South Africa CDC-RFA-JG-25-0056 Final NOFO for Publication.pdf

Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due February 20, 2025

Strengthening economic analysis and capacity in support of program management for HIV, TB, and related health threats in South Africa (SA) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

(PEPFAR)

Opportunity number: CDC-RFA-JG-25-0056

Contents Before you begin 3

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 8

Program description 10

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 30

Get registered 31

Questions 32

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 33

Application contents and format 34

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 44

Application review 45

Award notices 50

Step 5: Submit Your Application 51

Application submission and deadlines 52

Application checklist 54

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 56

Post-award requirements and administration 57

Contacts and Support 64

Contents 2

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registrations are active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks) You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days) You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 20, 2025.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

Jump to a step

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 8

Program description 10

Basic information U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Global Health Center

Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis

Reducing HIV and TB incidence and mortality in global settings through data-driven programs and strengthened public health systems.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Strengthening economic analysis and capacity in support of program management for HIV, TB, and related health threats in South Africa (SA) under PEPFAR

Opportunity number:

CDC-RFA-JG-25-0056

Announcement type:

New

Assistance listing:

93.067 Global AIDS

Program

Key dates

Application deadline:

February 20, 2025

Expected award and start date: September 30, 2025

We will inform you of your application status by the end of August 2025.

See other submissions for other time frames that may apply to this

NOFO.

Summary The goal of this NOFO is to improve understanding of how investment and program design can make programs and services for HIV, TB, and related health issues in South Africa (SA) more efficient.

The focus of this NOFO is to conduct economic analysis, evaluation, and modeling to inform program planning and resource allocation to maintain and improve the HIV related response in South Africa. It also aims to build capacity in this technical area. Additionally, this NOFO uses other economic methodologies (for example, revealed and stated preference models) to understand how key populations and individuals decide to seek and stay in care.

PEPFAR SA (i.e., CDC, USAID, Peace Corps) is committed to using evidence to drive programs and priorities. This approach is part of our strategic alignment with SA institutions and efforts to build a sustainable response to HIV, TB, and related health threats.

Economic evaluation, analysis, and modeling are critical components of this evidence base. These approaches are also crucial for developing sustainability frameworks and making effective decisions about resource allocation, program design, and implementation. Furthermore, economic analyses help PEPFAR SA and other partners of the government of SA understand how different program policies and implementation models affect expenditure, value, and efficiency. This understanding improves program management and efficiency to increase impact on HIV, TB, and related health issues.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total NOFO funding for Year 1: $400,000 This is the expected total Year 1 funding for all awards made under this

NOFO.

Expected number of awards: 1 to 2 The number of awards is subject to available funds and program priorities.

Exact amounts for each award under this NOFO will be determined upon award.

We plan to award projects for five 12-month budget periods for a five-year period of performance.

Funding strategy

Funding amounts We encourage you to apply for the expected total NOFO funding for Year 1.

You may not request more than this amount.

Funding amounts for years two through five will be set at continuation. We will continue funding based on:

• Availability of funds.

• Evidence of satisfactory progress, as documented in your required reports.

• The determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the federal government.

Component funding

Overview

We fund all President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) cooperative agreements using component funding.

Component funding allows us to provide funding as it becomes available. To do so, we fund sets of activities by quarter and project.

CDC may fund one or more of your components to start the budget period, and then consider other components based on available funding later.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Setting up components

You must set up your components in your application. While preparing your application:

• Review the expectations for year one activities in the strategies and activities section.

• Group your activities under the following anticipated components. Only include the activities planned for year one.

◦ Component 1: COP Q1 Targets and Activities.

◦ Component 2: COP Q2 Targets and Activities.

◦ Component 3: COP Q3 Targets and Activities.

◦ Component 4: COP Q4 Targets and Activities.

◦ Component 5: COP Additional Targets and Activities.

For information on how to incorporate component funding into your application, see the following sections:

• Budget narrative

• Component funding instructions for SF-424A

PEPFAR Local partner funding preference This NOFO includes a funding preference for local partners. Your organization will receive 30 extra points during the selection process if you provide sufficient documentation demonstrating you meet the PEPFAR local partner definition.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Eligibility Statutory authority This program is authorized under:

• The United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003, Public Law 108-25 (22 U.S.C. 7601, et seq.).

