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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing its intention to receive and consider a single source application for award of a cooperative agreement in fiscal year 2018 (FY 2018) to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to support global strategies that address food safety, nutrition and public health. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to: 1. Utilize FAO's extensive research and expertise on country development and aid activities. 2. Contribute to the research, knowledge base and development of food safety systems globally due to the increasingly diverse and complex food supply. 3. Enhance and broaden FDA's ability to address global food safety, nutrition, and public health issues associated with food. 4. Provide opportunities to leverage additional resources of other countries. 5. Support the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and FDA's International Food Safety Capacity Building Plan, which emphasizes the concept of preventing food safety-related problems before they occur and the importance of establishing strong relationships and mutual support among all stakeholders, including multilateral organizations, to improve worldwide food safety. 6. Support food safety, nutrition and public health programs that align with FDA's mission.

The Cooperative Agreement announced in this FOA represents the continuation and further refinement as well as expansion of well-established collaborations between WHO and FDA, through OIP, in support of data-driven and science-based public health, science-based and research strategies and approaches that align well with FDA domestic and global goals. This cooperative agreement is expected to contribute to the knowledge base of the current regulatory efforts in support of food and medical products safety and quality globally and address specific challenges and fill gaps in the global efforts to ensure said safety and quality of such products.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is focused on providing the essential and highest quality environmental information vital to our Nation's safety, prosperity and resilience. Toward this goal, the agency conducts and supports weather and climate research, oceanic and atmospheric observations, modeling, information management, assessments, interdisciplinary decision-support research, outreach, education, and partnership development. Climate variability and change present society with significant economic, health, safety, and security challenges and opportunities. In meeting these challenges, and as part of NOAA's climate portfolio within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), the Climate Program Office (CPO) advances scientific understanding, monitoring, and prediction of climate and its impacts, to enable effective decisions. Within this context, CPO manages competitive research programs through which NOAA funds high-priority climate science, assessments, decision support research, outreach, education, and capacity-building activities designed to advance our understanding of the Earth's climate system, and to foster the application and use of this knowledge to improve the resilience of our Nation and its partners. CPO supports research that is conducted across the United States and internationally. CPO's climate research portfolio is designed to achieve a fully integrated research and applications program. We meet this objective through a focus on climate intelligence and climate resilience, in support of NOAA's goals.

The Expeditions Council is an editorially driven grant program that supports exploration and adventure worldwide.  Proposed projects must have the potential to yield compelling stories and images. Applications are also judged on the qualifications of applicants and their teams, and on the project's merit, uniqueness and safety protocols. The Council consists of representatives of National Geographic editorial divisions (magazines, television, books, website, and so on) who review and vote on grant applications, as well as an advisory board of external consultants. While the Expeditions Council funds a broad range of exploration and adventure, if a project is based on scientific inquiry, applicants must provide detailed methodology.  In addition, all projects must adhere to applicable scientific or professional ethical standards, which are outlined in the grant application and are subject to scientific review The Expeditions Council offers its grantees the opportunity to work effectively with National Geographic's many divisions. Grantees are therefore able to share the results of their expeditions with National Geographic's global audience.

PEPFAR South Sudan works in collaboration with the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) Ministry of Health (MOH) in implementing the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan (NSP) based on a priority action approach and strong collaboration and coordination among different stakeholders. PEPFAR South Sudan has prioritized supporting the MOH in strengthening their national laboratory system with the primary objective of supporting the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance of HIV through high-quality laboratory services. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits technical assistance (TA) to strengthen the GOSS MOH laboratory and blood transfusion services systems. Outcomes will include the overall strengthening of the National Reference Lab, implementing and achieving accreditation for quality assurance systems; strengthening service delivery through increased technical assistance to lab testing programs, and training and accreditation for the national blood safety programs. The ultimate outcome is a national integrated quality-assured network of tiered laboratories providing quality clinical laboratory services with the capacity to support the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance of HIV and other diseases and support the establishment of the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS).

The purpose of this activity is to ensure that Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) services meet the accepted global standards for safety and quality by providing technical assistance (TA) and support to PEPFAR country programs, Ministries of Health (MOH) and Implementing Partners (IP) to strengthen the capacity and quality of VMMC services. This activity will develop, implement, and support quality assurance activities to ensure that VMMC services are provided according to best clinical practices and guided by standards of quality. This activity will also provide valuable information to national and local governments and individual VMMC sites regarding the quality of services being delivered, and interventions needed to improve the quality of services.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is responsible for the development, supervision, coordination, and implementation of international narcotics control assistance activities and international criminal justice issues for the US Department of State (DOS). The Office of Africa and Middle East Programs (INL/AME) is the designated lead for capacity building with criminal justice sector institutions in the Middle East, in particular with Lebanon. The goal of this project is to increase the ISF's capability to administer a correctional system that is consistent with international standards through having a proper classification system, institutionalized SOP's and a corresponding curriculum with sufficient training that will improve the safety of corrections officers and inmates.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow (PAS Moscow) of the U.S. Department of State invites proposal submissions for a cooperative agreement to design and implement a new program designed for newly-graduated Russian high school students. The program will provide a "gap year" experience for young Russians and offer an opportunity to improve their English skills, study at an American community college campus and experience life with an American family. Each participant will go to the United States for a full academic year, starting in the fall of 2020. The award recipient will be responsible for all program elements, including recruitment and selection, securing visas, arranging travel, pre-departure orientation, placement, monitoring, and return to Russia. Competitive proposals should include approximately 80-150 participants and effectively utilize government resources to maximize the number of program participants, while still providing adequate health and safety, orientation services, and support services for participating students.

