AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) National Evaluation Center (NEC) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the AETC National Evaluation Center (NEC) grant opportunity?

The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) National Evaluation Center (NEC) grant opportunity is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding opportunity to support one national center focused on strengthening how the entire AETC program measures results and impact.

2. What is the main purpose of funding a single NEC?

The purpose is to improve evaluation across the AETC network by moving beyond simple activity counts (such as the number of trainings delivered) to evidence-based evaluation of whether AETC-funded training, education, and clinical consultation improve HIV-related provider skills, clinical practices, and ultimately patient care outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS.

3. What kinds of outcomes is the NEC expected to evaluate?

The NEC is expected to evaluate outcomes along a progression that begins with workforce training needs, then measures learning and skill development, and then connects those changes to measurable changes in clinical practice. The ultimate intent is to understand whether training and consultation affect patient care outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS.

4. How does this opportunity define strong evaluation?

Evaluation is framed as purposive, analytic, and empirical. In practice, this means the evaluation should have clear questions and goals, follow a logical design, and rely on real-world data and experience rather than assumptions.

5. Is evaluation treated as a final reporting step, or something integrated into the project?

The announcement emphasizes that evaluation is not an add-on at the end. It should be designed early (ideally during curriculum development) and then carried out both during and after training to capture changes over time.

6. What is meant by moving beyond counting trainings delivered?

Instead of focusing mainly on outputs like the number of trainings conducted, the NEC is expected to help the AETC program measure whether participants actually learn, improve performance, change clinical practices, and contribute to better care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

7. Who is the evaluation intended to help improve performance for?

A major focus is on objectively measuring learning progress and performance in ways that support continuous quality improvement for trainees, faculty, and curriculum designers.

8. What types of evaluation tools and methods is the NEC expected to develop?

The NEC is expected to develop and spread practical evaluation methods and tools that can be used across AETC regional centers, national centers, and telehealth centers.

9. How broadly should the NEC's evaluation approach be used?

The NEC is intended to support evaluation that is usable across the entire AETC network, including regional centers, national centers, and telehealth centers, with a goal of consistent and rigorous outcome-based evaluation.

10. What role does technology and distance learning play in this grant?

The opportunity specifically highlights changing training environments and the growing role of technology and social media in health professional education and clinical consultation. The NEC is expected to account for modern training modalities, including distance learning, and help determine how well these approaches support sustained learning and transfer of skills back into clinical workplaces.

11. Does the NEC evaluate only in-person trainings?

No. The NEC is expected to evaluate both in-person training and the effectiveness and impact of online education and technology-enabled consultation models used to support HIV care.

12. What is the NEC's responsibility for sharing evaluation results?

The NEC must promptly disseminate findings from completed evaluation activities so the AETC network can learn from results and improve quickly.

13. Does the NEC provide support to other AETC entities?

Yes. The NEC is responsible for providing technical assistance to AETC entities nationwide to help them design and implement outcome-based evaluations at national, regional, and local levels.

14. Is the NEC mainly a research center, or also a support hub?

Based on the announcement, the NEC functions as both: it develops national evaluation methods and tools and also serves as a hands-on support hub that promotes consistent, rigorous, and useful evaluation across the AETC program.

15. What type of federal funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This was a discretionary HRSA funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism. A cooperative agreement indicates HRSA would be expected to have substantial involvement in the funded activity compared with a standard grant.

16. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is HRSA-12-071.

17. How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?

The opportunity anticipated one award.

18. What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $450,000.

19. Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.

20. Who was eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants included public and nonprofit entities such as public and private institutions of higher education, academic health sciences centers, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, faith-based and community-based organizations, and Tribes and tribal organizations (including Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments).

21. Does the eligibility list include both public and private higher education institutions?

Yes. The eligibility list includes public and private institutions of higher education.

22. Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly included among eligible applicants.

23. Are tribal entities eligible, and what tribal entities are mentioned?

Yes. Tribes and tribal organizations are included, including Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments.

24. When was the announcement posted, and what was the application deadline?

The announcement was posted on September 20, 2011, and the application deadline was December 1, 2011.

25. Is this funding opportunity still active?

No. The announcement was later archived on January 30, 2012.