• The Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, Public Law 110-293.

• The PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013, Public Law 113-56.

• Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242I).

Eligible applicants This is a fully competitive NOFO, and eligibility is unrestricted. Any and all types of organizations are eligible and encouraged to apply, including but not limited to those listed below.

• State governments.

• County governments.

• City or township governments.

• Special district governments.

• Independent school districts.

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized).

• Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.

• Native American tribal organizations, other than federally recognized tribal governments.

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education.

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education.

• Private institutions of higher education.

• For-profit organizations other than small businesses.

• Small businesses.

• Foreign or non-U.S. based entities.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Other required qualifying factors

Delivery location While any type of organization may apply, you must conduct the project in South Africa.

Responsiveness criteria We will review your application to make sure it meets these requirements.

These are the basic requirements you must meet to move forward in the competition. We won’t consider an application that:

• Is from an organization that doesn’t meet eligibility criteria. See requirements in eligibility.

• Is submitted after the deadline.

• Proposes research activities. See 45 CFR 75.2 for the definition of research.

• Requests more funding than the expected total NOFO funding for Year 1.

• Exceeds the 20-page limit for the project narrative (see the project narrative section for what counts toward the page limit).

• Is not in English.

• Includes a budget or budget narrative that uses a currency other than U.S. dollars.

• Does not respond to and is outside the scope of this NOFO.

See the application checklist to understand your application requirements.

Application limits We do not limit the number of applications an organization may submit.

Cost sharing and matching funds This program has no cost-sharing or matching funds requirement. We will not consider cost-sharing fund contributions during your application review.

However, if you submit voluntary cost-sharing funds and we fund your project, we will require you to report on these funds.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75#p-75.2(Research)

Program description Background overview and related work The state of HIV response in South Africa SA has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world. Recent data show a national HIV prevalence of 12.7%, translating to an estimated 7,800,000 people living with HIV.

SA has reached the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets. SA’s current percentages are:

• 89.6% of those who are HIV positive know their status.

• 90.7% of those who know their status are on treatment.

• 90% of those on treatment have attained viral suppression.

SA is working to build on this momentum and achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2025.

SA government is a major player in reaching the overall UNAIDS goals, as they contribute up to 80% of the total resources that are dedicated to fighting this epidemic. The public sector provides a large portion of the HIV prevention, care, and treatment services that people living with HIV in SA.

Continued investment in the HIV response could have major benefits, including:

• Curbing the growth of new infections, especially among adolescents and young people.

• Improving citizens’ lives.

• Strengthening health systems.

• Improving economic growth.

Despite the benefits of investing in the HIV response, SA‘s budget and donor funds are limited and projected to shrink. Less funding could delay, halt, or reverse improvements. There are several reasons for these limited funds, including:

• SA is dealing with reduced revenue due to lower-than-expected tax revenue and weak economic growth.

• SA has underfunded the health sector.

• Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic years, PEPFAR funds have decreased.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

Economic analysis in HIV response With equal or less funding and more services to provide, it’s necessary to use limited resources more efficiently. Economics can guide decisions by providing stakeholders with information including:

• The epidemiological and economic magnitude of a public health problem.

• The interventions (existing or proposed) to address the problem.

• Resources needed to use the interventions.

• The interventions’ economic feasibility.

Economics can also help stakeholders and policymakers do the following:

• Understand the impact that policy and activity design will have on the choices of individuals.

• Design activities that produce intended behavior changes.

For example, economics can help stakeholders to understand the cost effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programs that target sex workers. Through economic analysis, stakeholders could use HIV prevalence estimates among sex workers and other program data to determine which interventions:

• Fit within a given budget.

• Are the most effective.

• Are the most cost-effective.

Economic analyses can also help increase demand for HIV-related services among men. Men typically seek less HIV prevention, care, and treatment services than women, so it’s important to use interventions that help them seek care. Possible interventions targeting men include:

• Men’s clinics.

• Mobile clinics.

• Cash transfer.

• Behavioral change interventions.

Additionally, economic analysis can find ways to make PEPFAR-funded programs in SA more efficient. For example, it can be a tool for improving ineffective financial processes, including:

• Funds and awards that are not being managed well enough to procure medication in time.

• Poor forecasting.

