Strategies to Link, Engage, and Retain Men with HIV in Care: Implementation Technical Assistance Provider

The Strategies to Link, Engage, and Retain Men with HIV in Care: Implementation Technical Assistance Provider opportunity is offered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This forecasted discretionary funding opportunity is part of the Special Projects of National Significance program and is aligned with federal priorities to improve health outcomes for people living with HIV. The initiative builds on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program 2030 framework, which emphasizes sustained high-quality care while expanding engagement with individuals who are not currently receiving consistent treatment. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement from the federal agency in the execution of the program. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support a single Implementation Technical Assistance Provider that will oversee and facilitate the adaptation and execution of interventions designed to improve care engagement among men with HIV. This provider will identify evidence-informed and emerging strategies and apply implementation science methodologies to adapt and deploy these interventions effectively. The initiative specifically targets individuals who are not consistently engaged in care or who face barriers to maintaining treatment, with the broader goal of improving retention and health outcomes. The selected recipient will be responsible for issuing and managing subawards to up to eight implementation sites. These sites will carry out localized intervention strategies under the guidance and technical assistance of the primary awardee. The Implementation Technical Assistance Provider will not only administer these subawards but will also provide ongoing implementation-focused support, including guidance on adapting interventions to local contexts, ensuring fidelity to evidence-based practices, and facilitating learning across sites. The project emphasizes rapid adaptation, large-scale implementation, and the generation of generalizable findings. Funding will support activities related to implementation science, technical assistance, subaward management, and dissemination of findings. The initiative prioritizes the development and public release of dissemination products that follow human-centered design and adult learning principles. These outputs are intended to support sustainability and replication of successful interventions across different settings. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, reducing financial barriers for eligible applicants. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad and includes a range of public and private entities such as state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, and institutions of higher education. This inclusivity reflects the program’s goal of engaging diverse organizations capable of addressing HIV care challenges in various communities across the United States. The application process is expected to open around May 25, 2026, with an estimated submission deadline of June 24, 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. The anticipated award date is September 1, 2026, which also marks the expected project start date. As a forecasted opportunity, applicants are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare materials in advance. For additional information or inquiries, applicants may contact Alexis Leal via phone at 301-443-3709 or by email at spns@hrsa.gov. This opportunity represents a significant federal investment in improving HIV care engagement among men and advancing implementation science practices in public health systems.