Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has received the primary Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) award alongside additional grant carryover funds from the 2025 unobligated grant balance, referenced in Ordinance No. 0713-2026. The Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) grant program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), with funds originating from the Department of Health and Human Services. Columbus Public Health will contract with Knupp &Watson and Wallman, Inc. (KW2) to provide targeted media campaign and public awareness of the initiative via two separate contracts for reporting and tracking purposes to grantor.
Columbus Public Health desires to conduct outreach to build awareness and provide education regarding the importance of linkage to care and viral suppression. This media campaign will address HIV stigma to enable HIV care and prevention, generating thousands of impressions and click-throughs via allowable social media mechanisms. Through this initiative, as part of this effort, KW2 also assists Columbus Public Health in disseminating the "Know HIV No Fear" social media campaign that promotes HIV testing and care. The term of each contract is September 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
Knupp & Watson and Wallman, Inc. CC-029262: $73,600.00
Knupp & Watson and Wallman, Inc. CC-029262: $102,400.00
TOTAL CONTRACTS: $176,000.00
These services were competitively bid through vendor services (RFQ029075) and Bonfire (Sexual Health Outreach Campaigns) in October 2024, according to bidding requirements of the City Code.
Emergency action is required to ensure the continued operation of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) grant program. This is necessary to meet grant deliverables required by grantor and avoid risk of forfeiture of future funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: These contracts are entirely funded by grant awards from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This grant does not generate revenue nor require a city match....
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