Ending the Epidemic in New York City: The Undetectables Viral Load Suppression Program and Crystal Methamphetamine Harm Reduction Services

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Description: Public Health Solutions on behalf of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, STI (BHHS) is seeking proposals from qualified organizations for two service categories:

Service Category 1: The Undetectables Viral Load Suppression Program
The objectives of this program are to:
1. Improve ART adherence
2. Improve retention in HIV medical care.
3. Provide prompt linkage to social support services.
4. Achieve and maintain viral load suppression (defined as a viral load test less than 200 copies)

Service Category 2: Crystal Methamphetamine Harm Reduction Services
The objectives of this program are to:
1. Improve access to culturally-responsive treatment and harm reduction services for HIV- or HIV+ New Yorkers who use methamphetamine, particularly for men who have sex with men, transgender persons who have sex with men, and people of color.
2. Increase the proportion of HIV-negative clients using methamphetamine who:
a. Are educated about PrEP and PEP.
b. Are taking PrEP.
3. Increase the proportion of HIV-positive clients using methamphetamine who are engaged in care and reach viral load suppression.

Key Dates

Concept Paper Town Hall: October 26, 2021, 2:00pm to 4:00pm ET

Questions Due Date: November 20, 2021, 3:00pm ET

Anticipated Subaward Start Date: July 1, 2022

 

Organizational Eligibility Requirements

To be considered eligible to apply for review and consideration for awards resulting from this upcoming RFP, all applying organizations must:

• Have federal tax exemption status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Operate a brick-and-mortar site in one of the five boroughs of New York City.

To be considered for an award, organizations applying for funding must have the appropriate licensure and insurance to operate and provide the services proposed in response to the upcoming RFP.

Organizations must be able to address the needs of clients with physical, behavioral, psychosocial, or sensory impairments. Organizations must have established linkages with programs providing early intervention services, medical care, mental health, alcohol and substance use services, housing programs, medical case management, legal services, supportive counseling services, health education and risk reduction, employment related services, and other unmet needs and must make referrals as appropriate.

 

To apply for funding under Service Category 1 applicants must also meet all the following requirements:

1. HIV Care Management: The applicant must provide HIV care management services for PWH that include ART adherence support and connection to non-medical support services that help clients address barriers to adherence. The HIV care management program must have the capacity to provide all services in The Undetectables Toolkit (except for those services marked “optional”). HIV care management programs include but are not limited to Ryan White-funded Care Coordination Program, Ryan White-funded Retention and Adherence Program, and Health Home Care Coordination. Applicants may propose integrating The Undetectables Program into other equivalent established HIV care management programs.
2. The funded organization is expected to implement the program largely with existing HIV care management staff contributing in-kind the HIV care management services required to carry out The Undetectables as well as activities outlined in The Undetectables Toolkit. Staff carrying out The Undetectables must be those who provide:

• HIV case management to coordinate care;
• mDOT for adherence support; and
• Care navigation to facilitate access to needed services that address barriers to adherence and viral load suppression including housing and behavioral health services.

These three activities may all be part of an HIV care manager’s responsibilities. Alternatively, mDOT or navigation may be carried out by other staff in the HIV care management program.

2. HIV Primary Care: At the time of proposal submission, the applicant must provide HIV medical care (i.e., prescribe ART and monitor viral load) or have a written agreement (e.g., memorandum of understanding) with a provider of HIV primary care to provide HIV care management as part of an integrated care team and collaboratively implement the program.
3. Electronic Medical Record (eMR): The applicant must have access to an electronic data system so that client records showing engagement in care and laboratory reports are accessible to The Undetectables program staff.

 

To apply for funding under Service Category 2 applicants must also meet all the following requirements:

1. Applicants that propose to provide clinical services must be licensed to provide the services proposed (e.g., primary care, STI and hepatitis C testing and treatment, psychiatric services, vaccination, PrEP and PEP). Applicants that do not provide clinical services but propose to provide them as part of the program through referral must provide a memorandum of understanding/agreement (MOU) with licensed service provider(s) at the time of proposal submission.
2. Applicants providing PrEP and PEP must be a New York State PrEP AP provider at the time of proposal submission. Applicants that do not provide clinical services but propose to provide them as part of the program through referral under an MOU must demonstrate at the time of proposal submission that the clinical provider is a New York State PrEP AP provider.