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

The Award Ceiling for Year 1 is 0 (none). CDC anticipates an Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding amount of $9,000,000 for Year 1, subject to the availability of funds. This NOFO will support the stepwise full transition of PEPFAR-supported laboratory systems and services to the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ). The recipient 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. By the end of the project period, 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. The Award Ceiling for Year 1 is 0 (none). CDC anticipates an Approximate Total Fiscal Year Funding amount of $9,000,000 for Year 1, subject to the availability of funds. This NOFO will support the stepwise full transition of PEPFAR-supported laboratory systems and services to the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ). The recipient 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. By the end of the project period, 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.