Sustaining HIV and TB epidemic control in Lesotho through health system strengthening and technical assistance under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has released a forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity titled “Sustaining HIV and TB epidemic control in Lesotho through health system strengthening and technical assistance under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).” This opportunity is issued under the assistance listing 93.067 – Global AIDS, with an expected program focus on improving HIV and tuberculosis control through direct technical support and system strengthening efforts. The CDC anticipates issuing cooperative agreements that align with the PEPFAR 2030 strategic direction to eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat while promoting sustainable public health systems. The primary objective of this program is to accelerate and sustain epidemic control of HIV and reduce tuberculosis incidence in Lesotho by achieving and maintaining the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. This will involve evidence-based interventions across four key districts: Leribe, Berea, Quthing, and Qacha’s Nek. Applicants will be expected to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Health in Lesotho to strengthen district health management teams, improve health facility services, and support community-level delivery. Specific interventions include enhanced case finding, HIV care and treatment with advanced disease management, cervical cancer screening, prevention measures such as mother-to-child transmission elimination and pre-exposure prophylaxis, TB prevention and treatment, integration of non-communicable disease management into HIV services, and strengthening laboratory systems and surveillance capacity. Funding will support health system strengthening and continuous quality improvement efforts. Technical assistance will be central to implementation, addressing areas such as recency testing, data utilization for program improvement, and coordination with health and community structures. The CDC anticipates approximately $15,000,000 in funding for the first fiscal year, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. While the award ceiling is listed as zero for Year 1, this notation reflects that ceiling figures are not finalized within the forecast. Applicants should note that up to two awards are expected. The eligibility for this opportunity is broad, encompassing state, county, and city governments, independent school districts, Native American tribal organizations and governments, public housing authorities, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, public and private higher education institutions, small businesses, and other for-profit entities. This wide eligibility scope ensures broad competition while allowing specialized organizations in health system strengthening and technical assistance to participate. Applications will be submitted electronically and must be received no later than 2026-02-17 at 11:59 PM ET. The estimated posting date for the full announcement is 2025-12-02, with awards expected to be announced by 2026-09-30. The anticipated start date for funded projects is also 2026-09-30. The opportunity is recurring under PEPFAR strategic cycles, suggesting that future opportunities may be available annually thereafter. The forecast version was published on 2025-10-01 and is currently open for early engagement. Applicants should prepare by reviewing eligibility requirements, registering through required systems, and ensuring readiness for electronic submission via Grants.gov. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent are specified in the forecast. For further details or clarification, inquiries can be directed to the CDC’s Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT) via the email pepfarfoas@cdc.gov. This forecast provides organizations with time to plan strategically for a significant opportunity aimed at contributing to the global effort to control HIV and TB while reinforcing local health systems in Lesotho.