RFA #20766 PrEP Aware Campaign Collaborative

The New York State Department of Health, through its AIDS Institute and Office of the Medical Director, is offering funding under the PrEP Aware Campaign Collaborative initiative to support efforts aligned with its broader mission to end preventable syndemics, reduce health disparities, promote equity, and combat stigma. This opportunity is specifically focused on expanding access to HIV biomedical prevention strategies, particularly Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), among populations most at risk of acquiring HIV. The program is part of the state’s Ending the Epidemic effort, where PrEP has been identified as a cornerstone intervention due to its demonstrated effectiveness in reducing HIV acquisition by more than 90 percent when used as prescribed. The purpose of this funding is to support a single selected organization in planning and implementing a community-driven public health campaign designed to increase awareness, understanding, and uptake of PrEP. The campaign is expected to be tailored to reach priority populations, including individuals at increased risk due to sexual or injection drug exposure. The initiative emphasizes culturally responsive and community-informed strategies that address barriers to access, stigma, and inequities in healthcare delivery. Funding will be awarded to one entity at an annual amount of 243,000 dollars over a five-year period, resulting in a total program funding of 1,215,000 dollars. The scope of allowable activities includes campaign planning, outreach, messaging development, community engagement, and dissemination efforts that promote PrEP awareness and utilization. While specific restrictions are not detailed in the summary, the focus on public health messaging and community engagement implies that funds must be used in alignment with programmatic goals and state guidelines. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entity types such as for-profit organizations, governmental entities, not-for-profit organizations, and tribal organizations. This inclusive eligibility structure is intended to ensure that organizations with diverse capabilities and community connections can participate in advancing the campaign’s objectives. Applicants are expected to demonstrate the capacity to execute a statewide or targeted campaign effectively and to engage communities most impacted by HIV risk. The application process requires submission by July 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. There is no requirement for a Letter of Intent. Prospective applicants may submit written questions to the designated program email address by June 9, 2026, with responses to be posted around June 23, 2026. Applications will be reviewed based on criteria outlined in the full Request for Applications, and an anticipated award date is set for September 1, 2026. The initial contract period is expected to last 60 months, reflecting the multi-year nature of the campaign and its long-term impact goals. The program does not explicitly state whether it recurs annually, though the presence of an annual campaign suggests potential continuity. Contact for inquiries is provided via the program email hivet@health.ny.gov, associated with Rachel Newport. Overall, this funding opportunity represents a strategic investment in public health communication and prevention infrastructure aimed at reducing HIV transmission across New York State.