Supporting HIV-Related Laboratory Networks and Partnerships to Facilitate Laboratory Strengthening and Management Activities for Countries Supported under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) | CDC RFA GH18 1805

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH18 1805

The grant opportunity titled "Supporting HIV-Related Laboratory Networks and Partnerships to Facilitate Laboratory Strengthening and Management Activities for Countries Supported under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)" is a CDC cooperative agreement focused on improving how laboratory and diagnostic services function within PEPFAR-supported countries. The core idea is that high-quality, quality-assured laboratory diagnostics are not optional add-ons to HIV programs; they are central to correctly diagnosing HIV, monitoring treatment, managing advanced HIV disease, and addressing common HIV-related conditions such as tuberculosis. The opportunity is framed around the practical reality that reaching major global HIV goals, including the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets (and the broader vision of an AIDS-free generation), depends heavily on having reliable laboratory networks that can consistently deliver accurate test results, support patient monitoring across the HIV care continuum, and respond effectively to public health threats.

This funding announcement recognizes that PEPFAR investments have already strengthened laboratory and integrated diagnostic networks in many settings, leading to better access to the diagnostic and patient monitoring services needed to support the HIV clinical cascade. At the same time, it highlights that progress can stall without durable partnerships and coordination mechanisms. Many laboratory improvements require cross-cutting collaboration: national ministries of health, public health laboratories, clinical facilities, implementing partners, training institutions, and clinicians all need to operate as a connected system rather than isolated programs. As a result, the NOFO emphasizes building and strengthening sustainable networks and partnerships that can maintain gains over time, institutionalize good practices, and ensure that laboratory services remain functional, high-quality, and aligned with country policies and needs even as funding, personnel, and technologies evolve.

In terms of what the project is meant to do, the NOFO focuses on several interrelated outcomes. One major area is strengthening laboratory systems, policies, and data use, which typically involves helping countries better organize and manage diagnostic networks, clarify governance and coordination structures, and improve how laboratory information is captured, analyzed, and used for decision-making. Another clear priority is improving in-service laboratory safety and scientific competencies through high-quality training for laboratory professionals. This points to practical workforce development: ensuring that laboratorians have up-to-date skills in testing procedures, quality management, biosafety practices, and troubleshooting, and that training is not a one-time event but part of ongoing professional competency building. The opportunity also stresses collaborations across partner organizations, laboratory professionals, and clinicians, reflecting the need for tighter integration between the people who order tests, perform them, interpret them, and act on them clinically and programmatically. Additionally, it aims to strengthen public health laboratory and diagnostic network capacity, quality, and functionality, which can be understood as improving how networks operate end-to-end, including consistent quality standards and dependable service delivery across tiers of the health system. Finally, the NOFO highlights improved access to high-quality technical assistance resources, meaning countries and implementing partners should be better able to draw on credible expertise, tools, guidance, and support to solve problems, implement quality systems, and manage laboratory networks effectively.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, specifically under CDC RFA GH18-1805. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by the CDC in shaping, supporting, and collaborating on the work during implementation rather than a fully hands-off grant relationship. The activity category is health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.067. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), although applicants would still need to review and follow any eligibility clarifications in the full announcement text. The opportunity was created on August 17, 2017, with an original closing date of October 16, 2017, and electronically submitted applications were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

The scale of the award is notable. The award ceiling is listed as $15,000,000, and the CDC anticipated making approximately 4 awards. In practical terms, that size and structure suggest the CDC intended to support a small number of organizations capable of operating across multiple countries or regions, convening diverse stakeholders, and delivering technical leadership on laboratory systems strengthening at a high level. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an effort to lock in and extend PEPFAR laboratory gains by reinforcing the networks, partnerships, workforce competencies, and technical support structures that keep diagnostic systems accurate, trusted, and sustainable over the long term.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting HIV-Related Laboratory Networks and Partnerships to Facilitate Laboratory Strengthening and Management Activities for Countries Supported under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.067.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 17, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 16, 2017 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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