Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2044
The grant opportunity, titled "Expanding Access to Quality Laboratory Service (EQUALS) in the Kingdom of Lesotho under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)," is a CDC cooperative agreement (Funding Opportunity Number CDC RFA GH20 2044) focused on strengthening Lesotho's laboratory system as a core part of the country's HIV response. It sits within the health funding category under CFDA 93.067 and is designed to support PEPFAR goals by improving the availability, reliability, and overall quality of HIV-related laboratory testing services. The application window for this opportunity opened January 8, 2020, with an original closing date of March 8, 2020 (applications due by 11:59 p.m. ET). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply as long as they meet any additional criteria described in the full notice.
The public health context driving the award is Lesotho's generalized HIV epidemic. The opportunity description cites an estimated 319,000 people living with HIV, with very high adult prevalence among ages 15 to 59 (25.6) and an adult incidence of 1.1. While PEPFAR support has helped Lesotho scale up prevention, treatment, and strategic information systems, and while laboratory support has already contributed to real gains in diagnostic and monitoring services, the notice makes clear that significant gaps remain. Those gaps relate less to whether services exist in some form and more to whether they consistently meet national demand with the quality and speed required for effective clinical care and epidemic control.
The purpose of EQUALS is to expand access to laboratory services and raise their quality so that testing is accurate, reliable, and timely across the network of supported laboratories. The notice emphasizes system strengthening rather than one-off procurement. Key approaches include supporting the implementation of national laboratory policies and strategic plans, strengthening quality management systems, and moving laboratories along a pathway toward accreditation. In practical terms, this implies improving and standardizing laboratory operations, reinforcing quality assurance and quality control practices, and ensuring that laboratories can sustain performance over time. The opportunity also highlights the need for laboratories to have the right enabling conditions: adequate infrastructure, appropriate diagnostic technologies, trained and skilled staff, and functioning information systems that support proper documentation, reporting, and use of results.
A central rationale for the investment is that strong laboratory capacity is essential to achieving and sustaining the HIV 95-95-95 targets: diagnosing people living with HIV, initiating and maintaining treatment, and achieving viral load suppression. Reliable testing underpins each step, from initial diagnosis to monitoring treatment effectiveness. By strengthening labs and improving turnaround times and result quality, the award is positioned to support both individual patient management and broader program performance, which is critical for maintaining epidemic control in a high-burden setting like Lesotho.
The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally signals substantial involvement by the CDC during implementation. The recipient is expected to work closely with the Government of Lesotho's Ministry of Health, PEPFAR partners, and other stakeholders, aligning all activities with national policies, strategic plans, and guidelines, as well as PEPFAR priorities in Lesotho. That coordination requirement is important because laboratory systems cut across many services and partners; success depends on shared standards, interoperable information systems, consistent training approaches, and coordinated quality improvement efforts rather than parallel, fragmented investments.
On funding, the notice lists an approximate total funding amount of $1,500,000 for Year 1, dependent on the availability of funds, with an expectation of one award. It also states that the "Award Ceiling for Year 1 is 0 (none)," which typically indicates that CDC did not set an upper cap in the posting even though an estimated funding level is provided. In other words, applicants should treat the $1.5 million figure as the planning assumption for the first year while understanding that final amounts depend on appropriations and CDC decisions.Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2044
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Expanding Access to Quality Laboratory Service (EQUALS) in the Kingdom of Lesotho under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.067.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 08, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 08, 2020 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Expanding Access to Quality Laboratory Service (EQUALS) in the Kingdom of Lesotho under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)."
2. What agency is offering this opportunity and what type of award is it?
This is a CDC cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally means CDC expects to have substantial involvement during implementation, rather than providing funding with minimal engagement.
3. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CDC RFA GH20 2044.
4. What is the CFDA number and funding category?
The CFDA number listed is 93.067, and the opportunity is in the health funding category.
5. What country and program context does this opportunity focus on?
The work is focused on the Kingdom of Lesotho and is positioned within PEPFAR as part of the country's HIV response, with a specific focus on strengthening the national laboratory system supporting HIV-related services.
6. What public health need is this funding responding to?
The notice describes Lesotho as having a generalized HIV epidemic and cites an estimated 319,000 people living with HIV. It also cites very high adult prevalence among ages 15 to 59 (25.6) and an adult incidence of 1.1. While there have been gains supported by PEPFAR and laboratory investments, the notice states that significant gaps remain in consistently meeting national demand with the necessary quality and speed for effective care and epidemic control.
7. What is the overall purpose of the EQUALS award?
The purpose is to expand access to laboratory services and improve overall laboratory quality so that HIV-related testing is accurate, reliable, and timely across the supported laboratory network.
8. Is this opportunity more focused on purchasing equipment or on strengthening systems?
The notice emphasizes system strengthening rather than one-off procurement. It highlights strengthening the laboratory system through national policy and plan implementation, quality management systems, and a pathway toward accreditation, along with enabling conditions such as infrastructure, technologies, staffing, and information systems.
9. What are the main strategies or approaches described in the notice?
Key approaches include supporting implementation of national laboratory policies and strategic plans, strengthening quality management systems, and moving laboratories along a pathway toward accreditation. The notice also points to improving standardized operations, reinforcing quality assurance and quality control practices, and building sustainable performance over time.
10. What "enabling conditions" does the opportunity say laboratories need?
The notice highlights the need for adequate infrastructure, appropriate diagnostic technologies, trained and skilled staff, and functioning information systems that support documentation, reporting, and use of results.