• Inefficient inventory management.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

These improvements could address challenges within the supply chain, such as ineffectively placed pick-up points, improper scheduling of drivers, and poor distribution networks. Improvements in these areas could result in increased availability of medication.

Finally, it’s important for the SA National Department of Health (DoH) to build its capacity to conduct its own economic analyses. Without that capacity, the DoH may need to rely on external subject matter experts to conduct the analyses, which is not sustainable.

Creating a culture of using economic and other program data to make informed decisions is essential, not only to inform the HIV response and to reach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2025, but also to understand the cost, value, and potential efficiencies of other public health programs.

Purpose The purpose of this NOFO is to help the SA DoH and PEPFAR plan, implement, and manage various economic evaluation, analysis, and modeling projects.

These projects will help determine how to use limited funding to make programs targeting HIV, TB, and other public health challenges in SA as impactful and efficient as possible. Analyses from this NOFO will inform program direction and will not be distributed outside of SA.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

Approach Program logic model The following logic model includes the expected strategies under this NOFO.

The logic model also includes the program’s expected outcomes. Outcomes are the results that you intend to achieve and usually show the intended direction of change, such as increase or decrease.

The asterisked ( * ) outcomes are those we expect you to achieve or substantially contribute to during the five-year period of performance. You must report on these outcomes.

Not all outcomes apply to all strategies. You will use these outcomes as a guide for developing performance measures.

Table: Strategies and outcomes

Strategies Short-term outcomes Intermediate outcomes Long-term outcomes

Strategy 1: Plan, design, and conduct economic evaluations to identify, measure, value, and compare costs and consequences of HIV, TB, and other programs and services and to inform decisions regarding the use of limited resources.

Strategy 2: Plan, design, and conduct studies using revealed preference, stated preference, or similar methods to improve the design of services and incentives that will increase the likelihood of priority

Increased understanding of available data to conduct economic evaluations and analyses.*

Increased stakeholder engagement, buy-in, and support for economic evaluations and analyses.*

Increased understanding of the scope of economic evaluations and analyses (including the time and resources needed to support these efforts).*

Increased knowledge among DoH staff

Increased availability of data about a program’s estimated implementation costs, costs relative to its benefits, health impacts and costs relative to other programs, etc.*

Increased ability of PEPFAR and DoH to make informed decisions regarding the use of limited resources.*

Increased ability of PEPFAR and DoH to effectively direct limited resources using generated evidence.

Increased DoH organizational culture for using the results from economic evaluations/analyses to inform decision making and maximize benefits of public health funding.*

Sustained efficient use of limited resources for public health programs and services by DoH.

Increased priority populations who access HIV programs and services.

Improved client satisfaction with HIV programs and services.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

Strategies Short-term outcomes Intermediate outcomes Long-term outcomes populations’ willingness to accept, access, and use HIV prevention, care, and treatment, services.

Strategy 3:

Strengthen the capacity of DoH at national and sub-national levels to design and perform different types of economic analyses of HIV, TB, and related health programs and services to inform resource allocation efforts.

about economic evaluation and analytic methods and techniques.*

Increased skills among DoH staff to conduct economic evaluations and analyses.*

Improved budgeting of HIV, TB, and other health programs and services based on generated evidence.

Improved design of HIV, TB, and other health programs and services using generated evidence.

Increased economic analyses performed or led by DoH.*

Increased antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation rates among people living with HIV.

Increased treatment retention rates among people living with HIV.

Increased viral load suppression among people living with HIV.

Strategies and activities This section elaborates on the strategies described in the logic model by providing expected activities and details about how you expect to implement your program.

Following are strategies and the required activities under this NOFO. You may also propose additional related strategies and activities to achieve the expected outcomes.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

Strategy 1: Plan, design, and conduct economic evaluations to identify, measure, value, and compare costs and consequences of HIV, TB, and other programs and services and to inform decisions regarding the use of limited resources.

Required activities:

• Identify and engage key stakeholders to prioritize the public health problems that would benefit from economic evaluations and analyses.

• Develop a team of economists, program staff, and other subject matter experts to plan economic evaluation and analysis projects.

• Conduct cost analyses of existing and future programs and examine budget impact.

• Perform economic analyses to identify efficient programs and program elements.

• Evaluate current and potential programs to determine their cost-effectiveness.

• Produce short policy briefs or reports that outline findings and inform decision making.

