Special Projects of National Significance

 

To quickly respond to the care and treatment needs of individuals receiving assistance under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP). The RWHAP Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) supports the development and implementation of innovative delivery models of HIV care, services, and capacity development initiatives, including the dissemination of strategies and tools for implementation by RWHAP recipients and other HIV care and treatment providers. Further, RWHAP SPNS evaluates the effectiveness of these models, and promotes the replication of successful models. Areas of evaluation include design, implementation, utilization, cost, and health related outcomes of effective models. The RWHAP SPNS Program also supports special programs initiatives to develop or enhance health information and technology and data systems to enable RWHAP recipients and their sub-recipients or providers to report and utilize client-level data.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
93.928
Federal Agency/Office
Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2020 The Strengthening Systems of Care for People with HIV and Opioid Use Disorder initiative funds two grant recipients to enhance the capacity of HIV and OUD providers to ensure that people with HIV and OUD have access to behavioral health care, treatment, and recovery services. This initiative is being implemented in 14 states to strengthen system-level coordination and networks of care between RWHAP recipients and other federal, state and local entities. To date, the recipients have collaborated with the 14 states to develop and disseminate resources, guides and toolkits to help other jurisdictions replicate similar models. Using multiple strategies, which include peer support groups, individual counseling, case management sessions and facilitated relationships between behavioral health and clinical care teams, demonstration sites in the Implementation of Evidence-Informed Behavioral Health Models to Improve HIV Health Outcomes for Black Men Who Have Sex with Men initiative have served 809 clients. The Using Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Outcomes among People Living with HIV initiative grant recipient has completed the pilot implementation period for 11 evidence-informed interventions at 25 pilot implementation sites. The recipient provided technical assistance and an interactive webinar to the sites to support sustainment of the interventions. The recipient captured the experiences of the 25 sites in highly accessible implementation toolkits that will promote the widespread replication of those interventions found to be effective.
Fiscal Year 2021 The Strengthening Systems of Care for People with HIV and Opioid Use Disorder initiative (FY 19 – FY21) funds two grant recipients to enhance the capacity of HIV and OUD providers to ensure that people with HIV and OUD have access to behavioral health care, treatment, and recovery services. This initiative is being implemented in 14 states to strengthen system-level coordination and networks of care between RWHAP recipients and other federal, state and local entities. To date, the recipients have collaborated with the 14 states to develop and disseminate resources, guides and toolkits to help other jurisdictions replicate similar models. Using multiple strategies, which include peer support groups, individual counseling, case management sessions and facilitated relationships between behavioral health and clinical care teams, demonstration sites in the Implementation of Evidence-Informed Behavioral Health Models to Improve HIV Health Outcomes for Black Men Who Have Sex with Men initiative have served 809 clients. (FY18 – FY21)
Fiscal Year 2022 In FY2022, HRSA continued funding for the Enhancing Linkage of STI and HIV Surveillance Data in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to improve linkage, re-engagement in care, and health outcomes for people with HIV. The recipient identified and provided technical assistance to four jurisdictions to enhance data sharing across their sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV surveillance systems to improve the capacity of RWHAP clinics to prioritize resources for linking and re-engaging PLWH into care. In addition, the recipient developed toolkits that can be used to guide future implementation of similar projects The Using Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Outcomes among People Living with HIV (2iS) was funded in FY 2021 to facilitate the rapid implementation and evaluation of six (6) innovative intervention strategies to better understand whether these strategies can improve outcomes for clients in four (4) focus areas in RWHAP settings. Twenty geographically dispersed implementation sites have been selected and funded to focus on the four following areas: Justice-involved individuals, LGBTQ+ Youth, Substance Use Disorder and Telehealth.
Authorization
42 U.S.C. § 300ff-101
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Academic institutions, non-profit organizations including faith-based organizations, and those eligible for funding under Parts A-D authorized by Title XXVI of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act. Additionally, federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments and tribal organizations are also eligible to apply for these funds.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Individuals with HIV.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants should review the individual HRSA notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) issued under this assistance listing for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 45 CFR 75, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.
Award Procedure
All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the recommendations of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions. Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Award (NOA).
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Approximately 6 months.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Competitive awards are typically made for up to 2 to 5 years, subject to the availability of funds. After initial awards, annual noncompetitive awards may be made contingent upon the submission of noncompetitive applications/progress reports, availability of funds and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the federal government.
How are proposals selected?
Evaluation criteria vary and are based on the initiative. Refer to criteria included in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for each specific program.
How may assistance be used?
Proposals are expected to adequately define and justify the needs, innovative nature, and evaluation methodology of the proposed model of services. Funds shall be used to create and/or evaluate innovative models of HIV care, services, capacity development initiatives, and health information and technology data systems that would likely not exist nor be evaluated without SPNS Program support, or that would extend the care model to previously underserved or uninsured populations. Funds may not be used for: • charges that are billable to third party payers (e.g., private health insurance, prepaid health plans, Medicaid, Medicare); • purchasing or construction of new facilities or capital improvements to existing facilities; • purchasing or improving land; • international travel; • cash payments to intended recipients of RWHAP services; • pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); • non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) Funds may not be used for outreach programs that have HIV prevention education as their exclusive purpose, or broad-scope awareness activities about HIV services that target the general public. Additionally, the purchase of sterile needles or syringes for the purposes of hypodermic injection of any illegal drug is not allowable. Some aspects of syringe services programs are allowable with HRSA's prior approval and in compliance with HHS and HRSA policy (see: https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/policies-issues/syringe-services-programs).
