Washington, DC, New York City’s use of surveillance data by clinics to track who is out of care, Seattle’s high acuity clinic for the hardest to reach population, and the same day test and start instituted by several cities in Florida.

In collaboration with HRSA HAB, the TAP will:

1. Provide start-up and ongoing TA (onsite and virtual) to recipients on implementing and supporting jurisdictional work plans to ensure the maximum impact of initiative activities while building upon the existing RWHAP infrastructure. The technical assistance process must be designed to prioritize TA to recipients with the greatest need in the first year.

2. Assess the effectiveness of initiative activities developed to identify individuals who are newly diagnosed and engage people with HIV who are not in care and/or not virally suppressed.

3. Monitor and evaluate the success and challenges of the initiative at the jurisdictional level, adjusting and prioritizing types of TA, as needed, to maximize the success of all funded recipients.

4. Collect the wide range of innovative practices and approaches identified as being successful and develop implementation manuals that will allow replication of these interventions in other jurisdictions to meet the goals of the initiative.

5. Collaborate closely with the SCP (HRSA-20-089) to disseminate implementation manuals, ensure clear communication and coordination of activities, and minimize duplication of efforts as it relates to support provided to HRSA-20-078 recipients.

(2) The Systems Coordination Provider (SCP) funded under HRSA-20-089:

The Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative is a collaborative effort among key Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies. HRSA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Centers for AIDS Research (CFARs), the Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are collaborating on the implementation of the four Pillars – Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, and Respond – to substantially reduce HIV transmissions. There will be multiple streams of federal resources focused on jurisdictions to help them meet the goals of the initiative.

These new and/or expanded resources are in addition to the existing federal HIV resources, particularly HRSA and CDC funding, creating the need for coordination to ensure the maximum impact of all of the available resources. The SCP will be responsible for assisting recipients of HRSA-20-078 with assembling a cross-sector group focused on addressing the four Pillars to end the HIV epidemic in their jurisdictions through information sharing, collaboration, and linkages. Community engagement is essential for building systems and achieving collective impact, which is the result of having organizations from different sectors agree to solve a specific social problem using a common agenda, aligning their efforts, and using common measures of success.1

1 Kramer. M. and Kania, J. (2011). Collective Impact. Stanford Social Innovation Review. Accessed on 4/19/19 from: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/collective_impact# https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/red-carpet-entry-program https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/red-carpet-entry-program https://ssir.org/articles/entry/collective_impact

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 3

In collaboration with HRSA HAB, the SCP will focus on:

1. Systems Coordination:

a. Assist recipients with coordinating efforts related to the four Pillars to ensure maximum impact of all available resources while building upon the existing RWHAP infrastructure. The planning and coordination process must be designed to prioritize recipients with the greatest need in the first year.

b. Work with recipients to scan the environment within their jurisdiction to identify new and existing key stakeholders and facilitate their participation in the initiative planning. The SCP will be responsible for promoting synergy among recipients and identified stakeholders through meaningful collaborations as well as helping to achieve collective impact.

c. Collaborate closely with each funded jurisdiction and with the TAP to coordinate TA needs that are identified through planning and community engagement, maximize opportunities for communication, and minimize duplication of efforts.

2. Logistics: Provide logistical and technical assistance support (onsite and virtual) for collaboration meetings with jurisdictional stakeholders.

3. Dissemination: Collate and share a wide range of innovative practices and approaches that are successful in meeting the goals of the initiative, initially to the recipients, and, by the beginning of year three, nationally (including to all RWHAP Parts). This includes dissemination of the implementation manuals developed by the TAP.

2. Background

These programs are authorized by the Public Health Service Act, Section 311(c) (42 USC 243(c)) and title XXVI (42 U.S.C. §§ 300ff-11 et seq.). For more information about RWHAP and the different program parts, please visit the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) website: http://hab.hrsa.gov/.

Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America

In February 2019, the Administration announced a new initiative, Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America. This ten-year initiative beginning in FY 2020 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 first phase of the initiative focuses on 48 counties, Washington, D.C., San Juan, PR, and seven states that have a substantial rural HIV burden. By focusing on these jurisdictions in the first phase of the initiative, HHS plans to reduce new HIV infections by 75 percent within five years. Across the United States, the initiative will promote and implement four Pillars to substantially reduce HIV transmissions – Diagnose, Treat, Prevent, and Respond. This NOFO focuses on providing technical assistance to the recipients funded to implement activities in Pillar Two (Treat) and Pillar Four (Respond) for this important initiative. The initiative is a collaborative effort among key HHS agencies, primarily HRSA, CDC, NIH, IHS, and

SAMHSA.

http://hab.hrsa.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/blog/2019/02/05/ending-the-hiv-epidemic-a-plan-for-america.html https://www.hhs.gov/blog/2019/02/05/ending-the-hiv-epidemic-a-plan-for-america.html

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 4

National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Updated to 2020 The National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States: Updated to 2020 (NHAS 2020) is a 5-year plan that details principles, priorities, and actions to guide the national response to the HIV epidemic. The RWHAP promotes robust advances and innovations in HIV health care using the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to end the epidemic as its framework. Therefore, to the extent possible, activities funded by RWHAP focus on addressing these four goals:

1) Reduce new HIV infections;

2) Increase access to care and improve health outcomes for people with HIV;

3) Reduce HIV-related health disparities and health inequities; and

4) Achieve a more coordinated national response.

To achieve these shared goals, recipients should align their organization’s efforts to ensure that people with HIV are linked to and retained in high quality HIV care, and have timely access to HIV treatment and the supports needed (e.g., mental health and substance use disorder services) to achieve HIV viral suppression.

HIV Care Continuum Diagnosing people with HIV, linking people with HIV to HIV primary care, and people with HIV achieving viral suppression are important public health steps toward ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. The HIV care continuum has five main “steps” or stages that includes HIV diagnosis, linkage to care, retention in care, antiretroviral use, and viral suppression. The HIV care continuum provides a framework that depicts the series of stages a person with HIV engages in from initial diagnosis through their successful treatment with HIV medication. It shows the proportion of individuals living with HIV or individuals diagnosed with HIV engaged at each stage. The HIV care continuum 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 along this continuum of care. Recipients 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.

According to recent data from the 2017 Ryan White Services Report (RSR), the RWHAP has made tremendous progress toward ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. From 2010 to 2017, 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 69.5 percent to 85.9 percent, and racial/ethnic, age-based, and regional disparities have decreased.2 These improved outcomes mean more people with HIV in the United States will live near

2 Health Resources and Services Administration. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Client-Level Data Report 2017. http://hab.hrsa.gov/data/data-reports. Published December 2018. Accessed April 1, 2019.

http://hab.hrsa.gov/deliverhivaidscare/habperformmeasures.html https://hab.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hab/data/datareports/RWHAP-annual-client-level-data-report-2017.pdf

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 5

normal lifespans and have a reduced risk of transmitting HIV to others.3 Scientific advances have shown that antiretroviral therapy (ART) preserves the health of people with HIV and prevents sexual HIV transmission. This means that people who take ART daily as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner. Such findings underscore the importance of supporting effective interventions for linking people with HIV into care, retaining them in care, and helping them adhere to their ART.

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, needs assessments, unmet need estimates, reporting, quality improvement, the development of your HIV care continuum, and public health action (e.g., Data-to-Care activities, cluster and outbreak investigation). HRSA strongly encourages RWHAP Part B 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; and

• Establish data sharing agreements between surveillance and other programs that include or provide services to people with HIV to ensure clarity about the process and purpose of the data sharing and utilization.

Integrated HIV data sharing, analysis, and utilization approaches by state and territorial health departments can help further improve the initiative by helping to ensure coordinated efforts to promote engagement in care, respond to HIV clusters, and by providing improved ability to monitor and evaluate interventions.

