Comprehensive Care for Children Affected by HIV and AIDS (C3) | Apply Online

FAQs: Comprehensive Care for Children Affected by HIV and AIDS (C3) - USAID Cooperative Agreement

1) What is the C3 (Comprehensive Care for Children Affected by HIV and AIDS) funding opportunity?

C3 is a USAID foreign assistance funding opportunity structured as a cooperative agreement. It is designed to strengthen how countries and regions respond to the complex needs of children affected by HIV and AIDS by providing centralized technical support and specialized expertise that improves implementation capacity across multiple systems of care and support.

2) Is C3 a direct service delivery program?

No. C3 is not framed as a single-location direct service delivery program. It is described as a centralized, technical mechanism intended to support and strengthen the capacity of the institutions and implementers already delivering services and programs on the ground.

3) What is the primary purpose of the C3 award?

The purpose is outcomes-oriented: improving health and overall well-being for children and families navigating HIV and AIDS and its broader impacts. The award aims to help systems plan, coordinate, and deliver high-quality, evidence-based interventions more effectively and consistently.

4) Who is the main population of focus under C3?

The opportunity centers on orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by HIV and AIDS. These children are often described as facing overlapping risks tied to HIV, poverty, instability, and other adversities.

5) What kinds of challenges is C3 meant to address for children and families?

USAID highlights multi-layered challenges that may occur at the same time, including gaps in healthcare access, psychosocial stress and trauma, reduced school attendance, exposure to violence or exploitation, food insecurity, and caregiver illness or loss. C3 is positioned to strengthen how systems respond to these realities in an integrated way.

6) What does "integrated" support mean in the context of this opportunity?

Integrated support refers to interventions working together rather than happening in isolation. The goal is to reduce risk, prevent worsening vulnerability, and support stability and resilience over the long term by improving coordination across systems of care and support.

7) What is meant by strengthening "systems and structures" at country and regional levels?

The opportunity emphasizes building stronger systems and structures that support children affected by HIV and AIDS. This includes promoting evidence-based approaches and improving the ability of national and community systems (and key actors within those systems) to plan, coordinate, and deliver interventions effectively.

8) What types of support does C3 provide to improve implementation capacity?

Based on the description provided, the award is intended to enable better coordinated and higher capacity programming through technical support, knowledge-sharing, and other forms of assistance that help local and national actors deliver interventions more effectively and consistently.

9) How does this opportunity connect to broader HIV goals?

The long-term vision is tied to broader HIV goals, including progress toward an AIDS-free generation, while also improving day-to-day quality of life and future productivity for vulnerable children and their families.

10) What funding mechanism is being used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is offered under a cooperative agreement. The description notes that this generally means USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.

11) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 98.001.

12) How many awards did USAID anticipate making?

USAID anticipated making a single award.

13) What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $68,000,000.

14) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning the selected recipient would need to contribute resources in line with the solicitation requirements.

15) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on February 4, 2014.

16) What was the application deadline?

The closing date was extended to March 31, 2014 at noon EDT.

17) Were official questions and answers (Q&A) released for applicants?

Yes. USAID noted that questions and answers were posted to grants.gov on March 13, 2014.

18) What is the current status of this opportunity?

The opportunity was later archived on April 25, 2014.

19) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with specific details referenced in the solicitation (Section III of the RFA and additional eligibility information). Applicants would need to consult the full funding announcement to confirm organizational eligibility under USAID requirements.

20) Where are the specific eligibility rules described?

The information provided points applicants to Section III of the RFA and additional eligibility information within the solicitation for the exact requirements.

21) What should an organization do if it cannot access the full funding announcement?

For applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement, the listed contact was Kathleen Bumpass, Contracts Specialist and Agreement Negotiator, at 202-567-5008.

22) What is the central approach USAID is emphasizing through C3?

The central approach is to gather specialized expertise through a centralized technical mechanism and translate that expertise into stronger implementation capacity. The intent is to help implementers and key actors within national and community systems improve planning, coordination, and delivery of evidence-based interventions for children affected by HIV and AIDS.