Provision of Technical Assistance to Strengthen HIV Strategic Information Activities and Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for PEPFAR Implementing Partners in the Republic of Uganda under the President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity about?

This opportunity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Procurement and Grants Office, supports technical assistance to strengthen HIV Strategic Information (SI) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems for PEPFAR-supported implementing partners in Uganda. The focus is on improving how HIV program data is collected, managed, analyzed, and reported, and on strengthening partners' capacity to use data for program improvement and accountability.

2) What is the overall goal of the award?

The overall goal is to strengthen the quality, consistency, and usefulness of HIV program data so that implementing partners and CDC can better track progress, identify gaps, and make evidence-based decisions for HIV prevention, care, and treatment activities supported under PEPFAR in Uganda.

3) What types of activities does the grant support?

Based on the description provided, the award supports activities that build stronger systems for HIV data collection and reporting and improve M&E capacity among CDC-supported PEPFAR implementing partners in Uganda. This includes strengthening systems for collecting, managing, analyzing, and reporting HIV-related data, and building implementing partners' capacity to use that information for program improvement and accountability.

4) What does "Strategic Information (SI)" mean in this context?

In this context, "Strategic Information" refers to the data and information systems used to measure and understand HIV program performance, including routine program indicators, data quality processes, and information used to guide decisions about HIV prevention, care, and treatment activities.

5) What does "Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)" mean for this grant?

M&E refers to the systems and processes used to track program implementation and results, assess data quality and performance, and support reporting and learning. The opportunity emphasizes improving M&E systems so partners and CDC can more reliably measure progress and make program adjustments based on evidence.

6) Who is the funding agency?

The funding agency is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued through CDC's Procurement and Grants Office.

7) What country and program area does this opportunity focus on?

The work is focused on Uganda and is tied to PEPFAR-supported HIV programming, specifically strengthening SI and M&E systems for implementing partners supported by HHS/CDC.

8) What funding mechanism is used?

The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement.

9) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically means CDC expects substantial involvement during the project period. The description indicates involvement may include collaborating on technical approaches, aligning activities with national and PEPFAR reporting requirements, and coordinating with other funded partners.

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

The opportunity is categorized under health and is linked to CFDA 93.067 (Global AIDS), reflecting its connection to the broader U.S. Government HIV/AIDS response through PEPFAR.

11) Who is the intended audience or primary beneficiaries of the technical assistance?

The technical assistance is intended for PEPFAR-supported implementing partners in Uganda that are supported by HHS/CDC, with an emphasis on strengthening and expanding SI activities and M&E capacity.

12) Is this grant focused on delivering direct HIV services or on improving data systems?

Based on the description, the grant is best understood as an investment in the "data side" of HIV program delivery. The core focus is improving SI and M&E systems and strengthening partners' capacity to generate and use high-quality HIV program data, rather than funding direct clinical services.

13) How much funding is expected to be available for an individual award?

The notice states that approximately $1,230,444 was expected to be available to support roughly one award. The source information also references an award ceiling of about $1.23 million and an award floor of $600,000.

14) How many awards are expected?

The description indicates roughly one award, but the source data also lists an expected awards figure of 2. The precise number would depend on how CDC structured the final awards under the full announcement.

15) What is the award ceiling and award floor?

The information provided lists an award ceiling of about $1.23 million and an award floor of $600,000.

16) Is there a total funding amount associated with the broader announcement?

Yes. The total estimated funding across the broader announcement is listed as $20,000,000. However, for this specific award description, the key practical figure is the approximately $1.23 million level for an individual award up to the ceiling.

17) Is cost sharing or a matching contribution required?

No. The notice indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to clarifications in the full funding announcement. This generally suggests a wide range of organizations could apply if they meet the detailed requirements described in the full announcement.

19) What types of organizations might be able to apply under "unrestricted" eligibility?

Based on the description, "unrestricted" typically means various entity types could apply, including domestic or international organizations, non-profits, universities, for-profits, and other institutions, as long as they meet the full announcement's eligibility and capacity requirements.

20) What capabilities would a strong applicant likely need to demonstrate?

Because the focus is technical assistance and systems strengthening for SI and M&E, strong applicants would typically be expected to demonstrate expertise in public health surveillance and program monitoring, HIV indicator reporting, data quality assurance, health information systems, capacity building, and working within national and donor reporting frameworks (including PEPFAR requirements), as reflected in the opportunity description.

21) When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date listed is March 31, 2009.

22) What was the application deadline?

Applications were due by May 28, 2009 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

23) When was funding expected to be awarded?

The estimated funding date was prior to September 30, 2009.

24) Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was archived on June 27, 2009, which aligns with a time-limited competitive application period that has already closed.

25) Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement?

Applicants were directed to Grants.gov for the full announcement.

26) What should applicants do if they cannot access the announcement electronically?

The notice indicates that CDC's PGO TIMS contact information was provided to support applicants if the announcement could not be accessed electronically.

27) How does this opportunity relate to PEPFAR?

The work is intended to support PEPFAR-funded HIV activities in Uganda by improving strategic information and M&E systems for implementing partners supported by CDC. The goal is stronger reporting and better-informed decision-making across CDC-supported partners under PEPFAR.

28) What kinds of results is this grant trying to achieve?

The intended outcomes described include more reliable and consistent HIV program reporting, improved data quality, stronger capacity among implementing partners to use data, and better-informed decision-making to identify gaps and improve HIV prevention, care, and treatment activities over time.

29) Does CDC expect coordination with other partners?

Yes. The cooperative agreement description notes CDC involvement may include coordinating with other funded partners and aligning activities with national and PEPFAR reporting requirements.

30) What is the main practical takeaway for prospective applicants reading this description?

This award is aimed at strengthening SI and M&E systems for CDC-supported PEPFAR implementing partners in Uganda, with funding around the $1.23 million level per award (up to the ceiling), no cost sharing requirement, and cooperative agreement expectations for CDC involvement and alignment with national and PEPFAR reporting needs.