FAQs

Below are frequently asked questions (FAQs) about CDC-RFA-PS15-1509. Please see the most recent FAQs (Q45-Q55) from the May 20, 2015 Q&A telephone call.

1. Under the eligibility criteria can you please clarify about “States that have local health departments directly funded by the CDC…” What does that mean? What does it exclude?

States that have local health departments directly funded by CDC are not eligible to apply for the MSAs or MDs that contain locally funded health departments within the state. There are 7 states with 8 separately funded local health departments. This means that the California Department of Public Health cannot apply for funding for Los Angeles Division or San Francisco Division; Texas State Department of Health Services cannot apply for funding for Houston-Baytown-Sugarland TX; Pennsylvania cannot apply for funding for Philadelphia Division; Illinois cannot apply for funding for Chicago Division; New York State cannot apply for funding for New York-White Plains-Wayne Division; Georgia cannot apply for Atlanta-Sandy Springs- Marietta, GA; and Maryland cannot apply for Baltimore-Towson, MD.

2. The FOA reads as if only 4 HDs are eligible for mortality criteria? Is that how the table is to be interpreted?

Four state health departments that are eligible under the mortality criteria are listed in the table of eligible health departments (see section “Justification for Less than Maximum Competition” on pages 23-24). Up to two health departments that meet the mortality criteria will receive awards.

3. Will CDC consider a collaborative proposal submitted by two eligible health departments with neighboring cross-over epidemics?

The only health departments that are eligible to apply for CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 funding are listed in the eligibility table in the FOA (see section “Justification for Less than Maximum Competition” on pages 23-24). However, the eligible health department may work with other health departments (e.g., through MOUs, subcontracts, etc.) that are responsible for areas within the eligible MSA or MD in an attempt to provide services to the entire eligible MSA or MD. s.

4. What is CDC’s definition of a CBO?

Community Based Organizations include the following: nonprofit organizations with 501 (c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher learning), hospitals, clinics, and faith based organizations. Therefore federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and community health centers (CHCs) would qualify as CBOs. A CBO must (1) be positioned to provide services directly to clients and (2) must be recognized by members of the community as credible health or social service providers. Colleges, universities, and research institutions do not qualify as CBOs. This however, doesn’t preclude universities from being a member of the collaborative.

5. Is there a maximum number of CBOs with which we can partner as part of the collaborative?

There is not a maximum allowed number of CBOs as collaborative members, but at least one CBO must be included in the collaborative. The CBO(s) will receive at least 25% of the health department award.

6. Within the Review and Selection Process section (page 34), the reviewer must determine if the health department describes a plan for creation of service agreements, MOUs, MOAs, and financial agreements and timelines for completion. What should be included in the service agreement plan and what is the purpose of this plan? It is stated in multiple sections in the FOA that MOAs and MOUs with all partners need to be submitted with the application (e.g., pages 13 and 24). Is it a requirement to submit the MOAs and MOUs with the application or can they be submitted post award?

CDC does not provide templates for MOAs, MOUs, or letters of support.

MOAs, MOUs, and letters of support provide assurance that unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) collaborative partners will provide specified services. Specifically, the MOAs, MOUs, or letters of support must explicitly state and briefly describe the proposed collaboration, specific activities, and responsibilities of the collaborative members for the intended outcomes and benefits for the overall proposed program (see section “With organizations external to CDC” on page 13).

MOAs, MOUs, and letters of support from each unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) member of the collaborative participants must be submitted with the application on June 1, 2015. CDC will not consider any application that does not include these required MOAs, MOUs, or letters of support from each unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) collaborative members in the application. MOUs, MOAs, or letters of support are not required with the submitted application on June 1, 2015 from the funded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) CBO partner(s), to allow health departments to conduct a competitive process to fund the CBO partner(s). Through the competitive process, the health department should select the CBO partner(s) based on collaborative service gaps that address activities and strategies listed in this FOA. Therefore, the application must list the required services that will be delivered by each collaborative member, and identify the service gaps that will be filled by not yet named CBO(s).

7. For some jurisdictions an FOA is a much higher bar, are letters of support sufficient?

Yes, letters of support are sufficient as long as the Letter of Support explicitly states and briefly describes the proposed collaboration, specific activities, and responsibilities of the collaborative members for the intended outcomes and benefits for the overall proposed program (see section “With organizations external to CDC” page 13).

