Opportunity Overview
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, on behalf of the Texas Department of State Health Services, released RFA HHS0016793 for the HIV/Part B Minority AIDS Initiative for the Dallas HIV Service Delivery Area. The program is designed to provide transitional services to incarcerated and recently released racial and ethnic minorities living with HIV, increase enrollment in the Texas HIV Medication Program, and improve linkage to HIV medical and support services when clients return to the community.
Funding
DSHS identifies $250,000 in federal funding per project period, with an estimated not-to-exceed total of $1,250,000 across a five-year project period. One award is anticipated for the Dallas HSDA. Matching funds are not required. The initial anticipated project period is April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2028, with up to four additional one-year extensions at the agency’s discretion.
Deadline and Key Dates
Applications must be received by HHSC by October 7, 2026 at 10:30 AM Central Time. The optional applicant conference is September 16, 2026 at 10:30 AM Central Time. Questions are due September 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM Central Time, with answers tentatively scheduled for September 24.
September 17, 2026 update: HHSC has posted Solicitation Addendum Acknowledgement No. 1 and the applicant-conference attachment. The conference materials reaffirm the October 7 deadline, $250,000 per-project-period funding, the five-year grant term, eligible-applicant categories, allowable services and prohibited costs, submission routes, required application forms and exhibits, and state that all addenda must be signed and submitted with the original application. Applicants should use the current HHSC solicitation page as the controlling source.
September 18, 2026 package and scoring update: The applicant-conference attachment to Addendum No. 1 confirms one intended award, $250,000 in federal funding per project period and an estimated $1.25 million over the five-year project period. The project term is April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2032. Required application materials include Forms A through I, including the project abstract, background and experience, performance measures and service standards, project narrative, requested budget template, HHS indirect costs questionnaire, and internal controls questionnaire. The evaluation weights are Project Abstract 5%, Project Narrative 50%, Experience 25%, Performance Measures 10%, and Cost 10%. The conference materials also confirm that Health Education/Risk Reduction and Outreach services must support eligible Dallas HSDA clients transitioning from correctional facilities within 180 calendar days before or after release, with Emergency Financial Assistance and Medical Transportation available to eligible recently released clients. Solicitation communications must be directed in writing to the HHSC purchaser identified in the RFA; contacting other HHS staff about the solicitation may result in disqualification.
Eligibility
Eligible applicant classes include community-based organizations, domestic public and private nonprofit entities, federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, nonprofit faith-based organizations, colleges and universities, health care delivery organizations, territories, and local governments. Applicants must be authorized to conduct business in Texas and maintain a physical business address in at least one Dallas HSDA county served. Award eligibility also requires experience working with minority people living with HIV and/or previously incarcerated individuals with HIV or chronic health conditions, plus applicable good-standing and regulatory requirements.
Eligible Geography
The RFA lists Collin, Cook, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall counties. The applicant must have a physical location in at least one Dallas HSDA county it serves.
Eligible Activities
Funded work includes Health Education/Risk Reduction, outreach, evidence-informed curriculum, training of MAI personnel, emergency financial assistance, and medical transportation under the applicable DSHS service standards. The core service model focuses on clients within 180 calendar days before or after release from federal, state, local adult, or juvenile correctional facilities.
Important Cost Restrictions
The RFA expressly prohibits equipment and other capital expenditures, including capital improvements, real-estate and property-related expenditures, remodeling, and facility acquisition or construction. Other restrictions include supplanting, lobbying or advocacy costs, fundraising, entertainment, promotional items, and other unallowable costs under applicable federal and Texas grant rules.
Submission
Applicants may use the HHS Online Bid Room or the sealed-package/USB method described in Section 8.3. The Online Bid Room submission includes the complete Original Application PDF, Form G Requested Budget in original Excel format, and a Public Information Act copy if applicable. Applications submitted by other methods may be disqualified.
Applicant Fit
Realistic applicant candidates include Dallas-area nonprofit and public entities with documented HIV service delivery and reentry or chronic-health experience. Dallas County Health and Human Services operates the Ryan White Grants Management Division for the Dallas area and publishes Ryan White grant contacts. AIDS Services of Dallas is another established local nonprofit serving people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Each organization would still need full applicant-specific screening against the current RFA before advancement.
Atlas Assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 94/100. This is a newly released, clearly scoped, no-match healthcare grant with one anticipated award and a defined Dallas service area. N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. No legitimate N9+ direct-vendor pathway is established because the eligible applicant classes are nonprofit/public entities and Section 5.3 expressly prohibits equipment and other capital expenditures. Dr. Miltie and QC Healthcare should not be positioned as a direct applicant or N9+ component unless a controlling amendment creates an otherwise allowable route.
Official Source and Contact
Official HHS opportunity page: HHS0016793. Sole point of contact for RFA communications: Barbara Logan, Grant Specialist, HHSC Procurement and Contracting Services, barbara.logan@hhs.texas.gov. Applicants must follow the solicitation’s restricted-communications requirements and should not use that email address to submit an application.