Program Expansion Supplement for Support the Implementation and Expansion of High Quality HIV Care, Prevention and Treatment Activities in Central Province in the Republic of Kenya by Engaging Local Indigenous Partners under PEPFAR | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a PEPFAR-supported program expansion supplement administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC). It is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which typically involves ongoing CDC collaboration with the recipient during implementation.

What is the main goal of the program?

The core aim is to maintain strong existing HIV clinical services while scaling them up across Central Province, Kenya, by directing funding and technical assistance to local indigenous Kenyan organizations. The program is designed to help Kenyan partners assume greater responsibility for implementing HIV care and treatment services (primarily in public-sector facilities) while building long-term operational and technical capacity to manage high-quality HIV programs.

Where will the funded work take place?

The geographic focus described is Central Province, Kenya, with implementation largely in mostly public-sector health facilities.

Who is the program intended to support as implementing partners?

While eligibility is listed broadly as “Others” (with additional details referenced in the full announcement), the narrative emphasis prioritizes local indigenous Kenyan organizations that can implement and expand HIV services and build sustainable in-country capacity.

What type of award mechanism is being used?

This is a discretionary cooperative agreement. In practical terms, that indicates CDC is expected to have substantial involvement beyond issuing funds, such as technical collaboration, performance monitoring, and joint problem-solving with the recipient.

What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?

The funding opportunity number is CDC RFA GH11-11040501SUPP16, under CFDA 93.067.

How much funding is available and how many awards were expected?

The award ceiling was listed as $3,100,000, with one expected award.

What were the key dates for this opportunity?

The opportunity was created on July 29, 2016. The original closing date was September 27, 2016, with applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

What does the program mean by “keeping existing HIV clinical services strong” while expanding?

The intent is not to replace existing services with stand-alone projects, but to sustain current HIV clinical services and then scale coverage and improve quality across the province. The expectation is that supported activities will work together across the full HIV service continuum rather than operating as isolated interventions.

What parts of the HIV service continuum are included in the scope?

The scope is intentionally broad and covers comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and treatment, including prevention, testing, linkage to care, clinical care, treatment initiation and continuity, and quality improvement across service delivery.

Which specific HIV-related activities are explicitly mentioned?

The announcement calls out a wide range of activities, including:

• Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)
• Integrated TB/HIV testing and treatment
• Pediatric and adult HIV clinical care and antiretroviral treatment (ART)
• Nutrition support tied to HIV care
• Prevention with positives (PWP) approaches
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) services
• Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC)
• Behavior change interventions
• HIV counseling and testing, with emphasis on provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC)

What is emphasized regarding HIV testing under this opportunity?

The opportunity specifically emphasizes HIV counseling and testing with a particular focus on provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC). The stated purpose of this emphasis is to improve routine identification of people living with HIV and link them to care.

How does TB fit into the program design?

TB is treated as a key co-infection area, with integrated TB/HIV testing and treatment explicitly included. The broader priorities also reference diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections and supporting co-infection management to improve HIV care and treatment outcomes.

Is work on opportunistic infections and co-morbidities part of the scope?

Yes. The FOA highlights improving diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections and addressing key co-infections such as TB as part of strengthening HIV care and treatment outcomes.

Can applicants include activities related to other health conditions beyond HIV?

Yes, when relevant to supporting HIV outcomes. The FOA allows applicants to emphasize related medical and public health conditions, reflecting the idea that HIV program performance is often tied to broader health system capacity and co-morbidities.

Which non-HIV health areas are explicitly mentioned as allowable emphases when relevant?

The FOA explicitly mentions malaria; emerging and re-emerging infections; neglected tropical diseases; influenza and other diseases with pandemic potential; and cross-cutting priorities such as environmental health, chronic diseases, maternal and child health, reproductive health, public health preparedness, biosafety, and injury prevention.

How is PEPFAR positioned in relation to this opportunity?

The opportunity sits within the broader PEPFAR framework led by the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. CDC describes its role as working with host countries and other partners to assess needs and tailor assistance to national strategic plans and partnership frameworks.

What priority goals does the FOA highlight for HIV prevention?

The FOA highlights reducing new HIV infections through primary prevention, including confidential counseling and testing linked to evidence-based behavior change, and strengthening PMTCT programming.

What priority goals does the FOA highlight for HIV care and treatment outcomes?

The FOA highlights improving HIV care and treatment outcomes by strengthening STI management, expanding laboratory diagnostic capacity, improving diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections, addressing key co-infections such as TB, and supporting ART initiation and continuity.

What does the FOA say about surveillance and national program management?

The FOA highlights strengthening surveillance and national program management by expanding HIV/STI/TB surveillance and reinforcing laboratory systems for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and blood safety screening.

What role does evaluation and learning play in this program?

The FOA includes program evaluation and applied public health learning as priorities, with the aim to develop, validate, and improve interventions for HIV, TB, and opportunistic infections.

Does the opportunity indicate that activities should be integrated rather than stand-alone?

Yes. The overall expectation is that supported activities expand coverage and improve service delivery quality across the continuum, rather than operating as isolated interventions.

What is the program’s approach to building sustainability in Kenya?

The narrative focus is on strengthening long-term operational and technical capacity of local indigenous Kenyan organizations so they can manage and implement high-quality HIV programs with greater responsibility over time.

Does the announcement indicate the setting of supported services?

Yes. It describes implementation in mostly public-sector health facilities, with the goal of scaling and strengthening HIV clinical services in that context.