Opportunity Information: Apply for RFI 674 22 EPIDEMICCTLESOTHO
The opportunity is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Southern Africa, based in Pretoria, focused on shaping a potential future program in Lesotho called "Sustaining Epidemic Control through Integrated HIV and Health Services." The RFI is aimed at gathering practical feedback from capable respondents, especially local organizations in Lesotho and/or international groups that are part of a consortium led by a local entity. The core intent is to collect comments, questions, and suggestions that could strengthen or clarify USAID's draft program description (referenced as Attachment B in the notice), before USAID decides whether and how to launch a formal funding competition later on.
The program concept USAID is exploring centers on delivering high-quality, integrated HIV prevention, care, and treatment services, while also addressing related epidemic threats such as tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19. The overarching health goal is to sustain and deepen reductions in transmission, illness, and deaths from HIV, TB, and COVID-19 by improving the quality, reach, and client-centeredness of services across the health system. A major theme is long-term sustainability through "transition," meaning a progressive shift of key program functions and elements away from external implementers and toward local partners, the private sector, and the Government of Lesotho (GoL). In practice, this implies USAID is not only looking for service delivery strength, but also for realistic pathways to local ownership, local capacity, and durable systems that can keep epidemic control gains in place.
Strategically, the draft program is framed around major global and national targets. On HIV, it explicitly aligns with UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals: 95 percent of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on ART achieving viral suppression. On TB, it references the WHO End TB Strategy vision of ending tuberculosis as a public health threat by 2035. It also links to the UNAIDS accelerated HIV Prevention Roadmap (2020), indicating an emphasis not just on treatment outcomes but on prevention approaches that reduce new infections. Nationally, the program concept is meant to support Lesotho's vision of an AIDS-free generation by 2030 and align with the National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework 2019-2023, signaling that USAID wants the activity to fit within existing national plans and coordination structures.
Operationally, USAID suggests the program could be made up of multiple activities and would provide targeted technical assistance and support across several levels of the health system: national, district, facility, and community. The emphasis on integration and multiple levels implies a design that connects policy and coordination at the national level with implementation realities in districts, service delivery improvements at facilities, and outreach, linkage, and retention support within communities. The services described are intended to be "integrated" and "client-centered," which typically points to streamlining how people access testing, prevention services, treatment initiation, adherence support, follow-up, and co-management of conditions like TB and COVID-19, rather than operating separate, siloed programs.
Even though this notice appears in a grants context and lists a funding instrument type of "Cooperative Agreement," the key point is that this specific posting is not a solicitation for funding. USAID is clear that this is for information and planning only. It is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Applications (RFA), and it does not guarantee that a future competitive funding opportunity will be issued. USAID also states it will not accept unsolicited proposals or applications at this stage, and it will not pay any costs incurred by organizations that choose to respond. Importantly, choosing not to respond to the RFI does not prevent an organization from competing later if USAID releases a formal solicitation in the future.
From the administrative details provided, the funding opportunity title is "Request for Information for USAID/Southern Africa Sustaining Epidemic Control through Integrated HIV and Health Services Program in Lesotho," with the opportunity number "RFI 674 22 EPIDEMICCTLESOTHO." The activity category is Health, under CFDA number 98.001. The notice lists an award ceiling of 10,000,000 and an expectation of two awards, which provides a rough sense of how USAID may be thinking about scale and structure if it proceeds to a formal mechanism, though these figures are still tied to a planning-stage notice. The RFI was created on November 24, 2021, and the original closing date for responses was December 10, 2021 at 5:00 pm Lesotho local time. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with further clarification intended to be in the additional eligibility text field, but the narrative makes clear USAID is particularly interested in feedback from local Lesotho organizations and consortia where local organizations are in the lead.
Overall, the RFI is best understood as USAID's attempt to pressure-test and refine a draft design for an integrated HIV, TB, and COVID-19 service and systems-strengthening program in Lesotho, with a strong focus on sustaining epidemic control and transitioning responsibilities to local institutions. The practical takeaway for respondents is that USAID is inviting detailed, constructive input on the draft program description, and it reserves the right to adopt all, some, or none of the recommendations in any future solicitation.Apply for RFI 674 22 EPIDEMICCTLESOTHO
- The Agency for International Development, South Africa USAID-Pretoria in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information for USAID/Southern Africa Sustaining Epidemic Control through Integrated HIV and Health Services Program in Lesotho" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 24, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 10, 2021 December 10, 2021, 500 pm Lesotho local time. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this opportunity?
This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Southern Africa (Pretoria). The RFI is intended to gather feedback that may help USAID shape a potential future program in Lesotho called "Sustaining Epidemic Control through Integrated HIV and Health Services."
2) Is this an application for funding?
No. This posting is for information and planning only. It is not a funding solicitation and is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a Request for Applications (RFA).
3) Does responding to this RFI guarantee funding now or later?
No. USAID states that responding to the RFI does not guarantee that a formal funding competition will be issued, and it does not guarantee any award.
4) What is USAID trying to achieve by issuing this RFI?
USAID is seeking comments, questions, and suggestions to strengthen or clarify its draft program description (referenced as Attachment B in the notice). The goal is to refine the concept before deciding whether and how to launch a formal competition in the future.
