Improving HIV prevention and treatment in the Dominican Republic with a focus on priority populations under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

The CDC's Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Improving HIV Prevention and Treatment in the Dominican Republic with a Focus on Priority Populations under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)" aims to reduce HIV incidence and improve treatment outcomes among Haitian migrants and their descendants in the Dominican Republic (DR). These populations are identified as high-risk due to barriers like stigma, limited healthcare access, and fear of deportation. The NOFO emphasizes early diagnosis, prompt antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation, retention in care, and achieving viral suppression to curb the HIV epidemic. The application deadline is February 21, 2025, with projects commencing September 30, 2025. This funding opportunity anticipates distributing up to $5.6 million in Year 1, supporting one to two cooperative agreements. The five-year project period will focus on comprehensive strategies, including community outreach, expanded HIV testing, and culturally tailored interventions for treatment adherence. These efforts will involve collaboration with DR government agencies, community organizations, and PEPFAR partners to build sustainable health solutions. Eligible applicants are unrestricted and include governmental and non-governmental organizations, nonprofits, for-profits, tribal entities, and foreign entities, provided the project is conducted in the DR. Applicants must demonstrate their capacity to engage priority populations and deliver scalable and impactful programs. Applications must address three primary strategies: identifying undiagnosed infections among the priority populations using innovative outreach methods; ensuring initiation and retention in ART; and collaborating with the DR government to improve healthcare delivery quality and adherence to national and international standards. Activities will also include improving the use of health information systems, viral load testing, and patient management technologies. Proposals must include work plans, budgets, evaluation and performance measurement plans, and detailed descriptions of how outcomes will be achieved. The review process evaluates applications based on the proposed approach (35 points), organizational capacity (45 points), and data, monitoring, and evaluation plans (20 points). An additional 10 points are awarded to applicants meeting the PEPFAR local partner funding preference, which requires documentation of local ownership, staffing, and leadership. Applications must meet strict formatting and submission requirements, including a 20-page narrative limit, and adhere to guidelines outlined in the NOFO. Post-award, recipients must report on performance indicators, including HIV testing and treatment initiation rates, viral suppression rates, and retention metrics. The CDC will actively participate in project oversight, providing technical assistance and monitoring progress. Reports will include annual performance evaluations, financial summaries, and a final comprehensive review upon project completion. This NOFO represents a significant investment in addressing HIV in the DR, emphasizing culturally sensitive approaches and robust collaborations to achieve and sustain epidemic control. Interested applicants are advised to begin preparations immediately, including securing necessary registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov, to meet the February 21, 2025, submission deadline. For additional support, applicants can contact the CDC or refer to guidance provided in the NOFO.