8. Can an applicant create a collaborative that focuses on a smaller area within the jurisdiction?

The collaborative should focus its services on the FOA’s target population of MSM of color. CBOs, healthcare providers, and behavioral health and social services providers that comprise the collaborative should be geographically located within the jurisdiction to provide convenient access to the target population of MSM of color.

9. What is the role of this grant and how can it complement activities conducted in large urban areas funded via PS15-1502 to implement HIP who are focusing activities on MSM? Are such areas eligible?

CDC-RFA-PS15-1502 is a cooperative agreement to support CBOs to develop high-impact HIV prevention programs in two categories: Category A includes HIV prevention services for members of racial/ethnic minority communities; Category B includes HIV prevention services for members of groups at greatest risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV infection, regardless of race/ethnicity.

CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 is a cooperative agreement with limited health department eligibility based on the number of Black and/or Hispanic MSM living with diagnosed HIV in the jurisdictions. Its activities are focused on MSM of color.

While CDC-RFA-PS15-1502 supports CBOs, CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 supports state and local health departments to develop and implement demonstration projects for provision of comprehensive HIV prevention, care, behavioral health, and social services for MSM of color by creating collaboratives with funded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) CBOs and unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) clinics, health care providers, and behavioral and social service providers in their jurisdictions.

Health departments in jurisdictions that are eligible to apply for CDC-RFA-PS-15-1502 funding can also apply for CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 funding, if they meet the limited eligibility criteria for CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 in the section “Eligibility Information” on pages 23-25.

10. Will Transgender Persons be considered for this FOA?

The focus population of CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 is MSM of color, but no persons will be turned away, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other demographic characteristic (see section “Inclusion” on page 14). CDC-RFA-PS15-1506 does focus on transgender persons.

11. Can you clarify what services can be funded and what services are only available through referral: mental health, substance abuse services, etc.

Health departments will be the primary awardees of funding, and will provide at least 25% of the award to one or more CBOs. Only the health department and its CBO partner(s) in the collaborative will receive funding for this project; other collaborative partners are expected to have in place, or under development, mechanisms to support providing and billing for HIV prevention and care services, including behavioral health and social services.

Applicants must submit an MOU, MOA, or Letter of Support for each unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) member of the collaborative except the funded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) CBO partner(s), to allow health departments to conduct a competitive process to fund the CBO partner(s). Through the competitive process, the health department should select the CBO partner(s) based on collaborative service gaps that address activities and strategies listed in this FOA. Therefore, the application must list the required services that will be delivered by each collaborative member, and identify the service gaps that will be filled by not yet named CBO(s).

12. Does STD screening and treatment include hepatitis testing and vaccination?

STD screening and treatment includes screening and treatment of bacterial STDs: syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

13. Can we replicate existing programs? In other words, can we use behavioral interventions that are funded under other programs such as PS12-1201, i.e. – 3MV, Healthy Relationships?

Yes, you may use behavioral interventions that are funded under other programs such as PS12-1201. Behavioral risk reduction interventions are required for both MSM of color at risk for acquiring HIV and for MSM of color living with HIV, and existing behavioral interventions can be used.

14. Please define what “alternative testing strategies with high sensitivity for acute HIV infection” qualify as “lab-based 4th generation HIV testing.

Alternative HIV testing strategies include algorithms with HIV-1 RNA testing performed after a negative HIV antibody test. See Recommended Laboratory HIV Testing Algorithm.

15. Follow up question/issue in re the 4th generation lab-based testing question: Determine is a rapid test which can detect antigen but it is not lab-based; does this qualify? Please include clarification in your response. Thanks!

Use of the Alere Determine™ HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo test is an acceptable (but not preferred) alternative to lab-based 4th generation testing. If this test is used to diagnose acute infection, we recommend validating the performance of this rapid test compared to lab-based 4th generation testing or HIV-1 RNA testing to be sure that significant numbers of acute infections are not missed in your population.

16. Does this grant have a set definition or algorithm in which surveillance can use eHARS to determine the number of acute cases for states that do not receive all negative test results?

Results from all tests performed as part of the algorithm should be reported to surveillance. This includes reporting of negative test results (to the extent allowed by the jurisdiction’s laws) when the overall interpretation of the diagnostic algorithm is positive, or that the person is infected.

17. Is there any chance the deadline may be 90 days out instead of 60 days out? This FOA requires much collaboration and documents that need time to go through internal processes.