11. How does this opportunity connect to HIV 95-95-95 targets?
The notice frames strong laboratory capacity as essential to achieving and sustaining the HIV 95-95-95 targets, because reliable testing supports diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and viral load suppression efforts. Improving turnaround times and result quality is positioned as supporting both individual patient management and broader program performance.
12. What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement in practice?
Based on the notice, a cooperative agreement indicates substantial CDC involvement during implementation. The recipient is expected to coordinate closely with the Government of Lesotho Ministry of Health, PEPFAR partners, and other stakeholders, aligning activities with national policies, strategic plans, guidelines, and PEPFAR priorities in Lesotho.
13. Who is expected to be involved or coordinated with during implementation?
The recipient is expected to work closely with the Government of Lesotho Ministry of Health, PEPFAR partners, and other stakeholders. The coordination emphasis reflects that laboratory systems support many services and partners and need shared standards and coordinated quality improvement rather than parallel, fragmented investments.
14. What is the estimated funding amount for Year 1?
The notice lists an approximate total funding amount of $1,500,000 for Year 1, dependent on the availability of funds.
15. How many awards does CDC expect to make?
The notice indicates an expectation of one award.
16. What does it mean that the "Award Ceiling for Year 1 is 0 (none)"?
The notice states an award ceiling of 0 (none), which typically indicates CDC did not set an upper cap in the posting even though an estimated Year 1 funding level is provided. Applicants should treat the $1.5 million estimate as a planning assumption while recognizing that final funding depends on availability of funds and CDC decisions.
17. When did the application window open?
The application window opened on January 8, 2020.
18. What was the original application deadline and time zone?
The original closing date was March 8, 2020, with applications due by 11:59 p.m. ET.
19. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, as long as they meet any additional criteria described in the full notice.
20. What types of improvements is the award aiming to produce across the laboratory network?
Based on the notice, the award aims to improve availability, reliability, and overall quality of HIV-related laboratory testing services, including better turnaround times and consistent performance that meets national demand with the quality and speed required for clinical care and epidemic control.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health
Next opportunity: National Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Childhood Agricultural Injury
Previous opportunity: FY20 Dr Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2044
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (CDC RFA GH20 2044) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Enhancing the Government of India's Capacity through Technical Assistance to India's National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to Strengthen the Prevention to Treatment Cascade for People Living with HIV, Including Key Populations, under PE Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2038 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2038 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pilot Centers for Precision Disease Modeling (U54)(Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 085 Funding Number: PAR 20 085 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,250,000 |
| Namibia Mechanism for Public Health Assistance, Capacity, and Technical Support II (NAM-PHACTS II) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2059 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2059 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Accelerating Lesotho's Progress to Epidemic Control Through Health System Strengthening and Delivery of Comprehensive HIV/TB Care, Treatment and Prevention Services under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2045 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2045 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Accelerating and Sustaining HIV Epidemic Control and Related Diseases in Western and West-Nile Regions in the Republic of Uganda under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2065 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2065 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Namibia Project for Information System Strengthening, Continuous Quality Improvement and Enhanced Surveillance to Sustain Epidemic Control under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2060 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2060 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Building Capacity within the Government of Tanzania to Oversee Laboratory, Strengthen Scientific Oversight, Monitor Evidence-based HIV Interventions, and Conduct Geo-spatial Analysis under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2064 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2064 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Conducting Public Health Research in Georgia Apply for RFA GH 20 004 Funding Number: RFA GH 20 004 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA Category: Health Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Strengthening the Government of Uganda's Capacity for Regionally Centered and District Implemented HIV and TB Programming through Health Information Systems, Case Based Surveillance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Improvement Support under P Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2066 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2066 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Strengthening Civil Society Organizations' Capacity and Coordination for Accelerated HIV Epidemic Control in Uganda through Supporting Implementation of Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment for Key Populations (KP) under PEPFAR Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2068 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2068 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovative, Comprehensive, Cost-effective and Locally Sustainable Community and Facility HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Services for Epidemic Control in the Republic of Zimbabwe under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2082 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2082 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Engagement of FBOs and CBOs/PNFPs to Support and Sustain HIV Epidemic Control in the Republic of Uganda under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2069 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2069 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Partnering with Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute (PI) for Continued Capacity Strengthening to Prevent, Detect, Monitor, and Respond to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Vietnam under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Apply for CDC RFA GH20 2070 Funding Number: CDC RFA GH20 2070 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Conducting Public Health Research in South America Apply for RFA GH 20 005 Funding Number: RFA GH 20 005 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA Category: Health Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| National Organizations of State and Local Officials: Health Care Payment and Financing Apply for HRSA 20 093 Funding Number: HRSA 20 093 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,065,416 |
| National Organizations of State and Local Officials: Health Legislation and Governance Apply for HRSA 20 092 Funding Number: HRSA 20 092 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,065,416 |
| National Organizations of State and Local Officials: Public Health Capacity Apply for HRSA 20 084 Funding Number: HRSA 20 084 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,065,416 |
| Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Grants Apply for SM 20 012 Funding Number: SM 20 012 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis Category: Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| UT2 Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) Apply for HRSA 20 054 Funding Number: HRSA 20 054 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| UT3 Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B) Apply for HRSA 20 055 Funding Number: HRSA 20 055 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "CDC RFA GH20 2044", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.