HIV Vaccine and Biomedical Prevention Research Project | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "HIV Vaccine and Biomedical Prevention Research Project" grant opportunity?

It is a USAID-funded cooperative agreement opportunity focused on accelerating HIV vaccine and other biomedical prevention research, along with related capacity-building efforts, to meaningfully reduce new HIV infections. The opportunity emphasizes the need for innovations that can help achieve population-level control of HIV over the long term.

Which agency is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

What type of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity will be implemented through a cooperative agreement. That typically means USAID is expected to have substantial involvement in guiding and/or collaborating on project execution, rather than providing support with minimal agency interaction.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The main purpose is to advance HIV vaccine and biomedical prevention research, while also strengthening the enabling environment needed to sustain progress, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries. The solicitation frames a safe, effective, and durable HIV vaccine as a key path toward long-term, cost-effective control of the epidemic.

Why does the solicitation emphasize HIV vaccine development so strongly?

The opportunity is built around the premise that a globally sustainable end to the AIDS pandemic is unlikely to be economically or logistically achievable without a vaccine that provides long-lasting protection. As a result, HIV vaccine development is positioned as both a scientific priority and a development imperative.

Does the opportunity focus only on vaccine research?

No. While a durable HIV vaccine is highlighted as the most promising path toward population-level control, the opportunity also addresses biomedical prevention research more broadly and includes related capacity-building efforts that enable research, evaluation, and eventual delivery.

What geographic or population focus is highlighted in the opportunity description?

The opportunity highlights sub-Saharan Africa as the epicenter of the HIV epidemic, noting that the region accounts for roughly two-thirds of people living with HIV worldwide. It also notes that women represent nearly half of the 25.8 million people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

What problem context does USAID cite to justify the opportunity?

The solicitation points to the continued severity of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic even with major scale-up of existing prevention and treatment options, and notes that more than 2 million new infections were recorded in 2014.

What kinds of activities does "capacity-building" include in this opportunity?

The description includes building and retaining human resources, improving research and health-related infrastructure, and supporting policy conditions that allow science and clinical research to be conducted effectively and ethically.

What does "enabling environment" mean in the context of this award?

In this context, it refers to the conditions and systems needed to sustain research and progress, such as trained personnel, adequate infrastructure, and supportive policy and ethical frameworks that allow clinical and scientific work to be conducted properly.

How important are partnerships and collaboration for this project?

Partnerships are emphasized as a key mechanism for building durable local and regional capacity. The opportunity indicates that collaboration across institutions and sectors is viewed as central to strengthening the systems required to develop, test, evaluate, and ultimately deliver biomedical prevention innovations.

How does USAID position this opportunity within its longer-term strategy?

The solicitation describes the project as part of a longer-running USAID investment in AIDS vaccine efforts dating back to 2001, suggesting continuity of strategy and an expectation that applicants contribute to an ongoing pipeline of research, development, and implementation readiness rather than isolated, one-off studies.

What is the CFDA number and category associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under the Health category with CFDA 98.001.

Is this a discretionary funding action?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary funding action.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any additional clarifications in the full solicitation.

How many awards did USAID anticipate making?

USAID anticipated making two awards.

What is the maximum funding level for this opportunity?

The award ceiling (maximum funding level) is $160,000,000.

What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?

The opportunity number is SOL-OAA-16-000026.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on December 11, 2015.

What was the application closing date?

The closing date was February 2, 2016.

What kinds of results is USAID aiming for through this funding?

Based on the description, USAID is aiming to accelerate development of biomedical prevention tools (especially a safe, effective, durable HIV vaccine) and strengthen the systems needed to support research and clinical evaluation, with the ultimate goal of reducing new HIV infections, particularly in high-burden regions.