Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH18 1808
This grant opportunity (CDC RFA GH18-1808) is a PEPFAR-funded cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), focused on strengthening Ethiopia's national response to HIV/AIDS by improving three closely linked areas: laboratory systems, strategic information, and technical leadership in public health. The overall intent is to build on prior HIV and tuberculosis (TB) laboratory strengthening work and address remaining gaps in Ethiopia's HIV/TB laboratory network and in the surveys and surveillance systems used to guide national programs. By improving both the evidence base (through better data and surveillance) and the diagnostic backbone (through higher-quality, more accessible testing), the project is designed to support progress toward HIV epidemic control and align with the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets.
A major emphasis of the opportunity is expanding and improving strategic information through population-based and facility-based survey and surveillance activities led by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). The goal is to help national and regional decision-makers understand where infections are occurring, which communities are most affected, and which interventions are working. The funding supports more targeted, evidence-driven HIV programming by focusing resources on high-impact geographic areas and priority population groups, rather than relying on broad approaches that may miss emerging hotspots. This includes strengthening routine data generation and the analytical capacity needed to translate surveillance results into practical program decisions.
Another central component is the development and use of more real-time surveillance approaches for case-finding and outbreak investigation. In practice, this means improving the ability of the public health system to detect and respond quickly to ongoing or newly emerging HIV transmission networks. The opportunity envisions surveillance systems and methods that can identify clusters or networks of transmission and then guide public health action, such as directing prevention services to people and communities at elevated risk. The underlying logic is that quicker detection and response can reduce onward transmission and help programs stay ahead of shifting epidemic patterns.
On the laboratory side, the opportunity prioritizes strengthening the national laboratory system to ensure quality-assured HIV and TB diagnostic testing, including viral load (VL) testing, which is essential for monitoring treatment effectiveness and achieving viral suppression. The grant is designed to reinforce EPHI's role as a national leader in laboratory capacity building, ensuring that improvements in laboratories keep pace with current HIV prevention, care, and treatment strategies. This includes standardization, quality management, and the technical oversight needed to maintain reliable testing performance across the network.
The NOFO also supports scaling up HIV and TB diagnostics through several practical interventions that improve access and turnaround time for results. It highlights routine use of dried blood spot (DBS) specimens, which are especially valuable in settings where transporting whole blood is difficult and where cold-chain capacity may be limited. It also calls for the introduction of point-of-care testing (POCT), which can bring diagnostic services closer to patients and reduce delays between testing and clinical action. In addition, it emphasizes implementing a robust specimen referral system, recognizing that even with improved testing platforms, systems often fail when samples cannot move efficiently from collection sites to testing laboratories and results cannot return promptly to clinicians and patients.
Capacity building is aimed not only at the national reference laboratory level but also at regional laboratories, with a focus on both technical competency and management capability. This reflects an understanding that sustaining diagnostic quality depends on leadership, supervision, workforce development, and operational systems such as quality assurance, supply chain coordination, equipment maintenance, and data management. Strengthening these elements is positioned as essential to supporting PEPFAR-supported programming in Ethiopia, because reliable diagnostics and surveillance are foundational for identifying people living with HIV, linking them to treatment, monitoring outcomes, and controlling TB co-infection.
From a funding and administrative perspective, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the CDC in collaboration, technical direction, and monitoring during implementation. The posted award ceiling is $3,200,000, with an expectation of one award. The funding opportunity was created on September 26, 2017, with an original application closing date of November 26, 2017 (applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time). The CFDA number is 93.067, and eligibility is listed as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the original eligibility text.
In summary, the grant is designed to help Ethiopia close key gaps that limit HIV epidemic control by strengthening EPHI-led surveillance and strategic information systems, improving real-time detection and response to transmission networks, and upgrading the quality, reach, and operational performance of HIV/TB laboratory services, including viral load testing. Together, these improvements are framed as critical contributions to reaching the 90-90-90 targets by ensuring that more people are accurately diagnosed, more are effectively treated, and more achieve viral suppression, while public health programs are guided by timely, high-quality data.Apply for CDC RFA GH18 1808
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Capacity for Laboratory Systems, Strategic Information, and Technical Leadership in Public Health for the National HIV/AIDS Response in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relie" 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 Sep 26, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 26, 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 $3,200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - CDC RFA GH18-1808 (Ethiopia HIV/AIDS Laboratory Systems and Strategic Information)
1) What is CDC RFA GH18-1808?
CDC RFA GH18-1808 is a PEPFAR-funded cooperative agreement administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It focuses on strengthening Ethiopia's national response to HIV/AIDS by improving laboratory systems, strategic information, and technical leadership in public health.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The overall intent is to build on prior HIV and tuberculosis (TB) laboratory strengthening work and address remaining gaps in Ethiopia's HIV/TB laboratory network and in the surveys and surveillance systems used to guide national programs. The project is designed to improve both the evidence base (data and surveillance) and the diagnostic backbone (quality and access to testing) to support progress toward HIV epidemic control.
3) Which technical areas does the opportunity prioritize?