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

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://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 https://clinicaltrials.gov/

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 6

The Minority HIV/AIDS Fund from the HHS Secretary’s Office, HAB Technical Assistance, and Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program Through the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund from the HHS Secretary’s Office and through HAB Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement, HRSA HAB has a number of projects that may be useful to initiative-funded recipients to consider. Some select examples are:

• Building Futures: Supporting Youth Living with HIV at https://targethiv.org/library/hrsa-hab-building-futures-supporting-youth-living-hiv

• The Center for Engaging Black MSM Across the Care Continuum (CEBACC) at https://targethiv.org/cebacc

• E2i: Using Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes among People Living with HIV at https://targethiv.org/e2i

• Using Community Health Workers to Improve Linkage and Retention in Care at https://targethiv.org/chw

Below are additional examples for specific populations, co-morbidities, and program areas: https://targethiv.org/help/ta-directory

Through its SPNS Program, HRSA HAB funds demonstration project initiatives focused on the development of effective interventions to respond quickly to emerging needs of people with HIV receiving assistance under the RWHAP. Through these demonstration projects, SPNS evaluates the design, implementation, utilization, cost, and health related outcomes of innovative treatment models, while promoting dissemination, replication and uptake of successful interventions. SPNS findings have demonstrated promising new approaches to linking and retaining into care underserved and marginalized populations living with HIV. All recipients are encouraged to review and integrate a variety of SPNS evidence-informed tools within their initiative plans and identified needs/activities. SPNS related tools may be found at the following locations:

• Integrating HIV Innovative Practices (IHIP) (https://targethiv.org/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 technical assistance (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 (https://targethiv.org/library/replication-resources-spns-systems-linkages-and-access-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 populations living with HIV.

https://targethiv.org/library/hrsa-hab-building-futures-supporting-youth-living-hiv https://targethiv.org/cebacc https://targethiv.org/e2i https://targethiv.org/chw https://targethiv.org/help/ta-directory https://targethiv.org/ihip https://targethiv.org/library/replication-resources-spns-systems-linkages-and-access-care https://targethiv.org/library/replication-resources-spns-systems-linkages-and-access-care

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• Dissemination of Evidence Informed Interventions (https://www.targethiv.org/library/dissemination-evidence-informed-interventions) The Dissemination of Evidence-Informed Interventions initiative runs from 2015- 2020 and disseminates four adapted linkage and retention interventions from prior SPNS and the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund from the HHS Secretary’s Office initiatives to improve health outcomes along the HIV care continuum. The end goal of the initiative is to produce 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.

II. Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

Type(s) of applications sought: New.

HRSA expects to provide funding in the form of two (2) cooperative agreements, one under HRSA-20-079 and one under HRSA-20-089. A cooperative agreement is a financial assistance mechanism where substantial involvement is anticipated between HRSA and the recipient during performance of the contemplated project.

HRSA program involvement will include:

• Make available experienced HRSA HAB personnel to inform, support, or participate in the design, planning, development, and/or delivery of cooperative agreement activities and materials.

• Ensure cooperative agreement activities build upon progress, 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, CDC, other federal agencies, and other federally-funded programs.

• Participate in the design, development, direction, and/or delivery of procedures, strategies, tools, training, technical assistance, and peer learning activities, including the selection of initiative recipients to receive targeted systems coordination and technical assistance.

• 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.

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

• Make available HRSA HAB staff to support efforts of the targeted systems coordination and TA activities to meet the goals of the initiative.

• Participate in cooperative agreement trainings, technical assistance, or other meetings with initiative recipients, subrecipients, and other stakeholders.

https://www.targethiv.org/library/dissemination-evidence-informed-interventions https://www.targethiv.org/library/dissemination-evidence-informed-interventions

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

• Participate in the dissemination of 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.

Under HRSA-20-079 and HRSA-20-089, the recipient’s responsibilities will include:

• Establish measures and methods for obtaining feedback from recipients, evaluating the process and outcome of cooperative agreement activities, and using feedback and evaluation findings to improve future work.

• In response to feedback from HRSA HAB, and/or recipients, modify approaches to the content, design, and/or delivery of strategies, tools, systems coordination activities, and technical assistance to improve their quality, utility or effectiveness.