In order to make awards for these 2015 funds, the application submission date must be June 1, 2015 to allow sufficient time for review and development of funding packages.

18. Does the budget year, begin at the same time as the Award date of September 30, 2015?

The budget year begins on the award date of September 30, 2015.

19. Should costs associated with training (provided by the 1510 provider) be included in the HD budgets or will they be borne by the 1510 awardee? AND Just to clarify, it sounded as if you indicated that no training costs should be included in the 15-1509 budget and that all costs should be budgeted by 15-1510? 

CDC-RFA-PS15-1510 funds a single awardee to provide training and technical assistance to health department awardees of CDC-RFA-PS15-1509, to ensure that the collaborative developed by the health department awardees of CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 provides services that are culturally competent and linguistically appropriate. CDC-RFA-PS15-1510 does not support additional training needs. So it is not expected that training will be included in budgets developed for CDC-RFA-PS15-1509.

20. Please clarify page limit for more than one MSA, page 28 says 20 pages per MSA, but page 27 says 25 pages per MSA.

The page limit for a state with more than one MSA is 20 pages per MSA.

21. Will these slides be shared?

The slides will be posted on the CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 website, along with a recording of the April 16, 2015 informational webinar.

22. Is yuo6@cdc.gov the best address to submit questions?

Please submit questions to HIP1509@cdc.gov, or leave a message at 404-718-8895. Responses to questions will be provided within 2 business days.

23. Is it possible to apply for CDC-RFA-PS15-1506, CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 and CDC-RFA-PS15-1510 at the same time? 

You can apply for any of the FOAs for which you are eligible, including all three if you meet eligibility criteria for each.

24. Our procurement rules oblige us to conduct a competitive process whenever funds are awarded to CBOs. The only way around this process would be if, in the award letter, CDC were to name the CBO members of the collaborative as subcontractors. That would enable us to pursue sole source contracting. Is this something that CDC can do? If not, does CDC have any suggestions of how we might approach this procurement problem? 

Applicants must submit an MOU, MOA, or Letter of Support for each unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) member of the collaborative except the funded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) CBO partner(s), to allow health departments to conduct a competitive process to fund the CBO partner(s). Through the competitive process, the health department should select the CBO partner(s) based on collaborative service gaps that address activities and strategies listed in this FOA. Therefore, the application must list the required services that will be delivered by each collaborative member, and identify the service gaps that will be filled by not yet named CBO(s).

25. Within the Review and Selection Process section (page 34), the reviewer must determine if the health department describes a plan for creation of service agreements, MOAs, MOUs, and financial agreements and timelines for completion. What should be included in the service agreement plan and what is the purpose of this plan? 

CDC does not provide templates for MOAs, MOUs, or letters of support (see FAQ 6).

26. Would another health department (not listed) be eligible to apply under the appropriate criteria? Further, would a health department (not listed) that has jurisdiction in an “Area of Residence” already in the list be eligible AND Can a separate health jurisdiction that meets the morbidity criteria move forward with a possible grant application, or must it partner with the larger jurisdiction? AND Are the health departments listed under Morbidity Criteria and Mortality Criteria eligible to apply for this grant exclusively? If not, is there preference to the departments identified on these lists? 

Only the health departments listed under the Morbidity Criteria and Mortality Criteria are eligible to apply for this FOA. However, the eligible health department may work with other health departments (e.g., through MOUs, subcontracts, etc.) that are responsible for areas within the eligible MSA or MD in an attempt to provide services to the entire eligible MSA or MD (see FAQ 3).

27. The information provided on last week’s call strongly indicated that the entire collaborative must be in place prior to the application going in. How can it already be fully established with all partners identified? Shouldn’t part of the collaborative role be to identify or bring in new partners to better serve the population? 

The purpose of this FOA is to support health departments to work with partners in the community to provide all 24 required services for MSM of color. While services do not have to be operational at the time of the application, MOUs, MOAs, and letters of support are required from all unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) collaborative partners to ensure that all required services will be provided by the collaborative. CBO partner(s) that will be selected during the post-award period will permit health departments to use competitive procurement procedures, and will be selected to address service provision gaps in the collaborative. The service provision gaps that CBO(s) will address must be identified in the application.

28. If a new partner wants to join later, will they be allowed to?

MOUs, MOAs, and Letters of Support must be included for all unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) collaborative members with the application. Only the CBO member(s) will be allowed to join the collaborative post-award, to allow health departments to use competitive procurement processes to select CBO(s).The service provision gaps that CBO(s) will address must be identified in the application.

