Single Source Procurement: HIV/STI/Viral Hepatitis Training Services

Pursuant to New York State Finance Law § 163.10(b), The New York State Department of Health is presenting the following summary of relevant circumstances, and material and substantial reasons why a competitive procurement was not feasible.

This procurement will enable the Harm Reduction Coalition, the AIDS Institute-funded Center of Expertise on HCV and HCV/HIV co-infection, to develop a full-day training for HCV test counselors to:

  • Communicate essential HCV-related information in plain language to individuals being tested, including the function of the liver, what hepatitis C is, how HCV is diagnosed, and how HCV is spread.
  • Tailor harm reduction education to individuals based on their test results.
  • Describe in plain language the advances in HCV treatment options available, dispel myths about treatment and emphasize the importance of linking to care.
  • Motivate individuals testing HCV-antibody reactive to follow up with a medical provider for further evaluation to confirm chronic infection, monitor liver disease progression and discuss treatment options with a provider.

The Harm Reduction Coalition will be responsible for developing complete trainer and participant manuals, as well as additional tools and resources that will support best practices regarding HCV testing within participant agencies. This may include templates such as competency evaluation tools, sheets with sample counseling messages, and ESAP/SEP information palm cards with counseling messages listed for testers.

The Coalition will also offer the equivalent of 12 days of training and/or technical assistance to agencies enrolled in the Statewide HCV Rapid Test Program.

An estimated 200,000 New Yorkers are living with HCV. However, many people living with HCV do not know they are infected. With improved screening technologies and increasingly effective treatments, it is more important than ever that people learn their HCV status, the first step to accessing HCV care and cure. In 2014, the New York State Hepatitis C Testing Law went into eff¬ect, requiring all persons born between 1945 and 1965 who receive in-patient care in a hospital or in a primary care setting, be offered a one-time HCV screening test. Non-physician health and human services providers play a pivotal role in educating clients about the need for testing and the meaning of their test results.

While the AIDS Institute has developed a number of resources to support provider adoption of recommended HCV testing and linkage to follow-up care, including provider toolkits, webcasts, fact sheets, posters, counseling pads, etc., additional targeted efforts are needed to enhance providers' ability to clearly communicate key messages around HCV testing.

Procurement / Program Name HIV/STI/Viral Hepatitis Training Services
Contractor Name(s) Harm Reduction Coalition
Contract Period 4/1/2016 – 3/31/2017
Contract Number(s) C30287GG