• Plan for sustainability of cooperative agreement activities or resources after the period of federal funding ends.

• Assist jurisdictions in analyzing barriers to accessing care and gaps that hinder successful model integration and collaboration.

• 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.

Applicants applying for the TAP (HRSA-20-079) have the following additional responsibilities:

• Assess the technical assistance needs of recipients related to the overall goal of reducing new HIV infections by 75 percent within five years.

• Identify and describe common challenges and successes among recipients in their development and submission of initiative plans and in their attainment of proposed initiative goals. Use these findings to inform cooperative agreement activities and suggest opportunities for enhancing work in this area.

• Develop strategies, tools, and technical assistance to support recipients in developing and improving initiative methodologies that 1) align with prioritized populations, 2) support implementation of initiative plans with their jurisdictions, and 3) support attainment of proposed goals.

• Conduct content analyses of initiative work plans submitted by recipients to inform development of strategies, tools, and technical assistance; and to identify promising or best practices, tools, and tips.

• Based on HRSA HAB review of and feedback of the work plans submitted by recipients, deliver targeted technical assistance to select recipients in Year 1, expanding to all recipients in Years 2 through 5 to support improvement in initiative activities.

• Assess and evaluate promising or best practices, tools, and tips to inform and guide the work of recipients in their attainment of proposed goals.

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 9

• Assemble evidence-based or informed programmatic information on a wide range of innovative strategies, techniques and approaches, and share that information with the SCP to disseminate to the recipients and the larger RWHAP community.

Applicants applying for the SCP (HRSA-20-089) have the following additional responsibilities:

• Assess the systems coordination needs of recipients related to the overall goal of reducing new HIV infections by 75 percent within five years.

• Develop opportunities for meaningful engagement and learning among peers across recipients. These methods and models should utilize or build upon existing platforms and engagement opportunities (e.g., national meetings or conferences).

• Ensure meaningful support and collaboration with key stakeholders in initiative planning.

• Based on HRSA HAB review of and feedback on assessment of TA needs of recipients, support coordination of initiative activities prioritized to select recipients in Year 1, expanding to all recipients in Years 2 through 5.

• Disseminate promising or best practices, tools, and tips to inform and guide the work of HRSA-20-078 recipients in their attainment of proposed goals.

• Disseminate project accomplishments, results from project evaluation activities, and other pertinent information nationally, to include all RWHAP recipients.

• Identify key stakeholders and convene meetings to assist jurisdictions in leveraging new and existing partnerships and resources to help achieve initiative goals.

2. Summary of Funding

HRSA expects approximately $5,000,000 to be available in FY2020 to fund one cooperative agreement for each of the following announcement numbers (HRSA-20-079 and HRSA-20-089). The actual amount available will not be determined until enactment of the final FY 2020 federal appropriation. This program notice is subject to the appropriation of funds, and is a contingency action taken to ensure that, should funds become available for this purpose, HRSA can process applications and award funds in a timely manner. In the event that the FY 2020 appropriation or other statute fails to authorize this activity, no awards will be made.

You may apply for ceiling amounts as follows:

Announcement Number Year One

HRSA-20-079 (TAP) $3,750,000

HRSA-20-089 (SCP) $1,250,000

HRSA plans to award one cooperative agreement for each announcement number. If you are applying for both announcement numbers, you must submit a separate application for each.

HRSA-20-079, HRSA-20-089 10

The period of performance is March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2025 (5 years).

Funding is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for Ending the HIV Epidemic:

A Plan for America – Technical Assistance Provider and Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America – Systems Coordination Provider. Funding availability in subsequent fiscal years is dependent on the availability of appropriated funds for these programs, and will also be determined by satisfactory recipient performance, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government. The amount available listed in the table above is based on current projections. It is anticipated that the total annual amount available over the five year period of performance could increase from $5 million to an amount that allows the recipients of HRSA-20-079 and HRSA-20-089 to provide expanded technical assistance and systems coordination to the recipients of HRSA-20-078, as they work to achieve the initiative’s 5-year goal of a 75 percent reduction in new HIV infections. Applicants should submit the Years 2-5 work plans and proposed budgets accordingly. Future year ceiling and award amounts may be adjusted to reflect any changes. In addition, the Notice of Award (NOA) will list funding amounts as they become available. HRSA requires the recipient to submit a revised budget and work plan to appropriately reflect the actual funding amounts provided in the NOA. In the event that additional funding is made available in the future, future year award amounts may be adjusted to reflect any changes.