29. In one of the slides presented during the PS15-1509 webinar it stated that ‘Development of Collaborative’ is a Year 1 activity. However, throughout the FOA guidance it states that collaborative partners must be established and names of all partners must be listed in the application including MOUs and MOAs. Can we receive clarification on when we should develop this collaborative? Pre-application submission or during Year 1?

The unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) collaborative members must be identified prior to submitting the application; the CBO collaborative member(s) (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) will be allowed to join the collaborative post-award, to allow health departments to use competitive procurement processes to select CBO(s). The purpose of this FOA is to support health departments to work with partners in the community to provide all 24 required services for MSM of color. While services do not have to be operational at the time of the application, MOUs, MOAs, and letters of support are required to ensure that all required services will be provided by the collaborative

30. Need clarification on FOA instructions: State health departments that have more than one eligible MSA (California, Florida, and Texas), and elect to work in more than one specified eligible MSA, must submit a budget for each MSA in addition to a budget for the state.

Yes, state health departments that have more than one eligible MSA (California, Florida, and Texas), and elect to work in more than one specified eligible MSA, must submit a budget for each MSA in addition to a budget for the state (see section “Budget Narrative” on pages 29-30).

31. On page 3 of the FOA it states “this FOA requires that collaboratives assess the needs of MSM of color for mental health, substance abuse, housing, and employment services, and provide linkages to these services in the community.” Is this a program planning activity (i.e., traditional needs assessment) or is this statement referring to integrated client-level screening? If the collaborative is required to conduct a needs assessment of MSM of color for mental health, substance use, housing, and employment services; is previously completed work acceptable as a fulfillment of this expectation?

Assessments of need for and linkage to behavioral health and social services are to be provided for each individual client, both at an initial encounter and on an ongoing basis.

32. The diagram on page 11 does not include STD testing, re-testing under the ‘Risk and/or STD’ box. Is STD testing/re-testing an allowable activity for individuals who are at risk for HIV and have agreed to PrEP or nPEP?

Routine STD screening is recommended for PrEP patients. Awardees may use funds to pay for STD testing. However, awardees should coordinate these services and seek payment first from other sources where available. Possible payment sources include Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial health insurance.

33. One of the outcomes (Data to Care re-engagement interventions) on page 16 of the FOA mentions ‘Data to Care’ however there is no other mention of ‘Data to Care’ anywhere else in the FOA or in the glossary. Are health departments that receive an award under PS15-1509 also expected to conduct ‘Data to Care’ activities which is an item in CDC RFA PS15-1506? Should health departments that apply for CDC RFA PS15-1509 also apply for CDC RFA PS15-1506 in order to measure this outcome?

Data to Care is described in the “Outcomes” section on page 7; “Organizational Capacity of Awardees to Execute the Approach” section on page 18; “Phase II Review” section on page 33; and is defined in the “Glossary” on page 43. An intervention for re-engagement in HIV care, such as Data to Care, is one of the 24 required services in the FOA.

Your health department can apply for CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 if it is eligible. Applying to CDC-RFA-PS15-1506 is not required in order to apply for CDC-RFA-PS15-1509.

Specific evaluation questions and performance measures, data sources, and program targets for the required 24 activities will be developed post-award collaboratively between the awardee and CDC. Please see www.effectiveinterventions.org for more information on conducting Data to Care activities.

34. On page 17, the FOA lists ‘increased percentage of MSM of color who received timely partner service interviews after receiving a positive HIV test result’ as the partner services outcome. Since STD partner services is also the responsibility of health departments, is CDC going to create an outcome related to STD Partner Services?

Specific evaluation questions and performance measures, data sources, and program targets for the required 24 activities will be developed post-award collaboratively between the awardee and CDC.

35. In the description of the Phase III Review on page 36, the FOA states “funding preferences will also consider geographic diversity and duplication of funding from other FOAs.” What is meant by duplication of funding? If a health department applies for both CDC RFA PS15-1506 and CDC RFA PS15-1509 and they are both fundable, can the health department receive both awards? If not, is it because this is an example of duplication of funding?

Funding to a health department from other FOAs (e.g., CDC-RFA-PS15-1502, CDC-RFA-PS15-1506) may be considered in funding decisions for CDC-RFA-PS15-1509. Also, to ensure that the funds are distributed as broadly as possible, geographic location may be considered.

