Building and Improving Integrated Laboratory Capacity and Quality Services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

Background
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing a funding opportunity to support and enhance the diagnostic and laboratory capacity to address HIV and TB infections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The goal is to increase access to quality-assured HIV-related and diagnostic services, improve laboratory quality management systems, and strengthen laboratory networks and workforce capacity.

Grant Details
To achieve the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets in DRC, laboratory and diagnostic networks must be established and operationalized. The NOFO aims to access quality assured diagnostics and laboratory services critical to the effective diagnosis, treatment, and management of HIV and other HIV-related diseases, including TB. The NOFO will focus on building laboratory capacity and improving the provision of HIV testing activities in all PEPFAR-supported health zones in DRC. Activities will include the implementation of the rapid test continuous quality improvement (RT-CQI) program, scaling up of HIV VL and Infant Virologic Testing/Early Infant Diagnosis (IVT/EID) testing, and strengthening of HIV/AIDS diagnostics capacity and quality management system (QMS).

Eligibility Requirements
Open Competition

Period of Performance
The total period of performance funding is $0 for a 5-year project period. The approximate one-year award amount for Year 1 is $3,500,000. The expected number of awards is 1-2. The estimated award date is September 30, 2024.

Grant Value
$3,500,000 for Year 1 with an approximate total fiscal year funding amount of $3,500,000 for Year 1.

Place of Performance
The specific geographic location(s) where the grant will be performed are all PEPFAR-supported health zones in DRC.