Strategy 2: Plan, design, and conduct studies using revealed preference, stated preference, or similar methods to improve the design of services and incentives that will increase the likelihood of priority populations’ willingness to accept, access, and use HIV prevention, care, and treatment services.

Required activities:

• Identify and engage key stakeholders to prioritize public health problems where economic methods could increase understanding of beneficiaries’ choices. Methods could include revealed preference, stated preference, or similar models.

• Develop a team of economists, program staff, and other subject matter experts to carry out activities including:

◦ Developing study protocols as required.

◦ Identifying data.

◦ Developing data-sharing and data-use agreements.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

• Conduct economic surveys about existing and future programs. These surveys should focus on how beneficiaries choose which service to use or similar activities.

• Produce short policy briefs or reports outlining findings to inform decision-making and program design.

Strategy 3: Strengthen the capacity of DoH at national and sub-national levels to design and perform different types of economic analyses of HIV, TB, and related health programs and services to inform resource allocation efforts.

Required activities:

• Identify DoH technical staff with the minimal required skill set to receive training and mentoring. For example, these staff could be economists or epidemiologists.

• Develop or identify training curricula and support resources related to economic evaluation and analysis.

• Train and mentor identified DoH technical staff in economic evaluation and analytic methods and techniques at all levels of government (i.e., national, provincial, and district).

• Train and mentor DoH middle and senior leadership on understanding and consuming economic evaluation and analysis.

To support the purpose of this NOFO, you are expected to provide copies of and/or access to all data, software, tools, training materials, guidelines, and systems developed under this NOFO to Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders, including HHS/CDC, for appropriate use consistent with underlying authorities.

Epidemic control activities In coordination with the Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) Bureau at the U.S. Department of State, and as part of PEPFAR, CDC works with host country governments and other partners. Together, we assess the needs of each country and design a plan for assistance that fits within the host nation’s strategic plan.

We consider a national HIV epidemic to be under control when:

• The number of HIV-related deaths is declining, and

• The number of new infections is less than the number of deaths.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16

Controlling the epidemic does not mean that HIV will be eliminated. Instead, it means that the number of people with HIV in the population is decreasing. If new infections or death rates increase, this means the epidemic is no longer under control.

Our work doesn’t end when we reach epidemic control; we must sustain the gains. During your award we may ask you to conduct additional activities to reach and maintain epidemic control, consistent with the scope of this NOFO and the related policies below. This may include:

• Improving prevention, testing, and treatment efforts for HIV/AIDS, TB, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and related opportunistic infections, especially among vulnerable, key, and priority populations as defined in PEPFAR’s annual Country/Regional Operational Plan (COP/ROP) Guidance.

• Promoting sustainable, country-led approaches to managing HIV/AIDS and TB and empowering national and local partners to take the lead in designing and conducting high-quality and cost-effective programs. This could involve forming new partnerships with private, public, local, and multisector entities that can complement and expand the reach of existing programs.

• Improving and expanding laboratory, surveillance, and information systems and using the PEPFAR platform for broader disease surveillance and public health programs in ways that align with PEPFAR goals and initiatives.

• Enhancing efforts to prevent, detect, respond to, and treat other diseases affecting people living with or at risk of HIV.

Related policies If awarded, any activities you conduct must follow the directions in:

• Reimagining PEPFAR’s Strategic Direction: Fulfilling America’s Promise to End the HIV/AIDS Pandemic by 2030.

• PEPFAR’s annual COP/ROP Guidance and approved COPs/ROPs.

• Similar forthcoming strategy, guidance, or planning documents that are consistent with relevant laws.

Geographic focus The geographic focus of this program may change during the period of performance, based on the burden of disease and changing program and PEPFAR priorities.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 https://www.state.gov/reports-pepfar/ https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PEPFAR-Strategic-Direction_FINAL.pdf https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PEPFAR-Strategic-Direction_FINAL.pdf https://www.state.gov/reports-pepfar/

Outcomes We expect you to achieve or substantially contribute to the outcomes asterisked ( * ) in the logic model by the end of the five-year period of performance. You will be expected to report on these outcomes.

Focus populations The focus populations for this NOFO include:

• General population.

• Men, meaning adults who identify as male.

• Men who have sex with men, including gay, bisexual, and other groups.

• Sex workers, meaning people of any gender who exchange sex for money.

