PrEP and PEP Initiation and Retention (PPIR) Initiative

The Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Initiation and Retention (PPIR) Initiative is established through Health and Safety Code (HSC) 120972.1, which allows for the use of AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) rebate funds to be allocated to local health departments and community based organizations to support PrEP and PEP navigation and retention coordinators and related services. The Office of AIDS (OA) will fund up to $21,700,000 in awards over a four-year period. Awarded entities will be selected through a competitive request for application (RFA) process. Selected awardees will use this funding to support PrEP and PEP navigation and retention coordinators and related services utilizing evidence informed approaches to increase organizational capacity and to prioritize individuals at risk of new HIV infection that are hardly reached. Applicants must provide evidence of a well-established ability to engage priority populations or to demonstrate evidence-informed innovative approaches for engaging priority populations and navigating them to PrEP and PEP. OA defines "innovative" as the application of new ideas or promising practices that use the required approaches within this RFA to address the needs of the priority population(s). At the end of the project duration, eligible entities (EEs) should have effectively integrated low-barrier access to PrEP and PEP into their existing structures by providing navigation services and benefits enrollment.

Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals that are appropriate to their regions, based on strong local partnerships and ability to reach specific priority populations. All California local health departments and community-based organizations that meet RFA eligibility criteria may apply.

Applicants will define the priority populations for their entity from those authorized in statute. HSC 120972.1 establishes that priority populations include communities that have a perceived risk of new HIV infection, including but not limited to:

• Black, Latinx, indigenous, and people of color
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning individuals
• Non-English-speaking individuals
• Other populations that are difficult to reach, including those with transportation or technology challenges
• People experiencing homelessness
• People involved in the carceral system
• People who use drugs
• People engaged in sex work
• Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals
• Undocumented individuals
• Women
• Youth

Applicants will be asked to define their specific priority population(s) for this initiative and clearly justify the inclusion of these populations based on need, using available local and regional data and community-based evidence.

OA looks forward to receiving applications from all EEs to support, establish, or expand PrEP navigator services programs and increase access to PEP with goals to improve health outcomes, reduce HIV-related health disparities, reduce new HIV infections, and achieve maximal results in addressing the HIV epidemic in California.

Access the PrEP and PEP Initiation and Retention Initiative RFA (PDF).

Please note the following important dates:

• PPIR Initiative Kick-off Zoom Webinar will be held on 01/23/2023, from 2:30 P.M - 4:00 P.M. PST. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83633460020?pwd=MFBIU1NXcFdIbHZIMVdZa1pZclZYUT09 - Meeting ID: 814 7682 7462
  
• Questions about the PPIR Initiative RFA must be submitted in writing by email to PPIRInitiative@cdph.ca.gov by 01/25/2023, by 5:00 P.M. PST.
  
• Questions and responses will be posted on this webpage by 02/02/2023, by 5:00 P.M. PST.
  
• Mandatory electronic Letter of Intent (LOI) is due on 01/27/2023, by 5:00 P.M. PST. Send to PPIRInitiative@cdph.ca.gov. RFA Attachments will be sent to those who submit a LOI.
  
• Electronic application submission of RFA Attachments is due on 02/21/2023, by 5:00 P.M. PST. Send to PPIRInitiative@cdph.ca.gov.
• Please refer to the RFA linked above for LOI and application submission information.

If you have any questions about the information on this page, please send an e‑mail to PPIRInitiative@cdph.ca.gov.