USAIDÂ’s Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance (ROAA) located in El Salvador intends to issue a Request For Applications (RFA) from interested non-governmental organizations to implement a program that will increase access to cost effective, sustainable HIV-prevention interventions targeting

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Most-At-Risk Populations in Central America and Mexico, in which the HIV epidemic in this region is most highly concentrated.

For profit institutions may submit applications; however, they will need to forego profit as regulated by U.

S.

policies for programs issued under Assistance mechanisms.

The program will aim to achieve the following three results:
1) Reduced prevalence of high risk sexual behaviors among MARPs and PLHA.

2) Increased effective interventions that decrease hostility, homophobia and attitudes of stigma and discrimination related to sexual orientation, occupation or HIV status.

3) Increased access by MARPs to a package of essential health services and products, that includes but is not limited to condoms, and VCT and STI diagnosis and treatment.

The program will be implemented across the seven countries in Central America (both USAID presence and non-presence countries) and Mexico.

Applicants should take note that once an award is granted, the successful Applicant will have thirty days to submit a memorandum of understanding between the Applicant and a commercial or non-profit institution that has a well-established condom brand in Central America.

This formal agreement will outline a social marketing approach to HIV prevention that makes condoms more accessible in places and areas where MARPs congregate or where risky sexual behaviors occur.

This requirement (a formal agreement to be submitted to USAID within 30 days) is included because studies and USAID experience have shown that MARPS prefer to use brand condoms, and condoms are more likely to be used in places where risky sexual behaviors occur if they are brand condoms.

Moreover, the successful Applicant will be able to achieve results more quickly if a formal partnership is secured early on with an adequately recognized brand name condom.

USAID funds will not be available to buy condoms.

USAID discourages Applicants from proposing the creation of a new condom brand or product due to the requirements needed to complete the process.

This notice does not commit USAID to issue an RFA and does not commit USAID to pay for any costs associated with obtaining the formal commitment with a condom supplier.

There is no further information available at this time concerning this potential RFA and thus further questions or inquiries will not be addressed at this time.