5) Who is USAID especially interested in hearing from?
USAID is particularly interested in practical feedback from capable respondents, especially local organizations in Lesotho and/or international organizations that are part of a consortium led by a local entity.
6) What is the name and number of this RFI?
The title is "Request for Information for USAID/Southern Africa Sustaining Epidemic Control through Integrated HIV and Health Services Program in Lesotho." The opportunity number is "RFI 674 22 EPIDEMICCTLESOTHO."
7) Which USAID office is issuing the RFI?
The RFI is issued by the USAID Mission in Southern Africa, based in Pretoria.
8) Where would the potential future program take place?
The program concept described in the RFI is focused on Lesotho.
9) What technical areas does the draft program concept cover?
The draft concept centers on integrated HIV prevention, care, and treatment services, while also addressing related epidemic threats such as tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19.
10) What is the overarching health goal of the proposed program concept?
The overarching goal described is to sustain and deepen reductions in transmission, illness, and deaths from HIV, TB, and COVID-19 by improving the quality, reach, and client-centeredness of services across the health system.
11) What does "integrated" service delivery mean in this RFI context?
Based on the description provided, "integrated" points to connecting HIV services with related services and supports (including TB and COVID-19 considerations) across multiple levels of the health system, rather than running separate, siloed programs.
12) What does USAID mean by "client-centered" services in the draft concept?
The RFI describes services intended to be client-centered, emphasizing quality and accessibility across the system. In the context provided, this suggests services designed around client needs across prevention, testing, treatment initiation, adherence, follow-up, and co-management of related conditions.
13) What is meant by "transition" and sustainability in this RFI?
A major theme is long-term sustainability through "transition," described as a progressive shift of key program functions and elements away from external implementers and toward local partners, the private sector, and the Government of Lesotho (GoL).
14) What levels of the health system are expected to be involved?
USAID indicates the program could provide targeted technical assistance and support at national, district, facility, and community levels.
15) How is the draft program concept aligned with global HIV targets?
The concept explicitly aligns with UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals: 95 percent of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on ART achieving viral suppression.
16) How is TB addressed in the draft program concept?
The concept references the WHO End TB Strategy vision of ending tuberculosis as a public health threat by 2035, indicating TB is included as part of the integrated epidemic control approach.
17) How is COVID-19 addressed in the draft program concept?
COVID-19 is identified as a related epidemic threat to be addressed alongside HIV and TB through integrated services and health system support.
18) Does the draft concept include HIV prevention as well as treatment?
Yes. The concept links to the UNAIDS accelerated HIV Prevention Roadmap (2020), signaling an emphasis on prevention approaches in addition to treatment outcomes.
19) How does the concept align with Lesotho national strategies and goals?
The draft concept is intended to support Lesotho's vision of an AIDS-free generation by 2030 and align with the National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework 2019-2023.
20) Could the potential future program include multiple awards or multiple activities?
USAID suggests the program could be made up of multiple activities. The notice also lists an expectation of two awards, which signals a possible structure if a formal competition is issued later (though this RFI itself is still planning-stage).
21) What funding instrument is mentioned, and what does it mean for this RFI?
The notice lists "Cooperative Agreement" as the funding instrument type, but the RFI explicitly states this posting is not a solicitation for funding. It is only a request for information at this stage.
22) What are the listed award ceiling and expected number of awards?
The notice lists an award ceiling of 10,000,000 and an expectation of two awards. These figures are presented in a planning-stage context and do not represent a current funding offer.
23) What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The activity category is Health, under CFDA number 98.001.
24) What was the response deadline listed in the notice?
The RFI was created on November 24, 2021, and the original closing date for responses was December 10, 2021 at 5:00 pm Lesotho local time.
25) Will USAID pay for the costs of preparing an RFI response?
No. USAID states it will not pay any costs incurred by organizations that choose to respond to the RFI.
26) Will USAID accept unsolicited proposals or applications during the RFI stage?
No. USAID states it will not accept unsolicited proposals or applications at this stage.
27) If an organization does not respond to the RFI, can it still compete later?
Yes. USAID states that choosing not to respond to the RFI does not prevent an organization from competing later if a formal solicitation is released.
28) What kind of input is USAID looking for from respondents?
USAID is seeking detailed, constructive comments, questions, and suggestions that could strengthen or clarify the draft program description.
29) Will USAID use all recommendations provided through the RFI?
Not necessarily. USAID reserves the right to adopt all, some, or none of the recommendations in any future solicitation.
30) How should this RFI be understood in the broader grants process?
This RFI is best understood as a way for USAID to pressure-test and refine a draft program design for an integrated HIV, TB, and COVID-19 service and systems-strengthening effort in Lesotho, prior to any decision about issuing a formal competitive funding opportunity.
31) What does the eligibility information indicate?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," and the narrative clarifies that USAID is particularly interested in input from local Lesotho organizations and from consortia where local organizations are in the lead.
32) What is the practical takeaway for potential respondents?
The practical takeaway is that USAID is inviting substantive feedback on the draft program description to improve clarity and feasibility, with an emphasis on integration, quality, client-centered services, and realistic transition pathways to local ownership and sustainability.
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