Supporting the provision of person-centered, equitable, high-quality, and integrated service delivery towards a sustainable and resilient HIV/TB response in the Kingdom of Eswatini under PEPFAR | CDC RFA JG 25 0074

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a CDC cooperative agreement under PEPFAR focused on strengthening HIV and TB service delivery in Eswatini. The emphasis is on person-centered, equitable, high-quality services that are better integrated at the point of care.

2) What is the main goal of the program?

The main goal is to support and improve site-level HIV/TB prevention, care, and treatment services so they are more responsive to patient needs, more consistent in quality, and better connected across clinical areas. The intent goes beyond maintaining services and focuses on improving how services are delivered so clients experience a coordinated pathway rather than fragmented care.

3) How does this opportunity align with national and global strategies?

The program is intended to align closely with Eswatini's national vision for a sustainable HIV/TB response and with PEPFAR's 2023-2028 Five-Year Strategy.

4) What is the opportunity number and key dates provided?

The opportunity number is CDC RFA JG 25 0074. The creation date provided is 2024-12-17, and the original closing date provided is 2025-03-05.

5) What type of funding mechanism is this?

This is a cooperative agreement, which typically involves substantial CDC involvement in planning, implementation support, and performance monitoring compared to a standard grant.

6) What does "substantial CDC involvement" mean in practical terms?

Based on the description, applicants should expect CDC to be involved beyond routine grant oversight, including engagement in planning, implementation support, and monitoring performance as the program is carried out.

7) How much funding is expected to be available for Year 1?

The posted Year 1 award ceiling is listed as 0 (none). However, CDC anticipates an approximate total of $4,000,000 available in Fiscal Year funding for Year 1, contingent on the availability of funds.

8) Why does the Year 1 ceiling show as 0 if funding is anticipated?

The notice indicates an unusual presentation where the posted Year 1 award ceiling is 0, while CDC still anticipates approximately $4,000,000 in Year 1 Fiscal Year funding contingent on funds being available. The information provided does not explain the reason for the 0 ceiling, only that CDC anticipates Year 1 funding.

9) How many awards does CDC expect to make?

CDC expects to make about three awards.

10) What CFDA number and category are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding in the health category under CFDA 93.067.

11) Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity is described as broadly open to many applicant types, including:

• Government entities
• Public and private colleges and universities
• Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status
• For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
• Tribal governments and organizations
• Other unrestricted applicants

12) What kinds of services or activities does the award aim to support?

The award is designed to reinforce both demand for services and the delivery of services. This includes strengthening approaches that help people seek and remain in care, reducing access barriers, and improving community awareness, trust, and uptake. It also includes improving service delivery through correct and consistent implementation of national guidelines, innovation in service organization, and practical integration of HIV and TB services at the facility level.

13) What does the opportunity mean by strengthening "demand" for HIV/TB services?

On the demand side, the description points to approaches that help people seek services and remain in care, reduce access barriers, and work with communities to improve awareness, trust, and uptake.

14) What does the opportunity emphasize on the "service delivery" side?

On the delivery side, the focus is on implementing national guidelines correctly and consistently, fostering innovation in how services are organized and delivered, and integrating HIV and TB services at the facility level.

15) What does "integration of HIV and TB services" mean in this context?

Integration is described as having HIV and TB prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and support services function as a cohesive package where possible. The goal is to avoid siloed workflows that create missed opportunities and increase burden on patients.

16) Is the program focused on maintaining existing services or improving them?

The thrust is explicitly not only maintaining services, but improving how services are delivered so they are more responsive to patient needs, more consistent in quality, and more connected across clinical areas.

17) What are the expectations related to quality improvement?

A core expectation is continuous quality improvement. The opportunity highlights maintaining quality and improving effective data use, which typically translates into stronger routine monitoring, better data completeness and timeliness, identifying gaps in coverage or performance, and acting on findings through targeted mentorship and operational changes.

18) What role does data play in this program?

The opportunity emphasizes stronger use of data for decision-making, including improving routine monitoring, data completeness and timeliness, using data to identify gaps, and using insights to drive mentorship and operational improvements.

19) What kinds of operational or logistical support does CDC anticipate may be needed?

CDC notes that more intensive logistical and technical support may be required to prevent service disruptions. Higher-risk areas mentioned include laboratory diagnostic services, commodity management (such as ensuring test kits and medications are available when and where needed), and health information system implementation.

20) What systems are implied as important for preventing service disruptions?

The description points to systems that keep clinics functioning reliably, including supply chains, specimen transport and lab networks, inventory controls, and digital or routine reporting systems.

21) What is the expected approach to sustainability and local ownership?

A major planned outcome is transition over the course of the award. The expectation is that external support will gradually decrease as service delivery, key response functions, and clinical mentorship are transferred to the Ministry of Health and/or other local entities. Applicants are expected to build local capacity from the start and avoid creating parallel systems that are difficult to sustain.

22) What does "transition" mean for an awardee's role over time?

Transition is described as a deliberate shift where the intensity of external support decreases and responsibilities are transferred to the Ministry of Health and/or other local entities. This includes shifting service delivery functions and clinical mentorship over time.

23) Does the opportunity encourage investments that have benefits beyond HIV/TB?

Yes. While investments should prioritize HIV/TB interventions, CDC signals that investments should be adaptable to broader public health goals, suggesting a preference for strengthening platforms and capabilities (workforce, labs, data systems, supply chains, quality improvement) that can serve multiple health priorities over time.

24) Where in Eswatini is the work expected to focus?

The work is expected to concentrate in the Manzini and Lubombo regions.

25) Is an awardee expected to operate outside Manzini and Lubombo?

Yes. While the work is expected to concentrate in Manzini and Lubombo, awardees must have the ability to operate across all regions as needed.

26) What does the opportunity say about collaboration and community engagement?

The approach is expected to be collaborative and community-informed. CDC explicitly calls for meaningful engagement with stakeholders, community organizations, beneficiaries, and affected communities, with community input serving as a driver of how interventions are selected, tailored, and evaluated.

27) How does the opportunity define "person-centered" and "equitable" service delivery?

The description frames the work around services that reflect lived realities, address disparities, and respond to barriers faced by populations most affected by HIV and TB, while ensuring care is coordinated and not fragmented.

28) What is the overall intended impact of this program?

The opportunity aims to ensure Eswatini's HIV/TB services remain resilient, integrated, and high-performing in the near term, while deliberately moving toward local ownership and sustainability in line with national priorities and PEPFAR's 2023-2028 strategy.