36. The award ceiling for this FOA is $2,333,333. Is a health department with multiple eligible MSAs able to apply for a higher amount if collaborating with one or more MSAs in California?

Each eligible health department applicant can submit an application with the award ceiling of $2,333,333, including a state health department with multiple eligible MSAs. An application requesting an award higher than this amount would be considered non-responsive and receive no further review.

37. In the FOA (page 13) it states that “applicants must submit an MOU, MOA, or Letter of Support for each member of the collaborative”. Will you accept a signed contract with a CBO in lieu of a MOU, MOA, or Letter of Support? 

Yes, a signed contract can be submitted in lieu of a MOU, MOA, or Letter of Support.

38. Under Funding Restrictions listed on page 31, the FOA states that “generally, awardees may not use funds to purchase furniture or equipment. Any such proposed spending must be clearly identified in the budget.” Is the purchase of lab-based 4th generation HIV testing machines an allowable expense under this FOA? 

The purchase of lab-based 4th generation HIV testing machines would be an allowable expense only for the health department awardee, and only as one of several expenditures to support comprehensive HIV prevention and care services. Also, the health department should perform a cost analysis to compare purchase vs. leasing of a machine.

39. The FOA states on pages 24 and 25 that a Proof of Eligibility Letter is required but this document is not listed as one of the acceptable attachments on page 42. Is the Proof of Eligibility Letter a requirement? Can we receive more information on the purpose of the Proof of Eligibility Letter and what information it should contain? 

The Proof of Eligibility Letter is a requirement of CDC’s Procurement and Grants Office, and it contents are describes in the “Justification for Less than Maximum Competition” section on pages 24-25:

The following must submitted on official letterhead: 1) The applicant must state whether they are applying under the Morbidity or Mortality Criteria listed in this section; 2) The applicant must state they will provide all 24 services for comprehensive HIV prevention and care (listed in “Strategies and Activities” section). The applicant must list each of the 24 services and give a short description of how they will address each service (one or two sentences). 3) The applicant must provide the names and addresses for each member of their collaborative. The applicant must also state that MOUs/MOAs have been provided for each unfunded [by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509] member of the collaborative listed. MOUs, MOAs, or letters of support are not required with the submitted application on June 1, 2015 from the funded [by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509] CBO partner(s), to allow health departments to conduct a competitive process to fund the CBO partner(s).

The applicant should name this letter “Proof of Eligibility Letter” and upload it as a PDF file at www.grants.gov.

Applicants must submit an MOU, MOA, or Letter of Support for each unfunded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) member of the collaborative except the funded (by CDC-RFA-PS15-1509) CBO partner(s), to allow health departments to conduct a competitive process to fund the CBO partner(s). Through the competitive process, the health department should select the CBO partner(s) based on collaborative service gaps that address activities and strategies listed in this FOA. Therefore, the application must list the required services that will be delivered by each collaborative member, and identify the service gaps that will be filled by not yet named CBO(s).

40. Are applicants expected to submit a logic model?

No, a logic model is not required.

41. Is it possible for an applicant to propose co-Project Directors?

Health department co-Project Directors will be permitted.

42. The FOA states that curricula vitae are required for all staff on page 36. Are resumes and biosketches acceptable in lieu of curricula vitas?

Yes, resumes and biosketches are acceptable in lieu of curricula vitas.

43. Also in regard to the curricula vita requirement listed on page 36, are curricula vitas required for all health department and collaborative partners listed on the budget? Are curricula vitas required for all staff working at our partner CBO (i.e. from Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, Medical Director, eligibility case manager, HIV testing counselor, etc.)

In the “Organizational Capacity of Applicants to Implement the Approach section” on page 29, the FOA states that applicants must address the organizational capacity requirements described in the “CDC Project Description” section on page 5. Curricula vitae are required from staff who will have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks. These tasks are described in the section “Organizational Capacity of Awardees to Execute the Approach” on pages 18-19, and include tasks such as: leadership of the project; monitoring the project’s ongoing progress; preparation of reports; program evaluation; and communication with CDC partners.

44. Is this FOA 15-1509 ‘multi-component’ and, therefore, is the Project Narrative maximum page limit 25?

No, CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 is not a multi-component FOA. The “Project Narrative” page limit is 20 pages per MSA.

