The Indian Health Service (IHS) recently announced a funding opportunity for the new Ending the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Epidemics in Indian Country (ETHIC) program. This funding announcement is a critical step toward achieving the goals of both the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan for American Indian and Alaska Native people.

The purpose of this program is to support communities in reducing new HIV infections and relevant co-morbidities, specifically sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HCV infections, improve HIV-, STI-, and HCV-related health outcomes, and reduce HIV-, STI-, and HCV-related health disparities among American Indian/Alaska Native people. In two separate but related parts, this initiative aims to implement effective and innovative strategies, interventions, approaches, and services to reduce new HIV and HCV infections among AI/AN communities in the United States. The program is supported by IHS’s Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. resources.

 “The NHAS highlights the need to create funding opportunities that specifically address social and structural drivers of health as they relate to American Indian/Alaska Native and other people of color,” observed Harold J. Phillips, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy. “This funding announcement from the Indian Health Service demonstrates a critical step to achieving NHAS goals in Indian Country.”

Estimated Funds Available

The total funding identified for FY 2022 is approximately $2,480,000. Individual award amounts are anticipated to be between $160,000 and $200,000. The funding available for competing and subsequent awards issued under this announcement is subject to the availability of appropriations and budgetary priorities of the Agency. The IHS is under no obligation to make awards that are selected for funding under this announcement.

Anticipated Number of Awards

Approximately 14 awards will be issued under this program announcement.

Period of Performance

The period of performance is for 3 years.

Cooperative Agreement

Cooperative agreements awarded by the HHS are administered under the same policies as grants. However, the funding agency, IHS, is anticipated to have substantial programmatic involvement in the project during the entire period of performance. Below is a detailed description of the level of involvement required of the IHS.

For complete details, read the Federal Register Notice or access the application package on grants.gov.