• Children and adolescent girls and boys (0 through 17 years of age) and young people (18 through 24 years of age).

• DoH staff at national and sub-national levels, who are likely to be involved with:

◦ Policy

◦ Programming

◦ Managing resources

◦ Budgeting

◦ Economics

◦ Monitoring and evaluation

◦ Statistics

◦ Epidemiology

Equal opportunities This NOFO, including funding and eligibility, is not limited based on, and does not discriminate on the basis of:

• Race.

• Color.

• National origin.

• Disability.

• Age.

• Sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy).

• Other constitutionally protected statuses.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18

Health disparities The goal of health equity is for everyone to have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Health disparities are often caused by social determinants of health. Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age.

These determinants affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. They also influence which populations are most affected by health conditions.

A health disparity is a difference in health burdens between groups of people with differing social determinants of health.

We expect all proposed activities to affirm and advance health equity and an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce as core principles. In addition to the strategies and activities listed above, during your award, we may ask you to conduct activities consistent with local laws to:

• Address health disparities in access to and use of HIV and TB services.

• Reduce HIV and TB stigma and discrimination.

• Promote civil and human rights to improve health outcomes of people living with or at risk of HIV and TB.

• Make the workforce more inclusive.

Organizational capacity You must include a heading in your Project Narrative titled Organizational Capacity, under which you should include a brief description of your organizational capacity to carry out these strategies and activities.

You must also provide supporting documentation in your attachments. See the attachments section for full instructions.

Collaborations If funded, we will expect you to collaborate with:

• CDC Division of Global HIV and TB, Economics and Health Services Research Branch.

◦ This branch contains CDC experts who can provide technical assistance.

• CDC Division of Global Health Protection, especially staff from the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP).

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 https://www.cdc.gov/about/priorities/why-is-addressing-sdoh-important.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/about/sdoh/index.html

◦ This division coordinates the FETP program, which is a training program to develop the epidemiological capacity of DoH staff.

Adding economic analyses to the curriculum would help satisfy part of Strategy 3.

• DoH at national and sub-national levels.

• Other departments that have a role in providing HIV-related care and services. For example:

◦ Department of Social Development

◦ Department of Correctional Services

◦ Department of Basic Education

◦ South African National AIDS Council

• Civil society and non-governmental organizations that have a role in providing HIV-related services. For example:

◦ Treatment Action Campaign

◦ Gates Foundation

◦ The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Through the PEPFAR program, CDC works with partners to help prevent HIV infection, provide life-saving treatment to people living with HIV, and reduce HIV-related deaths. We encourage our partners to collaborate with local organizations, U.S.-based organizations, and international partners. The goal of this collaboration is to complement efforts to lower costs, make programs more effective, sustain the gains, and accelerate progress towards the three UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets:

• At least 95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status.

• At least 95% of people who know their HIV status are on treatment.

• At least 95% of people on treatment have a suppressed viral load.

If you work with key populations as defined in PEPFAR’s annual COP/ROP Guidance, we will expect you to collaborate with them when designing, delivering, and monitoring HIV services.

Data, monitoring, and evaluation CDC expectations CDC expects you to review, clean, and use routine performance data for program management. As a result, you should hold regular review meetings to discuss performance and use data to inform program quality improvement activities.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20

In your application budget, you should allocate at least 5% of funds for monitoring activities and 10% for evaluation activities. We will discuss these percentages and finalize them at or after award. These are estimates for the total funding over the 5-year project.

Required performance measures

Overview This program includes two types of indicators. These include:

• PEPFAR’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) indicators common to all awards. You can find additional information regarding MER reporting in the MER Guidance and resource materials, available at DATIM’s MER Indicator Reference Guides.

• Custom indicators that either we or you create. These monitor achievement of outcomes not directly measured by MER indicators.

These include process and outcome measures that directly correlate with the logic model.

The indicators shown below may change before award or in future years. For example, any gaps or unmet needs not fulfilled in the first year may affect the targets in later years.

MER indicators There are currently no MER indicators applicable for this NOFO, but that may change in future project years.

Custom indicators Below we show some anticipated custom indicators, targets, and reporting frequencies for the first year. You may also propose custom indicators.

• Number of plans developed and implemented to strengthen DoH’s capacity to conduct and lead economic evaluation and analysis projects.

