Achieving and maintaining sustainable epidemic control through lifesaving HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services in the Kinshasa and Haut Katanga Regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under PEPFAR

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has released a forecasted grant opportunity titled Achieving and maintaining sustainable epidemic control through lifesaving HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services in the Kinshasa and Haut Katanga Regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under PEPFAR. This opportunity is published as a Grants Notice with the identifier CDC-RFA-JG-26-0133. The program is aligned with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and aims to accelerate the provision of lifesaving HIV/AIDS services to support epidemic control in specific regions of the DRC. The opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial federal involvement in the program’s execution. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the implementation of evidence-based interventions and innovative strategies to strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS in selected Health Zones within Kinshasa and Haut Katanga. The program prioritizes reaching individuals who are unaware of their HIV status, ensuring that people living with HIV are initiated and maintained on treatment, and delivering preventive services to populations at risk. The awardees will be expected to provide direct technical and programmatic support to the Ministry of Health in the DRC to improve HIV service delivery across the full prevention and treatment continuum. This includes building the capacity of provincial and local health zone teams to analyze, improve, and utilize high-quality data to guide program decisions. The scope of the program also extends to community engagement. Recipients will work with local community organizations to increase uptake of HIV services, improve linkage to care, and enhance patient retention in treatment. Strengthening the technical capacity of health systems, enhancing data-driven decision-making, and preparing for eventual transition of responsibilities to host country institutions are critical objectives of the award. The program directly aligns with global strategies aimed at eliminating HIV/AIDS as a public health threat and supports the America First Global Health Strategy. While the forecast lists award ceiling, floor, and total program funding as zero, the narrative clarifies that CDC anticipates approximately $13,000,000 in Year 1, subject to availability of funds. Up to three awards are expected to be made under this opportunity. The program is categorized under Assistance Listing 93.067 — Global AIDS. Matching funds are not required for this grant. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, for-profit organizations, special district governments, and independent school districts. This wide eligibility reflects the program’s intent to maximize participation from diverse institutional backgrounds. The estimated application due date is February 17, 2026, with applications required to be electronically submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on that date. The estimated post date for the Notice of Funding Opportunity is December 2, 2025. Award announcements are anticipated by September 30, 2026, with projects expected to begin on the same date. The forecast was published on October 1, 2025, and the program’s archive date is March 19, 2026. No pre-application deadlines, such as a Letter of Intent, are identified in the forecast. Inquiries regarding the program should be directed to DGHT NOFOs at pepfarfoas@cdc.gov. No phone contact is listed. Applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) once released in December 2025, as it will contain further details on application instructions, evaluation criteria, and required forms. The forecast stage indicates that information is preliminary and subject to change prior to the final release.