Deadline: 28-Mar-23

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the HIV Vaccine Innovation, Science, and Technology Acceleration in Africa (HIV-VISTA) Project.

The objective of the HIV-VISTA Project is to support sub-Saharan African scientists, institutions, and innovative systems of collaboration in designing and testing improved HIV vaccine candidates that will advance the field toward the long-term goal of a safe and globally-effective HIV vaccine.

Focus Areas

The HIV-VISTA program will focus on utilizing the existing capacity, scientific talent, and ingenuity in SSA to advance the HIV vaccine field through supporting activities in the following five interrelated areas:

• Design and implement early-stage clinical trials of HIV vaccine immunogens
• Conduct laboratory analyses on samples from trials and epidemiological studies
• Test innovative preclinical HIV vaccine concepts, advancing the most promising candidates toward clinical trials
• Strengthen systems of collaborations for HIV vaccine research in SSA and increase opportunities to advance the careers of promising sub-Saharan African scientists
• Partner with civil society advocates, affected communities including those at-risk and people living with HIV/AIDS, policymakers, and communicators to advance sub Saharan African-led HIV vaccine science

Funding Information

USAID intends to award one or two Cooperative Agreements pursuant to this NOFO. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide up to $46,000,000 in total USAID funding over a five-year period.

• Year 1 $4,000,000
• Year 2 $8,000,000
• Year 3 $10,000,000
• Year 4 $12,000,000
• Year 5 $12,000,000

Geographic Focus

• With exceptions as noted specifically below, activities supported under the HIV-VISTA project will be implemented exclusively in SSA, which is the geographic area in the world with the highestburden of HIV. Activities should be implemented in at least three different countries in SSA.
• Exceptions can be made for activities related to the procurement of laboratory commodities, which are not available on the continent; for manufacturing of candidate vaccines, immunogens, or delivery devices, which might in certain circumstances need to be conducted outside of SSA; or for engaging highly specialized technical assistance on certain topics for which the needed expertise is not yet available in SSA.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility for this NOFO is restricted to organizations that are local entities in African countries.
• Must meet all three areas of eligibility:
  • EITHER, must be incorporated or legally organized under the laws of, and have its principal place of business in, the country or a country in the region served by the PEPFAR program with which the entity is or may become involved; OR must exist in the region where PEPFAR programs are implemented;
  • EITHER, must be at 75% beneficially owned at the time of application by individuals who are citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents of that same country; OR at least 75% of the entity’s staff (senior, mid-level, support) at the time of application must be citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents of that same country;
  • Where an entity has a Board of Directors, at least 51% of the members of the Board must also be citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents of such country.
• USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
• This NOFO invites applications for one or more awards (cooperative agreements) addressing the objectives of the HIV-VISTA program. Individual organizations may be sub-partners on multiple applications but organizations may only submit one application as the prime recipient.

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=344529