[Target: 2; Reporting Frequency: Annual]

• Number of economic evaluations and analyses conducted. [Target: 5;

Reporting Frequency: Annual]

• Briefs or reports produced and disseminated containing the findings from economic evaluations and analyses. [Target: 5; Reporting Frequency: Annual]

• Percentage of targeted DoH staff trained to conduct and lead economic evaluation and analysis projects. [Target: 100%; Reporting Frequency:

Annual]

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 21 https://help.datim.org/hc/en-us/articles/360000084446-MER-Indicator-Reference-Guides

• Percentage of identified economic analyses implemented effectively according to defined timelines. [Target: >50%; Reporting Frequency:

Annual]

• Percentage of result products disseminated according to defined timelines. Result products include press releases, position papers, conferences, national technical working groups, committee meetings, etc.

[Target: 100%; Reporting Frequency: Annual]

Data sources for MER and custom indicators Data sources may include registers, tally sheets, electronic and paper patient records, quarterly progress reports, surveillance and survey reports, and other program monitoring tools.

Evaluation Below, we include examples of evaluation topics that we may expect you to answer through process, outcome, or economic evaluation. In your application, include at least one, but no more than three potential evaluation questions. We will expect you to conduct an end-term evaluation.

• Use of data from economic evaluations and analyses to make informed decisions about program and resource allocation: outcome evaluation.

• Understanding what incentives will motivate men to seek care and stay on treatment to reduce new infections and provide them with a higher quality of life: economic evaluation.

• Capacity of DoH staff to conduct and lead economic evaluation and analysis projects after they receive training and mentorship: outcome evaluation.

Evaluation data sources Data sources may include registers, tally sheets, electronic and paper patient records, recipient progress reports, focus groups, in-depth interviews, surveys, and other program monitoring tools.

Dissemination of evaluation results Dissemination channels could include:

• Local and international conferences and forum abstract presentations.

• Conference poster displays.

• Manuscripts.

• Bulletins.

• Reports.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 22

• Presentations to technical working groups and stakeholder meetings.

• Other approved products in print and electronic media.

The primary intended users of evaluation results and findings will be the wider program stakeholders.

CDC and stakeholders will use overall evaluation findings during the 5-year project period to share and implement key recommendations to strengthen program implementation and effectiveness, sustainability, and continued program improvement after the award ends.

All evaluation reports will be publicly available on PEPFAR resource sites.

Evaluation and performance measurement plan You must submit an initial draft of your evaluation and performance measurement plan with your application. You must submit a more detailed plan within the first six months of the award. See reporting.

As you develop your evaluation and performance measurement plan, align it with national, PEPFAR, and agency priorities as detailed in the NOFO. If awarded, we will work with you to finalize the plan and ensure it takes into account agreements made during COP/ROP planning.

Include the following elements in your evaluation and performance measurement plan.

Methods Describe how you will:

• Collect the performance measures.

• Respond to the evaluation topics.

• Use evaluation findings for continuous program quality improvement.

• Incorporate evaluation and performance measurement into planning, implementing, and reporting of project activities.

Additionally, explain:

• How findings will contribute to reducing or eliminating health disparities, as relevant.

• How key program partners will participate in the evaluation and performance measurement process.

• How feasible it will be to collect appropriate evaluation and performance data.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 23

• How you will share evaluation findings with communities and populations of interest in a way that meets their needs.

• Other relevant information, such as performance measures you propose.

Evaluation activities You must carry out specific evaluation activities.

At least one evaluation must be carried out for each cooperative agreement during the course of funding. The evaluation can be:

• Process evaluation: Measures how the intervention was delivered, what worked and did not, the differences between the intended population and the population served, and access to the intervention.

• Outcome evaluation: Determines the effects of the intervention in the focus population, such as change in knowledge, attitudes, behavior, or capacity.

• Economic evaluation: Determines cost, cost drivers, cost effectiveness, efficiency, factors influencing economic behavior and choices, or the economic impact of interventions or activities to justify the investment.

Describe:

• The type of evaluations you will complete (process, outcome, and/or economic).

• Key evaluation questions these evaluations will address.

• Other information, such as measures and data sources.

Data management plan (DMP) For all public health data you plan to collect, a DMP is required. For a definition of “public health data” and other key information, see AR 25: Data Management and Access on our website.