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 may include: Public and nonprofit private entities, including institutions of higher education and academic health science centers involved in addressing HIV related issues on a national scope. Faith-based and community-based organizations, Tribes, and tribal organizations also are eligible to apply.

Applicants have the option to submit proposals with collaborating organizations if the partnership enhances the approach, capability and reach of the cooperative agreement.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

Cost sharing/matching is not required for this program.

3. Other

HRSA will consider any application that exceeds the ceiling amount non-responsive and will not consider it for funding under this notice.

HRSA will consider any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.4 non-responsive and will not consider it for funding under this notice.

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

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NOTE: Multiple applications from an organization are allowable. If you are applying for both announcement numbers, you must submit a separate application for each.

Be sure to submit the application under the correct announcement number.

As a reminder:

Announcement Number Title HRSA-20-079 Technical Assistance Provider HRSA-20-089 Systems Coordination Provider

If for any reason (including submitting to the wrong announcement number under this funding opportunity or making corrections/updates) an application is submitted more than once prior to the application due date, HRSA will only accept your last validated electronic submission, under the correct announcement 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 provide your email address when reviewing or preparing the workspace application package in order to receive notifications including clarification, modifications and/or republications of the NOFO on Grants.gov before its closing date. Responding to an earlier version of a modified notice may result in a less competitive or ineligible application. Please note you are ultimately responsible for reviewing the For Applicants page for all information relevant to desired opportunities.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Section 4 of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide provides 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 Application Guide for the Application Completeness Checklist.

Application Page Limit https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html

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The total size of all uploaded files may not exceed the equivalent of 60 pages when printed by HRSA. The page limit includes the abstract, project and budget narratives, attachments, and letters of commitment and support required in the Application Guide and this NOFO. Standard OMB-approved forms that are included in the workspace application package do not count in the page limit. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and proof of non-profit status (if applicable) do not count in the page limit. We strongly urge you to take appropriate measures to ensure your application does not exceed the specified page limit.

Applications must be complete, within the specified page limit, and validated by Grants.gov under the correct announcement number prior to the deadline to be considered under this notice. Be sure to submit the application under the correct announcement number. The two (2) announcement numbers included in this funding opportunity are stated in the table below:

Announcement Number Title HRSA-20-079 Technical Assistance Provider HRSA-20-089 Systems Coordination Provider

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion Certification

1) You, on behalf of the applicant organization certify, 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) Where you are unable to attest to the statements in this certification, an explanation shall be included 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 See Section 4.1.ix of HRSA’s SF-424 Application Guide.

In addition to the requirements listed in the SF-424 Application Guide, please indicate the project title as either “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America —Technical Assistance Provider” or “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America —Systems Coordination Provider” and include the following information:

• A summary of the proposed activities for the announcement number under which you are applying (TAP or SCP).

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

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• A description of the intended impact of the technical assistance or systems coordination activities (e.g., how the activities will support the recipients of HRSA-20-078 meet the goals of the initiative).

• The funding amount requested for the five-year period of performance.

ii. Project Narrative This section provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project. It should be succinct, self-explanatory, consistent with forms and attachments, and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

A. Instructions for the Technical Assistance Provider (HRSA-20-079)

Please use the following section headers for the narrative for this announcement number:

INTRODUCTION -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #1 Need

Briefly describe the purpose of the proposed project. Include a description of how the proposed technical assistance activities will impact the overarching goal of the initiative to significantly reduce new HIV infections in the focus jurisdictions by 75 percent within the five-year period of performance.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #1 Need Describe your understanding of the factors driving incidence and prevalence rates of HIV in the targeted jurisdictions of the initiative. Discuss the system-level gaps affecting access, retention, and viral suppression in those jurisdictions. Discuss the need for change and innovation within existing treatment and referral networks to address disparities along the HIV care continuum and how these changes can prevent new HIV infections. Use and cite demographic and epidemiologic data inclusive of racial and ethnic minority populations within the focus jurisdictions whenever possible to support the information provided. Data sources may include surveillance and epidemiology reports, profiles of state and local public health departments, needs assessment surveys, risk behavioral surveys, and other programmatic data.

