Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part C Capacity Development Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part C Capacity Development Program (HRSA-16-088, CFDA 93.918)?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from HHS HRSA that provides one-time, targeted capacity-building support to existing Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part C recipients. The goal is to strengthen organizational infrastructure so clinics and provider organizations can improve access to high-quality outpatient HIV primary health care for low-income, uninsured, underinsured, and otherwise underserved people living with HIV.

Who is eligible to apply?

Only organizations that already receive RWHAP Part C funding are eligible. Organizations that are not current Part C recipients are not eligible under this funding opportunity announcement (FOA).

What is the main purpose of the funding?

The funding is intended to help Part C recipients close specific gaps in their local HIV care continuum through short-term, system-oriented capacity building. Examples of targeted outcomes include linking people to care sooner, improving retention in care, supporting appropriate antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescribing, and increasing viral suppression rates.

Is this funding meant to pay for ongoing HIV service delivery or long-term program operations?

No. A central feature of this opportunity is that it funds short-term capacity building rather than ongoing service delivery. It is explicitly not intended to support long-term or continuing program operations.

How long is the project period?

Projects are intended to be completed within a one-year project period.

How is the program structured?

Applicants must choose one of two tracks and then select one single activity type within the chosen track. The two tracks are: (1) HIV Care Innovation and (2) Infrastructure Development.

Can an applicant propose more than one activity type?

No. Applicants must select a single activity type within one of the two tracks.

What is the HIV Care Innovation track designed to do?

The HIV Care Innovation track focuses on improving performance at specific points along the HIV care continuum through targeted staff training and/or clinic-wide practice changes. The intent is to improve outcomes such as linkage to care, retention in care, appropriate ART prescribing, and viral suppression.

What activity types are available under the HIV Care Innovation track?

The HIV Care Innovation track includes four activity types: HIV Case Finding; Motivational Interviewing; Patient-Based Treatment Adherence; and Patient Chronic Disease Self-Management.

What does the HIV Case Finding activity type support?

HIV Case Finding emphasizes training staff in case-finding techniques (for example, via local health departments or CDC-supported training centers) and applying those skills to strengthen linkage to care and/or retention in care.

What does the Motivational Interviewing activity type support?

Motivational Interviewing supports training staff (often through AIDS Education and Training Centers or similar resources) to better engage patients and improve linkage to care, retention in care, and/or appropriate ART prescribing.

What does the Patient-Based Treatment Adherence activity type support?

This activity type supports implementing an innovative adherence program aimed at patients with chronic non-adherence, with the goal of improving the appropriateness of ART prescribing and/or increasing rates of viral suppression.

What does the Patient Chronic Disease Self-Management activity type support?

This activity type involves implementing a clinic-wide chronic disease self-management approach (drawing on models like the Stanford program) to support long-term disease control and improve retention in care and/or viral suppression.

What is the Infrastructure Development track designed to do?

The Infrastructure Development track focuses on strengthening the operational backbone of Part C Early Intervention Services recipients so they can deliver and manage HIV primary care effectively in a changing health care environment, including leveraging Affordable Care Act-related opportunities. The FOA also connects this work to federal priorities such as the Presidents HIV Continuum of Care Initiative and National HIV/AIDS Strategy goals through 2020.

What activity types are available under the Infrastructure Development track?

The Infrastructure Development track includes three activity types: Electronic Health Records (EHR) purchase and implementation; Financial Management Systems; and Management Information System (MIS) development.

What does the Electronic Health Records (EHR) activity type support?

This activity type supports EHR purchase and implementation intended to improve quality, safety, efficiency, and HIV care-continuum outcomes.

Are there specific EHR requirements mentioned in the FOA?

Yes. For EHR-related proposals, HRSA specifies that any EHR or EHR component purchased with federal funds must meet Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT certification requirements and be configured to support HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau reporting needs. The FOA also references federal meaningful use standards and related CMS incentive programs.

What does the Financial Management Systems activity type support?

This activity type supports improvements to financial management systems to better manage multiple funding streams, track expenses by line item and cost category, strengthen fiscal oversight and subrecipient monitoring, and improve third-party billing and reimbursement processes.

What does the Management Information System (MIS) activity type support?

MIS development can include strengthening administrative and managerial structures or purchasing software that interfaces CAREWare with existing EHRs. The aim is to improve data collection, reporting, and quality improvement tied to HIV care-continuum outcomes.

Can an organization repeat an activity that was funded previously under Part C capacity funding?

An applicant may propose expanding an activity that was previously supported with Part C capacity funding. However, HRSA notes that an activity proposed and funded in FY 2015 cannot be funded again as the same activity in FY 2016.

How many awards are expected?

The opportunity anticipates making around 15 awards.

When were applications due (per the notice)?

Applications were due by March 28, 2016, as listed in the notice.

Is there a stated award ceiling?

The posted award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source data. The program description emphasizes that this is a one-time capacity-building investment rather than a recurring funding stream.

Does the FOA mention any statutory preference in award decisions?

Yes. The FOA notes a statutory preference for entities providing primary care services in rural areas or to underserved populations.

What populations are intended to benefit from this program?

The program focuses on improving access to high-quality outpatient HIV primary health care for low-income, uninsured, underinsured, and otherwise underserved people living with HIV, with an additional emphasis (via statutory preference) on rural and underserved communities.

What kinds of HIV care continuum improvements does the FOA highlight?

The FOA highlights closing gaps such as linking people to care sooner, keeping people engaged and retained in care, ensuring appropriate ART prescribing, and improving viral suppression rates.