A System-Level Syndemic Approach to Improve HIV Care and Treatment for People from Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups – Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (ETAP) | HRSA 24 108

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 24 108

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement (HRSA-24-108) to fund a single organization for up to four years to serve as the Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (ETAP) for a national HIV initiative focused on racial and ethnic minority groups. The core aim is to strengthen HIV care and treatment outcomes by supporting a system-level "syndemic" approach, meaning an approach that recognizes HIV outcomes are often shaped by overlapping, mutually reinforcing issues (for example, behavioral health needs, substance use, housing instability, stigma, and structural barriers) and therefore require coordinated, integrated responses across multiple systems rather than isolated clinic-level fixes.

Under this opportunity, the ETAP will provide hands-on technical assistance and lead or support a multi-system evaluation for a cohort of five demonstration systems that are being funded under a separate companion announcement (HRSA-24-107). In practice, HRSA is funding two connected parts: five local or regional "demonstration systems" that will implement the syndemic approach in their settings, and one ETAP awardee that will help those sites plan, implement, measure, and learn from the work in a consistent way across all sites. The ETAP is expected to work closely with each demonstration system so that evaluation is not an afterthought, but built into the design and day-to-day implementation, enabling continuous improvement and credible cross-site findings.

The population focus is explicit: people with HIV from racial and ethnic minority groups who are out of care or at the greatest risk of falling out of care. The demonstration systems, with ETAP support, will test strategies to improve linkage to HIV care and retention in care, with an emphasis on comprehensive and integrated services. That framing signals that HRSA is looking for approaches that do more than schedule appointments or provide reminders; the initiative is oriented toward coordinated service models that address multiple, interacting needs that can derail sustained engagement in HIV treatment.

The ETAP role is both technical and evaluative. On the technical assistance side, the awardee will help the five demonstration systems develop and refine implementation plans, strengthen cross-system partnerships, and troubleshoot barriers that arise when multiple agencies and service sectors need to work together. On the evaluation side, the ETAP will support and conduct a multi-system evaluation, which typically includes building shared evaluation questions, harmonizing measures and data collection methods across sites, setting up reporting and feedback loops, and translating results into practical lessons that can be used by the sites and shared more broadly. Because this is a cooperative agreement, HRSA will have substantial involvement in the project beyond standard grant oversight, meaning the ETAP should be prepared for active collaboration with HRSA on priorities, deliverables, and learning activities.

Eligibility is tied to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP). Entities eligible for funding under Parts A through D of RWHAP may apply, which generally includes public and nonprofit private entities, including Tribes and Tribal organizations. The opportunity is domestic in scope and defines domestic broadly to include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, other U.S. territories, and certain freely associated states and jurisdictions listed in the announcement (including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).

Key administrative details from the source include: the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement; it is categorized under the health activity area; the CFDA number is 93.899; HRSA expects to make one award; and the original application closing date was July 24, 2024. The notice lists an award ceiling of 0, which usually means the ceiling is not specified in the summary fields and applicants should rely on the full funding announcement for detailed budget guidance and expectations.

Overall, this opportunity is designed to produce two outcomes at once: immediate, practical support to five implementation sites trying to improve HIV linkage and retention among racial and ethnic minority communities using a syndemic, integrated systems approach, and a rigorous, multi-site evaluation that can identify which strategies are feasible, scalable, and most effective across different settings.

• The Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "A System-Level Syndemic Approach to Improve HIV Care and Treatment for People from Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups – Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (ETAP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.899.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for HRSA 24 108

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