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Performance monitoring is required. A final performance report is due within 90 days after the end of the period of performance.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of 45 CFR 75, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 45 CFR 75.
Records
Recipients are required to maintain financial records 3 years after the date they submit the final FFR. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues that arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants and cooperative agreements will generally be awarded for two to five year project periods composed of up to two to five 12-month budget periods depending on the focus area, implementation and replication activities, evaluation framework, and dissemination plan timelines. Recipients draw down funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Michael Kharfen, Director, Division of Policy and Data
HIV/AIDS Bureau
Health Resources and Services Administration
Rockville, MD 20857 US
mkharfen@hrsa.gov
Phone: 301.945.5468
Website Address
https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$18,517,072.00; FY 23 est $16,525,003.00; FY 24 est $19,000,000.00; FY 21$0.00; FY 20$2,322,593.00; FY 19$4,080,723.00; FY 18$7,155,077.00; FY 17$11,728,612.00; FY 16$17,098,752.00; - (Project Grants) FY 22$2,891,053.00; FY 23 est $2,862,558.00; FY 24 est $3,000,000.00; FY 21$19,601,389.00; FY 20$18,677,437.00; FY 19$18,025,998.00; FY 18$15,785,011.00; FY 17$10,976,665.00; FY 16$6,231,128.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Project Grants: FY22 (actual): $218,093 to $300,000 FY23 (est.): $218,591.00 to $300,000 FY 24 (est.): $226,185.00 to $300,000 Cooperative Agreements: FY22 (actual): $725,169 to $4,825,000; Average: $2,057,452.44 FY23 (est.): $723,253 to $4,825,000 FY24 (est.): $729,580 to $4,783,537
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
HRSA awards are subject to the requirements of the HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) that are applicable based on recipient type and purpose of award. The HHS GPS is available at http://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/grants
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2016 Fiscal Year 2016: Cooperative Agreements: Dissemination of Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum Initiative - This initiative adapted four linkage and retention interventions from prior SPNS and the Secretary's Minority AIDS Initiative Fund (SMAIF) initiatives to improve health outcomes along the HIV care continuum. The initiative is funding two cooperative agreements, a Dissemination and Evaluation Center (DEC) for five years, and an Implementation Technical Assistance Center (ITAC) for four years. 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 health care environment. The multi-site evaluation of this initiative will take a rigorous Implementation Science (IS) approach, which places greater emphasis on evaluation of the implementation process and cost analyses of the interventions, while seeking to improve the HIV care continuum outcomes of linkage, retention, re-engagement and viral suppression among client participants. Grants: Use of Social Media to Improve Engagement, Retention, and Health Outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum Demonstration Sites - This initiative is a multi-site demonstration and evaluation of innovative social media methods designed to identify, link, and retain HIV positive underserved, underinsured, hard-to-reach youth and young adults (ages 13-34) in HIV primary care and supportive services. These methods include system approaches utilizing a variety of social media, Internet, and mobile-based technologies to improve engagement and retention in care and viral suppression. Demonstration projects are expected to implement these models, evaluate their effectiveness and to disseminate findings, best practices, and lessons learned. These social media interventions focus on youth and young adults living with HIV who are aware of their HIV infection status but have never been engaged in care; are aware but have refused referral to care; have dropped out of care; are infected with HIV but are unaware of their HIV status; or have not achieved viral suppression.
Fiscal Year 2017 Fiscal Year 17: Improving Health Outcomes through the Coordination of Supportive Employment and Housing Services – Demonstration Sites; Improving Health Outcomes through the Coordination of Supportive Employment and Housing Services – Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider; and Curing Hepatitis C among People of Color Living with HIV (SMAIF initiatives).
Fiscal Year 2018 Improving HIV Health Outcomes through the Coordination of Supportive Employment and Housing Services; Using Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes among People Living with HIV (E2i); Dissemination of Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum Initiative; Use of Social Media to Improve Engagement, Retention, and Health Outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum; and System-level Workforce Capacity Building for Integrating HIV Primary Care in Community Health Care Settings
Fiscal Year 2019 Capacity Building in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to Support Innovative Program Model Replication; Enhancing Linkage of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and HIV Surveillance Data in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program; Implementation of Evidence-Informed Behavioral Health Models to Improve HIV Health Outcomes for Black Men Who Have Sex With Men; Improving HIV Health Outcomes through the Coordination of Supportive Employment and Housing Services; Using Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes among People Living with HIV (E2i); Dissemination of Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum Initiative.
Fiscal Year 2020 • Dissemination of Evidence-Informed Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum Initiative • Enhancing Linkage of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and HIV Surveillance Data in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program • Strengthening Systems of Care for People with HIV and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) • Implementation of Evidence-Informed Behavioral Health Models to Improve HIV Health Outcomes for Black Men Who Have Sex with Men • Improving HIV Health Outcomes through the Coordination of Supportive Employment and Housing Services
Fiscal Year 2021 • Enhancing Linkage of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and HIV Surveillance Data in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (FY19 – FY21) • Capacity Building in the RWHAP to Support Innovative Program Model Replication (FY19 – FY21) • Using Innovative Intervention Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes Among People With HIV (2iS) (FY21 – FY24)
Fiscal Year 2022 • Using Innovative Intervention Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes Among People With HIV (2iS) (FY21 – FY24) * Supporting Replication (SURE) of Housing Interventions in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (FY22 – FY 25) * Emerging Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes for People Aging with HIV (FY22- FY24) • Telehealth Strategies to Maximize HIV Care (FY22 –FY24) * Capacity Building in the RWHAP to Support Innovative Program Model Replication (FY21)

 


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