Strategies to Link, Engage, and Retain Men with HIV in Care: Evaluation Provider

The Strategies to Link, Engage, and Retain Men with HIV in Care: Evaluation Provider funding opportunity is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the HIV/AIDS Bureau. This initiative is part of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part F Special Projects of National Significance, which historically supports innovative models of HIV care designed to improve outcomes for underserved populations. The program is grounded in federal efforts such as the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative and aligns with broader national priorities to improve access to care, reduce transmission, and promote long term health outcomes for individuals living with HIV. The purpose of this opportunity is to fund a single cooperative agreement recipient to serve as the Evaluation Provider for a national initiative focused on men with HIV who are not consistently engaged in care. The selected recipient will collaborate closely with a companion Implementation Technical Assistance Provider to identify, implement, and evaluate one or two interventions aimed at improving linkage to care, engagement, and retention. The Evaluation Provider is responsible for conducting a multi site implementation science evaluation, integrating findings into dissemination materials, and supporting scalability of successful strategies across diverse healthcare settings. Funding is structured over a three year project period with three 12 month budget cycles. The program anticipates total funding of 1,300,000 dollars for fiscal year 2026, with funding levels of up to 1,300,000 dollars in years one and two and up to 1,800,000 dollars in year three. Funds must be used in accordance with federal cost principles and program specific restrictions, including prohibitions on construction, clinical research, and certain direct service expenditures. There is no cost sharing requirement, though any voluntary contributions become binding if committed. Allowable costs must be reasonable, necessary, and aligned with program objectives, including evaluation activities, technical assistance, and dissemination efforts. Eligible applicants include a broad range of domestic entities such as state and local governments, nonprofit organizations with or without 501 c 3 status, institutions of higher education, tribal governments, and other public or private organizations eligible under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to conduct multi site implementation science evaluations, manage complex data systems, and collaborate across organizations. The program emphasizes inclusion of people with HIV in project teams and prioritizes experience in public health evaluation, data analysis, and dissemination of findings. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes standard federal forms along with a detailed project narrative, budget narrative, and multiple attachments such as a work plan, staffing plan, organizational chart, and agreements with partners. The project narrative must address evaluation design, implementation strategies, data collection methods, and dissemination plans. Applications are reviewed through a merit based process evaluating need, response, performance management, impact, organizational capacity, and budget justification. The review panel assigns scores based on clearly defined criteria, with additional consideration given to alignment with national HIV priorities. Key dates for the opportunity include a notice of funding opportunity release on June 5, 2026 and an application deadline of July 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be issued by September 1, 2026, with the project period beginning immediately thereafter and continuing through August 31, 2029. There is no recurring cycle indicated for this opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to participate in informational webinars and consult agency contacts for programmatic or financial questions. Contacts include program staff within the HIV/AIDS Bureau and grants management specialists, with support available through HRSA and Grants.gov systems. Overall, this funding opportunity represents a significant federal investment in implementation science and HIV care innovation. By focusing on populations with the greatest barriers to care, the initiative aims to generate actionable evidence, improve health outcomes, and support national efforts to reduce HIV transmission. The Evaluation Provider plays a central role in ensuring that interventions are rigorously assessed and that findings are translated into practical tools that can be adopted across healthcare systems nationwide.

Focus on strong implementation science methodology clear evaluation design and demonstrated capacity for multi site collaboration and data management aligned with HRSA priorities