Fostering Collaboration Across Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs (RWHAPs) to Engage People with HIV in Care

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), through its HIV/AIDS Bureau and specifically the Division of Metropolitan HIV/AIDS Programs and Division of State HIV/AIDS Programs, has released Notice of Funding Opportunity HRSA-26-014. This funding opportunity, titled “Fostering Collaboration Across Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs to Engage People with HIV in Care,” aims to reduce new HIV diagnoses by supporting coordination among Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) recipients. The program focuses on engaging populations with HIV who are not currently receiving care, thereby advancing national goals for HIV prevention and treatment. The statutory authority for this program derives from the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, and relevant sections of the Public Health Service Act. The purpose of this project is to fund one technical assistance provider who will select eight states with significant unmet need among populations disproportionately impacted by HIV. The provider will create comprehensive asset maps for each state that display services, epidemiologic data, and potential new partners to better engage out-of-care populations. Following the mapping, the provider will organize a two to three day in-person meeting in each state. These meetings will convene all RWHAP Parts A, B, C, D, and F-AIDS Education and Training Centers within the state to review the asset maps and develop a detailed action plan. The plan must include clear goals, actionable steps, and designated responsible parties to address engagement in HIV care. The project is expected to improve collaborations, maximize resources, and strengthen HIV care systems nationwide. The award will be a cooperative agreement with HRSA, which means the agency will be actively involved in planning, monitoring, and providing technical input. HRSA will supply data for asset maps, help design the statewide meetings, and review and approve project materials. The recipient will be responsible for developing maps, organizing the eight state convenings, supporting meeting logistics, drafting evaluation and monitoring plans, and delivering ongoing technical assistance to states after the convenings conclude. The performance period will run from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, with a single 12-month budget cycle. A total of $1,500,000 is available in fiscal year 2025, with one cooperative agreement expected. Applicants may include national organizations, state and local governments, U.S. territories, tribal governments and organizations, non-profit organizations including faith-based and community-based groups, public and private institutions of higher education, and academic health science centers. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applications requesting more than the ceiling amount or submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Importantly, there is no cost-sharing requirement, although applicants may choose to contribute additional funds, which would then be subject to accountability and reporting requirements. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov no later than November 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The NOFO was issued on September 15, 2025, and award notifications are expected by April 1, 2026. A pre-application webinar is scheduled for October 9, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and a recording will be made available. Required application components include the project narrative, budget narrative, work plan, staffing plan and job descriptions, biographical sketches, agreements with partner entities, and a project organizational chart. The application narrative must also address evaluation, monitoring, and reporting requirements. Evaluation of applications will be based on six criteria with a total of 100 points. Reviewers will consider the applicant’s understanding of need, the strength and feasibility of the proposed response and work plan, evaluation strategies, potential impact, resources and organizational capabilities, and reasonableness of the budget. Applications will undergo both an eligibility and merit review, followed by a risk assessment of past performance and management capacity. Final award decisions will take into account merit review results, risk, available funds, and HRSA’s larger portfolio needs. The program contact for eligibility and programmatic questions is Susan Robilotto, D.O., Director of the Division of State HIV/AIDS Programs, who can be reached at SRobilotto@hrsa.gov or 301-443-6554. For financial and budget-related questions, applicants should contact Beverly Smith, Grants Management Specialist, at Bsmith@hrsa.gov or 301-443-7065. Applicants are encouraged to review the HRSA Application Guide, follow required formatting, and submit all materials in English using U.S. dollars. Progress reports, financial reports, and compliance with cybersecurity and administrative requirements will be expected after award.