Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2019 Cooperative Agreement to Support the Southeast (SE) Asia Regional Technology Transfer Center (TTC) (Short Title: SEA-TTC) for HIV and Substance Use and Mental Health. The purpose of this program is to strengthen the current work of the SEA-TTC that builds the regional capacity to address the intersection of HIV, substance use and mental health at the policy, systems, and provider level, and increases the skills and abilities of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) implementing partners in the national HIV/AIDS programs of countries in SE Asia through training, technical assistance, technology transfer, and workforce development. Training and technical assistance by an internationally-based TTC in behavioral health service provision includes integrating screening for and treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs), co-occurring substance use and mental disorders, and recovery support service programs into HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs, with the objective of improving patient outcomes,. The SEA-TTC will work collaboratively with other SAMHSA-funded internationally-based TTCs and the domestic TTC network (https://attcnetwork.org/) in developing evidence-based technical assistance for information exchange and technology transfer.

Asia is home to the largest number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) outside of Sub-Saharan Africa. The HIV epidemic is concentrated among key populations (injecting drug users (IDU), commercial sex workers (CSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender individuals). Studies show that these key populations consume alcohol and drugs, such as methamphetamine and opioids, which can result in risk behaviors that are drivers of the HIV epidemic. Through the development and implementation of regional and local activities, the SE Asia Regional TTC will work collaboratively to strengthen regional capacity to address the intersection of HIV, Substance Use and Mental Health at the policy, systems, and provider level, and increase the skills and abilities of PEPFAR implementing partners in the area of SUD treatment, including co-occurring disorders, and recovery support services as part of the national HIV/AIDS programs in SE Asia supported by PEPFAR, including some or all of the following: Thailand, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Burma, and Nepal. Workforce development, training, and technical assistance activities must be conducted in a culturally competent and linguistically appropriate manner.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are:

• Public or private universities and colleges that have a proven experience in leading and working with local institutions in SE Asia region and demonstrated history of working with PEPFAR partners and PEPFAR programs in SE Asia;
• Community- and faith-based organizations that have a proven experience in leading and working with local institutions in SE Asia region and demonstrated history of working with PEPFAR partners and PEPFAR programs in SE Asia; and
• Currently funded SAMHSA Technology Transfer Centers (TTCs), including Addiction TTCs, Mental Health TTCs and Substance Abuse Prevention TTCs.

These entities are uniquely qualified to implement the program because of their knowledge of, and working experience with the PEPFAR country teams and regional PEPFAR programs in SE Asia.

Applicants must sign the Certificate of Eligibility in Appendix J, which certifies that the organization meets the eligibility criteria described above. The Certificate of Eligibility must be submitted in Attachment 5 of the application or the application will be screened out and will not be reviewed.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Grant

Anticipated Total Available Funding: $700,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: One (1)

Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $700,000 per year

Length of Project: Up to 3 (three) years

Cost Sharing/Match Required?: No

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $700,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) in any year of the proposed project. Annual continuation awards will depend on the availability of funds, grantee progress in meeting project goals and objectives, timely submission of required data and reports, and compliance with all terms and conditions of award.