Strengthening Public Health Laboratory Systems in the Republic of Cameroon under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) | CDC RFA GH22 2230

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH22 2230

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, released this funding opportunity to strengthen public health laboratory systems in Cameroon as part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The program is designed to improve the quality, reach, and sustainability of HIV-related diagnostic and laboratory services, recognizing that reliable testing and lab networks are essential for diagnosing HIV, initiating and monitoring treatment, and managing HIV-related infections. By strengthening these systems, the work directly supports progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which depend heavily on accurate and accessible testing and dependable laboratory follow-through.

A major driver behind the opportunity is a gap that emerged after PEPFAR expanded in 2019 from historically supported areas to all ten regions of Cameroon. While the geographic footprint grew, laboratory program funding did not increase to match the added workload. Even with efforts to stretch limited funding and human resources, the overall impact of lab strengthening across the newly included regions was described as sub-optimal. This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is meant to address that mismatch by focusing on targeted technical assistance and support that can sustain and build indigenous (locally owned and operated) laboratory capacity across the country, rather than concentrating improvements only where earlier investments were made.

The program priorities center on practical system-building actions that improve both quality and coverage of diagnostics. Key activities include expanding access to quality laboratory diagnostics; strengthening HIV proficiency testing (PT) capacity so that testing sites can routinely verify and improve their accuracy; improving referral networks so specimens and results can move efficiently between facilities and tiers of the health system; and scaling up rapid HIV testing continuous quality improvement (RTCQI) activities to ensure rapid testing is performed consistently and correctly. Another major emphasis is human resources development through training and mentorship for laboratorians, along with support for Quality Corps (Q-Corps), described as science college graduates who volunteer to help expand workforce capacity and reinforce quality practices. The NOFO also highlights the development and implementation of Laboratory Information Systems, which are critical for tracking specimens, managing results, improving turnaround times, reducing errors, and strengthening data use for quality management and decision-making.

This is a discretionary funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement, meaning CDC expects substantial involvement and collaboration during implementation rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The opportunity is identified as CDC RFA GH22-2230 under CFDA 93.067, and eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The work is intended to be carried out in close collaboration with Cameroon's National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and the Department of Pharmacy, Drugs and Laboratories, with an explicit goal of institutionalizing policies and routine activities that protect and sustain diagnostic quality over time.

In terms of funding, CDC anticipated approximately $5,000,000 in total fiscal year funding for Year 1, contingent on the availability of funds, and expected to make two awards. The listing also notes that the "award ceiling" for Year 1 is shown as $0 (none), which typically indicates that a maximum award amount was not set in the public summary even though an overall estimated Year 1 funding level was provided. The original posting date was December 22, 2021, and the original application deadline was February 22, 2022, with electronic submissions due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the due date.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Public Health Laboratory Systems in the Republic of Cameroon 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 Dec 22, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 22, 2022 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 pm ET on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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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