Evaluation of Models of PrEP Service Delivery at Title X and STD Clinics | RFA PS 17 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA PS 17 004

The grant opportunity titled "Evaluation of Models of PrEP Service Delivery at Title X and STD Clinics" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA PS 17 004) is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discretionary funding announcement under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It uses a Cooperative Agreement funding instrument, which generally means CDC expects substantial involvement during the project period, often through collaborative planning, technical support, and ongoing coordination rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The focus is public health: specifically, improving how pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is delivered to people at substantial risk of acquiring HIV, using real-world clinic settings that already serve high-risk populations.

The core purpose of the opportunity is to compare three distinct service delivery models for getting PrEP to patients seen in STD clinics and Title X family planning clinics. These clinics are important access points because they frequently serve individuals who may be at increased HIV risk, and they already provide sexual and reproductive health services where HIV prevention can be integrated. The evaluation is structured around understanding how different operational approaches affect PrEP uptake and access when patients are identified as likely to benefit from PrEP.

The three models being compared are straightforward but operationally different. Model 1 is direct PrEP provision within the STD and family planning clinics themselves, meaning the clinic where the patient is seen also provides PrEP services on-site. This model tests what happens when PrEP is fully integrated into routine clinic care, potentially reducing delays and drop-off that can happen when patients are sent elsewhere. Model 2 is passive referral, where the clinic identifies a patient as a PrEP candidate and then refers them to another PrEP provider in the community, typically leaving the follow-through largely to the patient. This approach reflects a common real-world practice where clinics may not have capacity to prescribe PrEP but can direct patients to external providers. Model 3 is active linkage, which also refers patients to community PrEP providers but adds patient navigators who actively help connect the patient to care, such as scheduling appointments, addressing barriers, and supporting follow-through. This model is designed to reduce the typical loss-to-follow-up seen with referrals by adding hands-on navigation support.

From a funding and scale perspective, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $2,000,000 and anticipates making one award, suggesting a single large project meant to generate findings with enough depth and rigor to inform broader program decisions. The opportunity is categorized under CFDA numbers 93.941 and 93.974, indicating it aligns with established federal public health program areas tied to HIV/STD prevention and related services. Because only one award is expected, the selected applicant would likely serve as the lead implementer and evaluator, coordinating across participating clinics and community providers to ensure consistent measurement and meaningful comparison across the three service models.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when specified). This wide eligibility suggests CDC wanted to attract applicants with strong clinical, public health, and evaluation capabilities, whether housed in government health departments, academic centers, or nonprofit health organizations. The administering agency is CDC ERA (the CDC grants portal), indicating the application and reporting processes would be managed through CDCs electronic research administration systems.

The timeline details reflect a standard federal competitive process for that cycle. The opportunity was created on November 15, 2016, with an original closing date of January 17, 2017. Applications had to be submitted electronically by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date, which is a strict deadline typical of federal grants and usually means late submissions are not accepted. Overall, the grant is essentially an implementation-and-evaluation project aimed at generating practical evidence on whether PrEP is best delivered directly in STD and Title X clinics, through simple referral, or through referral combined with active navigation, with the larger goal of improving HIV prevention outcomes by reducing barriers to PrEP access.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Evaluation of Models of PrEP Service Delivery at Title X and STD Clinics" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.941, 93.974.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 15, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 17, 2017 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 500 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for RFA PS 17 004

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