RFA #20707 - Treat, Cure & Eliminate HCV- Comp A

The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, Division of HIV and Hepatitis Health Care, Bureau of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology has released Request for Applications (RFA) #20707, titled Treat, Cure and Eliminate: Advancing Health Equity Among People Living with Hepatitis C. This procurement is structured into three components. Component A specifically funds hepatitis C treatment within primary care settings. The initiative aligns with New York State’s plan to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health problem by 2030 and aims to expand access to care, increase treatment initiation and completion rates, and ensure more people living with hepatitis C achieve cure. The program emphasizes equity by addressing barriers faced by people who inject drugs, marginalized communities, and rural populations. Component A focuses on Article 28 licensed health care facilities, which will serve as primary care-based models for hepatitis C navigation, care coordination, and treatment. The program requires awardees to champion hepatitis C services throughout their organizations, partner with high-risk settings such as harm reduction programs, jails, substance use treatment programs, and shelters, and employ a full-time hepatitis C navigator. Programs must integrate health equity principles by addressing social determinants of health, ensuring stigma-free services, and employing persons with lived hepatitis C experience. Expected outcomes include increased linkages to care, higher rates of treatment initiation and completion, and greater numbers of people cured. A total of $2,844,000 annually is allocated for Component A, with up to nine awards across New York State regions. Each region may receive up to one award, with maximum annual funding of $316,000 per award. Eligible regions include Central New York, Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City, North Country, Northeastern New York, Southern Tier, and Western New York. The contract period will run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031, contingent on continued funding and satisfactory performance. Programs may subcontract up to 20% of the scope of work but must retain responsibility for contract activities. Eligible applicants must be Article 28 licensed government entities, not-for-profit health care organizations, or public benefit corporations licensed under the same law. Applicants must currently provide hepatitis C treatment or demonstrate the capacity to do so via an attestation from the Chief Executive Officer. Applications must include required attachments, such as a signed Statement of Assurances and a Hepatitis C Treatment Attestation. Applicants must also demonstrate their ability to conduct patient navigation, address social determinants of health, ensure care coordination, and provide adherence support in accordance with clinical guidelines. Applications must be submitted through the New York State Statewide Financial System (SFS). Required documents must be uploaded as a single PDF no larger than 20MB. Key dates include a release date of September 25, 2025, a deadline for questions on October 9, 2025, responses to questions by October 28, 2025, and an application deadline of November 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET. Late applications will not be accepted. No letter of intent or applicant conference is required. Awardees must submit regular progress reports, monthly narrative reports, and outcome data via the AIDS Institute Reporting System (AIRS). The designated contact for this funding opportunity is Colleen Flanigan, RN, MS, of the Bureau of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology, New York State Department of Health/AIDS Institute. She can be reached at hepatabc@health.ny.gov. Technical assistance is available through the SFS Help Desk for applicants encountering submission issues. Awardees will be required to participate in Hepatitis C Assistance Program activities, submit data and reports, and uphold New York State AIDS Institute requirements on conflict of interest, MWBE participation, and health equity principles. The initiative ultimately seeks to build system-wide capacity for equitable hepatitis C care and achieve measurable progress toward New York State’s elimination goals.