[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 30739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13750]



[[Page 30739]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Notice of Class Deviation From Competition Requirements for 
National Organizations for State and Local Officials Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice of Class Deviation from Competition Requirements for 
National Organizations for State and Local Officials Program.

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SUMMARY: In FY 2019, HRSA received funding from the Minority HIV/AIDS 
Fund from the Office of Secretary. The purpose of Minority HIV/AIDS 
Fund is to reduce new HIV infections, improve HIV-related health 
outcomes, and to reduce HIV-related health disparities for racial and 
ethnic minority communities by supporting innovation, collaboration, 
and the integration of best practices, effective strategies, and 
promising emerging models in the response to HIV among minority 
communities.
    HRSA will be providing supplemental funds to support activities for 
the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), to 
support the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EtHE) 
initiative to eliminate new HIV infections by providing communities 
most severely affected by HIV with critical resources to address the 
HIV epidemic. The supplemental funds will be used to augment the 
awardee's current activities to improve access to quality services, 
support a skilled health workforce, develop innovative programs, and 
prevent and suppress communicable diseases to preserve and improve 
public health through the National Organizations for State and Local 
Officials program. The purpose of this supplement is to identify key 
stakeholders in the seven southern states that have a substantial rural 
HIV burden and establish collaborative partnerships in each state by 
convening leadership meetings with State Health Officials, Ryan White 
HIV/AIDS Program Part B Directors, HIV Surveillance Coordinators, HIV 
Prevention Directors, and other partners engaged in EtHE efforts.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Intended Recipient of the Award: Association of State and 
Territorial Health Officials, Arlington, Virginia.
    Amount of Non-Competitive Awards: $100,000.
    Period of Supplemental Funding: June 28, 2918-August 31, 2020.
    CFDA Number: 93.011.
    Authority: Section 311(a) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.
    Justification: The EtHE is the Administration's initiative to end 
the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030. A key strategy for 
reaching the goal for EtHE is to prioritize the seven states 
(Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, 
and Oklahoma) that have a substantial rural burden (over 75 cases and 
10 percent or more of their diagnoses in rural areas) of new HIV 
diagnoses. Eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of new HIV 
diagnoses are in the South, as are the 10 metropolitan statistical 
areas. The impact of HIV in the South also varies by race. African 
Americans are severely affected and accounted for 54 percent of new HIV 
diagnoses in 2014. Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with 
men (MSM) face an especially heavy burden, accounting for 59 percent of 
all HIV diagnoses among African Americans in the South. In fact, of all 
black MSM diagnosed with HIV nationally in 2014, more than 60 percent 
were living in the South. Black women face an equally disproportionate 
burden of the disease, accounting for 69 percent of all HIV diagnoses 
among women in the South. In addition to the severe burden in the 
South, nationally there is a high incidence of HIV among transgender 
individuals, high-risk heterosexuals, and persons who inject drugs.
    These states will need to mobilize quickly in order to reach the 
2030 goal of EtHE. The proposed State Collaborative Partnerships to End 
the HIV Epidemic project will identify key stakeholders in the seven 
states and establish collaborative partnerships in each state by 
convening leadership meetings with State Health Officials, Ryan White 
HIV/AIDS Program Part B Directors, HIV Surveillance Coordinators, HIV 
Prevention Directors, and other partners engaged in EtHE efforts. These 
activities provide the foundational groundwork needed to support the 
quick ramp up of EtHE activities in FY 2020 and contribute to the 
overall success of the initiative.
    The ASTHO represents public health agencies in the United States, 
the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia, and over 100,000 
public health professionals these agencies employ and therefore is 
uniquely positioned to convene the 7 priority states as outlined above. 
Based on their expertise representing chief health officials in each 
state, formulating and influencing sound public health policy, and 
supporting collaboration within and across states to ensure excellence 
in state-based public health practice, ASTHO can quickly and 
effectively stand-up this project. As part of their NOSLO activities, 
ASTHO plays a critical and distinct role in facilitating information 
exchange, collaboration, shared learning opportunities, and technical 
assistance that allows state and territorial health officials to 
achieve maximum impact and community health improvement, which will 
further support the success of the State Collaborative Partnerships to 
End the HIV Epidemic project.
    This action will allow ASTHO to implement the proposed activities, 
immediately allowing work to begin to meet important benchmarks that 
will contribute to the success of the program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kasey Farrell, Lead, Strategic 
Partnerships Team, Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation, HRSA, 
5600 Fishers Lane, 14W-02, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 443-0188, 
[email protected].

    Dated: June 24, 2019.
George Sigounas,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-13750 Filed 6-26-19; 8:45 am]
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