Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 21 124
Building the HIV Workforce and Strengthening Engagement in Communities of Color (B-SEC) is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) pilot grant opportunity designed to tackle a persistent national problem: the shortage of HIV providers who come from, and are prepared to serve, communities of color that are disproportionately affected by HIV. The program centers Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) as trusted anchors in these communities and positions them as a key pipeline for educating future clinicians, public health professionals, educators, and researchers. Through this initiative, HRSA aims to expand HIV knowledge and skills among undergraduate students in health-related fields while also strengthening community outreach efforts that improve awareness of modern HIV care and reduce stigma that often blocks people from seeking or staying in care.
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the recipient would carry out the project in close coordination with HRSA rather than operating entirely independently. HRSA intends to make one single, four-year award to one organization that will lead the pilot nationally by building partnerships with undergraduate MSIs and integrating HIV content into their academic programs. Rather than limiting HIV education to specialized electives, the B-SEC approach emphasizes broader integration so more students encounter HIV-related topics regardless of their specific health discipline. A major tool for this is the HRSA National HIV Curriculum (NHC), which the recipient will help embed into accredited health professions programs at participating MSIs, tailoring the curriculum to fit each discipline and the students academic level.
A core expectation of the project is that the lead organization will create a clear method for selecting and partnering with eligible undergraduate MSIs. This includes setting partnership criteria, outlining how MSIs will participate, and ensuring the basic infrastructure is in place to support curriculum delivery. Because technology and faculty readiness can be barriers, the initiative specifically calls for supporting participating MSIs with technology needs and faculty training so the NHC can be hosted, accessed, and taught effectively. The recipient is also expected to provide faculty orientation, ongoing technical assistance, and continued training to help schools sustain the curriculum integration over time rather than treating it as a one-off addition.
Curriculum integration occurs in two main ways. First, HIV-related topics are incorporated into existing health-related courses, which helps normalize HIV education as part of standard health training and reaches students who may not end up specializing in HIV but will still encounter HIV in clinical or community settings. Second, the NHC is integrated into accredited health professions programs at MSIs, strengthening the depth and consistency of HIV instruction. Alongside classroom learning, the program calls for establishing experiential learning opportunities for health professions students, reinforcing practical exposure that can translate into a stronger and more prepared workforce.
Beyond academics, B-SEC explicitly links workforce development with community engagement. The lead organization will work with MSIs to develop and implement outreach activities that raise awareness about advances in HIV prevention, care, and treatment and that actively address HIV stigma, which remains a major barrier in many communities of color. The notice highlights on-campus HIV awareness activities as a required component and calls for establishing an HIV Ambassador Program, suggesting a student- and campus-driven model where peer leadership and trusted messengers help expand awareness and normalize conversations about HIV.
In practical terms, HRSA is looking for an applicant with a demonstrated track record of building effective partnerships with MSIs and successfully integrating curricula into higher education settings. The pilot must, at minimum, integrate the National HIV Curriculum into at least two participating, accredited, undergraduate MSI programs and train faculty to use the newly integrated curriculum. The overall purpose is to use the established presence and credibility of MSIs to create a larger, better-trained, more diverse HIV workforce while simultaneously improving community understanding of HIV and reducing stigma through sustained engagement. The opportunity was published under Funding Opportunity Number HRSA-21-124, within CFDA 93.145, as a discretionary health-focused cooperative agreement, with one expected award and an original closing date of July 6, 2021.Apply for HRSA 21 124
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Building the HIV Workforce and Strengthening Engagement in Communities of Color (B-SEC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.145.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 20, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 06, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the B-SEC grant opportunity?
Building the HIV Workforce and Strengthening Engagement in Communities of Color (B-SEC) is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) pilot grant opportunity focused on addressing a national shortage of HIV providers who come from, and are prepared to serve, communities of color disproportionately affected by HIV.
What problem is B-SEC designed to address?
B-SEC targets the persistent shortage of HIV providers, particularly providers from communities of color, and aims to improve HIV knowledge, skills, and community engagement in places where HIV-related disparities and stigma can prevent people from seeking or staying in care.
What is the central strategy of the program?
