Transitioning and Integrating Laboratory Services for High Quality HIV Diagnosis, Care, Treatment, and Monitoring to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to Sustain Achievement of the 95-95-95 Goals in Zambia under PEPFAR

Background
This NOFO will support the stepwise full transition of PEPFAR-supported laboratory systems and services to the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ). Over the past five years, laboratory systems in Zambia have matured to the point that GRZ is ready for full transition for oversight and administration. Partner support to date has been essential, but to achieve sustainability and maximum system efficiency, the MOH must be able to focus all resources on program implementation instead of partner management.

Until HIV is curable, ART is a life-long requirement. As such, diagnostic support for people living with HIV (PLHIV) is expected to be required for many decades. Full internal funding and administration of laboratory services is the only way that services not only for HIV, but for all public health challenges (endemic and emerging diseases), can be sustained in the long term.

Grant Details
This NOFO will provide technical assistance (TA) for further adaptation of the diagnostic system for immediate needs such as outbreaks of novel diseases, additional surveillance system requirements, and new international reporting mechanisms as guided by CDC. The recipient should perform a capacity assessment of GRZ to carry out all the laboratory system functions and a cost assessment to fully understand the costs of sustaining the system.

Assessments for transition should include: viral load (VL), early infant diagnosis (EID), sample referral, testing and results return systems, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), including: integration with SmartCare, eLABS, and DHIS2, laboratory equipment calibration facilities and systems, external quality assurance (EQA) systems following implementation of ISO 17043, diagnostic equipment maintenance program, courier vehicle replacement, salvage and maintenance program, waste management, backup power systems, rapid test continuous quality improvement (RTCQI) as an activity related to baseline VL, diagnostic network optimization (DNO), laboratory quality management systems (QMS), biosafety and biosecurity program, and laboratory-specific supply chain management and integrated testing including human papillomavirus (HPV) and TB.

Eligibility Requirements
Open Competition

Period of Performance
The Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding/Average One Year Award Amount/Approximate Average Award amount for Year 1 is $9,000,000. The total period of performance length is 5 years.

Grant Value
$9,000,000 for Year 1 with an expected number of awards being 1. The total period of performance funding/estimated total funding for the total 5-year project period is None.

Place of Performance
The grant will be performed in Zambia.