RFA-DA-20-028

Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to inform interested applicants of updated information for the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) RFA-DA-20-028 (Implementing the HIV Service Cascade for Justice Involved Populations) calls for applications that involve collaboration with justice agencies and infectious disease prevention and treatment services in communities vulnerable to HIV outbreak. NIDA recognizes that the widespread and prolonged impact of COVID-19 presents significant challenges for justice agencies and infectious disease specialists. NIDA further recognizes that it may be difficult for applicants to assemble research teams under these circumstances.

Although applicants are strongly encouraged to submit letters of support if they can be obtained, NIDA withdraws the requirement to include letters of support from justice agencies and community-based healthcare agencies (study sites and collaborators) at the time of submission. Applications without these letters will be accepted and reviewed. Such letters and other appropriate documentation will be required as part of Just-In-Time materials should the application be recommended for funding.

As in any situation, applicants should demonstrate experience, feasibility, and capacity to engage appropriate organizations and collaborators in the proposed study design. Applicants whose collaborations have been temporarily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic at the time of application submission should describe clear plans and contingencies for executing the proposed study with a projected September 2020 start date. A final list of study sites and collaborators will be required as part of Just-In-Time materials should the application be recommended for funding.

To allow sufficient time for review, Council concurrence, and funding in FY20, late applications will not be accepted.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Minnjuan Flournoy-Floyd, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Telephone: 301-827-6474
Email: Minnjuan.FlournoyFloyd@nih.gov