Health information systems (HIS) strengthening for improved public health care and program management in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, operating under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has released a forecasted opportunity for fiscal year 2026 under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This initiative, formally titled “Health information systems (HIS) strengthening for improved public health care and program management in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” seeks to enhance national health information infrastructure and improve the efficiency and quality of public health programs in the DRC. The grant notice is published under Assistance Listing 93.067 for Global AIDS programs. The objective of this program is to strengthen the DRC’s health system by advancing the use of electronic medical records, expanding human resource for health capacity, securing and improving electronic data exchange, and institutionalizing program management practices that enable sustainable health care delivery. By investing in robust health information systems, the program aims to improve monitoring and reporting capacity, reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality, and contribute to improved patient outcomes across diseases beyond HIV. These improvements are aligned with broader U.S. global health objectives to address epidemics while building resilient health systems. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial federal involvement in project oversight and implementation. While the forecast lists a total award ceiling and floor of zero dollars, the additional funding notes specify that CDC anticipates approximately $4,000,000 in available funding for the first year of the program, subject to congressional appropriations and availability of funds. CDC expects to issue two awards under this funding opportunity. The projected project start date is September 30, 2026, with the estimated award date on the same day. Eligible applicants for this opportunity are diverse and include a wide range of organizations and governmental bodies. Entities eligible to apply include U.S. state governments, county and city or township governments, Native American tribal governments and organizations, special district governments, independent school districts, public and private higher education institutions, public housing authorities, and both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including small businesses. Eligibility is unrestricted in scope but subject to specific program criteria. Applicants must be able to demonstrate technical capacity in health system strengthening, electronic records deployment, or program management in line with CDC objectives. The timeline indicates an estimated posting date of December 2, 2025, with applications due by February 17, 2026, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Awards are projected for September 30, 2026, with an archive date of March 19, 2026. As this is a forecasted opportunity, details may be subject to change prior to the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) release. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov in accordance with federal submission standards. The program contact for this opportunity is listed under the CDC Division of Global HIV and TB NOFOs team, reachable at pepfarfoas@cdc.gov. No phone contact is provided at this stage. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov for the official posting and any clarifications. As with all federal funding opportunities, applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare early, register in SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and review submission requirements carefully once the full NOFO is available.