INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND
The City of Austin, Public Health Department, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), hereinafter referred to as the “Recipient”, invites applications from qualified governmental and non-profit entities, hereinafter referred to as the “Applicant”, to provide services to persons with HIV (PWH). Services to be contracted include Core Medical Services: AID S Pharmaceutical Assistance, Early Intervention Services (EIS), Health Insurance Premium and Cost-Sharing Assistance for Low-Income Individuals, Medical Case Management, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Mental Health Services, Oral Health Care, Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services (plus Laboratory Diagnostic Testing and Specialty Outpatient Medical Care, and Substance Abuse Outpatient Care; and Support Services: Emergency Financial Assistance, Foodbank/Home Delivered Meals, Housing, Medical Transportation, Non-Medical Case Management Services, Substance Abuse-Residential, and Linguistic Services.
The Recipient receives RWHAP Part A and Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) federal funds under the Ryan White Treatment Extension Act of 2009. This legislation represents the largest dollar investment made by the federal government specifically for the provision of core medical and support services for low-income PWH. The purpose of the Act is to improve the quality and availability of care for persons with HIV and their families, and to establish services for persons with HIV who would otherwise have no access to health care. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers the RWHAP funds. Part A funds provide direct financial assistance to an Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) or a Transitional Grant Area (TGA) that has been severely affected by the HIV epidemic. Formula and supplemental grants assist eligible program areas in developing or enhancing access to a comprehensive continuum of high quality, community-based care for low-income PWH. A comprehensive continuum of care includes core medical services and support services that assist persons with HIV/AIDS (PWH/A) in accessing medical treatment for HIV infection.
Funding amounts for the services listed above are based on HIV Planning Council’s FY 2022 allocation model and assume an overall RWHAP Part A grant award increase of 4% compared to FY 2021’s allocation. The current solicitation (RFA) in the amount of $4,595,912 for HIV services for FY 2022, March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023, is based on an estimate of the FY 2022 RWHAP Part A grant award. The FY 2022 grant Notice of Award should be received from the federal government on or about March 1, 2022. The Scope of Work outlined in this section is subject to the availability of federal funds. Service Categories, Unit of Service Definitions, and Performance Measures Service Category definitions are provided by the HHS, HRSA, HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). Unit of Service definitions are from the HIV Services Taxonomy provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and used in the AIDS Regional Information and Evaluation System (ARIES). Performance Measures have been developed by the Austin Public Health Department and include Core Measures set by HRSA, HAB. Measures are subject to change in response to HRSA requirements, local Quality Improvement initiatives, or other factors.
RFA APPLICATION DUE DATE:
Monday, September 27, 2021, 5 PM CDT
Anticipated Start date of contract:
March 1, 2022
Questions regarding the RFA are due on or before:
September 17, 2021 at 12 PM CDT Questions must be submitted in writing to the Authorized Contact Person or through PartnerGrants
Note: Technical Assistance questions regarding entry into PartnerGrants may be submitted until the due date.
Authorized Contact Person:
Patricia Niswander, Grants Coordinator
E-Mail: APHHIVResourcesAdmin@austintexas.gov
Questions and Answers will be available:
In PartnerGrants and on the solicitation website: Final Questions & Answers
Optional Pre-Bid Meeting - Date and Time:
Monday, August 23, 2021 2 PM – 3 PM
- Pre-Bid Meeting Recording
- Pre-bid Conference Presentation RFA RWHAP
- Ryan White Part A RFA Pre-Bid Attendance
Pre-Bid Meeting Location:
Registration Required with this link to get the Conference Call details: https://rfarwhap.eventbrite.com