You must submit an initial draft of your DMP with your application. You must submit a more detailed plan within the first six months of the award. See reporting.

Submit your initial DMP with your application and include:

• The data you will collect or generate and their sources.

• Any reasons why you cannot share this data with CDC. These could include legal, regulatory, policy, or technical reasons.

• Who can access the data and how you will protect and secure it.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 24 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/additional-requirements/ar-25.html

• Data standards that explain what documentation released data will have.

That documentation should describe collection methods, what the data represent, and data limitations.

• Archival and long-term data preservation plans.

• How you will update the DMP as new information becomes available during the project. You will provide updates to the DMP in annual reports. For more information about CDC’s policy on the DMP, see Data Management and Access Requirement at CDC’s website.

In addition to the other requirements listed, also include:

• Cybersecurity plans.

• How you will protect personally identifiable information (PII) when you collect, store, transfer, and use this data.

• How you will remove information from the data that could reveal participants’ identities (de-identify the data) in intermediate and final data sets.

CDC and PEPFAR will inform you of data you need to share with us and how and when it should be shared.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 25

Work plan You must provide a work plan for your project. The work plan connects your performance outcomes, strategies and activities, and measures. It provides more detail on how you will measure outcomes and processes. A sample work plan is provided below.

You should provide a detailed work plan for the first year and a high-level work plan for later years.

Table: Sample format

Activities you will implement

Progress or process measures

From the data, monitoring, and evaluation section.

Relevant period of performance outcomes

From the logic model.

Responsible position or party

Funding component / completion date

Strategy 1:

1.

2.

3.

Strategy 2:

1.

2.

3.

Paperwork Reduction Act Any activities involving information collection from 10 or more individuals or organizations may require Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approval. The PRA requires review and approval of the information collection by the White House Office of Management and Budget. For further information to determine if a proposed activity requires PRA approval, contact your project officer. Collections include items like surveys and questionnaires. If you have collections requiring PRA approval, CDC is responsible for working with OMB to gain the approval.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 26

For more information about CDC’s requirements under PRA see CDC Paperwork Reduction Act Compliance.

Funding policies and limitations General policies

• Your budget is arranged in eight categories: salaries and wages, fringe benefits, consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel, other, and contractual.

• You may use funds only for reasonable program purposes consistent with the award, its terms and conditions, and federal laws and regulations that apply to the award. If you have questions about this determination, ask the grants management officer.

• Generally, you may not use funds to purchase furniture or equipment.

Clearly identify and justify any such proposed spending in the budget.

• All requests for funds contained in the budget should be stated in U.S.

dollars.

• Cost increases due to changes in exchange rates are allowed if enough funding is available. If an increase in the exchange rate would reduce the scope of the project or cause you to need more federal funding, you must get prior approval for exchange rate fluctuations.

• Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting your project’s objectives.

◦ A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest.

• If we receive more funding for this program, we will consider:

◦ Funding more applicants.

◦ Extending the period of performance.

◦ Awarding supplemental funding.

See also program-specific limitations.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 27 https://www.cdc.gov/scientific-integrity/php/public-information-collection/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/os/integrity/reducepublicburden/index.htm https://www.cdc.gov/scientific-integrity/php/public-information-collection/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/os/integrity/reducepublicburden/index.htm https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=13f24ea1f961f5f0d14b87ec1b39b25f&term_occur=999&term_src=Title:45:Chapter:A:Subchapter:A:Part:75:Subpart:E:Subjgrp:39:75.440

Unallowable costs You may not use funds for:

• Research.

• Clinical care, except as allowed by law.

• Pre-award costs, unless we give you prior written approval.

• Other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships:

◦ Publicity or propaganda purposes, including preparing, distributing, or using any material designed to support or defeat the enactment of legislation before any legislative body.

◦ The salary or expenses of any grant or contract recipient, or agent acting for such recipient, related to any activity designed to influence the enactment of legislation, appropriations, regulation, administrative action, or executive order proposed or pending before any legislative body.

◦ See Anti-Lobbying Restrictions for CDC Recipients.

• Needle exchange programs.

For guidance on some types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see 45 CFR part 75, General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

Indirect costs Indirect costs have a common or joint purpose across more than one project and cannot be easily separated by project. Learn more at CDC Budget Preparation Guidelines.

To charge indirect costs you can select one of two methods:

Method 1 — Approved rate. You currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency.

