Funding for Implementation of Community Health Worker-Mediated Services for Re-Engagement to Care and Outreach for Persons with HIV in Rural Communities

About

To view the entire announcement:

1. Go to Grants.gov.
2. Click on the "Search Grants" tab.
3. Enter "PS24-0026" into the "Basic Search Criteria-Opportunity Announcement.
4. Select "Archived" as the "Opportunity Status".
5. Click "Search".

To learn more about the CDC application process, visit grants.gov How to Apply for Grants webpage.

PS24-0026 NOFO
PS24-0026 Logic Model

Funding overview

Persons with HIV (PWH) living in rural communities (i.e., <50,000 persons) may have limited access to HIV care. This population may need to travel long distances to visit an experienced HIV care provider. Additionally, Black and Hispanic/Latino PWH may experience structural barriers such as racism and lack of access to language translation services. This may make it challenging to adhere to routine HIV care and treatment services. These barriers can be exacerbated in rural communities. In this demonstration project, recipients will be funded to collaborate with HIV care providers. The collaboration will help:

• Identify PWH in rural communities not in care or not virally suppressed.
• Implement a Community Health Worker (CHW)-mediated model of re-engagement to care.
• Set up outreach services for PWH in rural communities.

Recipients will employ and train CHWs to facilitate re-engagement of PWH who are not in care and outreach to those who are not virally suppressed. Recipients will provide services that may include:

• Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) delivery.
• Sample collection for standard HIV laboratory testing.
• Transfer of self-collected specimens.
• Transportation services.
• Arranging and scheduling telehealth visits and/or in person visits with an HIV medical provider and other providers (mental health, primary care).
• Offering evidence-based medication adherence support.

Application information

Pre-application informational webinar

This webinar provides an overview of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO):

• PS24-0026 Pre-App NOFO Overview (Slides)
• PS24-0026 Pre-App NOFO Overview (Recording)

Pre-application technical assistance

Before submitting an application, ensure that it meets the following requirements and guidelines:

• The application has a 20-page limit that pertains to the narrative only. The workplan is part of the 20-page limit.
  • Note: The table of contents or project abstract does not count towards the 20-page limit for the narrative.
• The project narrative should be written in 12-point font and have 1-inch margins. All pages should be numbered. A font less than 12-point may be used for footnotes, figures, and tables.
• A progress report from a previous CDC award may be used as evidence of previous work with the priority population.
• Using existing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and memoranda of agreement (MOAs) for the application is allowed. However, the existing MOUs/MOAs must fall within NOFO requirements. The MOUs/MOAs must outline all required NOFO activities.
  • Existing MOAs or MOUs may be submitted with the application, as long as they cover the first budget period. MOAs and MOUs should be reviewed and updated annually.
• An existing contract with a collaborating organization is sufficient as an MOU as long as it meets the NOFO requirements.
• There is no template for MOAs/MOUs; however, the NOFO indicates what information should be included in the MOAs/MOUs. See section 1.a and 1.b under “Collaborations” of the NOFO.
• There is no template for the Report on Programmatic, Budgetary, and Commitment Overlap. Even if there is no duplication of effort, please submit a written statement of whether this application will result in programmatic, budgetary, or commitment overlap with any of the following during the same fiscal year:
  • Application.
  • Award.
  • Grant.
  • Cooperative agreement.
  • Contract.

Award and budget

Award information

There is no ceiling for the funding amount an organization may request. The anticipated average award is $500,000. If funded, your budget, program deliverables, and allocations may need to be revised. These items are also subject to CDC approval based on the award amount. Please ensure that you develop a budget that adequately supports the proposed PS24-0026 program.

The Office of Grants Services (OGS) notified successful and unsuccessful applicants via email in April–May 2024.