The opportunity emphasizes three closely linked areas: (1) laboratory systems, (2) strategic information (including surveys and surveillance), and (3) technical leadership in public health to support national implementation and sustained performance.
4) How does the opportunity connect to UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets?
It is framed as supporting the 90-90-90 goals by improving accurate diagnosis (first 90), strengthening systems that support linking people to effective treatment and monitoring outcomes (second 90), and expanding high-quality viral load testing to support viral suppression (third 90), while using stronger data systems to guide where and how interventions are deployed.
5) What role does the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) play in this opportunity?
EPHI is highlighted as a central leader for population-based and facility-based survey and surveillance activities and as a national leader in laboratory capacity building. The opportunity supports EPHI-led improvements in strategic information and laboratory strengthening across the national network.
6) What does "strategic information" mean in the context of this grant?
In this opportunity, strategic information refers to improving the generation and use of HIV-related data through surveys, surveillance systems, and routine data collection, along with strengthening analytical capacity so decision-makers can translate findings into practical program actions.
7) What kinds of surveys and surveillance activities are supported?
The opportunity emphasizes both population-based and facility-based survey and surveillance activities. These activities are intended to help identify where infections are occurring, which communities are most affected, and which interventions are working.
8) Why is there an emphasis on targeting high-impact geographic areas and priority populations?
The funding is described as supporting more targeted, evidence-driven HIV programming by focusing resources on high-impact geographic areas and priority population groups, rather than relying on broad approaches that may miss emerging hotspots.
9) What is meant by "real-time surveillance" for case-finding and outbreak investigation?
Real-time surveillance refers to approaches that improve the ability of the public health system to detect and respond quickly to ongoing or newly emerging HIV transmission patterns. The opportunity envisions systems and methods that can identify clusters or networks of transmission and guide timely public health action.
10) How would improved surveillance translate into public health action?
The grant describes using surveillance insights to direct prevention services to people and communities at elevated risk, enabling quicker detection and response that can reduce onward transmission and help programs adapt to shifting epidemic patterns.
11) What laboratory services are prioritized under this opportunity?
The opportunity prioritizes strengthening the national laboratory system to ensure quality-assured HIV and TB diagnostic testing, including viral load (VL) testing, which is described as essential for monitoring treatment effectiveness and achieving viral suppression.
12) Why is viral load (VL) testing emphasized?
Viral load testing is highlighted as essential for monitoring treatment effectiveness and supporting viral suppression. Strengthening VL testing is positioned as a key element of maintaining high-quality HIV care and progress toward epidemic control.
13) What practical interventions are mentioned to improve access and turnaround time for results?
The opportunity highlights several interventions: routine use of dried blood spot (DBS) specimens, introduction of point-of-care testing (POCT), and implementation of a robust specimen referral system so samples and results move efficiently between sites and laboratories.
14) What are dried blood spot (DBS) specimens and why are they included?
DBS specimens are specifically noted as valuable where transporting whole blood is difficult and where cold-chain capacity may be limited. The opportunity calls for routine use of DBS as a practical way to expand access to testing and improve system performance.
15) What is point-of-care testing (POCT) in this NOFO?
POCT is described as a way to bring diagnostic services closer to patients and reduce delays between testing and clinical action. The opportunity calls for introducing POCT as part of improving diagnostic access and timeliness.
16) What is a specimen referral system and why is it important here?
A specimen referral system is emphasized as a mechanism to ensure samples can move efficiently from collection sites to testing laboratories and results can return promptly to clinicians and patients. The NOFO notes that even with improved testing platforms, systems can fail if specimen and results transport are not effective.
17) Does this opportunity address both HIV and TB?
Yes. The opportunity is designed to build on prior HIV and TB laboratory strengthening and to address remaining gaps in Ethiopia's HIV/TB laboratory network. It also references supporting TB co-infection control by strengthening diagnostics and related systems.
18) What levels of the laboratory network are targeted for capacity building?
Capacity building is aimed at both the national reference laboratory level and regional laboratories, with attention to technical competency and management capability.
19) What kinds of operational systems are included in the strengthening approach?
The opportunity references leadership, supervision, workforce development, and operational systems such as quality assurance, supply chain coordination, equipment maintenance, and data management as essential elements for sustaining diagnostic quality.
20) What type of funding mechanism is used?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism and is categorized as discretionary funding. The cooperative agreement structure is described as typically involving substantial CDC involvement through collaboration, technical direction, and monitoring during implementation.
21) What is the award ceiling and expected number of awards?
The posted award ceiling is $3,200,000, and the opportunity notes an expectation of one award.
22) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.067.
23) When was the funding opportunity created and when were applications due?
The opportunity was created on September 26, 2017. The original application closing date was November 26, 2017, with applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
24) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with further clarification referenced in the original eligibility text.
25) What is the overall expected outcome of the project?
The expected outcome is to help Ethiopia close key gaps limiting HIV epidemic control by strengthening EPHI-led surveillance and strategic information systems, improving real-time detection and response to transmission networks, and upgrading the quality, reach, and operational performance of HIV/TB laboratory services, including viral load testing.
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