Provide a summary that demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the types of TA needed to help jurisdictions be successful in implementing strategies, interventions, approaches, and core medical and support services to achieve the goals of the initiative, specifically focusing on Pillars Two (Treat) and Four (Respond). The TA should address key challenges and barriers, such as stigma, infrastructure, and the impact of social determinants of health. Also, provide a summary of the approaches needed to disseminate tools, best practices and lessons learned from the jurisdictions to other RWHAP jurisdictions, in order to increase their success in achieving the goals of the initiative.

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METHODOLOGY -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criterion #2 Response Propose methods that you will use to address the stated needs and how you will meet each of the previously described program requirements and expectations in this NOFO.

Describe the proposed selection criteria that you will use to recommend a minimum of 12 recipients to provide focused TA during Year 1; final selection will be made in collaboration with HRSA. Describe how the selection criteria will ensure the identification and participation of jurisdictions as outlined in Section II, Recipient Responsibilities.

Describe your approach to assess TA needs for selected recipients in Year 1, as well as all recipients in Years 2 through Year 5, including a routine means of TA needs assessment. Describe your approach to develop a TA plan for guiding each jurisdiction through the implementation of their initiative work plan. Discuss your planned method to customize TA for each jurisdiction, and identify existing barriers that affect their ability to implement the activities in their work plans.

Specifically describe the methods you will use to provide TA on the implementation of effective and innovative strategies, interventions, approaches, and services to achieve the goals of the initiative.

Describe your plan to monitor and evaluate the success and challenges of the initiative at the jurisdictional level and adjusting and prioritizing TA, as needed, to maximize the success of all funded recipients. Provide a detailed methodology for assessing the effectiveness of innovative strategies, interventions, approaches, and services. Describe the methodology and theoretical framework that will be used to assess and evaluate all jurisdictions funded by the initiative.

Describe your plan for the development of implementation manuals with successful tools and innovative practices and approaches for use by other jurisdictions to replicate. Describe how you will collaborate closely with the SCP to ensure timely dissemination of these manuals.

Define your plan for assisting the jurisdictions with developing sustainability plans, including budget projections for continued program integration and ongoing activities after the funding period ends. HRSA expects recipients to sustain key elements of their projects (e.g., strategies or services and interventions), which have been effective in addressing Pillars Two (Treat) and Four (Respond) of the initiative that have led to improved outcomes for the target populations. A summary of the jurisdictions’ sustainability plans will be part of the reporting requirements for this project.

WORK PLAN -- Corresponds to Section V’s Review Criteria #2 Response and #4 Impact Describe the activities or steps that you will use to achieve each of the objectives proposed during the entire period of performance discussed in the Methodology section. Include all aspects of planning and provision of TA, including: the selection and prioritization of Year 1 TA sites; monitoring and evaluating the successful design and implementation of the initiative at the jurisdictional level;

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and gathering successful innovative practices and approaches. Be sure the work plan focuses on the three areas of TA identified in the Purpose section, that it is national in scope, and demonstrates collaboration with partner agencies as applicable. Use a timeline that includes each activity and identifies responsible staff positions. As appropriate, identify meaningful support and collaboration with key stakeholders in planning, designing, and implementing all TA activities. The work plan is a tool to manage the initiative by measuring progress, identifying necessary changes, and quantifying accomplishments. The work plan should directly relate to your methodology and the program requirements of this announcement. The work plan should include clearly written (1) goals; (2) objectives that are specific, time-framed, and measurable; (3) action steps; (4) staff responsible for each action step (including consultants); and (5) anticipated dates of completion.