Communities in the United States (US) and around the world are entering a new era of transformation in which residents and their surrounding environments are increasingly connected through rapidly-changing intelligent technologies. This transformation offers great promise for improved wellbeing and prosperity but poses significant challenges at the complex intersection of technology and society. The goal of the NSF Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) program solicitation is to accelerate the creation of the scientific and engineering foundations that will enable smart and connected communities to bring about new levels of economic opportunity and growth, safety and security, health and wellness, and overall quality of life.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support the research, development, and implementation of secure human rights (HR) documentation solutions. In support of the 2017 National Security Strategy, DRL's goal is to promote accountability for perpetrators of genocide and mass atrocity. Further, in support of the U.S. government's policy to "promote an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet that fosters efficiency, innovation, communication, and economic prosperity, while respecting privacy and guarding against disruption, fraud, and theft," as described in E.O. 13800, DRL supports the development of secure communications tools and platforms, as well as digital safety training. These goals will be advanced through research, development, and implementation of secure human rights documentation solutions. DRL invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit proposals outlining program concepts that reflect this goal.

The primary goal of this funding opportunity is to: Encourage intra- and interstate stakeholder collaboration to strengthen the fight against human trafficking Secondary goals for this program include: · Promoting the empowerment of women and girls through peer leadership · Fostering youth leadership and development · Strengthening resilience safety nets against human trafficking through multiple stakeholder collaboration

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi (PAS New Delhi) seeks proposals for a project entitled "Gender Equity: Women's Equality, Empowerment and Leadership through Safe Higher Educational and Work Spaces." Through this grant project, the grantee will establish partnerships with five Indian universities/ colleges to organize five gender sensitization training workshops for 125 faculty of Higher Educational Institutions (HEI's) and conduct gender and safety audits at these institutions. Each workshop would be led by an eminent American feminist scholar or activist in addition to Indian experts. The workshops should predominantly be in Tier II Indian cities including one in North India and one each in the American Consulate districts (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad). As part of the workshop, the grantee will organize and implement a creative exhibition/installation/performance showcasing narratives on safe and gender-just work places and campuses. (Please refer to the full announcement available under 'related documents' tab.)

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), announces the availability of approximately $2 million total costs for one cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project in Costa Rica to improve enforcement of labor laws with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health (OSH) in the agricultural export sector. Successful implementation of this project would contribute to a fair global playing field for workers and assist Costa Rica's compliance with the labor provisions of the Dominican Republic - Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The applicant must work with relevant local actors such as the labor inspectorate, legal aid attorneys, workers, and judges, according to the implementation strategy of the applicant. The duration of the project will be a maximum of 4 years (48 months) from the effective date of the award.

Access to quality assured diagnostics and laboratory services is critical to the effective diagnosis, treatment, and management of HIV and other HIV-related diseases, including TB. Achieving an AIDS-Free Generation and the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets requires establishment and operationalization of laboratory and diagnostic networks, including strong and sustainable collaborations with partners.To date, PEPFAR-supported laboratory and integrated diagnostic network strengthening efforts have led to improved access to the quality diagnostic and patient monitoring services required to support the HIV clinical cascade. However, work remains to establish and maintain the partnerships and collaborations required to support these efforts. This NOFO will focus on building and strengthening sustainable networks and partnerships to support laboratory systems, policies, and data use in PEPFAR-supported countries; improving in-service laboratory safety and science competencies through quality training for laboratory professionals; collaborations across partner organizations, laboratory professionals, and clinicians; strengthened public health laboratory and diagnostic network capacity, quality, and functionality; and improved access to high quality and effective technical assistance (TA) resources.

United States - Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development

The 2014-2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Liberia exposed the acute vulnerability of Liberia's public health system. Limited laboratory capacity and resources, including lack of diagnostic capacities to test for infectious diseases, an unreliable blood supply with inadequate blood services, and poor to non-existent infection prevention and control (IPC) resources and practices in health facilities and laboratories left the Liberian health system unprepared for the EVD outbreak. Significant investments and gains have been made since 2014 to strengthen Liberia's public health system; however, the system remains fragile. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in coordination with the Government of Liberia (GOL) and local and international partners, continues to support health system strengthening activities, further building Liberia's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks at their source. This NOFO supports activities to strengthen laboratory capacities, further developing a competent laboratory workforce and expanding diagnostic capacities, reinforced through laboratory quality management activities; improved blood transfusion practices to build and maintain quality blood transfusion services; and strengthening infection prevention and control practices, with the goal of reducing transmission of epidemic prone diseases and antimicrobial resistance within healthcare facilities. These activities align with Global Health Security Agenda priorities in preventing, detecting and responding to potential public health threats. In order to continue efforts to maintain and expand Liberia's capabilities to prevent, detect, and respond to potential infectious disease outbreaks, CDC, the GOL, and partners must work to ensure a rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases.

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor announces the availability of approximately $6,000,000 total costs for up to three cooperative agreements of up to $2,000,000 total costs each to fund technical assistance projects to improve the capacity of civil society to better understand and address child labor and/or forced labor abuses and promote acceptable conditions of work in a sector and/or supply chain. The project should achieve the following outcomes: (1) Improved capacity of civil society to identify and document accurate, independent, and objective information on the nature and scope of child labor and/or forced labor, and violations of acceptable conditions of work in a sector and/or supply chain; (2) Improved capacity of civil society to raise awareness for the protection of workers from child labor and/or forced labor abuses, and violations of acceptable conditions of work; and (3) Improved capacity of civil society to implement initiatives to address child labor and/or forced labor and violations of acceptable conditions of work, including facilitated access to grievance mechanisms and/or remedy for victims of labor exploitation. The duration of the project will be a maximum of 4 years (48 months) from the effective date of the award.