The program centers Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) as trusted community anchors and a pipeline for preparing future clinicians, public health professionals, educators, and researchers by integrating HIV education into undergraduate health-related academic programs and expanding HIV-related community outreach.
Who is HRSA trying to reach through this initiative?
The initiative is designed to expand HIV knowledge and skills among undergraduate students in health-related fields at MSIs, while also strengthening outreach that improves community awareness of modern HIV care and reduces HIV stigma in communities of color.
What type of award is B-SEC?
B-SEC is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the recipient conducts the project in close coordination with HRSA rather than operating fully independently.
How many awards does HRSA expect to make?
HRSA intends to make one single award under this pilot program.
How long is the project period?
The opportunity describes a single, four-year award.
What is the role of the lead organization receiving the award?
The lead organization is expected to lead the pilot nationally by building partnerships with eligible undergraduate MSIs, integrating HIV content into their academic programs, supporting faculty and technology needs, and coordinating community outreach efforts tied to HIV awareness and stigma reduction.
What curriculum is specifically referenced for integration?
A major tool for the initiative is the HRSA National HIV Curriculum (NHC), which the recipient will help embed into accredited health professions programs at participating MSIs.
How is the National HIV Curriculum expected to be used at participating MSIs?
The NHC is expected to be integrated into accredited health professions programs and tailored to fit each discipline and students' academic level, with support for faculty training and the infrastructure needed to deliver the curriculum effectively.
Does B-SEC focus on elective HIV coursework or broader integration?
The B-SEC approach emphasizes broad integration of HIV-related topics so more students encounter HIV content regardless of their specific health discipline, rather than limiting HIV education to specialized electives.
What are the two main ways curriculum integration happens under B-SEC?
Curriculum integration occurs in two ways: (1) incorporating HIV-related topics into existing health-related courses, and (2) integrating the National HIV Curriculum into accredited health professions programs at participating MSIs.
What is required regarding partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions?
A core expectation is that the lead organization develops a clear method for selecting and partnering with eligible undergraduate MSIs, including partnership criteria, how MSIs will participate, and ensuring infrastructure is in place to support curriculum delivery.
Are there minimum participation expectations for MSI programs?
Yes. The pilot must, at minimum, integrate the National HIV Curriculum into at least two participating, accredited, undergraduate MSI programs and train faculty to use the newly integrated curriculum.
What kinds of support are expected for participating MSIs?
The initiative calls for supporting MSIs with technology needs and faculty training so the curriculum can be hosted, accessed, and taught effectively. It also expects faculty orientation, ongoing technical assistance, and continued training to help sustain curriculum integration over time.
Why does the opportunity mention technology and faculty readiness?
The notice recognizes that technology capacity and faculty readiness can be barriers to successful curriculum hosting and delivery, so the project explicitly includes support for technology needs and faculty training.
What is meant by "experiential learning opportunities" in this program?
Alongside classroom instruction, the program calls for establishing experiential learning opportunities for health professions students to reinforce practical exposure and strengthen workforce preparedness.
How does B-SEC connect workforce development with community engagement?
B-SEC links workforce preparation to outreach activities developed with MSIs to raise awareness about advances in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, and to address HIV stigma that can block people from entering or staying in care.
Are on-campus HIV awareness activities required?
Yes. The notice highlights on-campus HIV awareness activities as a required component of the project.
What is the HIV Ambassador Program mentioned in the opportunity?
The opportunity calls for establishing an HIV Ambassador Program and suggests a student- and campus-driven model where peer leadership and trusted messengers help expand HIV awareness and normalize conversations about HIV.
What kinds of organizations is HRSA looking for to lead this pilot?
HRSA is looking for an applicant with a demonstrated track record of building effective partnerships with MSIs and successfully integrating curricula into higher education settings.
What is the overall purpose of B-SEC?
The overall purpose is to leverage the presence and credibility of MSIs to build a larger, better-trained, more diverse HIV workforce, while improving community understanding of HIV and reducing stigma through sustained engagement.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HRSA-21-124.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.145.
When was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed for this funding opportunity was July 6, 2021.
Is this a discretionary grant and what is its focus area?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary, health-focused cooperative agreement.
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