Budget information

Ensure that your department or organization adheres to the following budget requirements and guidelines:

• The budget narrative should only address one year, and it should align with the SF-424A.
  • The budget narrative should include all the cost details and supporting information. An additional detailed budget spreadsheet is not required but can be submitted. Please refer to the CDC Budget Preparation Guidance.
• Applicants must submit SF-424 and SF-424A for this NOFO. SF-424 is the application for federal assistance and must be filled for all NOFOs. SF-424A is the budget information for non-construction programs and is mandatory.
• Direct costs are directly associated with carrying out the program. Indirect costs are charged across the board. If you do not plan to negotiate an indirect cost rate agreement, you must submit a letter. The letter should state that you choose to use the 10% de minimis for the entire project.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for PS24-0026 include state, local and territorial health departments or their Bona Fide Agents in:

• The 50 states.
• The District of Columbia.
• Puerto Rico.
• The Virgin Islands.

Please refer to section C.1 in the NOFO on eligible applicants. A non-profit organization can work with eligible applicants as part of their collaborative efforts.

Organizations not located in one of the 50 EHE Phase I priority jurisdictions are eligible to apply. Their application should show need based on epidemiologic data in their jurisdictions. The application should also demonstrate that the proposed clinical sites use an electronic health record (EHR) in their patient care. The demonstrated EHR should facilitate collection of longitudinal data to calculate outcome measures in order to evaluate recipient performance. The EHR should also determine progress toward intended outcomes.

Letter of intent

A letter of intent (LOI) is not required. The LOI:

• Is optional and not binding.
• Allows CDC program staff to estimate the number of submitted applications.
• Prepares CDC program staff to plan for the review of applications.

As long as your organization meets the listed eligibility requirements, you may still submit an application.

Program requirements

Ensure that your department or organization adheres to the following program requirements and guidelines:

• Applicants must provide an evaluation and performance measurement plan that fulfills certain requirements. The requirements are described in the CDC Evaluation and Performance Measurement and Project Description sections. Please refer to section b. Evaluation and Performance Measurement on page 15 of the NOFO.
• A data management plan is required and should include items described on page 17 of the NOFO.
• For any unfilled key personnel positions, provide a job description in the budget narrative and mark it as To Be Determined (TBD). If there is a plan to hire the position within the budget period, consider the time it would take to hire. Additionally, include the adjusted, anticipated salary amount within the budget period.
• The work plan should be included with the project narrative. There is not a specific format that is required. An example of a work plan format is presented on page 22 of the NOFO. The logic model can be used to guide activities to be addressed in the work plan.
• The work plan should incorporate your SMART objectives for the specific project outcomes. SMART objectives are:
  • Specific.
  • Measurable.
  • Achievable.
  • Relevant.
  • Time-bound.
• It is not enough to only include increase/decrease for the outcomes. The work plan should encompass the strategies and activities you plan to conduct. The plan should, also, include the associated outcomes from those proposed strategies and activities. The logic model is a guide that can assist you with the development of your work plan inclusive of SMART objectives.
• Funds may not be used to purchase medications but can be used to fund staff who enroll individuals in assistance programs.
• During a one-year period, each applicant should work with clinical sites to enroll a minimum of 100 PWH. The ≥100 PWH should not be in care or have an HIV viral load (VL) that is not suppressed.
• The demonstration project will focus on persons disproportionately affected by HIV. This may include:
  • Cisgender Black women.
  • People who are gay or bisexual.
  • Other men who have sex with men (MSM).
  • Transgender persons of any race or ethnicity.
• All PWH living in rural communities will be eligible for these services. This could include newly diagnosed or recently diagnosed PWH in rural areas not in care and/or not virally suppressed. Specifically, those who could benefit from using CHWs for continued engagement to HIV care and treatment services will be eligible.
• Applicants are able to implement programs in multiple sites.
• Collection of specimens should abide by appropriate laboratory procedures for collection, handling, and transport. Please refer to the American Public Health Laboratory guidance.
• Refer to the package inserts for proper procedures for self-collected specimen and information on transport.

Contacts

Programmatic technical assistance

Kashif Iqbal
Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd., N.E., MS E-45
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 404-718-8556
Email: kai9@cdc.gov

Financial, awards management, or budget assistance

Arthur Lusby, Grants Management Specialist
Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Grants Services
2920 Brandywine Rd., MS TV-2
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: 770-488-2865
Email: cmx3@cdc.gov

Resources

Access the following resource to learn more:

CDC's HIV budget