45. In the 20-page “Project Narrative” should the “Organizational Capacity of Applicants to Implement the Approach” section be attached as a separate file named “Organizational Charts” and uploaded at www.grants.gov.

The “Project Narrative” page limit is 20 pages, and should include content under the bolded headings “Background”; “Approach”; “Applicant Evaluation and Performance Plan”; and “Organizational Capacity of Applicants to Implement the Approach” listed on pages 28-29. If the applicant will be submitting any separate “Organizational Charts” then they must be submitted as a file named “Organizational Charts” and uploaded at www.grants.gov.

46. Does the 20-page limit for the “Project Narrative” include any attached curricula vita files?

No, please see the response to Q44. Curricula vita files will not be included in the 20-page limit for the “Project Narrative” section. Any submitted “CVs/Resumes” must be uploaded as a separate file at www.grants.gov.

47. Our lab will need a new contract for 4th generation lab-based HIV testing equipment, but performs HIV testing for several jurisdictions in the state. Can we use the 4th generation lab testing equipment supported by this FOA to test specimens from other jurisdictions?

Yes, this equipment can be used for testing specimens from other jurisdictions. The contract costs for the equipment should be covered proportionate to the volume of tests performed in the awardee’s eligible MSA/MD (i.e., if 40% of the HIV testing with specimens in the awardee’s eligible MSA/MD, then 40% of the lab equipment costs can be covered with funds provided by CDC-RFA-PA15-1509 award funds).

48. Can CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 award funds be used to support additional laboratory staff required with implementation of 4th generation lab-based HIV testing?

Yes, CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 award funds can be used to hire additional lab staff. The awardee must provide justification for the number of additional lab staff based on the anticipated increase in HIV testing volume that will occur in the eligible MSA/MD within the applicant’s jurisdiction as a result of this FOA.

49. Are CBOs required to perform 4th generation lab-based HIV testing?

No, the CBO is not required to perform 4th generation lab-based HIV testing. However, this service must be provided by the health department or one of the unfunded collaborative members.

50. Can CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 award funds be used to pay for PrEP medications?

No, the “Funding Restrictions” on page 32 state that awardees may “not use funds for clinical care”, or “for PrEP medication (i.e., Truvada)”, or for “laboratory testing related to PrEP (e.g., creatinine tests, liver function tests, pregnancy tests, and additional clinical tests that could result from evaluation of side effects or toxicities).”

The health department is expected to include a collaborative member who will provide sustainable PrEP services using healthcare billing and other resources.

51. Are there recommendations for PrEP adherence counseling?

Resources for supporting PrEP adherence can be found in in Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in the United States – 2014, Clinical Providers’ Supplement on pages 22-26.

52. Can CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 award funds be used to partially support a peer navigator at a Ryan White clinic?

No, CDC-RFA-PS15-1509 award funds cannot be used to support staff who work in healthcare settings. However, the award funds can be used by the health department or a health department-funded CBO to hire a peer navigator who can be embedded in a healthcare setting..

53. What are the definitions of “immediate” and “expedient” linkage to care and initiation of ARV treatment for newly diagnosed HIV infections?

These definitions are in the “Glossary” on page 47.

54. I understand that the font type/size is set as Calibri, 12-point. However, is it possible to use a smaller font in any tables we include (such as a table that includes evaluation activities or a work plan)? 

If the tables are a part of the project narrative (including the work plan), they must adhere to all formatting requirements.

55. In the guidance about what to include in the work plan, a sample work plan template is provided. However, a number of the bullets detailing items to be described in the work plan do not ultimately seem amenable to inclusion in such a table, particularly bullets 5-7 (listed here for reference).

• A management plan outlining proposed staff; their roles and responsibilities for accomplishing program activities; and the amount of time each staff member will dedicate to the FOA activities. Staff experience and educational background should be included. In addition, a diagram illustrating the relationships between all collaborative partners should be included.
• A management plan that describes how the applicant will manage, monitor, and coordinate collaborative activities; how the applicant will address program implementation problems.
• A plan for intervention sustainability throughout and after the project period.

Did the 15-1509 team envision that a separate narrative would also be included about the work plan?

The applicant should develop a work plan for all four years, and the bullets list the items that should be included in the work plan. The table format is provided as an example of content that should be included in the work plan, and the applicant might choose to present content in a table format. Project narratives cannot exceed 20 pages as described on page 27, and any additional narratives about the work plan must be within the page limit.

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