Implementing Comprehensive HIV services in Syringe Service Program (SSP) Settings (R01 - Clinical Trial Required) | RFA DA 23 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 23 006

The NIH grant opportunity "Implementing Comprehensive HIV services in Syringe Service Program (SSP) Settings" (RFA-DA-23-006) supports implementation-focused research to build, test, and scale practical models for delivering integrated HIV prevention and HIV care within syringe service program environments. The core idea is that SSPs have expanded rapidly across the United States and now operate in a wider variety of settings than in the past, including health departments and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), alongside more traditional community-based organizations (CBOs) and AIDS service organizations. Because SSPs often have frequent, ongoing contact with people who inject drugs (PWID) and their social networks (including non-injectors), they are positioned to improve engagement and re-engagement across the full HIV prevention and treatment continua, not just provide one-off services.

A major problem the funding opportunity aims to address is the uneven capacity of SSPs to provide comprehensive HIV-related services. Many newer SSPs, including those in rural areas, may have limited expertise in substance use services beyond syringe access and may have minimal infrastructure for HIV care. Even more established SSPs often stop at HIV testing and depend heavily on referrals for PrEP, antiretroviral treatment, linkage to HIV medical care, retention support, and other services, with limited ability to track follow-through. The opportunity highlights a need for sustainable, integrated approaches that move beyond referrals alone and instead embed effective HIV prevention and care practices within SSP workflows in ways that match the realities of these settings.

The notice also reflects the changing operating environment for SSPs, particularly the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many programs to restructure services and, in some cases, close temporarily or permanently. In parallel, the CDC is building stronger national infrastructure to monitor SSPs, survey clients, and develop technical assistance strategies. NIH is positioning this research program as a complementary effort: it seeks rigorous implementation research evidence on what models work best, for whom, and under what conditions, so that SSPs can more reliably deliver or coordinate comprehensive HIV services. The opportunity also notes alignment with broader federal support for SSP settings, including SAMHSA efforts, reinforcing that the intent is both practical and systems-oriented.

This is an R01 funding mechanism and is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Required," meaning applicants are expected to include a clinical trial component in their proposed research. In practice, that signals NIH wants robust testing of implementation strategies or service delivery models that can be evaluated with clinical-trial rigor, rather than purely observational studies or descriptive program reports. The focus is not simply on whether HIV services are beneficial in general, but on how to implement them effectively and sustainably in real-world SSP contexts, including settings with limited resources, limited specialty expertise, and varying local policy and public health environments.

Eligible applicants are broad and include many government entities and organizational types: state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other entities. The announcement also emphasizes inclusion of a range of mission-driven institutions and organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is limited. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined by NIH policy, are allowed, which typically means a U.S. applicant organization can include certain foreign collaborations or activities when appropriately justified and compliant with NIH rules.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed under the National Institutes of Health as a discretionary grant in the education and health activity category, with CFDA number 93.279. The original closing date shown is 2023-08-11, and the record creation date is 2022-02-25. The announcement text provided does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, indicating those details were either not included in the excerpt or were not set in the source listing.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementing Comprehensive HIV services in Syringe Service Program (SSP) Settings (R01 - Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-02-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-08-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA DA 23 006

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