Fostering Collaboration Across Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs (RWHAPs) to Engage People with HIV in Care | HRSA 26 014

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the purpose of the "Fostering Collaboration Across Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs (RWHAPs) to Engage People with HIV in Care" opportunity?

This HRSA cooperative agreement is designed to strengthen coordination across multiple parts of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program within selected states so jurisdictions can more effectively find people with HIV who are not currently in care and support their re-engagement and long-term retention in HIV medical care.

2. Who is offering this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

3. What type of funding mechanism is this?

It is a cooperative agreement. That generally indicates HRSA will have substantial involvement in shaping and overseeing the work as the project is implemented.

4. What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is HRSA-26-014.

5. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 93.145.

6. How many awards does HRSA expect to make under this announcement?

HRSA expects to make one award.

7. What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $1,500,000.

8. What is the closing date for applications?

The original closing date listed is 2025-11-17.

9. When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2025-09-15.

10. What is the central problem this project is trying to solve?

The project targets a common systems challenge: many communities have existing services and capacity spread across different RWHAP components, but those pieces are not always aligned in ways that consistently identify and re-engage people with HIV who have fallen out of care. The goal is to improve coordination so fewer people are missed and more people stay in sustained treatment.

11. How does the opportunity relate to Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) efforts?

The work is intended to support state and local goals tied to Ending the HIV Epidemic efforts and to each jurisdiction's Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan, including the Statewide Coordinated Statement of Need (SCSN).

12. How will states be selected for participation?

State selection will be driven by unmet need data, with particular attention to states that are not receiving Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative funds.

13. What is the practical public health rationale described for focusing on people who are out of care?

The notice frames this as a systems-level strategy to reduce preventable infections by improving engagement in care and increasing viral suppression. It highlights that people who are virally suppressed do not transmit HIV sexually and that a large share of new infections is associated with people with HIV who are not successfully engaged in care.

14. What will the funded organization actually do?

The funded organization will serve as a technical assistance (TA) provider. Its role includes planning and coordinating statewide convenings in eight states, facilitating collaboration among major RWHAP components, and guiding participants to develop concrete products such as asset maps and action plans focused on locating, re-engaging, and retaining people with HIV who are not currently receiving ongoing HIV medical care.

15. How many states will the TA provider work with?

The TA provider will plan and coordinate statewide convenings in eight states.

16. Which RWHAP parts and components are expected to be involved?

The convenings are expected to bring together leaders and implementers from RWHAP Parts A, B, C, and D, plus Part F AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs).

17. What does the convening model look like?

The convening model is intended to be flexible and responsive to local needs. It can include a mix of virtual preparatory meetings and an in-person statewide meeting, depending on what recipients in each state need to make the work productive.

18. Are high-level state leaders expected to participate?

Yes. A key expectation is that high-level state stakeholders, such as state health officers, will be invited into the process to strengthen support, speed decision-making, and improve the path to implementation across agencies and systems.

19. What is an "asset map" in this project, and why is it required?

For each participating state, a major deliverable is a comprehensive asset map that identifies existing resources and services, gaps, and potential new partners that could help reach out-of-care populations. The asset map is intended to do more than list services; it is meant to reveal opportunities to unlock underused capacity, reduce duplication, improve referral pathways, and connect HIV service systems with other relevant sectors.

20. What kinds of partners might be included in the asset mapping?

The mapping may include a broad range of entities that influence care engagement, such as community-based organizations, tribal organizations, faith-based organizations, training and clinical workforce supports through AETCs, and other local service providers.

21. What is the expected outcome after the asset mapping and convenings?

Using the asset map and convening discussions, participants will develop a concrete action plan with specific steps to locate, re-engage, and retain people with HIV who are not currently receiving ongoing HIV medical care.

22. Is the work mainly planning, or does it emphasize implementation?

While planning is part of the approach, the opportunity emphasizes turning plans into specific joint actions. The action plans are expected to be concrete enough to implement and track, while still being tailored to each state's realities and the out-of-care populations most affected there.

23. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes national organizations; state, local, and Indian tribal governments; institutions of higher education; other non-profit organizations (including faith-based, community-based, and tribal organizations); and academic health science centers.

24. Does this opportunity require the applicant to be located in a participating state?

The information provided notes that eligibility is broad and includes national organizations. It does not state that the applicant must be located in one of the participating states.

25. What capabilities should a competitive applicant demonstrate?

The successful applicant is expected to operate as a high-capacity TA provider, including the ability to convene and facilitate multi-part stakeholder groups; produce usable resource and partner maps; coordinate across multiple states and RWHAP parts; and guide the development of action plans that are specific enough to implement and track, while tailored to each state and its out-of-care populations.

26. Why does the opportunity emphasize coordination across RWHAP Parts A, B, C, D, and Part F AETCs?

The core idea presented is that many jurisdictions already have "pieces of the solution" across these program components, but those pieces are not always aligned. Strengthening collaboration is intended to improve referral pathways, reduce duplication, and make care re-engagement efforts more consistent and effective.

27. What planning frameworks or jurisdictional documents does this effort connect to?

The opportunity is described as supporting goals tied to Ending the HIV Epidemic efforts and to each jurisdiction's Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan, including the Statewide Coordinated Statement of Need (SCSN).

28. What is the main role of HRSA during the project?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, HRSA is expected to have substantial involvement in shaping and overseeing how the project is carried out, rather than being a hands-off funder.