Provide a summary of the rate. Enclose a copy of the current approved rate agreement in your attachments.

Method 2 — De minimis rate. Per 2 CFR 200.414(f), if you have never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate. If you choose this method, costs included in the indirect cost pool must not be charged as direct costs.

This rate is 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of MTDC. You can use this rate indefinitely.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 28 http://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/Anti-Lobbying_Restrictions_for_CDC_Grantees_July_2012.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subject-group-ECFR5d90ba314caea08 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/budget-preparation-guidance.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/budget-preparation-guidance.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC))

Foreign organizations and foreign public entities Indirect costs on awards to foreign organizations and foreign public entities performed fully outside of the U.S. and its territories may be paid to support the costs of complying with federal requirements. This rate is fixed at eight percent of MTDC exclusive of tuition and related fees, direct expenditures for equipment, and subawards in excess of $25,000. Negotiated indirect costs may be paid to the American University, Beirut, and the World Health Organization.

Other indirect cost policies

• As described in 45 CFR 75.403(d), you must consistently charge items as either indirect or direct costs and may not double charge.

• Indirect costs may include the cost of collecting, managing, sharing, and preserving data.

Salary rate limitation As of January 2024, the HHS/CDC salary rate limitation is $221,900. This salary rate limitation does not apply to PEPFAR funds, which are part of an appropriation from the U.S. Department of State; but to the extent that HHS/ CDC funds are added to an award, this limitation applies. We will update this limitation in future years.

Program income Program income is money earned as a result of your award-supported project activities. You must use program income for the purposes and under the conditions of the award. Find more about program income at 45 CFR 75.307.

Program-specific limitations

CDC PEPFAR terms and conditions You can find a list of PEPFAR-specific terms and conditions on our website.

They apply to all PEPFAR awards, so we strongly encourage you to read them and ask questions if you need more information. These terms and conditions will apply if you are selected for an award so you should confirm that you are able to comply with them prior to applying.

Host country laws and regulations If funded, you are expected to follow applicable host country laws and regulations related to the strategies under this NOFO; if there are conflicts with this award, contact the Grants Management Officer.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 29 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75#p-75.403(d) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR911e5e1a30bfbcb/section-75.307 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/documents/PEPFAR-Terms-and-Conditions.pdf

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Get registered 31

Questions 32

Get registered You must be registered in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov to apply. You can review the requirements and get started on developing your application before your registrations are complete.

SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

When you register or update your SAM.gov registration, you must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations. You must agree to those for grants specifically, as opposed to contracts, because the two sets of agreements are different. You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number

CDC-RFA-JG-25-0056.

If you can’t use Grants.gov to download application materials or have other technical difficulties, including issues with application submission, contact Grants.gov for assistance. The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except U.S. federal holidays. The Contact Center is available by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (U.S.) and 1-606-545-5035 (international) or by email at support@grants.gov.

We will post any changes, updates, or amendments on Grants.gov. To get updates on changes to this NOFO, select Subscribe from the View Grant Opportunity page for this NOFO on Grants.gov.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 31 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://grants.gov/search-grants https://www.grants.gov/support https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:support@grants.gov

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

Help applying For help related to the application process and tips for preparing your application, see How to Apply on our website. For other questions, see Contacts and Support.

Questions If you have questions, you must submit them by email to pepfarfoas@cdc.gov no later than 20 calendar days after the NOFO is published to Grants.gov. We will not respond to questions received later. We will post answers to questions in a Q&A document in the Grants.gov application package.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 32 https://www.cdc.gov/grants/applying/index.html mailto:pepfarfoas@cdc.gov

Step 3:

Prepare Your Application

In this step

Application contents and format 34

Application contents and format Applications include five main elements. This section includes guidance on each. Make sure you include each of the following:

Table: Application contents

Elements Grants.gov form to use

Project abstract Use the Project Abstract Summary form.

Project narrative Use the Project Narrative Attachment form.

Budget narrative justification Use the Budget Narrative Attachment form.

Attachments Insert each in the Other Attachments form.

Other required forms Upload using each standard form.

All your application materials must be in English. Express currency in U.S.

dollars.

Your organization’s authorized official must certify your application.

We will provide instructions on document formats in the following sections. If you don’t provide the required documents, your application is incomplete.

See…